Chapter 61

Although Zhou Qing didn't understand, the information did say that an incredible broken sword was embedded inside.

The system even used a description like "incredible"; this broken sword is definitely extraordinary.

And the term "extreme-path weapon" sounds domineering just by hearing it; although it's a scrap piece, since it could be embedded and preserved until now, this broken sword is definitely treasure-level.

"Pure spirit stones?"

Zhou Qing immediately took two spirit eggs out of his storage bag and carefully placed them on the millstone.

Just a moment later, the millstone suddenly began to tremble, and immediately after, the energy within the spirit eggs was being consumed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

At the same time, the outline of a sword hilt began to appear bit by bit.

"There really is one!" Zhou Qing was pleasantly surprised.

But soon, as the sword hilt extended half a finger's distance, it stopped, because the energy within the spirit eggs had been exhausted.

Zhou Qing's face changed immediately.

"You've got to be kidding!" These are the only two spirit eggs left produced by the old hen; he usually couldn't bear to use them, so how many would be enough at this rate?

Zhou Qing felt heartache; he had the mind to give up, but both spirit eggs had already been invested without even hearing a sound, and he was somewhat unwilling.

What's more, it's already like this; when the Supreme Elders come in, anyone who isn't blind will be able to see it, and will there still be a share for him?

"Looks like I have to go all out!"

Zhou Qing painfully took out the superior-grade spirit stone gifted by his Sect Master uncle, prayed for a while that it would be enough, and then carefully placed it on top.

Before the broken sword could even absorb it, Zhou Qing snatched it back with quick eyes and hands.

"Broken sword brother, wait a moment; this superior-grade spirit stone was exchanged with my life, and I haven't been able to bear using it until now. Can its first time be given to me? Okay, if you don't speak, I'll take it as your default!"

Zhou Qing looked at the superior-grade spirit stone in his hand, hurriedly sat cross-legged, and began to operate the "Taiqing Xuanqi Jue" to breathe.

It was a good while before he opened his eyes, still wanting more.

It must be said that this superior-grade spirit stone is indeed different; although the comfort level isn't as good as a supreme-grade spirit stone, it is very close, and it's countless times better than inferior-grade spirit stones and spirit eggs.

"Alright, I've tasted it, no regrets now. It's your turn, broken sword brother; take it easy, I only have this one!"

After Zhou Qing finished speaking, he placed it back on top.

Afterward, watching it gradually become gray and dim, Zhou Qing bit his clothes tightly, trying not to let his tears fall; in the end, he couldn't stand it anymore and turned around directly—out of sight, out of mind.

Crack—

When he heard a sound, Zhou Qing immediately turned around in surprise.

But when he saw that the broken sword hadn't come out completely, and it was just that this superior-grade spirit stone had shattered into two halves because its energy was exhausted, he was immediately dumbfounded on the spot.

A superior-grade spirit stone, comparable to a full ten thousand inferior-grade ones, just gone like that?

At this moment, Zhou Qing's heart was bleeding with pain, and he was full of regret.

But he was already riding a tiger and couldn't get off.

Suddenly, the ground began to tremble slightly; Zhou Qing's face changed immediately, and seemingly thinking of something, he hurriedly hid to the side.

Soon, he saw a large group of wandering souls rushing out from the deeper passage, and the four leading wandering souls were even exuding Jin Dan realm cultivation.

"It seems it's the same as last time; after the others retreated and discovered I hadn't come out, in order to 'rescue' me, the Supreme Elders had no choice but to send Jin Dan realm senior brothers in to check the situation."

Zhou Qing muttered to himself, and only after watching them roar into the gravity zone did he sneakily come out.

"Red River, Dead Crow, Giant Tree, Heart, Coffin, Wandering Souls..."

Zhou Qing gazed at the pitch-black passage; he really didn't know what kind of secret was hidden inside.

Afterward, he seized the time to return to the millstone and, gritting his teeth, took out that supreme-grade spirit stone.

For so long, he had only absorbed a tiny bit of its pure energy; this is comparable to one hundred superior-grade spirit stones.

"Absorb it then; I don't believe it—the greater the investment, the greater the harvest!"

Zhou Qing could only comfort himself like this.

When this supreme-grade water-attribute spirit stone was placed on top, the millstone shook even more violently, and accompanied by the consumption of energy, the broken sword also clicked and clacked as it crawled out from inside.

At this moment, Zhou Qing only rejoiced that this was a broken one; otherwise, if it ended up in this neither-here-nor-there state, it would only end up as a wedding dress for others in the end.

"You've got to be kidding!"

As time passed bit by bit, the color of this supreme-grade spirit stone quickly turned gray and white, until, just like that superior-grade spirit stone, it clicked and became two empty shells.

Zhou Qing's tears fell immediately; he felt as if the sky were collapsing.

He hadn't been a nouveau riche for long, and he was directly back to square one in one go.

Fortunately, that broken sword was also finally spat out by the millstone at this moment, landing on the ground with a clatter.

Zhou Qing didn't even glance at it, but sniffled and carefully collected the shells of the two spirit stones.

After taking them back, he would crush them and feed them to the old hen to see if it could help make up for it.

After doing all this, he finally looked at the broken sword, crouched down, and picked it up.

This sword looked rusty, and the sword body was covered with reddish-brown rust spots.

The hilt was made of an unknown black material; perhaps it was once smooth and delicate, but now it was rough and unbearable, and the texture in some places had been worn away until it was blurry, leaving only some faint traces.

The connection between the hilt and the sword body had particularly thick rust stains, the blade had long since broken, and the jagged broken edge was covered with rust and tiny nicks, appearing dim and lusterless.

This looked like a piece of ordinary scrap iron that no one would pay attention to even if it were thrown on the ground; it was completely unremarkable.

"Is this really the precious sword I exchanged for at such a great cost?" Zhou Qing still couldn't believe it.

Could the system have made a mistake?

Just as Zhou Qing was preparing to observe it carefully again, an aura of yin accompanied by roars suddenly came from ahead.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing hurriedly put away the broken sword and flashed to the side to hide again.

Soon, he saw those wandering souls returning; although their numbers were much smaller, the Jin Dan realm wandering souls were still full of fighting spirit.

Until he saw them enter the passage, Zhou Qing didn't dare to delay any longer and hurriedly turned the millstone.

After the gravity disappeared, he immediately ran outside.

At the same time, Lu Yaoyao outside was extremely anxious and even more annoyed.

How could she have left Zhou Shixiong behind again this time? Such a big living person, and not a single person noticed.

It was like this last time, and it's like this again this time.

Anyone else would think that their group was deliberately targeting and ostracizing him.

He might not say it, but he must be very upset inside.

Afterward, she looked at the two Jin Dan realm senior brothers who had just experienced a great battle; they were currently in a sorry state and had suffered not-insignificant injuries.

"We have already tried our best to push forward, but from beginning to end, we didn't see Junior Brother Zhou's figure; it is very likely that he has already..."

A core senior brother at the early Jin Dan realm said, stopping mid-sentence.

The others sighed in unison after hearing this.

Indeed, let alone their situation, just the wandering souls of the same rank attracted by these two Jin Dan realm senior brothers—in this coming and going, even if Junior Brother Zhou hid as tightly as possible, he would have been discovered and torn to pieces; how could there still be any possibility of survival?

Of course, it's not absolute; after all, he luckily survived last time and even unlocked the key.

No, we are a bit confused; this is our own place, why do you have to set up such a perverted gravity zone?

It's fine to guard against outsiders, but there's no need to restrict even yourselves to this extent.

What would happen if you carried a key with you?

You are Supreme Elders, who could snatch the key from your hands?

What secret is hidden inside here?

Everyone's hearts were full of confusion.

(End of chapter)