Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery
Chapter 114 - 99: Another Cold Winter

Chapter 114: Chapter 99: Another Cold Winter

Zhang Shuniang manipulated the magic artifact in the yard, with a series of crackling sounds as she tested it.

She was having the time of her life.

"Have the prices gone up these past few days?" Zhou Hong couldn’t help but ask.

The question came out of nowhere.

But Chen Li understood she was referring to the magic artifact.

"I haven’t checked the market for a good while," Chen Li said, feeling somewhat helpless, "These things don’t happen that quickly. Don’t worry, the price will definitely increase, it’s just a matter of time."

He regretted telling her about it.

Ever since she knew he was buying up magic artifacts in bulk, she couldn’t eat well, couldn’t sleep well, and would ask repeatedly every two or three days.

With such a mentality, she would have been the epitome of "easy prey" in his past life.

"I’m just asking!" Zhou Hong retorted coquettishly, "Can’t I even ask?"

"Of course, of course, you can," he hastened to reply.

...

Zhang Shuniang lacked experience and couldn’t recognize that it was a medium-grade magic artifact, which didn’t mean Zhang Yan was inexperienced.

In the evening, he hurried over with the magic artifact in hand:

"I’m really ashamed. My daughter has been spoiled by me; she doesn’t understand things. How can she accept such a valuable thing from you? Please, take back the magic artifact. I really can’t accept it."

"What are you doing? I gave that to Shuniang, not you. She’s been calling me uncle, so what’s wrong with giving her a medium-grade magic artifact? How much is it worth? It seems to me that you’re the one who doesn’t understand," Chen Li retorted.

How much is it worth?

Zhang Yan’s heart skipped a beat hearing this blatant display of wealth.

After all, that was a medium-grade magic artifact; even the one he used for protection was only medium-grade.

"Shuniang is my daughter, I’ve raised her from a baby. Don’t I get a say anymore? There’s no such reasoning in the whole world; we really can’t accept this," Zhang Yan insisted.

"I’ve never heard of taking back something I’ve given away. Off you go, you’re not welcome here," Chen Li said as he pushed Zhang Yan out the door.

Zhang Yan stood his ground with his neck stiff, leaning forward and trying to resist. When that failed, he leaned against it with his back, face turning red and neck bulging.

But it was all in vain.

Against Chen Li’s immense strength,

he was pushed back step by step, unable to resist at all, and was quickly ejected from the courtyard.

Then, with a "bang," the gate was closed.

Staring at the closed gate, Zhang Yan stood there for a moment, then helplessly stamped his foot and made his way home.

Back at home, he heard Zhang Shuniang’s "sniffles" coming from her room.

"What are you crying for? You start sobbing whenever someone says anything to you," Zhang Yan said darkly, sounding annoyed.

"It was Uncle who insisted on giving it to me, I said I didn’t want it... wuu wuu wuu." From the room came Zhang Shuniang’s aggrieved sobs.

"Then shouldn’t you have returned it? Do you know how expensive that thing is? Selling you wouldn’t cover the cost..."

Zhang Yan’s anger flared at her response, raising his voice, but he stopped mid-sentence as he suddenly remembered he still had the magic artifact, and his face flushed red:

"Alright, alright, come out and have dinner."

"I’m not eating! Wuu wuu wuu..." Zhang Shuniang stubbornly said.

She wasn’t someone without temper.

It clearly wasn’t her fault!

Yet her father still scolded her.

"Get out here now!" Zhang Yan scolded.

After a while,

Zhang Shuniang emerged from her room, still crying, but then she seemed to sense something, and her grievance was forgotten. She asked doubtfully, "Dad, why... why do you still have the... the magic artifact? Didn’t you go to return it?"

This darn kid.

Her sense was too sharp.

"It’s because I didn’t manage to return it, I’ve lost all my dignity for you," Zhang Yan said, annoyed and embarrassed. He had planned to find a suitable moment to return it, but now found himself having to take out the artifact from his sleeve and slammed it onto the table.

Zhang Shuniang blinked away her tears and said weakly, "So... can I continue using it?"

"Take it!" Zhang Yan said helplessly.

Zhang Shuniang’s face broke into a smile, and she quickly reached out to summon the artifact. The exquisitely green magic artifact swiftly flew back into her hands. "I knew Uncle was a good person, he wouldn’t take it back," she said joyfully.

"Yes, yes, Chen is good to you. Remember to repay him properly in the future," he said.

"Hmm, I know, dad," Zhang Shuniang said cheerfully.

"Now go wash your face and serve dinner. I’m starving," Zhang Yan commanded, still sounding annoyed.

...

Autumn passed and winter arrived.

Several days later, a cold wave struck from the north, as leaden-gray clouds like a canopy shrouded the sky day in, day out; the howling wind was even sharper than the sound of a cannonball tearing through the sky.

After the cold wind had persisted for three days,

snow began to fall in the dead of night.

This was the second harsh winter he had experienced in this world.

However, compared to last year’s ordeal in the Green River District, this year’s cold snap hadn’t affected Chen Li’s family’s life in the slightest.

The city defense array, like an eternal spring, caused the freshly fallen snow to rapidly melt upon touching the ground.

Outside, the landscape was covered in pristine white snow, wrapped in silver garb, with the biting wind whistling through.

Aside from the ground in Luoluo City being wet as though after a heavy rain, there were no other changes; it remained warm as spring.

Early in the morning, Chen Li pushed open the door.

The courtyard was swarming with birds, hopping about on the roof. Upon seeing Chen Li emerge, they chirped and scattered, disappearing in an instant, as bird droppings fell from the sky like rain.

To avoid the severe cold outside, countless birds flocked to this ’hidden paradise’ that was warm as spring to seek refuge.

Now, bird droppings could be found all over Luoluo City.

As you walked along the street, if you weren’t careful, your head or clothing could suddenly be hit by some unidentified objects.

Of course, wild animals also sneaked in.

The small ones were no big deal.

But the larger ones mostly met with an unfortunate fate.

Chen Li once caught a hare that had invaded his yard, or perhaps it was a hare—it was much larger than normal, weighing over ten pounds, providing him with a substantial meal.

Perhaps these creatures, having grown in a land rich in spiritual energy and nurtured by the heavens and earth, were not demon beasts, yet were full of spiritual energy, with meat that was tender, succulent, and delicious, leaving an lasting taste.

It wasn’t until Chen Li stepped out of the city

that he truly felt that winter had arrived.

He released his flying sword, leaped onto it, and then glided down the mountain with sword and man as one. During this time, sword flight had become a skill he had practiced to proficiency, though he still didn’t dare to show off with it.

But for traveling, it was more than adequate.

Unlike in the Green River District, where people would hibernate as soon as it snowed, not emerging until the snow had melted,

the shantytown at the foot of the mountain remained lively even during winter.

In the market, the snow had been cleared away.

Numerous loose cultivators, wrapped in thick cotton coats, braved the biting cold as they loudly hawked their goods, though compared to the usual bustling crowd, it was quite a bit quieter now.

"Have you heard? Evil wraiths have run rampant in the Song Family Manor, the entire village gone, quite a few loose cultivators went in to investigate and met with disaster."

"All gone? I stayed there just last month!" exclaimed a stall owner, his face pale with fright.

"It happened just a short while ago. You’re lucky. Now, these sorts of things are occurring more frequently."

"Without the Golden Core Ancestor, I’m afraid our days are going to get tougher each year. This life is getting harder."

"Quiet! Do you have a death wish?"

As Chen Li passed by, he overheard the conversation and thought of the fearsome evil wraith he had encountered in the forest. He couldn’t help feeling a slight sense of trepidation.

"Nowhere in this world is peaceful anymore!"

...

Days passed.

After nearly a month of research, he finally made progress with the Body Protection Skill.

Chen Li silently mouthed incantations while his fingers swiftly formed seals. Accompanied by the rapid depletion of spiritual power, as if resonating with the universe, a layer of light film quickly formed around him.

"I’ve finally mastered it!"

Compared to the simplified version of the amulet,

the spell version of the Body Protection Skill created a more solid light film.

Although he hadn’t tested it yet, there was no doubt that this defense was much stronger than that of an amulet.

"They say an amulet is of the First Order Seventh Grade, but it can be shattered with two blows of spiritual energy that have the power of a Fifth Grade spell. In terms of actual defense capability, it is probably at most First Order Sixth Grade!" Chen Li pondered:

"And the Golden Light amulet, which is touted to withstand a Foundation Establishment strike of the First Order Ninth Grade, probably has a real defense power of just First Order Eighth Grade. The Body Protection Skill, if mastered to expert level, can match or even exceed that."

"With limited energy and spiritual power, I will focus on mastering the Body Protection Skill, Traction Skill, Palm Thunder, Scolding Skill, Flash Skill, and the yet-to-be-learned Wind Control Skill. As for other spells, just being proficient is enough."

The Body Protection Skill was for defense.

The Wind Control Skill was for making a quick escape.

The Traction Skill, Palm Thunder, Scolding Skill, and Flash Skill were for combat.

Offense, defense, and escape, all in one.

In total, two Seventh Grade spells, one Fifth Grade spell, one Fourth Grade spell, and two Third Grade spells.

Aside from the two Seventh Grade spells which were more draining to practice, the rest were not worth mentioning for him. Even the Traction Skill at First Order Fifth Grade, he could now cast consecutively at least eight or nine times.