C14 So You Were the Stupid Person Who Used the Crystals to Buy a Hen.(2)

The rewards for hitting the overall target seem to be significantly better than just meeting specific categories. What in the world was that 'Story King' from the last lottery draw?

Am I supposed to spend my life telling stories to little girls?

The mere thought left Zhong Wen feeling stifled. He quickly composed himself and silently invoked, "Lottery."

"Congratulations, you've earned the reward: Flower Transferring Jade Receiving!"

A quick glance at the bookshelf revealed a new addition—a hefty "Beast Language Encyclopedia" in the miscellaneous class section, and a "Miraculous Hand" in the Diamond Grade spirit skill class.

But what truly thrilled him was the last Star Skill, "Flower Transferring Jade Receiving," now categorized as Starsoul Grade!

Without hesitation, Zhong Wen spent a few seconds skimming through the two spirit skills, then looked up to the heavens and sighed deeply, overwhelmed with sentiment.

His skill tree was becoming increasingly lopsided!

He discovered that "Miraculous Hand" was an exceptionally clever thievery skill, originating from the ancient era's preeminent thief, Yun Kongkong. This individual's thieving prowess was unmatched, having successfully pilfered from every major sect in the world. Eventually growing weary of life, he audaciously stole a female saint's undergarments at the Spirit Sovereign Stage. Enraged, the female saint pursued him to the ends of the earth and dismembered him.

Meanwhile, "Flower Transferring Jade Receiving" was the crowning skill of the ancient era's esteemed Flower Shifting Palace, capable of freely transferring spiritual energy. Mastered to perfection, it could even turn an enemy's attack back upon them.

Call me Zhong Xiaoyao!

Call me Murong Wen!

Though unsure of the full extent of the Starsoul Grade's prowess, if it's the defining skill of a top sect, it can't be anything less than impressive. Zhong Wen felt like he had struck gold, reveling in his good fortune.

Having not slept a wink the entire night, Zhong Wen didn't dare to pull another all-nighter. Guessing it was around midnight, he decided to call it a day. He headed to the salt lake, retrieved his alchemy furnace from his ring, and began to fill it with the lake's water.

Even with the knowledge of an alchemy master at his fingertips, Zhong Wen had yet to even glimpse a medicinal ingredient in his top-tier pill furnace; it had been nothing more than a vessel for holding water.

The phrase "using a sledgehammer to crack a nut" didn't quite capture the extravagance of Zhong Wen's actions—it was more akin to using an Italian cannon to swat a mosquito.

Oblivious to the overkill, Zhong Wen filled the pill furnace to the brim, yet remained unsatisfied. He pulled out the jar he had purchased earlier that day and continued to fill it with water.

As he merrily went about his water-fetching, Zhong Wen suddenly noticed the spiritual energy within him accelerating, his dantian swelling, and a gentle warmth spreading through his body.

Drawing on previous experience, Zhong Wen set the jar aside, sat down cross-legged, and focused intently on practicing the "One-energy Longevity Technique."

Before long, the sensation of fullness subsided, and a new semi-circular ring materialized within his dantian.

He realized he had just unlocked the second Human Wheel.

Leveling up was this easy!

Pleased with himself, Zhong Wen picked up the jar once more, filled it with lake water, tossed it into his ring space, and strode away.

That night, he slept more deeply than ever...

A lithe silhouette appeared atop a row of buildings on the northern edge of Fufeng City.

Cloaked in the night, the figure was nearly imperceptible to the naked eye.

In no time, the figure clad in black stood before the most opulent mansion in the row, the "Blissful Gang" signboard barely discernible in the moonlight.

"The day has finally come. Duan Changhong, you will pay for your deeds in blood," the figure whispered, vaulting over the mansion's high wall and slipping inside without a sound.

"Good morning!"

It was still dark when Zhong Wen cheerfully greeted Liu Qiqi, who was practicing her morning exercises.

Liu Qiqi nodded, her gaze flitting about, too shy to meet his eyes directly.

"Miss Lau, how do I get to Fufeng City? I'd like to visit the city to shop at a trading company," inquired Zhong Wen.

He had thoroughly mastered the technique for drawing Pill Fire Spirit Patterns after poring over the "Spirit Pattern class" books he'd collected at night. Eager to put his skills to the test, he decided to buy some materials and attempt to create his own Pill Fire.

At the mention of "commercial," Liu Qiqi's grip faltered, and she nearly dropped her sword. Had he found out? Her thoughts raced, and she momentarily forgot to respond.

"Miss Lau?" Zhong Wen noticed her distraction and prompted her again.

"Oh... There's an Uncle Zhao at the base of the mountain who has a unicorn. You can rent his unicorn carriage, and it should get you there in about an hour," Lau Qiqi finally snapped back to reality.

"Thank you!"

Zhong Wen had slipped into the blue robe Mrs. Wang had selected for him. The fabric wasn't top-notch, but the style suited him well, showcasing Mrs. Wang's delicate feminine taste. The only eyesore was the grimy cloth bag slung over his back.

"Do you need me to bring back anything?"

Liu Qiqi shook her head, "Are you heading out now?"

"Yes, I'll do my best to return before lunch." With a suave wave, Zhong Wen shouldered the cloth bag and headed for the gate.

As Zhong Wen walked away, a look of concern flickered across Lau Qiqi's fair face...

Having advanced to the second tier of the Human Wheel, Zhong Wen's pace quickened significantly with the use of "Cloud Immortal Step," cutting his travel time to the village entrance down to a mere half hour.

Uncle Zhao's home was easy to spot, situated on the village's outskirts without neighbors nearby. Approaching the door, Zhong Wen could hear the distant sound of horses. A middle-aged man in his forties, clad in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, was scrubbing a black carriage. In the adjacent stable, five unicorn horses munched on feed, heads bowed. One spirited foal, after nibbling a bit, would lift its head to curiously survey its surroundings.

This was Zhong Wen's first encounter with unicorn horses. They bore a striking resemblance to the horses from his past life, save for the singular horn on their foreheads. However, this feature didn't endow the creatures with any notable divine aura. Instead, it lent them a rather unrefined appearance, leaving Zhong Wen, who had hoped to behold the mythical "unicorn," sorely disappointed.

"Uncle Zhao?"

"Hey there, you're a new face around here, aren't you, young man?" Uncle Zhao was hearty and had a way of making himself at home with strangers.

"Yeah, I've only arrived a couple of days ago," Zhong Wen inquired, "How much would it cost for a ride on your carriage to Fufeng City?"

"It's one silver yuan for a one-way trip, and two for a round trip," Uncle Zhao explained, "But taking just you isn't worth it. I usually wait until I've got a full load of four passengers before setting off."

Silver yuan, again!

Here I am with a wad of red Mao notes, and everyone's after my one-yuan coins!

"Uncle Zhao, do you have change for a hundred silver yuan?" Zhong Wen pulled out a spirit crystal, puffing himself up, "Could you break it down for me?"

"You're the... the silly lad who bought a hen with a spirit crystal!" Uncle Zhao's eyes sparkled at the sight of the crystal, nearly salivating with excitement.

Zhong Wen: "..."

He was sorely tempted to unleash a "One Solar Finger" on Uncle Zhao.

"Will you make the exchange for a hundred silver yuan?" Zhong Wen asked sternly.

"Exchange, of course! Just wait here, I'll go get the money," Uncle Zhao dashed off, eager to make the trade before Zhong Wen could change his mind.

Though it was commonly said that a spirit crystal was worth a hundred silver yuan, nobody in their right mind would actually trade a crystal for silver coins. The value of the two was incomparable, and Uncle Zhao felt like he was taking advantage of someone clueless.

"What's this?" Zhong Wen asked, eyeing the stack of paper Uncle Zhao handed him.

"Don't you know what banknotes are?" Uncle Zhao scrutinized Zhong Wen, more convinced than ever of the young man's lack of wits.

Zhong Wen felt his pride take a hit under Uncle Zhao's gaze.

"I've never seen such a devalued currency," Zhong Wen boasted.

Uncle Zhao: "..."

While they exchanged barbs, they both examined the banknotes closely.

After a thorough inspection, Zhong Wen had to face the fact that he was not only illiterate but also numerically challenged.

Luckily, this didn't affect his ability to count. There were ten notes in total. He pulled one out and handed it back to Uncle Zhao.

"Ten silver dollars and your carriage is all mine—no need to wait for others."

"Sure thing!"

Uncle Zhao was not only delighted to receive the spirit crystal but also made some extra silver on the side. His spirits were high as he hummed a tune and occasionally struck up light conversation with Zhong Wen.

The carriage jostled gently, and Zhong Wen, half-responding absentmindedly, closed his eyes to peruse the library of books in his mind. The sun climbed higher, the warmth increasing, yet it wasn't unbearably hot. Now and then, a gentle breeze offered a touch of comfort reminiscent of a leisurely summer drive.

An hour later, the imposing city gates of Fufeng City loomed ahead.