When Mo Fan stepped out of the Hundred Weapons Pavilion, nearly all the spirit stones he had accumulated over time were spent, and even the spoils he had previously gained were pawned.
“I still underestimated the value of these artifacts!”
Mo Fan took a deep breath, pursing his lips, but there was no trace of frustration in his heart. Instead, he was filled with joy.
This time, his gains were immense. Not only had he secured artifacts for his group of lesser demons, but he had also resolved the issue of the medicinal bath container.
The so-called container was a furnace, a legendary alchemy furnace.
In the fox demon’s words, “It must withstand fire and resist corrosion, so it has to be an alchemy furnace!”
The furnace Mo Fan bought was called the “Thousand Tribulations Furnace.” Its name was rather grand, though its grade was only mid-tier, yet its price surpassed all other artifacts combined.
“In the cultivation world, the most valuable things are elixirs, but elixirs require an alchemist and a furnace to refine. Thus, the price of an alchemy furnace is naturally far higher than ordinary artifacts.”
“We, the Hundred Weapons Pavilion, only have this one furnace. It was meant for an alchemist. If you think it’s too expensive, you don’t have to take it.”
Those were the fox demon’s exact words, and they were precisely what convinced Mo Fan to make the purchase.
After all, if he missed this chance, there wouldn’t be another.
What puzzled Mo Fan, however, was that he hadn’t seen the old man he suspected to be the White Tiger Holy King, even as he was about to leave the market.
“Could I have guessed wrong? This place isn’t his property?”
“Was he just passing by that day?”
Mo Fan frowned, unable to make sense of it.
In his view, if that senior was truly watching him, once Mo Fan guessed his identity, the senior would surely meet him.
Yet, there was no response, like a stone sinking into the sea.
“Or perhaps my cultivation is too low…”
Mo Fan fell silent, then gave a self-deprecating smile, “As a mere chess piece, how could I dare hope to meet the one moving the pieces?”
Just as Mo Fan was about to leave the market, he suddenly spotted a familiar face behind a nearby stall.
Perhaps sensing Mo Fan’s gaze, the other party looked over, their pupils shrinking in recognition.
“Red-Backed Centipede!”
Mo Fan’s heart jolted. He never expected to encounter the red-backed centipede demon he had transformed alongside back then!
What shocked him even more was that this centipede demon, through some stroke of fortune, had fully transformed and reached the Demon Ding Realm!
This creature was the first demon Mo Fan had seen in this world, so its face was etched in his memory.
Mo Fan quickly approached the centipede demon’s stall, glancing at the items for sale. Most were low-grade spirit ginseng and various items from human cultivators, a chaotic mix, almost like a general store with a bit of everything.
From the bloodstains on many items, Mo Fan could tell this centipede demon had likely killed and plundered since its transformation.
Though the stall had many items, none were what Mo Fan needed. He looked up at the centipede demon, grinning, “Do you remember me, friend?”
“You must have mistaken me for someone else. I don’t know you,” the centipede demon shook its head, then asked, “Do you need anything, friend?”
Mo Fan, as if not hearing, studied him closely and said gravely, “I remember you had half your body severed by that little girl. I thought you were dead, but it seems your luck is as good as mine. Not only did you survive, but you’ve had some fortune and broken through to the Demon Ding Realm!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the centipede demon shook its head again.
“No matter if you don’t. You’re selling these things here, so you must be short on spirit stones. If you trust me, join me. I’m never short on spirit stones. Serve me as your master, and I’ll give you a hundred low-grade spirit stones each month. How about it?” Mo Fan smiled.
“If you’re looking for a servant, go to the Spirit Beast Court. If you’re not buying, leave and don’t disturb my business,” the centipede demon said coolly, impatience in his tone.
“Fine, since you’re unwilling, we’ll part ways here!”
Mo Fan nodded, not lingering, and walked away.
Though the centipede demon gave him a sense of meeting an old friend in a foreign land, he wasn’t set on recruiting him. His main goal was the centipede demon’s venom!
As Mo Fan cultivated the Ten Thousand Poisons Spirit Body, the rarest thing he needed was centipede demon venom. At least on Black Wind Mountain, he had never seen another centipede demon.
Mo Fan did leave, but not before setting a bait, certain the centipede demon would bite!
Watching Mo Fan’s departing figure, the centipede demon’s calm expression finally wavered, his eyes flickering. A closer look would reveal double pupils in his eyes, eerie and unsettling!
Mo Fan left the ruined temple market but didn’t rush off, instead strolling leisurely.
Once he was outside the market’s protective range, someone lurking in the shadows couldn’t hold back. From the thick layer of decayed leaves, a figure burst out, a massive curved blade slashing at Mo Fan’s head.
“Clang!”
A flash of flame, and Mo Fan was sent sliding back by the immense force, leaving two gouges in the ground.
“Quite some strength. My arm’s gone numb from the shock. But your weapon’s lacking—it couldn’t even breach my Crimson Flame Golden Armour!”
Mo Fan rubbed his right arm, which he had used to block the sneak attack.
As he spoke, demonic energy surged around him. A crimson glow emerged from his skin, forming a red armour that covered his body, leaving only his head and fingers unprotected.
This was the Crimson Flame Golden Armour, a high-grade artifact combining fire and metal elements for both attack and defence!
“Didn’t you just say you didn’t know me?”
“Why so quick to attack?”
Mo Fan grinned at the centipede demon, now clad in a bright red robe.
The centipede demon’s face darkened. His twin crocodile blades were razor-sharp, comparable to ordinary mid-grade artifacts.
Yet they couldn’t even scratch this guy’s defence, giving the centipede demon a bad feeling.
“Leave that armour, and I’ll let you go!”
The centipede demon spoke gravely, stepping closer to Mo Fan.
“Did I hear that right?”
“You’ll let me go?”
Mo Fan burst into laughter, then his smile vanished, replaced by cold indifference. “You can’t even break my defence, yet you dare speak so boldly!”
“Who gave you such courage?”
“I thought it’d be a heartfelt reunion, but you had to stab me in the back!”
“Since that’s the case, I’ll grant your wish!”
Mo Fan snorted coldly, stepping forward and charging at the centipede demon.
The centipede demon sneered, “You think I’m scared of you?”
“Divine Ability: Bewitching Golden Light!”
Instantly, two dazzling golden beams shot from the centipede demon’s eyes, dimming the world around them.
“Ah!”
Mo Fan screamed, his eyes stinging painfully, tears streaming as he instinctively shut them.
“Die!”
The centipede demon closed in, his twin crocodile blades slashing at Mo Fan’s head again.
