Calamity Messenger

Chapter 213 - 168: Niu Xianke

Yan Qing was creating a new character.

Feeling idle this morning, he ran the Three Mountain Secret Realm four times and then consumed a Secret Technique Experience Manual, instantly leveling up to 27. His Secret Technique ’Left Twist Right Return’ was pretty much maxed out.

It was fortunate that he didn’t consume the experience manual last night, otherwise, he would’ve been too energized to sleep due to excessive Qi Blood.

Now his level has caught up with Jiang Shi, successfully surpassing his other character. However, Jiang Shi has already comprehended a second secret technique, so it shouldn’t take long for him to catch up again. Mouse Monk and Rabbit Heroine also have talents in secret techniques, except for the struggling Ye Si, they’re all close to the Third Transformation Level.

Yan Qing estimated his level should be slightly higher than Shang Xinlei’s, which is quite terrifying upon reflection. Just two days ago, he was at level 17. A Sword Mastery book and a Secret Technique Experience Manual had him level up by 10 levels.

Now, even without any tokens, he could split mountains, shatter stones, crush gold, and break jade; his train of thought was astonishingly quick. Forget perfect evasion; even against a Foundation Establishment Messenger, he was confident in performing a perfect block!

Of course, this was referring to the game.

The astonishing effect of the Secret Technique Experience Manual was only natural, being a reward from the Third-Turn Secret Realm, and possibly only available in realms above level 35. Normally, a Second-Turn Messenger wouldn’t have access to it.

Yan Qing reckoned that only someone with the status of Pharmacist’s Wish could probably obtain a Secret Technique Experience Manual, while an obscure Fourth Lady like Shang Xinlei wouldn’t even have the qualification to queue up, having to hone her skills step by step.

Thinking of Shang Xinlei reminded him of lunch; she wasn’t coming today, but Yan Qing had completely lost interest in military camp food. Whether Ping City Military Camp or Xuanwu Lake Military Camp, the soldiers were all fond of heavy, oily, salty dishes.

While lunch was covered thanks to Shang Xinlei, Yan Qing had been eating from the military camp kitchen every night. Afraid of rising cholesterol levels, Yan Qing made a difficult decision: he would create a new character dedicated to searching for the world’s best cuisines!

He was rather casual about the new character’s appearance, as the main mission was culinary exploration. It shouldn’t be too eye-catching, nor ugly, since he’ll have to engage with shops and such.

Yan Qing easily chose a default face, added some details, creating a dashing middle-aged gentleman. As for talents, Yan Qing maxed out the Swordsmanship, Footwork, and Secret Technique talents, considering the character would be used for a long time; the investment was worthwhile.

When considering a name, ’Foodie’ was simple enough, but since he might need the character to explore other places later, and would venture across the land and seek delicacies while unlocking the world map, ’Foodie’ felt too constrained. Thus, he named him ’Niu Xianke’, the seeker of immortals!

Following the Zodiac sequence, your name is ’Niu Xianke’!

’Jiangnan Affiliated Newbie Village’, descend!

Immediately, he donned elegant clothing and a black belt before locating the stall in the market selling dried persimmons.

’Grandpa, Grandma, do you remember giving a ride to a monk to Jiangnan City half a month ago?’

Although Niu Xianke was quite amicable, the old man became wary and played dumb, saying, ’Sir, what are you talking about? This old man doesn’t quite recall.’

’No worries, I’m a friend of that monk. He asked me to tell you that he has already made incense offerings for you! May the Buddha bless your daughter’s safe delivery!’

Hearing this, the old man believed Niu Xianke was indeed the Mouse Monk’s friend, quickly saying, ’Ah, ah, there’s no need for this, thanks to you, my daughter-in-law gave birth two days ago, both are safe, and it’s a chubby boy. Here, take some persimmons, though we’re a humble family; Sir, please don’t mind.’

’Congratulations, but I’ll pass on the persimmons. I still have to hurry on my way.’

’Head out? Are you going to Jiangnan City? Come, get on the cart!’

Thus, Yan Qing switched back to Jiang Shi’s account and ran the Secret Realm twice more. By around noon, Niu Xianke was already taken to Jiangnan County Town by the old man. This time, Yan Qing didn’t rush into the town because there were more culinary delights there. Shang Xinlei herself recommended several streets — yes, the food here is counted by streets, with each street full of deliciousness.

Yan Qing spent a full hour wandering the streets, getting his fill, yet only seeing less than a fifth of the town.

Just the little bit he saw left Yan Qing in awe: a racetrack, an opera house, a debate square, a library... down-and-out painters sketching roadside portraits, performers blowing pan flutes while walking, colossal sculptures everywhere... He didn’t know how Chang’an or Nocturnal Heaven compared, but Jiangnan County Town’s prosperity exceeded his expectations.

Previously, he often brushed through hastily, but now, truly absorbing it, he realized the cultural richness of this world. Probably due to the Secret Realms, ordinary people were free from resource woes, acquiring vast foreign knowledge from the realms, allowing residents near the main city plenty of leisure time for hobbies, creating a thriving, competitive scene.

Though in the eyes of Messengers, these are mere glimmers snuffed out in a snap, when they gather, they shine as brilliantly as the Milky Way.

Apart from dining and entertainment, Yan Qing discovered numerous martial arts halls in the town with affordable tuition covering room and board and training facilities. Yan Qing also needed a place for Niu Xianke to go AFK, so they struck a deal: Niu Xianke would apprentice at Ba Dao Martial Arts Hall, becoming the only over-thirty apprentice there.

The afternoon was spent completing the Stone Sinking Creek Secret Realm with Mouse Monk, but this time luck wasn’t on their side, yielding only a Seven-Star Sword without an Advanced Secret Manual. It took most of the day to finish daily quests before Yan Qing could log into Rabbit Heroine’s account.

In the courtyard, Pharmacist’s Wish was training Wuqiu and Shidong. The Wolf Bite Saber Technique from the employer fee was meant for them, as it altered attack styles. Though not an Advanced Technique, the Third Transformation level attack module causes greater damage in combat, naturally yielding more experience, and speeds up Advanced Technique comprehension.

They have a long way to go but are already on the path.

’Rested well?’ Pharmacist’s Wish asked. ’It’s okay to take more days off.’

Rabbit Heroine shook her head, glancing around, ’The guys haven’t arrived yet?’

’Nope, they’re probably still exploring the Central Courtyard. Until they hit a snag, they won’t ask for our help.’ Pharmacist’s Wish crossed her arms, now donned in Heavy Armor Iron Clothing, exuding solemn dignity, far from her disheveled sleep posture and impressive figure from the previous night.

’If luck favors, they’ll seek us out in about ten days; if not... we’ll just have to watch them monopolize Si Wuxie’s legacy.’

The elite beings like the Undying Skull Tower, which can continually regenerate and summon demons, should be just exceptions. It’s unlikely to see the same pattern afterwards. As long as there are no regeneration and summoning demons traits, the Three Great Guardians can easily abandon them and use kite tactics to slowly wear down the demons in the secret realm.

They are no match for the Three Great Guardians either in strength or influence at Shu Dao Mountain and cannot possibly compete for the inheritance. If Pharmacist’s Wish had first aligned under the command of the Three Great Guardians, there might be a chance to invade the secret realm together and bide their time, but now she and the Rabbit Heroine have formed their own alliance, making it impossible for the Three Great Guardians to accept her.

"But it’s so boring just staying here, why don’t we go check out the Wolf’s Den?"

"We can, but there’s no way we can conquer the Wolf’s Den on our own. We need to recruit some Demonic Messengers, and at least not before tomorrow."

The Rabbit Heroine nodded, sitting on a rock in the courtyard, zoning out. Time trickled by, and as Pharmacist’s Wish called a halt, Wuqiu and Shidong were almost spent, drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

"It does seem there’s no way if they won’t let us in," the Rabbit Heroine said, resting her chin in her hands. "Unless we kill them—but it’s hard to break through the Corpse Bone Forest with just the two of us."

Pharmacist’s Wish nodded, "Indeed, even an ordinary Third-Turn Secret Realm requires at least two Third-Turn Messengers to have a good chance of conquering it, and that’s ignoring the casualties of Second-Turn and First-Turn Messengers. A special secret realm like the Corpse Bone Forest, straddling the Third and Fourth Turns, would have a Demon King at the end strong beyond imagination. At least four Third-Turn Messengers are needed for the conquest."

The Rabbit Heroine naturally discussed killing the Three Great Guardians, and Pharmacist’s Wish didn’t question it at all, as if she truly believed this young girl could cut down the Great Guardians who had reigned over Shu Dao Mountain for over a decade.

"If they never come to invite us, how long do you plan to stay here, Big Sister?"

"Stay? I don’t know." Pharmacist’s Wish let out a bitter laugh, "I have no home to go back to, I might be hunted down outside the mountain, at least here I can train in the secret realm. And you? This life must be boring for you, do you want to go home?"

"No, I came here precisely to raid the Third-Turn Secret Realm, to see if I can find a suitable Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object. Even if I go home, it would be to establish the foundation and then return to beat up my brother."

"Your brother must be strong if even you need to establish the foundation just to beat him up."

"Not really. In our place, encountering good things means celebrating with pork and chicken. Naturally, after I establish the foundation, there will be a celebration, and there’s no better way than beating up my brother, after he scared me every day with bitter gourd."

Pharmacist’s Wish’s eyes curled into a smile, covering her mouth to laugh.

"Sounds like you can’t bear to leave me, just making an excuse to stay."

"Nonsense!" The Rabbit Heroine immediately straightened her legs, shaking her head quickly. "Woman, don’t be so confident. My goal as a heroine is to be number one in the world. I’m not staying for such a boring reason! Even without you, I’d stay, as there are few places with freely accessible Third-Turn Secret Realms."

"I don’t hear that, I don’t hear that, you staying must be because you can’t bear to leave me," Pharmacist’s Wish said, hugging the Rabbit Heroine. "Now whatever you say is useless. Even giving me such a precious spiritual object like Earth Fiend, whatever you say now sounds like you’re pouting."

The Rabbit Heroine was shocked, "Such a self-righteous woman, even worse than my brother."

"Of course, my goal is to unify the Central Plains and establish a Pharmacist Dynasty for millennia. Anyone not self-righteous enough can’t dare to have such a self-righteous dream," Pharmacist’s Wish said, patting the Rabbit Heroine’s head. "And my first step to conquer the world is...how about braiding your hair?"

"The topic shifted so fast, are you thinking like you’re riding a horse away?"

"It’s the future empress braiding your hair, shouldn’t you be devotedly following me, my sister?"

"How do you plan to repay me?"

"I’ll share half of the throne with you!"

"Feels less practical than my brother promising to share half his cake with me..."

After Pharmacist’s Wish finished braiding a big, thick, shiny braid for the Rabbit Heroine, a servant knocked on the courtyard door and said to them, "Wolf Demon Great Guardian, Star Rain Heroine, the Great Guardians are inviting you."

...

...

"You gave up struggling this quickly?"

In the second-floor conference room, the Rabbit Heroine kicked open the door and said as she entered, "I thought you’d at least try for ten days even if you faced a problem before realizing how incompetent you are compared to me, the heroine, but you gave up in less than a day. Uncles, you’re just lame."

"If it were just the difficulty of the Third-Turn Secret Realm, we would surely try more." Prajna ignored the Rabbit Heroine’s taunts and said calmly, "But the current predicament is indeed beyond our ability."

"Not the difficulty of the Third-Turn Secret Realm?" Pharmacist’s Wish slightly furrowed her brow, "Could it be... Si Wuxie?"

"Yes." Beiyou put down his brush, pressing the painting with a paperweight, "Si Wuxie has altered the environment of the Central Courtyard, and this Foundation Establishment power remains effective even after a hundred years."

His tone was solemn, filled with reverence for the ancients: "Under the authority of Foundation Establishment, our will and senses are manipulated, and all efforts become laughing illusions."

Yan Qing was stunned as he listened.

Are the Foundation Establishment Messengers in this game that powerful?