Treasure hunting was something Yin Luan had zero experience with. Ren Tan, who called herself an adventurer, hadn’t done much of it either. Only the Little Radish Spirit could be considered half an old hand at it.
As a weak little radish surviving in this bizarre world teeming with big shots, she needed cunning tricks and sharp instincts—both were essential.
Of course, after being threatened into joining the team, her claims rang rather hollow…
To head into the Long River Mountains, they needed to stock up on supplies beforehand. The Dark Market—Nine Li City’s underworld—dealt in all sorts of things unavailable on the surface, sparing them the hassle of scrounging around everywhere.
Xiao Luo led the other two weaving through the dimly lit, oppressive old passages.
“How did you get in here?” Yin Luan asked curiously. “Not many humans even know this place exists, do they?”
“Hmm… we have our own information channels,” Xiao Luo replied. “Don’t let the fact that I can’t beat you fool you—I’m a sprite, after all. A bit of trickery, and I can snag plenty of intel.”
Poor combat prowess didn’t mean she couldn’t scare people.
In fact, even someone like Ren Tan—an ordinary human with an uncommon background—had been left utterly rattled by the eerie scene from before.
Bluffing and swindling were must-have skills for any sprite trying to blend into human crowds.
“Have you seen other monster spirits?” Little Snake asked. “What are they like?”
Since awakening from her long slumber, Yin Luan hadn’t encountered any of her own kind… Those ghost souls, living corpses, and monsters were a far cry from her breed.
If she had to name a close relative, it would be the Little Radish Spirit.
“All shapes and sizes,” Xiao Luo said after a moment’s thought. “Some sprites grow up in remote mountains and ancient forests, never laying eyes on a human until they take human form. Their appearances end up… unique, to say the least. And unless they cultivate to a profound realm, it’s hard to change them much.”
“Then why don’t they turn into something else? Like dogs or cats or birds?”
“Because only by taking human form can they set foot on the path of cultivation,” Xiao Luo explained. “Isn’t there a saying… humans are the most spiritual of all beings?”
The urge to shapeshift into human form was etched into their bloodlines and spiritual intelligence. Even without ever seeing one, they’d strive to mimic the human shape.
These tales broadened the little snake demon’s horizons considerably.
After walking for quite a while, she led them to a shop called “Black Evil Pavilion.”
“This is…?”
Ren Tan eyed the name, a bad feeling stirring in her gut.
“Run by an acquaintance,” Xiao Luo said breezily. “They’ve got some legit good stuff here. You brought the ginseng, right? Let’s trade for some useful gear.”
With that, she called out toward the interior.
“Huang Lian, open up! It’s me!”
Whoosh—
A chill wind swept in, carrying an intensely bitter taste that filled their mouths. It was so foul they couldn’t utter a word.
“What are you doing?” a woman’s puzzled voice drifted from inside. “Don’t we avoid dealing with strangers?”
“I’m heading out with them to hunt for that treasure,” Xiao Luo replied. “I want to trade for some things here.”
The voice inside fell silent for a moment before responding slowly.
“…Did I mishear you, or have you lost your mind?”
“I’m not crazy,” Xiao Luo shook her head. “For sprites like us with mediocre talent, if we don’t seek out opportunities ourselves—just slowly building our cultivation base by absorbing the essence of sun and moon—when will we ever gain the power to protect ourselves?”
“But competing for it won’t just get you killed faster?”
The Huang Lian Spirit shot back.
“…Then that’s just how fate goes.”
Though Xiao Luo looked like an eight- or nine-year-old girl, her words carried the depth of hard-earned wisdom.
For non-humans, appearances were no gauge of true age…
Xiao Luo shot Ren Tan a look. Ren Tan opened the bundle she carried, revealing ten century-old ginsengs wafting a thick medicinal aroma.
“See what these can get us.”
Xiao Luo set the ginseng at the doorstep, swallowing hard herself.
Creak—
The door eased open. A slender jade hand darted out, snatching the ginseng inside.
Moments later, it proffered three palm-sized jade bottles.
“Here’s an extra one,” the voice inside said. “These are the finest from this batch I refined. As long as it’s not an instantly fatal poison, even if it doesn’t fully neutralize it, it’ll buy you time to save your life.”
The bottles held Supreme Detoxification Pills.
Huang Lian naturally possessed the properties to clear heat and dispel toxins, and those effects had grown even stronger after she became a spirit. It wasn’t quite on the level of granting total immunity to all poisons, but it came pretty close.
Items like these would fetch a fortune if sold on the open market—people who needed them would bankrupt themselves to get their hands on one.
“Thanks,” Xiao Luo said as she picked up the jade bottle and handed it to Ren Tan. She continued speaking through the door. “This area’s about to get a lot more chaotic, and you’re an easier target than me. Get out while you still can.”
“Yeah, I’ll pack up and head out,” the Huang Lian Spirit replied. She paused for a moment before adding, “It’s not easy for things like us to become spirits in the first place… Don’t go dying on the road, okay?”
“Is that any way to say goodbye?” Xiao Luo laughed. “Got it. You take care too.”
With the deal done, the Radish Spirit led the other two as they continued wandering through the Dark Market.
But the atmosphere felt a touch melancholic now.
“Why’d she wish for you not to die on the road?” the Little Snake Demon asked tentatively.
“Because,” Xiao Luo said after thinking it over. She tilted her head up and stared straight ahead. “The world’s a cruel place. To a lot of our kind, spirits like me and Huang Lian—who don’t have any real fighting strength—are just walking… supplements.”
One way to build up your cultivation base was to slowly absorb the essence of heaven and earth. Devouring Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures was another—and a much faster, more effective, and tempting one at that.
Spirits like Xiao Luo had to watch out not only for the Demon Subduing Division but also for Great Demons and other monsters.
After all, not every demon had a strong sense of right and wrong.
“How sad,” the Little Snake Demon said, sounding genuinely moved. “I won’t eat you anymore… I’ll just lick you for a taste, then use you as a side dish.”
“Are you trying to lick me bald?!”
Xiao Luo had grown accustomed to this heart-pounding way of life.
That was why she’d agreed to Yin Luan’s request and set off with her in search of that treasure.
She might be just a radish, but she had the resolve to fight against the heavens themselves!
“Mm… radishes are a bit bland, though. I recommend salting and pickling you first.”
“You—you… human! Don’t just stand there watching—stop her!”
“Ah, uh, my name’s Ren Tan… Um, Yin Luan, put the senior down. Later, when we get to a restaurant, it’s on me. Eat as much as you want.”
“Lick lick lick lick lick——”
It took them a full day, leveraging the Little Radish Spirit’s network of contacts and Ren Tan’s bottomless wallet, to buy up every good item they could find.
After resting for another day, Ren Tan purchased a carriage. The three of them set off from Nine Li City together, heading toward the Long River Mountains in search of the legendary Wind-Summoning Rain-Calling Treasure…
