Chapter 257: Water Avoiding Pearl

It was just two days ago when the players swarmed in.

Chen Shicheng pondered for a long time but still couldn't figure it out: why would the players' arrival provoke such a huge reaction from the Zhenhai King? Could it be that news from the Capital City had reached here, and the Zhenhai King was preparing in advance? He shook his head, temporarily suppressing that thought, and began to inquire about the situation at the grain shops in Broad Spring City.

The frustrating part is that all the grain shops claimed there had been no large-scale grain trades recently; they were just ordinary citizens buying daily necessities. Although the total amount summed up to a large number, every buyer was a familiar face to the shop clerks.

That being the case, it couldn't have been the work of Japanese pirate spies. He wandered around until night fell, then Chen Shicheng finally called it quits, preparing to find an inn to rest for a day.

However, at that moment, Shuigu Tang suddenly sent him a message, saying the immortal artifact had been obtained and telling him to meet at the entrance of the Zhenhai Wangfu.

Chen Shicheng glanced at the sky, temporarily put aside the idea of finding a place to rest, and changed course toward the Zhenhai Wangfu.

Compared to the somewhat shabby offices of Broad Spring City, the gate of the Zhenhai Wangfu was magnificent and imposing, like a sturdy city gate standing before the mansion, displaying power and dignity.

Although this was within the bounds of Broad Spring City and no one was forbidden from passing, not a single civilian dared to walk past here, leaving the front of the mansion rather desolate.

So, as soon as Chen Shicheng arrived, he spotted Shuigu Tang sneaking around nearby.

This guy had changed his appearance again, loitering nonstop at the mouth of the alley, attracting the attention of a bunch of garrison soldiers without even realizing it.

As for how to recognize Shuigu Tang after yet another change of appearance, Chen Shicheng said he already had the experience.

To pick Shuigu Tang out of a crowd, you can't go by appearance; you have to distinguish the aura using Divine Perception.

Her aura was exactly the same as that of the person she was mimicking, but with careful discrimination one could still barely sense a hint of familiarity; the reason might be the Relic, but that has nothing to do with Chen Shicheng.

When the garrison soldiers guarding the gate looked at her and couldn't help but want to drive her away, Chen Shicheng rushed forward, smiling apologetically as he pulled her aside, walking and saying speechlessly.

"You didn't see those soldiers' glares that wanted to shoot you twice, did you? This place lets you choose."

"What's there to fear? I'm not in my true form; if you dare to stab me, I'll cause a huge scene at the Zhenhai Wangfu, and anyway, if I change my identity later, they won't be able to find me." Shuigu Tang said nonchalantly.

Aren't you curious why I'm staring at a stranger's appearance and then just grabbing you and leaving?

Chen Shicheng really wanted to tell her that her transformation actually had flaws, but seeing her fearless demeanor, he thought it over and still didn't say it.

As the saying goes, people can't teach people, but events can. Hehe.

Once she suffers a loss, she'll know what cultivation is and what it means that there are always people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens.

"Alright, the immortal artifact—bring it out and let's have a look."

After avoiding the soldiers' gaze, Chen Shicheng took hold of Shuigu Tang and asked eagerly.

After hearing that, Shuigu Tang obviously felt a bit embarrassed, fumbling around in her storage basket until Chen Shicheng grew impatient, at which point she shoved a green bead into his hand and then turned and walked away.

"Here's the thing—check its Attribute yourself; it's definitely a rare immortal artifact."

Although Shuigu Tang's reaction was somewhat thought-provoking, Chen Shicheng's mind was already filled with the immortal artifact, so he didn't have time for that; he quickly used the Eye of Bai Ze to appraise the plain-looking bead in his hand.

【Water Avoiding Pearl (Immortal Artifact): This is a miraculous bead left from antiquity; it allows you to breathe and move freely underwater as if on flat ground, and it can part a dry path through towering waves for unobstructed passage, increasing underwater movement speed by 20%.】

???

Chen Shicheng was utterly bewildered. There's no doubt this Water Avoiding Pearl is an immortal artifact; although its appearance lacks any flashy effects, that's because divine objects conceal their brilliance, but this function seems rather useless, right?

Underwater breathing?

He had a breathing mask snatched from a foreign merchant; although its duration was a bit short, it's currently sufficient, after all he doesn't need to live underwater.

Movement speed +20%?

He walks around with a flashy teleport anyway—who actually walks like a normal person? As for calming wind and waves, it's utterly useless.

Even if he goes out to sea, he just follows the coastline—where would he encounter big wind and big waves?

Moreover, even if he were to go on a long voyage, wouldn't using immortal artifact shoes that teleport once a month be fragrant?

Who would still suffer through sailing, battling the wind and blowing against the mountains!

"Shuigu Tang!!!"

By the time Chen Shicheng reacted and went looking for the culprit who had deceived him with this trick, Shuigu Tang had already vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving only dust rising in the air.

He sent several messages via friend chat, but Shuigu Tang just played dead, giving off the 'read but no reply' attitude of 'what can you do to me?'

"Good! Very good! Excellent!"

Chen Shicheng resentfully tossed the Water Avoiding Pearl into his storage compartment, deciding that next time they met he would have to settle the score with her properly.

I can do without the thing, but you absolutely cannot use this auxiliary immortal artifact to deceive me.

But he also has only himself to blame, for not asking about the immortal artifact's Attribute beforehand, which led to this result.

"They're all lessons."

Chen Shicheng felt as if he had lost eight hundred million, his spirits low as he walked toward the inn he had previously found.

However, as he passed by the mansion's gate, he suddenly discovered that, whereas the street had been empty just moments before, now a large cart drawn by four horses was parked there, surrounded by a full complement of soldiers.

The mansion's side gate was open, with six people walking out; leading them was a man with a small moustache, wearing a silk long robe, and judging by the plaque at his waist, he seemed to be the mansion's steward.

But the five people behind him were somehow off—not strange exactly, but their appearance, attire, and demeanor were all perfectly normal, yet Chen Shicheng just felt that something was off about them, no matter how he looked.

He was a god cultivator, with over a hundred god attributes granting him extraordinarily powerful spiritual perception, so anyone who could make him feel something was off must have some detail he had overlooked.

"Hiss, what's wrong with them? Damn, these five people are bow-legged!" Chen Shicheng exclaimed, suddenly realizing.

Swish! Swish! Swish! As his voice rang out, all the garrison soldiers before the mansion's gate turned to look at him in unison; even those five bow-legged individuals who had just stepped out of the gate turned their heads, frowned, pointed at Chen Shicheng, and said something to the steward beside them.

"Uh."

Chen Shicheng blinked, unsure whether to go ahead and attack or to quickly make his escape.

Whether bow-legged or not doesn't matter; the important thing is that five bow-legged individuals have gathered together! (End of chapter)