by Fang Xiang
After some thought, Zuo Mo decided to hold a small public demonstration to show off the [Angel Device Raiment]. There were many parts to the [Angel Device Raiment] that Zuo Mo had a hard time understanding, and he also hoped that these experts would give him some ideas.
Numerous invitations were sent out.
Yet what followed surprised Zuo Mo. More requests and inquiries came in. He had to increase the number of invitations.
———
The Underground Nether River wasn't the only spot filled with people. All of Bu Zhou City was filled with people in every corner. It was the first time so many people were visiting Bu Zhou City since it was built. Unlike the Tang Family who was worried about maintaining their control, the other factions were excited. This was such a good opportunity to make money.
The busiest and most populous place in Bu Zhou City was still the Rare Artifacts Hall.
If Zuo Mo came to visit the Rare Artifacts Hall again, his jaw would drop in shock. The outer wall of Rare Artifact Hall had been taken down. Other than the heavy jinzhi that were kept, everything else was cleared out, and there were only four crystal shelves inside.
There was an earth mo weapon floating inside each crystal case.
The four newly created earth mo weapons were like four vicious beasts silently hibernating as they showed off their beauty and power.
Every mo that came to visit showed intoxication when they saw these four top mo weapons. The perfect merging of beauty and power. The mo who revered strength didn't have any immunity towards them.
It was the lifelong wish of many people to see the grandeur of the legendary earth mo weapons at a close distance.
If it wasn't for the heavy jinzhi on the crystal cases, and the great jinzhi that curved to cover the entire place, many people would have instinctively reach out. Inhales, swallows, and gasps of shock rang out. Every shopkeeper of Rare Artifacts Hall straightened their backs, their faces covered in professional smiles. They felt peerlessly proud and excited at the scene in front of them.
Cui An was among the crowd.
His gaze was burning and desirous as it fixated on the four earth mo weapons. However, what he felt more of was anxiousness. One Reverse Shadow Soul Silkgrass to trade for an earth mo weapon, was this true?
Gritting his teeth, he walked in front of a shopkeeper, "May I ask if it is possible to trade a Reverse Shadow Soul Silkgrass for an earth mo weapon now?"
The shopkeeper who had a small smile on his face all this time immediately turned grave. "Yes, it can be traded! Sir has a Reverse Shadow Soul Silkgrass?"
The words were heaven to Cui An's ears. He was overjoyed but kept his expression calm. "Yes."
The shopkeeper did not dare to slight him and hurriedly said, "Please come with me."
The shopkeeper quickly guided Cui An towards a heavily guarded inner room. The shops surrounding Rare Artifacts Hall had been bought, borrowed, or rented at a high price by Rare Artifacts Hall.
An experienced appraiser had been waiting in the room.
Cui An took a deep breath and carefully took out the Reverse Shadow Soul Silkgrass.
The assessor carefully made his assessment. About fifteen minutes later, he wiped the fine sweat off his forehead, nodded, and said, "It is Reverse Shadow Soul Silkgrass, the quality is good, it can be traded."
Cui An's heart uncontrollably jumped, and a feeling of great fortune flooded his body and mind.
The shopkeeper was also slightly excited when he heard this but he kept his composure. He said, "Congratulations, Sir! Other than [Blue Horsefly], you can choose any of the other three."
It was not a surprise that [Blue Horsefly] belonged to Rare Artifacts Hall. [Blue Horsefly] had been the only weapon marked with the insignia of Rare Artifacts Hall among the four earth mo weapons displayed.
Cui An inhaled deeply, and calmed his excitement. "I want the [Yin Clear Li Chakrams]!"
When the [Yin Clear Li Chakrams] disappeared suddenly from the crystal cases, the people who had been looking at it immediately gasped. Nearby shopkeepers hurriedly explained. The news that someone had used Reverse Shadow Soul Silkgrass to trade for the [Yin Clear Li Chakrams] spread through the entire city.
Reverse Shadow Soul Silkgrass could be traded for earth mo weapons!
This was true!
The world immediately went crazy!
———
Zuo Mo looked warily at the old man in front of him. A Gui stood woodenly by his side. Ceng Lian'er narrowed her eyes as her long sleeve that touched the floor remained still as though she was prepared to attack at any moment.
Zuo Mo was astounded when the old man had materialized like a ghost. The guard outside was tight yet the old man had managed to make his way in without being detected.
Yet what surprised him was that the old man was looking at A Gui. His gaze was complex, mixed with pity, tenderness, and guilt.
Zuo Mo unconsciously shielded A Gui and face the old man guardedly.
"She has the Undying Shen Punishment," the old man suddenly asked. His eyes were full of a complicated emotion.
Zuo Mo's body suddenly shook and he abruptly raised his head. He asked gravely as his murderousness came out, "Who are you?"
The old man ignored Zuo Mo. His brow creased with slight dissatisfaction. "Haven't you found that her Undying Shen Power has a problem?"
"The Undying Shen power has a problem?" Zuo Mo's expression changed slightly as he rushed to hold A Gui's wrist.
The purple chain had become even thicker. There seemed to be something that was barely taking form inside A Gui's soul.
"What is going on?" Zuo Mo's tone changed. No matter how he tried, he could not see what was being formed inside A Gui's soul. He was slightly terrified. He could not do anything to the Undying shen power and his greatest fear was a problem occurring.
And as expected, his greatest fear was occurring.
"The Undying Shen Punishment has not changed much," the old man mused to himself, "other than … …"
"Other than what?" Zuo Mo unconsciously blurted out.
"Unless she formed the Undying Shen Seal." The old man suddenly raised his head. "Yes, it definitely is the Undying Shen Seal!"
Seeing the blankness on Zuo Mo's face, the old man explained in a cold voice, "The Undying Shen Punishment is the cruelest shen punishment but it is not without hope. The only solution in legend is to form the Undying Shen Seal and search for life in death! I had not thought the legends were true. The Undying Shen Seal, it definitely is the Undying Shen Seal!"
"So this means that A Gui can break free of the Undying Shen Punishment?" Zuo Mo said joyfully.
"It is not so easy." The old man smiled coldly. He looked at Zuo Mo, narrowed his eyes that dimmed and brightened. His gaze caused Zuo Mo's hairs to stand on end. He felt a strong feeling of danger and he was on his guard.
Suddenly, the old man's expression returned to normal as though the enmity he had just exuded was an illusion. He said lightly, "The Undying Shen Seal is the one in ten thousand chance of life in death. While there is the legend, no one knows how it can formed. It is difficult to say whether she has the Undying Shen Power or not. Even if she does, the danger she faces far surpasses your imagination."
"If you have Reverse Shadow Soul Silkgrass, you may want to try." The old man looked deeply at Zuo Mo. "You want to know your origins, but it will also help her. Those memories can help her understand her own heart and not get lost in the pain of the Undying Shen Punishment."
Zuo Mo seemed to understand. He thought of the peaceful A Gui within the purple chains and shook his head. "A Gui will not lose herself."
The old man stilled slightly when he heard this. His expression quickly recovered and he threw a small bag to Zuo Mo.
"This is Scab Fragrance, feed it to her, it is also of benefit," the old man said coolly. "Don't keep your [Angel Device Raiment], it will only bring calamity."
Zuo Mo received the little bag but noticed the old man's words. H
e asked in response, "Bring calamity?"
"You poked the hornet’s nest," the old man said impatiently. "Also, no matter what, do not expose your identity as Xiao Mo Ge."
Zuo Mo's expression changed dramatically. Even Ceng Lian'er's expression changed and she almost attacked from the side.
The other knew his identity as Xiao Mo Ge!
Zuo Mo's expression wavered and he was shocked inside.
The old man glanced at Ceng Lian'er and then he was clearly unfriendly when he looked at Zuo Mo. "Hmph, so young, but you have many women."
Ceng Lian'er was like a cat who had its tail that was stepped on. Her narrowed eyes immediately froze over.
The old man didn't even look at Zuo Mo. He said, "The yao are a good partner to trade with; ask for [Reincarnation Feather], [Soul Execution Yao Light], [Death Thought Bead]. They are all beneficial for her. If it is Tian Huan, trade for the [Tian Huan Case]. If it is Kun Lun, trade for the [Kun Lun Sword Soul], jade level, and get three! Xi Xuan's [Five Element Soul Dan], Xuan Kong's [Great Compassion Great Sorrow Life Sutra]. The mo don't have anything good for healing the soul."
Zuo Mo was confused but he had a general grasp. He was even more puzzled and couldn't help but ask, "What is the [Angel Device Raiment?"
"Shen device."
"Shen device!" Zuo Mo's eyes widened.
"Just close to it." The old man added, "Do your best."
Finishing, the old man disappeared right in front of Zuo Mo's eyes.
Zuo Mo and Ceng Lian'er changed expression. Zuo Mo suddenly thought of a shen method from the ancient era called the [Shen Void Pass]!
Shen power!
The old man cultivated shen power!
Who was he?
Translator Ramblings: Zuo Mo's path to riches has been cut off, and now he has even more things he needs to buy. Little Mo Ge is going to go bankrupt.
Chapter 718: Pseudo-Shen Device The Angel Device Raiment
"It really is a shen device!"
Zuo Mo sighed in praise. He looked down at the blue armor that tightly wrapped around him and the layer of faint but dense flames. The serene blue flames burned soundlessly. When he channeled shen power, the [Angel Device Raiment] would automatically form this kind of water blue flame. This caused the armor that appeared to have been made from layers of clear blue crystal to become even more beautiful.
When Zuo Mo channeled a little over half of his sun shen power capacity, the snowy white wings would give off golden flames. When they moved, sparks would fall. These sparks were miniature shen fire. If one came into contact with it, they would adhere, and burn until everything was ash.
The serene blue and the gold flames intersected and shined, yet they did not give off any presence. Their ability to conceal themselves was greater than any yao art or spell that Zuo Mo knew of.
There was a faint tinge of blood over Zuo Mo's vision. He could easily see the see through over three zhang of thick rock. Even deeply hidden jinzhi were clear to his eyes.
The more he used it, the more Zuo Mo liked it. There was no hindrance when he channeled shen power into it, and when he wore the [Angel Device Raiment] he could activate a shen technique using less than eight-tenths of the shen power it normally took.
Zuo Mo had Ceng Lian'er try as well.
When Ceng Lian'er channeled moon shen power, the [Angel Device Raiment] would flash with a faint moonlight. What was most fantastical was that when the wings danced, a crescent moon would occasionally appear and the shen power shedding off it was sharp instead.
A Gui was the eeriest. When she wore the [Angel Device Raiment], the dark red mask would become purple, and the snowy white wings would become as black as ink and give off faint black mist. The blue armor would also become pitch black. If she stood there and did not move for over three breaths, she would disappear into the darkness like smoke.
As expected of a shen device!
Before this, Zuo Mo had not thought that the [Angel Device Raiment] would be a shen device. Now that the old man pointed it out, he immediately tried and many places that had puzzled him were now clear.
He reluctantly took the [Angel Device Raiment] off. He now understood its value. The old man was right. The [Angel Device Raiment] was something he desired, but also a hot potato. Also, Zuo Mo was willing to trade it for something useful for A Gui.
The [Angel Device Raiment] was good but Zuo Mo had confidence that he would be able to forge even better shen devices in the future. Strictly speaking, the [Angel Device Raiment] was only a pseudo-shen device, and not a true one.
What worried Zuo Mo more was the Undying Shen power in A Gui that had started to change. Neither Pu Yao nor Wei had heard of the Undying Shen Seal but the two did not feel the old man had been lying.
Zuo Mo moved his gaze away from the [Angel Device Raiment] and asked, "What do you think of the old man?"
"The old man cultivates shen power," Pu Yao said coldly. His eyes were narrowed. A cold light moved through the blood pupil like a blade revolving in the sunlight.
All the signs indicated that Pu Yao was not in a good mood.
He had always been the strongest support behind Zuo Mo. No matter if it was yao arts, spells, mo skills, he had guided Zuo Mo. Yet in the blink of an eye, as though it was a dream, he found that the world seemed to change. People that cultivated shen power, and were stronger than him had appeared. The strong return of shen power had caused this world to become unfamiliar, and this tide was not something that an individual's power could reverse.
This made Zuo Mo feel dispirited, and Pu Yao who was extremely competitive disliked this feeling.
"He is very strong. Even in my era, he would be strong!" Wei's expression was unusually grave. He had existed for longer than Pu Yao, from the last stages of the ancient era to now, and to the era of shen power returning. Those memories that had almost disappeared gradually started to become clear again.
Yet, while he seemed to have known them, the memories felt completely different.
This was going to be a new era.
Pu Yao quickly calmed down, and he buried the cold glint in his eyes. As one of the strongest in the world at his time, Pu Yao possessed a strong mind and unparalleled calmness. "He feels enmity towards you, but it seems that he isn't your enemy. He is very friendly towards A Gui, and should have a deep connection to her!"
"Yes, even in our era, the Scab Fragrance is a very rare treasure and has unique effects to calm the soul. I hadn't thought there would be Scab Fragrance here. They definitely have a deep relationship. Otherwise, he would not freely give such a valuable treasure." Wei nodded and agreed with Pu Yao's speculation. Wei would only not be a nag when he was discussing serious matters now.
Zuo Mo nodded as well. His thoughts were about the same as the other two.
"He knows my identity, that means that he has paid attention to me for a long time. He has a deep relationship to A Gui, so it is very likely he knows my origins. Next time, I have to learn this!" Zuo Mo had a thoughtful expression. "When the [Angel Device Raiment] is being sold, he will definitely be observing from the shadows. There will be a chance to meet with him again. But the [Angel Device Raiment] is a big problem!"
When he spoke of this, Zuo Mo couldn't help but grimace. Actually, before the old man's reminder, he had detected something from the tsunami of invitations. Yet when the secret of the [Angel Device Raiment] being a pseudo-shen device was revealed, he knew that trouble was still ahead of him. It was a good idea to trade the [Angel Device Raiment] for those treasures, but if he was the least bit careless, the situation would spiral out of control.
This was the first pseudo-shen device that had appeared in so many years. There were many people that were willing to risk anything to get it!
"It is slightly troublesome," Pu Yao said coldly, "If they scheme, your identity is a sensitive one, you cannot expose shen power, Ceng Lian'er and A Gui cannot fight."
Zuo Mo's brow furrowed. "Have Rare Artifacts Hall come protect us?"
Pu Yao snorted. "They don't know that the [Angel Device Raiment] is a pseudo-shen device. If they knew, the first ones with devious ideas will be them. Also, this time, the ones that are coming are the big names, Rare Artifacts Hall cannot stop them."
Zuo Mo found this was very troublesome.
Pu Yao was right. This time, the ones who had come were big names. Mo Shen Temple, Tian Huan, Kun Lun, the Yao Council of Elders, all the mo marshals, and hidden experts like the old man who were of unknown origins but had unfathomable power … …
If those people tried to do something to him, Rare Artifacts Hall could not stop him. Yet he could not expose his identity and fight.
"Use jinzhi," Wei suddenly said, "before they react. Set up a large jinzhi, the seal formations and mo matrices jinzhi that Golden Crow Camp have studied are already mature."
Golden Crow Camp. Zuo Mo stilled. It had been very long since he had communicated with them. The communication was usually one way, where he would send the results of his own studies back to Golden Crow Camp for them to study at regular intervals.
The idea of setting up jinzhi was a good one. If the jinzhi he set was powerful enough, and he was in control, he would not have to worry about anything happening.
But then he thought of the people coming. If they were not marshals, they were terrifying experts like the mo gods. What level of jinzhi could do that?
Zuo Mo did not have jinzhi that could suppress people at the level of marshals and mo gods. If he had a year or more, he might be able to create one, but there was no time for him to think.
Would Golden Crow Camp have such a powerful large scale jinzhi?
Zuo Mo muttered inside.
———
The present Golden Crow Camp was hundreds of times as large as in the past. Because of their rapid expansion, their original site was unable to hold so many people. The two masters found an intermediate-sized cloud island to be the base for Golden Crow Camp. This island was renamed Golden Crow Cloud Island.
Golden Crow Cloud Island was the most famous center for seals, forging, and mo weapons in Cloud Sea Jie.
