Chapter 67: Seven-Colored Liusui Never-Night Sky

Without realizing it.

On the Wish Jade, a faint light rose, releasing waves of cool, refreshing energy.

Jiang Jian immediately felt his mind and spirit grow calm.

A trace of restlessness was nearly swept clean away.

“This Wish Jade actually has this kind of use.”

Jiang Jian turned his palm and grasped the jade pendant in his hand.

Its touch was cold and hard, clearing his mind and sharpening his focus.

In contrast,

the Qi-accumulating armlet on his wrist, though capable of gathering spiritual energy, offered negligible practical benefit when used.

“Compared to divine weapons,”

“these technological devices are indeed crude.”

Jiang Jian put away the Wish Jade and stepped out of his bedroom.

The robotic butler approached, its holographic screen flickering with tonight’s menu.

“I’m going out. You can return to the mechanical room.”

Jiang Jian walked past it.

Night fell, yet the campus remained brightly lit.

Below the dormitory complex, Shi Xuan stood with his Moon-Chasing Blade on his back, his expression ambiguous: “Jiang Jian, we’ve been waiting for you. Get in quickly.”

Jiang Jian boarded the aerial shuttle and said, “I just finished a few matches in the Ladder Ranking Tournament.”

The next instant,

Jiang Jian gripped the gangway and halted.

Sitting in the seat before him was a girl in her school skirt.

She sat upright, her face normally cold, but now, seeing Jiang Jian, she bit her lip slightly, her eyes flashing resentment.

Clearly, she still harbored bitterness over the earlier ambush.

From the back of the cabin, Shan Ye’s voice came: “Jiang Jian, what do you think of Yin Yin?”

Jiang Jian ignored her entirely and found his seat, sitting down.

The girl named Yin Yin also turned her head away: “Stop saying nonsense.”

Shan Ye grinned mischievously: “But I think you two are perfect for each other. Yin Yin, haven’t you always told me your standards are high—you want someone good-looking? Isn’t Jiang Jian handsome enough for you?”

Yin Yin pressed her hand to her forehead, dark strands of hair falling as she replied with weary resignation: “Don’t play matchmaker.”

She had just bathed; her slender white fingers carried the faint fragrance of bath gel, mingling with the pleasant scent of her hair, drifting into his nose and mouth.

Shi Xuan boarded last, glanced at Yin Yin, then winked and smirked at Jiang Jian in a peculiar way.

Jiang Jian ignored him too, sitting by the window, and asked Liu Tiezhu: “What’s the difference between the pet shops in Haicheng and the pet market in Erchong Jiangcheng?”

Liu Tiezhu sat beside Jiang Jian: “Are you buying a pet?”

Jiang Jian said: “I came to Haicheng specifically to buy a batch of pets.”

Liu Tiezhu thought for a moment and said: “The pet market in Erchong Jiangcheng mostly features exotic, novelty creatures—vastly diverse, but expensive.”

“The pet shops in Haicheng sell mostly practical creatures, and at much lower prices.”

As they spoke,

the aerial shuttle activated and, within mere minutes, exited the Tianzhu Mountain rail line, leaving Wuchong Jiangcheng behind.

Haicheng stood at the edge of the Tianzhu Mountain range.

At the ocean’s edge, the Liusui Sea Curtain stretched endlessly—from the towering Tianzhu Mountain down to Haicheng’s shores.

Breathtakingly magnificent, awe-inspiring beyond words.

“Jiang Jian, keeping pets is troublesome.”

Liu Tiezhu said, “We’re training every day—we probably won’t have time to care for them.”

Jiang Jian said: “I’m buying pets for another purpose.”

Liu Tiezhu didn’t press further; he pulled out his identity device and tapped a few commands.

The next instant,

a semi-transparent particle screen materialized around them, solidifying into a barrier that silenced all sound.

“I obtained a piece of information through a special channel.”

Liu Tiezhu’s expression turned serious: “Jiang Jian, have you heard of the Two Prefectures’ Dao Debate?”

Jiang Jian fell silent.

Liu Tiezhu raised his identity device and sent Jiang Jian a message: “The Two Prefectures’ Dao Debate is extremely important for our cohort of new students!”

“In one month,”

“within Linjiang Prefecture and Hanjiang Prefecture,”

“all divine-cursed universities in both prefectures will hold an academic exchange.”

“Of particular relevance to us is the Two Prefectures’ Martial Debate—a competition encompassing dozens of divine-cursed universities and covering one hundred thousand new students.”

“One hundred thousand new students, debating through martial prowess!”

“The winner will gain unimaginably abundant resources.”

“And receive a prestigious title jointly bestowed by the two prefectural governments and their two Wish Temples.”

“Prefectural Academic Champion!”

Liu Tiezhu’s eyes gleamed slightly: “Jiang Jian, don’t you want to compete for it?”

The mortal world bustles with competition and the pursuit of fame and gain.

Few can resist the lure of glory and profit.

Jiang Jian paused briefly, then asked: “What are the resource rewards?”

Liu Tiezhu sighed in exasperation: “Isn’t the title of Prefectural Academic Champion enough? This is a honor that can be recorded in your identity device, bringing glory to your ancestors and lasting for centuries!”

Jiang Jian gave no reply.

Liu Tiezhu pointed at his device: “I don’t know the exact rewards, but I can tell you this—enough resources to support a new student’s cultivation up to the Surge Spring realm are guaranteed.”

The particle screen glowed faintly, silencing all sound.

“Then I’ll give it a try.”

Jiang Jian lifted his head and glanced toward the front of the cabin: “Is Yin Yin joining our study team?”

“Yes, her talent is exceptional—though she’s a Body-type, it’s extremely rare.”

Liu Tiezhu followed his gaze: “If you think she’s not qualified, I can replace her without caring about Shan Ye’s feelings.”

Jiang Jian said: “When I was competing in the Ladder Ranking Tournament earlier, I faced her. Her talent is indeed strong—among new students, her strength is decent—but her combat awareness is weak.”

Liu Tiezhu said: “Next weekend, we’ll do a study mission together—use it to test her compatibility and ability. If she’s not up to par, we’ll replace her.”

Jiang Jian nodded: “Mm.”

“Read the email I sent you about the Two Prefectures’ Martial Debate when you have time.”

Liu Tiezhu shut off his identity device and dismissed the soundproof particle screen: “If you’re confirmed to join, our five-member study team is tentatively set.”

Jiang Jian replied: “Alright.”

As they spoke,

the aerial shuttle pierced through Tianzhu Mountain and descended toward Haicheng.

It was already 9 p.m.

At the horizon’s end, the azure Liusui Sea Curtain hung down.

Forming a massive, semi-transparent vortex, suspended in the sky, slowly rotating.

“Every time I see Haicheng’s Liusui Sea Curtain, I’m awestruck.”

Shan Ye stood by the window, gazing outside.

The Liusui Sea Curtain blocked the ocean, radiating a magnificent blue glow that turned Haicheng as bright as day.

“That’s the pet shop.”

Liu Tiezhu suddenly spoke.

Jiang Jian stood up and followed his gaze.

At the edge of the sea curtain,

a grand, opulent building hung suspended in midair.

Countless streams of light darted through the night sky, swirling around the structure.

“Shi Xuan, I’m going to the pet shop.”

Jiang Jian said, “You don’t need to wait for me—I’ll find you later.”

This large aerial shuttle had been summoned by Shi Xuan.

Shi Xuan was surprised but didn’t ask further.

As he input commands into his identity device, he said: “I’ll go with you.”

Liu Tiezhu added from the side: “I won’t come.”

The aerial shuttle landed at the docking yard.

Jiang Jian stepped down, and Shi Xuan jumped out behind him.

“Why are you buying pets?”

The cabin door closed behind them; Shi Xuan looked puzzled.

"Of course it's meant to be used."

With that, Jiang Jian walked straight toward the pet market.

"Pet" refers to newly born spirit, ghost, or demon entities.

Back in Guangling City, the ghosts Jiang Jian killed while taking contracts on the black market all belonged to this category.

Not every ghost can obtain an identity device and become an unofficial citizen.

Newly born spirit, ghost, or demon entities must apply to their city government, undergo multiple layers of review, and only then receive their own identity device.

Before that, they are not protected by law.

But most of the time,

these spirit, ghost, or demon entities are slaughtered immediately after birth.

They never get the chance to reach the city government and claim an identity device.

The female ghost "Miao Miao" that Jiang Jian killed back then was newly born and could not even leave the closet.

Such ghosts are weak in power and do not even know what an identity device is.

Killing them violates no law whatsoever.

Many people capture these unprotected spirit, ghost, or demon entities and sell them.

Over time, this gave rise to the "pet market."

(End of Chapter)