Chapter 16: Pay-to-Win Soul Game

"Li Siyu, how much Shou Shou Jili do you have on hand?"

"Wait a moment, let me ask... combined, we have 86 points of Shou Shou Jili. Grandpa, do you need them?"

"Transfer them to me via the guide; I have great use for them."

Moments later, Li Tie, located in Di Zhao Village, received the 86 points of Shou Shou Jili transferred by his granddaughter. Adding the 17 points of Shou Shou Jili earned from killing cursed soldiers, his total Shou Shou Jili reached 103 points.

At this moment, he summoned the function panel, opened Shangcheng, and selected the weapon category.

Immediately, a dazzling array of weapon types came into view.

Iron Sword:

Quality: Level 1

Item Description: A sword-shaped weapon forged from ordinary metal.

Item Price: 5 Shou Shou Jili

Iron Axe:

Quality: Level 1

Item Description: An axe-shaped weapon forged from ordinary metal.

Item Price: 5 Shou Shou Jili.

The first few pages contained very ordinary weapons; these weapons clearly lacked the strength to combat Spirit Vessels.

After flipping through several pages, Li Tie's gaze focused on a blue weapon.

【Mountain-Shaking Axe】:

Quality: Level 8.

Item Description: Forged from ice iron, the axe handle is carved with beast patterns; when swung, beast roars follow.

Item Price: 100 Shou Shou Jili.

This was the best weapon Li Tie could purchase with the Shou Shou Jili he possessed.

After using his consciousness to tap the purchase button, a blue battle axe materialized out of thin air before him, gradually solidifying from illusion.

Just as the battle axe fully solidified and fell, Li Tie reached out and gripped the axe firmly in his hand.

Having completed the purchase, Li Tie immediately left the village and set out toward the direction of Spirit Vessel Valley.

After a one-hour journey, during which he killed several cursed soldiers along the way, Li Tie's Gargoyle level reached 5. Passing the hill ahead, he arrived once again at the entrance of Spirit Vessel Valley, where five Spirit Vessels surrounded him.

These five Spirit Vessels were all First Generation Meng Yuan Chu, namely Li Man (Battle Axe), Po Sui (Blade), Heng Sao (Sword), Li Hun (Spear), and Ming Gui (Staff).

At this moment, the other four Spirit Vessels dispersed, leaving only the Li Man Axe hovering before him, issuing a challenge.

The battle was on the verge of erupting.

The Level 8 quality Mountain-Shaking Axe whistled through the wind, striking directly at the suspended Li Man Axe, producing a sound of metal clashing upon collision.

After colliding more than ten times in succession, Li Tie's Hukou went numb; looking down, he found his Hukou had already cracked, with green blood from his Gargoyle form flowing down the wound.

Looking at the Mountain-Shaking Axe in his hand, he saw more than ten chips of varying sizes on the blade surface; the feedback information indicated the weapon was already in a slightly shattered state.

"Again!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Tie swung the Mountain-Shaking Axe once more to meet the Li Man Axe's slash.

Under continuous collisions, Li Tie's right arm was soaked in green blood, his loose white hair dancing in the wind, making him look like a madman.

Soon, the battle axe in Li Tie's hand could bear no more and shattered; instantly, his body was pierced by the other four Spirit Vessels shooting at him, ending the battle in a crushing defeat.

But this battle proved the guide's guess: only when holding a weapon would one be regarded by Spirit Vessels as a challenger.

One hour later.

Li Tie's figure reappeared at the respawn point in Di Zhao Village.

The battle with the Li Man Axe, though lacking any contest of technique, provided feedback through pure collision of strength that left him exhilarated, reducing the murderous intent in his heart.

At this moment, a prompt feedback appeared in his mind.

【Challenger Prompt: Resurrection consumes 10 points of Shou Shou Jili; remaining Shou Shou Jili balance is insufficient to pay the resurrection fee. Remaining Shou Shou Jili: -7】

【Challenger Prompt: Shou Shou Jili is negative; currently unable to use Shang Cheng Gong functions, Star Pulse Enhancement, etc.】

This setting left Li Tie somewhat helpless.

Summoning the contact list, he found his granddaughter's avatar and selected to connect.

Shortly after, a video light curtain popped up before him; the image showed his granddaughter in her Eagle-Headed Demon form.

"Grandpa, is something wrong?"

As soon as she spoke, a noisy sound came from the image; a huge black worm rose abruptly from behind his granddaughter, violently whipping its head to sweep a player flying, flashing across the image and leaving behind a cry of shock.

"How much Shou Shou Jili do you have on hand?"

"Out of Shou Shou Jili again?"

Li Li Siyu appeared somewhat surprised, but quickly nodded and said:

"Grandpa, wait a moment; let us finish fighting this worm before we talk."

Having spoken, Li Li Siyu flapped her small wings, bared her teeth, and flew toward the black worm whose upper half was writhing wildly while its lower half was stuck in a pile of bones.

The battle lasted five minutes; after killing the worm, Li Li Siyu, panting heavily, looked toward the connection light curtain transformed by the guide and said:

"Grandpa, why do you need so much Shou Shou Jili?"

"I encountered a powerful monster; I need a weapon to fight it."

"Alright, let me ask them how much Shou Shou Jili they currently have available."

At this moment, the image followed Li Li Siyu's viewpoint and turned toward the other members of Fan Zui Tuan.

Facing the inquiry, the members of Fan Zui Tuan truthfully reported the remaining amount of Shou Shou Jili on their persons.

Regarding the matter of pooling money to buy equipment for Grandpa Tie, the team members were not resistant.

In their eyes, Grandpa Tie was the absolute core of the team, and in terms of strength, he was the sole powerhouse of the team; in previous games, they had also invested game resources into Grandpa Tie first, allowing Grandpa Tie to become strong first.

Facing Grandpa Tie's request, they unhesitatingly took out the Shou Shou Jili obtained from killing monsters and traded it to Li Li Siyu.

Li Li Siyu then transmitted the Shou Shou Jili via the guidance system to Li Tie, who was still in Emperor's Tomb Village.

After receiving 82 points of Shou Shou Jili, the system automatically deducted 7 points of Shou Shou Jili debt, and Li Tie set off once again toward the direction of the Artifact Spirit Valley.

Along the way, he continuously searched for and killed Cursed Weapons; his level rose to 6, and he had gathered enough to purchase a weapon: 100 points of Shou Shou Jili.

When the blue battle axe was back in his hand, Li Tie's aura changed accordingly.

"Again!"

Gazing at the hillside not far away, he set off toward it without hesitation.

An hour and a half later.

Li Li Siyu received another connection call from Li Tie.

Li Li Siyu, who had already entered the Dark Cave and was discussing with the Brick-Moving Team at what price to purchase Shou Shou Jili, was completely speechless.

A few minutes later, she transferred the purchased Shou Shou Jili to Li Tie:

"Grandpa, I just transferred the 100 points of Shou Shou Jili I bought to you, but don't turn off the video; just keep it on. I want to see what monster you are challenging."

Upon hearing this, Li Tie did not refuse.

After purchasing the battle axe, he left the village and set off toward the direction of the Artifact Spirit Valley.

For this challenge, all members of the Fan Zui Team came to the video light screen to watch, and even members of the Brick-Moving Team joined the viewing out of curiosity.

When they saw the Artifact Spirit, the watching players exclaimed in shock.

Because the monster Li Tie was challenging was actually a Meng Yuan Chu monster.

What surprised them even more was that the Meng Yuan Chu Artifact Spirit actually chose to duel Li Tie fairly, rather than ganging up on him.

The battle quickly decided the victor; Li Tie was killed and logged off once again, but the crimson light radiating from the surface of the Li Man Axe, which had been challenged consecutively, also dimmed a few shades.

An hour later, a group of players who were mining gathered around the video light screen once again.

Facing Grandpa, who asked for Shou Shou Jili the moment he opened his mouth, Li Li Siyu's expression was helpless, yet she did not dissuade him; she knew Grandpa was always single-minded.

Others turn back only after hitting the south wall; Grandpa, if he cannot break the south wall, will smash against it until he dies.

Fortunately, this time they had spent 25,000 to acquire 500 points of Shou Shou Jili from the Brick-Moving Team, leaving enough capacity to support Grandpa's challenge against the Artifact Spirit.

After completing the transfer, a new round of challenges began.

But the challenge livestream came to an end half an hour later.

Li Tie was killed by the Artifact Spirit "Li Man Axe" once again.

Seeing the light screen image darken, the expressions of the watching players became very spectacular.

Staying Up Late and Midnight Snacks: Big Sister, please persuade Grandpa Tie; this game has no microtransaction top-up channels, and the Shou Shou Jili on our bodies cannot withstand Grandpa Tie's consumption like this.

Is This a Beaver?: Grandpa Tie is a true man; I wouldn't even dare to imagine a battle with full pain feedback, but fighting the Artifact Spirit consumes too much Shou Shou Jili. I suggest giving up temporarily and challenging again after your strength has grown.

Word Ma Ya: Big Sister, your short-term goal of unlocking the second Star Vein slot and inlaying the Bone Fire form seems to be getting further and further away (Sad Face).

Just then, Li Zheng, who had come over, suddenly interjected a sentence that silenced all the Fan Zui Team players:

"You rich people are really interesting; is this paying to help an old man play a Souls-like game?"

The Fan Zui Team members' gazes all turned to Li Zheng, who was standing behind them, holding a mining pick, with a confused expression.

Seeing that the Fan Zui Team members were not speaking, Li Zheng couldn't help but scratch his head;

"Spending money for an elderly person to challenge a high-difficulty boss; isn't this paying to help an old man play a Souls-like game?"

Fan Zui Team members:...

Regarding Li Zheng's statement, they didn't know how to refute it for a moment.

(End of Chapter)