allonlinenovel Chapter 301 Endless
Chapter 301 Endless
Chapter 301 It Never Ends
"I can only offer three silver shells per stone at most. Your stone has no special characteristics whatsoever. I just bought it out of curiosity to play around with, but seven pieces are too few. They're gone before I even got to play with them. I need at least fifty pieces. Can you find any more?"
"Sure, but you'll have to pay a deposit first. That place is too dangerous, so..."
"No problem. Once you find the stone, take it directly to the restaurant lobby and give it to the manager. He will settle the remaining payment with you!"
"Grandpa Bridge, can you tell if there's anything special about these stones?"
"Based on what he said, it should be a mineral like blood-stained stone. Blood-stained stone is formed when the blood of ancient magical beasts or powerful beings is spilled on rocks. Because these magical beasts had very high cultivation levels, their blood contains very powerful energy and will not dry up and decay quickly. Instead, it will seep into the stone and form these blood-stained stones."
Most of the blood energy within Bloodstone gradually dissipates over time, leaving only these slightly malevolent red spots. Only the energy from the blood of extremely powerful magical beasts or great beings will remain for a long time. Even after the blood has dried, the energy information it contains will not dissipate. Some, under certain circumstances, may even develop sentience and give rise to life. For example, Soul Iron Ore tainted with the blood of a supreme being may produce Iron Spirits, and some high-grade spiritual herbs or trees may produce Grass Spirits or Tree Spirits.
It's obvious that this stone stained with the blood of a magical beast is just ordinary rock, incapable of producing any stone spirits. Furthermore, the owner of this blood was likely a low-level magical beast. The reason those low-level magical beasts and beasts with sensitive senses of smell reacted this way is probably because a faint trace of the magical beast's aura remains in the stone, and the energy contained in the blood hasn't completely dissipated.
"What is the use of this blood-stained stone?"
"Stones are of little use to our cultivation. However, if the blood they contain is of a high grade and has special attributes, they can be used for weapon forging to increase the weapon's bloodlust and spirituality. They can also be used to refine attribute-enhancing pills. Of course, blood essence can also be extracted to improve the quality of pets. However, this requires the use of other medicines, which is very troublesome and not very cost-effective. Generally, only those who have money to burn do this!"
"Can you identify the characteristics of the blood within this stone?"
"The energy in these stones is too thin. Even if you put all seven together, you won't be able to extract a trace of it. The quantity is too small to distinguish. If you are interested, wait until the hunter brings all fifty stones, and I will teach you the refining method. Try it yourself, and perhaps you can extract something."
At the west gate of Hexuan City, Gan Ran and his companion were already waiting at the city gate with their horses early in the morning, along with some merchants who were also leaving the city early, waiting for the gate to open.
More than 800 li west of Hexuan City lies Qingling City, another major city of the Qin Kingdom. Due to its proximity to the capital, its commerce is quite developed. Qingling City boasts numerous lakes and rivers, abundant spiritual energy, beautiful scenery, and a comfortable climate—truly an auspicious place. Therefore, many high-ranking officials and nobles of the Qin Kingdom have purchased real estate within the city's jurisdiction, undertaking large-scale construction and building villas.
The city gates opened, and Gan Ran and her companion followed the caravan, intentionally or unintentionally. It was a large caravan with over a dozen wagons fully loaded with goods, accompanied by nearly a hundred mercenaries, all burly and imposing men. Their cultivation levels were at least mid-Earth Rank, with at least twenty or thirty at the peak of the Earth Rank, and the leader was even at the half-step Heaven Rank.
Before leaving the city, Gan Ran and his companion had already become acquainted with the caravan owner. Learning that they were also heading to Qingling City, the caravan warmly invited them to travel together. They looked after each other along the way. The caravan owner, a seasoned veteran of decades of experience, possessed a keen eye for talent despite his relatively low cultivation level. Through brief conversation, although he couldn't discern their cultivation levels, he instinctively felt they were no ordinary individuals. Their profound martial arts skills far surpassed those of the mercenaries he employed, and they were certainly not evil. Building a good relationship with them and traveling together would only benefit their caravan. Therefore, the caravan owner treated them with great courtesy throughout the journey, making every opportunity to strike up a conversation with Gan Ran and his companion. Gan Ran and his companion naturally understood their leader's intentions, and they also intended to use the caravan as a cover, so they didn't expose him. They engaged in casual, wide-ranging conversations, enjoying a pleasant and harmonious journey together.
Traveling with the caravan proved to be relatively smooth, with several days passing without incident. However, the caravan carried a lot of supplies, limiting their speed; they had only covered a little over 400 li in three days, and at this pace, it would take another three or four days to reach Qingling City. If Gan Ran and his companion had ridden alone at high speed, the 800-li journey would have taken only one or two days. However, Gan Ran and his companion weren't in a hurry; their main concern was playing a cat-and-mouse game with the bandits. Therefore, they wished they could travel even slower. Although they hadn't discovered any trace of the bandits along the way, Gan Ran and his companion could sense that the bandits were constantly monitoring their movements, and that there might even be spies within the caravan.
On the fourth day, Gan Ran and his companion decided to leave the caravan and act independently. They had learned the previous night that the treasure left in the restaurant had been taken by Old Man Dugu, and Shi Potian and his men, who were supposed to meet them, had arrived as agreed. It was time to lure the bandits out.
The caravan owner had nothing to say about the two men's departure, but felt a little regretful and couldn't help but try to persuade them to stay a few more times.
The two rode at high speed, quickly putting distance between themselves and the caravan, and soon they were out of sight of the caravan. They entered a small path and headed towards Tianxin City.
An hour later, the two entered a valley and woodland. The winding stone path followed the stream by the mountainside, and the slopes by the stream were covered with colorful wildflowers.
The woods were deserted, and when Gan Ran and his companion's mounts stepped into the woods, the soft clatter of hooves sounded particularly crisp.
"Hey Sikong Nong, don't you think this woodland is a bit too quiet?"
Gan Ran, who was following behind, looked around.
“This post road is narrow and secluded, with few people coming and going, so it is naturally quiet,” Sikong Nong replied.
"That's not what I meant. Didn't you notice? We've been walking in the woods for so long and haven't seen a single bird. Don't you find that strange?"
“Now that you mention it, it’s true. But whatever, we’re here now, so let’s make the best of it. There’s a small town about 30 miles ahead. Let’s rest there and hurry up. We can get there in less than half an hour.”
"Watch out!" Gan Ran suddenly shouted, and at the same time struck a tree three zhang away with his palm. A ball of lightning flame the size of a bowl exploded on the tree trunk.
With a loud 'boom,' a tree a foot thick snapped in half, and a figure behind the trunk was blasted backward, crashing heavily to the ground three zhang away, the crossbow in his hand flying far away as well.
Before the robber, blown apart, could even struggle, Sikong Nong made his move. He pressed his thumb down and flicked his middle finger, sending a three-inch-long, thin, steel-prick-like, dark blue ice spike piercing the man's brow. The man didn't even have time to utter a groan before he died.
"Hey, are you guys ever going to stop? Why are you stalking us like a bug?!"
Gan Ran drew his broadsword and pointed at the three bandits who emerged from the woods ahead. These were three level nine Earth-rank bandits, the same ones who had been killed last time. The four level eight Earth-rank bandits were not present this time; instead, the two leaders, both level heaven-rank, flanked them from behind.
"Leave the stuff behind!" the second-level Heavenly Rank robber said curtly.
"You guys?" Gan Ran sneered.
"The few of them alone are not enough to keep you two here, but with us, it should be about right!"
Two tall, thin old men emerged from the shade of a tree on a distant hillside. They were both dressed in black, but their faces were covered and they wore wide-brimmed straw hats.
These two were identical in appearance, clothing, and even their movements and expressions, like two old ghosts cast from the same mold. The aura they exuded was even more formidable than Gan Ran's. Clearly, they were two peak-level experts on the verge of reaching the third level of the Heavenly Rank. Especially their extremely similar auras indicated they were a pair of highly coordinated masters. Fighting these two would be far more difficult than fighting two experts of equal strength. It was obvious that these two alone could easily defeat Gan Ran and his companion.
"Who exactly are you? With your skills, you are no ordinary people. How come you've even abandoned all shame and become highway robbers?" Gan Ran said in a deep voice.
"How did you know our whereabouts? That's impossible. I decided to take this route on the spur of the moment. How could you have known and laid an ambush here beforehand?" Sikong Nong asked, puzzled.
"Hehe, since you can't escape anyway, considering your considerable strength, I might as well satisfy your curiosity. This is easy to explain, because we have this, and no matter where you go, you can't escape our tracking." One of the old men in black took out a small crystal bottle from his pocket and said.
Inside the crystal bottle was a half-inch-long insect, shaped like a bee, with a bright red head, a dark blue tail and abdomen, and three pairs of translucent wings on its back, crawling around in the bottle.
"Red-headed, blue-tailed bees!" Gan Ran exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, this is a special insect with extremely limited numbers. It's only found in Yinfeng Valley on the border of the Dan Kingdom. This red-headed, blue-tailed bee flies incredibly fast, and its stinger is extremely venomous. An ordinary person would die within half an hour of being stung. Even those of us with Heavenly Rank strength find it difficult to resist its venom, and improper handling could lead to a drop in our cultivation level. This bee only collects honey from a few special flowers and herbs. A swarm stores very little honey in a year; half a cup is considered very good. Moreover, the honey it produces is as thin as water and easily leaks. However, this honey continuously releases a special, very faint woody fragrance. Just a trace of this fragrance can permeate the air for months without dissipating, and ordinary people find it difficult to distinguish. But the red-headed bees that produce the honey can smell it from a hundred miles away," said the old man in black standing at the front.
"Those who possess such methods are certainly not ordinary hunters or organizations. Who exactly are you? Why are you disguising yourselves as ordinary hunters to sell the bile of the golden turtle, and then robbing people on the way? What is your purpose in doing this?"
Gan Ran took out the wooden box containing the bile of the Golden-Eating Turtle and smelled it. Upon closer inspection, she could indeed detect a faint sandalwood scent mixed with a very subtle, unique woody fragrance. The wooden box was made of precious sandalwood and was a decorative box used to store the porcelain bottle containing the bile of the Golden-Eating Turtle.
“Those hunters don’t have that ability! And we don’t need to pretend to be hunters,” the old man in black sneered.
"If you're not the sellers, then you must be from the auction house. I never expected the renowned Qin Kingdom Royal Auction House to engage in such shady dealings!" Sikong Nong shouted.
"The royal family of Qin? Haha, if that's what you think, then so be it. I've made an exception to say so much because you two are both at the Heavenly Rank. I advise you two to be sensible and hand over the items yourselves to avoid a fight! Some things are not for just anyone to touch, even if you consider yourself to be quite powerful."
"You mean the bile of the Golden-Eating Turtle? When did this stuff become a contraband? Besides, how dare you lowly robbers talk such big? Aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew?" Gan Ran sneered.
"Since you two are so stubborn, then we'll have to settle this with our fists! Attack!" The old man in black waved his hand. The five men surrounding the two immediately wielded their weapons and attacked them in a specific sequence of movements.
The early and second-stage Heavenly Realm experts directly engaged Gan Ran and his companion, while three peak Earthly Realm experts held them back from the outside. Two masked old men in black blocked their retreat from the front and back.
The two old men in black did not participate in the battle. Although Gan Ran and his companion were surrounded by five people, the difference in strength meant they faced no pressure and held the upper hand. However, the presence of the two old men prevented them from fighting freely. They had to keep a close eye on the two men at all times, thus holding back some of their strength.
The two old men in black were clearly planning to use these five as cannon fodder to wear down the two others, then reap the benefits. These two old men were obviously of much higher status than the previous five, and even the early-stage Heavenly Rank 2 cultivator dared not voice any objection.
Seeing that Gan Ran and the other person showed no fear, the old man in black began to disturb their concentration.
"Do you think you can escape today? I advise you to give up resistance now, and we'll give you a quick death!" an old man said.
"Several valuable items were auctioned off at that auction, at least three of which were worth more than the Bile of the Golden-Eating Turtle. Although the Bile of the Golden-Eating Turtle is relatively rare and precious, its uses are not widespread. Apart from some use in refining weapons, it is only needed for a few special pills. It can't really be considered a special treasure. So why did we target you specifically for buying the Bile of the Golden-Eating Turtle? Are you confused?" another old man in black said.
"If it were two months ago, we probably wouldn't have cared who bought a bottle of Golden Turtle Bile. One bottle of Golden Turtle Bile wouldn't have been enough for us to take action. It's just that you bought it at the wrong time!" the old man continued.