Alex couldn’t help smiling with a certain amount of satisfaction as he quickly donned mail shirt and bronze lamellar after frowning down at his purchases for a handful of seconds, only now appreciating the true potential of his World Seed, even here, that he had perhaps too long neglected.

Though he wasn’t such an idiot as to think anyone would wait around a handful of seconds before striking out at him, in the right circumstances, a door only he could enter could result in a lifesaving barrier protecting him from at least one angle of attack.

And to his credit, the merchant only smiled politely, even when Alex seemed to be at his most vulnerable. Though whether that was morals or caution, or just being thrown off by Alex’s too confident gaze, Alex neither knew nor cared, dispelling his barrier and heading toward the exit with a final nod at the merchant, his guard long gone.

Only then did he turn around, facing the merchant once more, earning a slightly troubled frown. Perhaps only in that moment did Jin Jin realize how great an advantage a fully armed and armored Alex had over the man compared to just minutes before, Alex’s bronze lamellar reinforced by a near unbreakable mail hauberk with a thin padded aketon just underneath, all fitting just as snug and secure and perfect as Alex knew it would. Compared to his half ton Earth’s Boon armor, he now felt just as light on his feet as if he were gliding above the hardwood floor.

Yet Alex only flashed the merchant the most gracious of smiles.

“You kept your word, and that means something to me. If nothing else, I might be interested in further purchases with a man I can trust.”

Jin Jin’s demeanor instantly changed to that of a warm-hearted uncle. “My dear Alex, of course! You know I am always at your disposal and will do my best to see to your well-being, whether or not I have to special order it myself or secure you the best rooms in Erdushi. Now what else might you be interested in?”

Alex smiled. “It’s in regard to the fine mail hauberk so deeply saturated in Metal Qi that you and I both know nothing short of a Silver Artifact has a chance of cutting through those links.”

Jin Jin gave an approving nod. “Even more talented than I had thought. I’m guessing noble blood flows somewhere in your father’s veins?”

Alex shrugged. “I’m sure most of us have noble ancestors somewhere in our bloodlines if you look back far enough, but my concern is the present. If you had another magical treasure similar to the one I am wearing now, I would be willing to pay a fair price for that as well.”

And here Jin Jin stiffened, his mask of bonhomie freezing to something calculating and cold. “You wish for another magical treasure, similar to the one you have already paid an absolute fortune for?”

Alex suppressed the warning tingle racing down his spine, giving a slow nod.

Qi Perception check made! You sense the full dimensions of Jin Jin’s shop. You sense all the pieces in play!

“I am. Two additional treasures like the one I now wear.” He paused, measuring the merchant’s strangely intent gaze, pleased that at least there were no abrupt flares in aura speaking of killing intent. “Mail is fine,” he said, before recalling other sleek, custom fitted sets of armor he had seen female cultivators wearing, designed to allow ease of movement and spinning strikes just as much as they had been designed for protection. “But scale mail or even lamellar made of very small tiles allowing for ease of movement would be equally acceptable.”

It was odd how intently this Wujen, who Alex was almost positive was actually Silver, was now gazing at him.

Heart racing, it was everything Alex could do to hold back the killing fury he now felt, the sudden need to strike first and hard against a threat gazing at him just like a certain silver-eyed Wujen had in a past that now felt more dreamlike than real, determined to dispel him when he had been little more than a spirit, party-linked with his friends.

A spirit who had still, somehow, marked that terrified Silver’s throat with the teeth of a sharktooth dao he had thought lost when waking up in the bowels of Risen Phoenix Academy, with little more than a servant’s robe to his name. Strange, how he hadn’t even given that bizarre feat a second thought till now.

Soul Sight Skillcheck failed.

Artificer skillcheck made.

Find Weakness Skillcheck made!

You sense the Air & Water components of Elemental Ward Jin Jin has in play! +6 bonus to all skill checks to pierce Wujen Ward!

“Perhaps I do have an artifact that might meet your requirements,” the man admitted at last with a slow, measuring nod. “But you must understand, such a treasure will cost you dearly. Even more dearly than what you paid for the magical treasure you now wear so comfortably underneath your shell of bronze.”

Alex considered the not inconsiderable amount of wealth in terms of gold, platinum, and spirit pearls he had brought, just in case, to say nothing of Duo Ku’s storage pouch, filled with an absolute fortune in valuables he really should have done his best to organize before getting caught up in a challenge match and everything else that had happened since then. But there was a bloody fortune in mixed cores, pearls, and coins in there. His artificer skill could sense that much for sure, even without him placing his hand in the pouch.

“If you’re price is fair… we won’t have a problem.”

The man flashed a cold smile. “Really? Are you sure, boy? We’re talking about twenty spirit pearls here, lad. There is no way you can hold your guise of being nothing but a deadly talented caravan guard, or perhaps the scion of one of the countless clan dynasties that claim dominion over so many towns and farming communities, too tiny for the Empire or her thousand sacred cities to bother looking at twice, so long as the farmers are allowed to sell their crops at a fair price for all, and no-would be forest king dares think of raiding a trade town like this one, lest their entire clan be wiped out to the last man, woman, and child by imperial legions wearing armor just like your own.”

Alex said nothing as the man gazed intently at Alex, as if taking his measure.

“No. Only a cultivator with connections to and titles within one of the sacred cities would have the wealth and resources necessary to purchase those treasures you seek to buy. Treasures which will do you little good anyway, fitted as they are for a waist too narrow and hips too wide to flow fluidly if worn by one such as yourself, even if you release the gold-tier straps and bindings securing everything in place, assuring these treasures will grow along with the cultivator in question, even to the heights of Silver, and perhaps beyond.”

The smirking cultivator took a step back, slowly shaking his head. “So, unless you wish to declare yourself the heir to an incredible fortune, seeking armaments that can only be comfortably worn by the most gloriously gifted members of the opposite sex, then I’m afraid I can assist you no further today.”

Alex gazed intently at the man for long moments, before slowly pulling free a full handful of shimmering spirit pearls.

The man blanched, eyes widening at the absolute fortune.

“As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what I’m looking for. Now it’s just a matter of seeing the quality, and coming to an agreement on the price.”

Oddly, the man seemed almost shaken by Alex’s nonchalant display of an absolute fortune. Then he just flashed a little smile and shrugged his shoulders. “Very well, friend Alex. If you seek to peruse the priceless armaments worn by ancient battle maidens, then follow me.”

A bemused Alex followed behind the wujen shopkeeper as he led the way to the back of his impressive store, waving his hands and whispering faint intonations of Air and Water that caused a piece of the wall to seemingly melt away, revealing a set of steep stairs Alex took only after Jin Jin had pulled a silken cord both ringing a sonorous bell and causing a handful of glowing balls of Spirit and Fire Qi to light up as brightly as any lightbulb, despite the orange tint.

And that’s when he saw it.

The flash of a jewel that made everything clear.

Alex’s smile gave nothing away as they proceeded down the springwood staircase and down a surprisingly airy corridor lined with bamboo dividers covered in soothing ink murals depicting weeping willows, dancing maidens, and cranes beside serene lakes on perfect spring days. And that so much meaning and emotion could be conveyed with just a few strokes of a brush, so different from the photorealistic details of the murals lining Alex’s own palatial halls, spoke to mastery of a different sort, no less impressive for the economic usage of the high quality inks, or for what lay behind those near paper-thin dividers as they approached what was clearly a waiting room of sorts, decorated with bamboo chairs and reclining cushions atop a plush wool rug.

Only then, with Jin Jin before an imposing bronze plated door radiating protective wards that extended the breadth of the marble faced wall did he turn around with an enigmatic smile, his thoughtful gaze examining Alex once more.

The flash of allegiance now more visible than ever, did one know exactly what one was looking for.

“And here we are, young Alex. The heart of my sanctuary, where my most priceless treasures are kept. If you will wait here, I will bring out the treasures you seek… but be forewarned, they are not cheap.”

Alex dipped his head. “Acknowledged. And should we not come to an agreed upon price?”

The man smirked. “Fear not. I’m sure we’ll come to an agreement of one sort or another.”

Alex kept features carefully blank when he nodded. “Somehow, I’m absolutely certain you’re correct.”

Hall of Doors Interface sheet accessed!

And without another word, the man pressed his hand to the door which opened with a click. He turned around, giving a final smile Alex’s way as he closed it behind him, Alex then sensing the man opening a second door.

He certainly couldn’t fault the man’s precautions.

Only his allegiance.

And over the course of a good ten seconds he carefully crafted precautions of his own while taking his ease, leaning against a pile of cushions, as comfortable as his securely fitted bronze armor armor allowed.

Jin Jin seemed almost surprised to see him so casually taking his ease when not one but two powerfully built body cultivators entered by his side minutes later. Beady black eyes in bodies encased in Jin Jin’s finest steel stared coolly at Alex while he, in turn, gazed with rapt awe at the masterwork suits before him.

Qi Perception check made.

Artificer skill check made. Critical success!

The first artifact on display was a suit of shimmering sea foam green scales overlapping in serpentine fashion with a pearlescent shimmer that Alex sensed was as much the constant flow of Water Qi resonating with the metal and serving to deflect any attack that didn’t hit absolutely perpendicular to the scales themselves. Which meant that gracing the body of an acrobatic martial artist or a dancer, this armor could survive and deflect an absolute maelstrom of attacks.

The armor flared wide at what might have been an ancient Silver Giant’s generous hips, half-sleeves designed for a cultivator with near titanic strength. And Alex’s eyes widened to realize how close his tall, statuesque Hao Chan was to fitting that armor perfectly. For narrower shoulders than this ancient Silver Giant she might have, but it would fit her exceptional curves perfectly, his experienced and too familiar hands knowing that if he dared hug this mannequin as he had dared to caress Hao Chan too many perilous times, his arms would slip around it much the same.

He felt a peculiar frisson in his soul when a bemused nod made it clear touching it would not be a problem, finding the flow of deflective Water Qi, and the Metallic resilience of the scales themselves, was everything he could have hoped for, and more. Save for sleeves a bit too wide which shouldn’t prove any hindrance at all, it would fit his heart’s desire perfectly. He knew it with a certainty that was almost frightening in its absoluteness.

He felt it to the depths of his soul.

And the way Jin Jin chuckled, damn him, it was clear the wujen understood it as well.

And a great many other things besides, the forces and fields of spiritual energy around the man having tripled, somehow, a clockwise storm of Air and Water spiritual energy now complimented by a counterclockwise storm of sharp Metal Qi. Complementary. Overlapping. A deadly stacking of sorts Alex had never seen before. What would no doubt prove the bane of any number of would-be thieves and cutthroats.

And Alex suspected it might just be a match for his Piercing Strike skill as well.

Even if against a fist covered in pristine Dark Qi, it would do absolutely nothing at all.

Yet the man gave no tell that he suspected Alex of contemplating foul play.

“A true prize, is it not?”

Alex nodded. He’d be a fool to deny it. A poker face was the best he could do.

“It is.”

“An artifact like this, ancient armaments purported to have been used by the empire’s deadliest courtesans and assassins centuries ago, is, I’m sure you’ll agree, an absolutely priceless find.” He flashed a jaded smile. “And I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that these scales will protect your chosen from death far more effectively than even your mail shirt, deflecting as it cushions, warding even the deadliest blows, so long as your chosen follows a path of eloquence and movement, flowing in the most graceful of dances, like the midnight swan herself.”

Alex suppressed a shiver with those words, locking the Wujen’s gaze with his own. “How much?”

But strangely enough, the Wujen just smiled and shook his head. “Best we take a look at what you’re really after before we decide on prices. Wouldn’t you agree, hunter?”

Alex frowned at the unexpected designation, but he admitted to being intrigued as the second armored assistant brought forth a mannequin covered in black silk, placing it squarely between Alex and Jin Jin before the latter smiled and snapped off the drape with a flourish.

Alex’s eyes widened, unable to hide the visceral surge of anxious dread flooding his system even as he gazed in awe at the pearlescent blue masterwork of triangular lamellae plates forged so perfectly that Alex knew any martial artist would take to it like a second skin. Radiating extremely powerful Earth and Metal magics, Alex only now appreciated just how exquisitely forged the armor before him truly was.

It would absorb kinetic force just as well as his unthinkably heavy suit of enchanted stone armor would, while weighing no more than a thin steel shirt of scales fastened to a lightweight mesh and lined with softest linen, as supple and elegant as any dancer could want, an artifact so priceless and perfect it was worthy of royalty. Perhaps a queen.

And it was most definitely the priceless suit of armor he had last seen gracing Xian Hong’s sleek, deadly form.

Alex’s gaze snapped to the now coldly smiling Wujen, the deadly jian he had last seen at Xian Hong’s hip radiating a shower of Water Qi that Alex just knew would let that deadly artifact effortlessly pierce any mundane armor. Bronze, even steel, would part like a knife through warm butter when pierced with that weapon, and Alex was somehow utterly certain it would slip between the cracks of any magical treasure, even pierce the enchanted steel rings of his own artifact with a single plunge, to be effortlessly withdrawn with a warm crimson shower of his lifeblood, without marring a single one of his artifact’s priceless steel links.

And the cold smile in the Wujen’s eyes made it clear he knew it as well.

Alex’s mind was racing with a cacophony of unanswered questions.

But all he said as the pair of powerfully built Bronze cultivators drew short stone truncheons radiating crushing Earth Qi, weapons he was sure any man with Rank 1 Bronze strength or better could easily use to warp bronze like pounding clay, weapons for which his indestructible mail shirt again provided no defense, was…

“Who gave you that armor?”

Jin Jin’s smile turned to a rage-filled rictus as Alex slowly stepped back from the pair of brutes now all but looming over him, corralling him to the center of the room. “And with those five words, you have revealed yourself at last! You are the thorn in the Red Prince’s side. The man with the five hundred spirit pearl bounty on his head. I knew it to be true!” He flicked a quick glance at the near paper-thin walls depicting such beautiful artwork, giving the underground cell the feel of an almost airy waiting room. “Kill him now!”

Alex spared only a heartbeat to enjoy the surprised screams as high tension crossbow bolts fired from weapon that were siege bows mounted on bronze stands being aimed by soldiers kitted in the Red Prince’s colors, crossbows with perhaps 500 or more pounds of tension on their steel cables fired in unison, effortlessly piercing the paper thin walls… only to ricochet off Alex’s invisible and, for them, impassable gate, a rift between worlds none save a Rank 4 Gold or perhaps a Jade could hope to rupture or cross without Alex’s consent. Ricoching and bouncing back without losing an iota of their kinetic force, cartwheeling over to blast completely through one soldier’s surprised skull as another cried out with a shattered shoulder and the third escaped injury by a finger’s breadth.

And before Jin Jin could do more than blanche with surprise, Alex was already in motion.

Bullrush! Bullrush!

Find Weakness skillcheck made!

Dark Qi Projection in effect.

Darting forward, suddenly in front of the closest hulking cultivator who snarled and swung his weight stone club with a vicious snarl. Only for the brute to find himself stumbling forward, dexterity clearly not that much better than the average mortals, eyes widening when Alex flowed away from the blow so gracefully it almost seemed choreographed. And perhaps the brute was snarling for the pity he saw in Alex’s eyes as much as from the frustration of his miss.

Either way, it was the last cogent thought the thug would ever have as his skull exploded, painting a horrified Jin Jin in a spray of bones, brain, and blood.

You have successfully channeled the force and fury of the storm! Spinning hook kick critically strikes opponent’s skull. Fatality!

Alex couldn’t help but revel in the fierce sense of exultation he felt even as he spun away from crimson death before darting forward and dropping under the second soldier’s lumbering strike, time seeming to stretch and slow as Alex sensed the weakness his foe’s stumbling stride, his sweep kick exploding through tendons and ligaments, blasting completely through his shrieking opponent’s ankle as the soldier collapsed to the ground, spurting blood and screams as frantic hands desperately sought to stem the tide of spurting blood.

To no avail.

You have successfully slain two Rank 1 Bronze (strength) cultivators!

Experience earned!

Alex sprung back to his Dark Qi covered feet with a cold, cold smile as the Wujen Roared, A howling gust of wind and daggers of ice tearing through the air.

Qi Deflection enhanced by Piercing Strike.

Critical Success!

The wujen forced to gaze on in wide-eyed stupefaction when the prismatic flash of a dao disrupted his spell entirely.

Only then did the shock upon Jin Jin’s face transform to outrage.

“No! I don’t care what Hulijin magics you Ruidians possess. You cannot slice through—"

Dao swapped for Fangtian Ji! Silver Ranked storage device allows for instantaneous transfer!

You have successfully tapped into the whirlwind.

The mightiest of rivers is now crashing through your soul!

The Wujen’s words were cut off as a storm of cleaving slashes forced him completely on the defensive, Alex taking full advantage of the high ceiling, one more trick to assuage the purse strings and soothe the eyes of prospective customers who would otherwise feel uncomfortable and anxious in what was effectively an underground cell. Now working completely in Alex’s favor as he danced and darted around his foe, his one unaltered fangtian ji cleaving through the air with the blinding speed of a dao’s flickering moulinets, propelled by the force and fury of the roaring sea.

His foe’s deadly jian was smacked off-line in an eyeblink, and before the man could do anything other than gasp, Alex snapped his hips and blasted off his backfoot, instantly disrupting his windmilling series of slashes for an unexpected thrust, his fangtian ji lunging forward and twisting to trap his opponent’s sword arm between the spearhead and the crescent axeblades of his weapon.

Strength check modified by Rank 7 Silver Swan & Rank 7 White Crane Kung Fu – Critical success!

A twist and a snap and the Wujen cried out when wrist bones audibly cracked and his enchanted blade went cartwheeling through the air. Because wards that might prevent attacks from piercing skin did very little to defend fragile bones and ligaments trapped by a body cultivator’s chosen weapon.

Bullrush!

Finesse check made!

Jin Jin gave a sharp cry of pain, one hand falling limp as he gazed on in horrified stupefaction when Alex darted back and leaped for the windmilling blade, catching it with a single Dark Qi covered fist. For his legionnaire’s bronze and magical mail shirt had half-sleeves alone, complimenting his own gifts perfectly.

You have successfully stored Magical Treasure! Power Level – High Silver. Affinity – Water. Type –jian (piercing attack. Pierces armor as easily as water slipping between the cracks of any defense!) – You have designated this artifact as belonging to cultivator Xian Hong.

Alex smirked at the wide-eyed Jin Jin.

“No! How? You are an abomination!”

“Hold that thought!” Alex said, darting away in an eyeblink.

Qi Perception check made!

Bullrush!

It was nothing for Alex to blast through the thin paper walling, darting faster than the pair of fleeing soldiers could move, the pair crashing to a stop before the coldly smiling Ruidian, his fangtian ji held in high guard as the pair of soldiers drew their own gladii, the leaf shape blades held in anxious grips that knew theirs would be a futile charge.

But Alex could tell they were determined to make it anyway. Determined to charge past the Ruidian blocking the narrow exit they were desperate to get through.

“Move, fool, or die to our—”

The rearmost soldier cried and stumbled back when Alex’s fearsome weapon streaked through the air, the storm of Qi all around him synergizing with the leverage and reach of a six-foot polearm combined with the cleaving power of a late Bronze with the strength of someone who had already broke through to Silver, resulting in power sufficient to cleave the threatening guard in half in a shower of shattered bronze tiles and blood without Alex needing to channel any specialized attacks at all. Relying on the storm of Qi flooding his meridians alone.

Because Alex’s goal this day wasn’t to cut down his foes in the quickest manner possible. It was to better unify his arts in the crucible of battle, to master his chosen path and be worthy of his disciples, including the girl who would claim his heart, now depending on him utterly to forge a path that would lead them from the shoals of Bronze to the heights of Jade.

One day.

In other words, he was eager to bring his three martial styles to Rank 8 as fast as he damn well could.

Though Alex gave full credit to Master Zing’s personally forged and sharpened fangtian ji heads for his enemy’s surprisingly thorough bisection, the weapon truly felt every bit as good in the hand as master merchant Deng had claimed. Far more massive than lesser counterparts, designed more for cleaving through cavalry like a guandao than the lighting-fast dance of spears, bladed staves, and ko-naginata that light and flexible spring-steel blades atop skywood staffs would allow. The very weapons he had purchased with his two future queens in mind.

But in the hands of a skilled Bronze not afraid to embrace his own strength…

His fangtian ji was a fearsome weapon indeed.

The second guard was stumbling back. “No, please, mercy!”

And Alex answered with the only mercy he would ever show the Red Prince’s dogs.

“Black Swan!”

He channeled his killing arts into the thrust he had just begun to fully master while taking down Adepts eager for his death now taking advantage of the deadly wisdom flooding through his soul along with the potency and experience of all his kills… unleashing the howling tsunami with the same focused intensity as a hurricane grabbing ahold of a single errant straw, with such speed and power it could puncture solid wood.

Or the pounding flood of water condensed to a single deadly spout.

Hitting his foe with such force that the man’s armored skull ruptured like a grenade, bone and metal tearing right through the paper-thin walls and startling the Wujen Alex sensed leaving the area as fast as he could. Alex did his utmost to master forces that could have blasted through even a charging Greater spirit boar as he grunted with the sudden backlash of discordant counter-currents, never having dared a Black Swan thrust with any weapon save his spear hand strike until now.

But that wasn’t the point.

The point today was to perfect his killing arts in the best way he knew how.

Perhaps in the only way he knew how.

In the crucible of battle, against foes who wanted him dead.

A black gift he would gladly return until the seas wept with the blood of his foes.

You have successfully used Black Swan in a straight-line attack! You have failed to save versus Meridian Strain. Qi Pool reduced by six points until meridians fully restored.

You sense your prey getting away!

Bullrush! Bullrush!

Black Swan!

And before his foe could slam shut the massive door serving as the vault to his inner sanctum, it was smashed off its hinges when Alex unleashed the full power and fury of the sea in a spinning wheel kick that came far easier to him than trying to channel his deadliest skill into a straight-line thrust.

A single desperate scream, and it was over.

Alex felt only a momentary spike of pain when his Dark Qi covered foot tore the metal door off its hinges, slamming into the now dying cultivator, the Wujen’s wards overwhelmed when a ton of bronze and stone crushed him flat.

Power Healing engaged!

Cracked bone healed near instantly as Alex approached the crumpled form of Jin Jin.

He gazed at the body for long moments, heart still pounding with the rush of battle, ready to plunge his weapon over and over again with killing force if his opponent so much as twitched…

When he got the message he both hoped for and feared.

Congratulations! You have slain Rank 1 Silver Wujen.

Experience earned!

He felt both elated and struck with an odd sense of grief.

He hadn’t wanted to kill Jin Jin. Not until the moment the man had made it clear how eager he was for Alex’s blood. From that moment on? No mercy. Just the furious frenzy of battle and the dark exultation of tearing his foes’ lives from their beating hearts.

But why the hell had it even come to this?

He was almost certain that if he had left after his original purchase, no bloodshed would have followed. He and Jin Jin might even have parted as cautious friends.

But the moment he had mentioned wanting more, Jin Jin had been enticing him with the prizes he most desired. As if the man had known exactly what Alex needed for the girls under his care.

Or, perhaps, Jin Jin had thought that Alex sought magical treasures on behalf of another.

In an unguarded moment, he had called Alex a hunter.

Showing him Xian Hong’s priceless treasures, as if trying to goad Alex into confessing those artifacts were what he was after all along.

When it had been the farthest thing from his mind.

All so he could be certain that Alex was indeed Prince Dongfang Hong’s target, Jin Jin’s knowing smile and probing gestures only then snapping into a rictus of greed and bloodlust as he tried to take Alex’s head.

Only for the life of a Silver Wujen that might easily have stretched on for countless centuries, with who knew how many hard fought insights and revelations to share, to end ignominiously under a ton of bronze and stone.

“Damn fool,” Alex thought, giving a bitter shake of his head. Though not hesitating for a heartbeat to claim the priceless treasures he sensed on the man.

Artificer Skill check made!

And with a few cautious touches, he knew.

An amulet Alex sensed would ward the wielder from any ranged projectile. A gladius radiating deadly venom Qi. The robe of finest silk he wore, from which Alex sensed warding magics that would deflect and trap any cutting edge. Robes that would do absolutely nothing against a massive slab of bronze and stone smashing one to paste.

Sadly, whatever other treasures the man might have had, had been crushed by the door.

Though Alex was happy enough to claim a felt-lined pouch containing his four spirit pearls, and another with twelve old crowns and fifty silver teals. And why the man didn’t have a pouch of holding, Alex didn’t know. Perhaps Alex had just grown ridiculously jaded with WiFu’s own prizes in mind, to say nothing of having taken choice pickings from five potent cultivators in the wealthiest cultivation academy in the capital city of the entire province.

And all the wealth he had claimed was absolutely nothing compared to the prizes awaiting his perusal upon stands of leather and wood.

Two priceless sets of armor that would perfectly fit the queen of his heart, and perhaps the future queen of YanTu nation as well.

In an eyeblink, both treasures were stored in Duo Ko’s pouch, Alex sensing the vast storage space it still held, and a sturdiness surpassing his other storage space treasure.

It was only when he dared to open the second door after cautiously covering his entire arm in Dark Qi, a flash of insight having him flood the lock with liquid darkness, that then solidified with ever increasing pressure until he heard a click and a notification he absolutely had not expected.

Congratulations! You have diffused Wujen Deathward. You have forced open Inferior Lock

Lockpicking is now Rank 1!

He gave a rueful chuckle. As glorious and terrible as the last few days had been, thanks to his interface, he still sometimes felt like he was playing his favorite childhood game.

Despite the lack of dragons.

Though there were sweet rolls and sticky buns aplenty in every market stall in this world, absolutely teaming with bountiful crops and well-fed people in the millions. And if countless women vibrant with health in a world so filled with spiritual energy had the same glow as the strikingly beautiful leads in half the martial action movies he had so loved to watch as a kid, he counted that the sweetest of blessings, for all that it made the cost of his forbidden art all the sharper.

No matter that he had every intention of saving himself for one angel in particular.

A girl who, despite her sensual grace and stunning beauty, could fight just as ruthlessly and fiercely as he.