novelraw Chapter 149-1: The Fat Sheep Scholar, Eyeball Laboratory (1)
Chapter 149-1: The Fat Sheep Scholar, Eyeball Laboratory (1)
[Thousand Faces, Ten Thousand Forms Apostle, how will you respond?]
Lin Xun’s first reaction was: a fat sheep has arrived!
In this hellish game, most NPCs were just as devious as the game itself, constantly trying to fleece him.
Although they hadn’t succeeded many times, it still left him feeling rather annoyed.
He never expected to encounter a special event where he could finally turn the tables and fleece an NPC in return.
Rolling up his sleeves, Lin Xun decided to go all in!
[1. Tell the new Scholar that the Association’s illusion books are all free to read; no payment is required for the books on the counter.]
[2. Tell the new Scholar that reading the illusion books is quite cheap, offering the original prices that the previous staff member charged you.]
[3. Tell the new Scholar that the cost isn’t too high, but double the original prices.]
[4. Tell the new Scholar that the cost is quite expensive, tripling the original prices.]Without hesitation, Lin Xun chose option four.
If he missed this chance, who knew when he would next get to reverse-fleece this hellish game?
[You neatly arranged the illusion books on the counter, presenting them to the new Scholar at triple the original prices…]
[The Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar stared with shining eyes and immediately selected the most expensive illusion book, An Expedition Into the Abyss, paying you 30,000 Spirit Essence.]
[You have received 30,000 Spirit Essence!]
“Damn, this guy is loaded?!”
Lin Xun was stunned, never expecting to run into such a wealthy fat sheep.
For a moment, he even had the impulse to just kill the Scholar and loot him.
But taking down this new Scholar wouldn’t necessarily yield that much Spirit Essence.
Knowing this hellish game’s nature, he’d probably only get a garbage shell at best.
However, judging by this Scholar’s wealth, it was likely he had already purchased a Grand Scholar badge and robe on the first floor.
Even if he only obtained the shell, he could inherit its equipment and badge.
Lin Xun decided not to act rashly and opted to milk him for more Spirit Essence first.
[You gestured for the Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar to browse the illusion books and select one.]
[He eagerly opened An Expedition Into the Abyss, becoming immersed in its content. Before long, the book emitted a soft white glow, enveloping him completely.]
[Through the glow, you could only faintly make out the Scholar’s silhouette…]
[After a short while, the white glow faded, and the Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar returned from the illusion with a sigh, telling you that inside the dark underground cavern, he couldn’t see anything and quickly lost sight of the Grand Scholar, leading to his ejection from the illusion.]
[He asked if he could attempt the illusion again and was willing to pay another 30,000 Spirit Essence.]
[Do you accept this transaction?]
Even Lin Xun was dumbfounded by this.
He had seen rich fools before, but never one who voluntarily stuck out his neck like this.
For a moment, he even felt a slight pang of guilt.
“Am I taking this too far?”
[The Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar, seeing your long hesitation, gritted his teeth and secretly slipped you 10,000 Spirit Essence.]
[In a low voice, he told you that he understood this might put you in a difficult position, but he promised not to spread word of this and just hoped you would give him one more chance.]
[You have received 10,000 Spirit Essence!]
Lin Xun was speechless but silently accepted the Spirit Essence and then clicked ‘Agree.’
There was no helping it. He hadn’t intended for this to happen, but this new Scholar was simply offering too much…
[The Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar saw you finally nod and happily handed over 30,000 Spirit Essence for the transaction.]
[You have received 30,000 Spirit Essence!]
[The Scholar stared thoughtfully at the illusion book. This time, he didn’t immediately enter the illusion but instead looked toward a kerosene lamp in the corner of the room.]
[He asked if he could borrow the kerosene lamp and offered an additional 2,000 Spirit Essence.]
[Do you accept this transaction?]
What else could Lin Xun say?
He could only silently press ‘Agree,’ secretly hoping that Omniscient True Knowledge would bless this guy so he wouldn’t lose sync and get ejected again so quickly.
[You have received 2,000 Spirit Essence!]
[The Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar picked up the kerosene lamp, reopened the illusion book…]
[Not long after, the white light faded, and you heard his familiar sigh once again.]
[He said he was too timid. Though he managed to face the abyss and even saw the subterranean demon this time…]
[The illusion felt too real, and he became so terrified that he turned to flee, leaving the Grand Scholar alone to face the demon.]
[He wished to try the illusion book again and offered another 30,000 Spirit Essence.]
[Do you accept this transaction?]
Was this the legendary ‘bad at games but still obsessed’?
Lin Xun was already numb at this point, mechanically pressing ‘Agree.’
[You have received 30,000 Spirit Essence!]
[The white light once again enveloped the Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar. Before long, you heard the familiar sigh once more…]
[The Scholar claimed that he lacked strength. Though he had fought alongside the Grand Scholar this time and resisted his fear…]
[His knowledge spells were completely ineffective against the demon and instead drew the demon’s attention, resulting in his instant death.]
[Shaking his head, he admitted he needed further training and would return after improving his strength.]
[He bowed to you apologetically and quietly exited the Knowledge Illusion Hall.]
Lin Xun opened his inventory and stared at the massive sum of over 190,000 Spirit Essence, lost in thought.
Was this greenhorn Scholar planning to continue training and return to deliver even more Spirit Essence later?
From this one novice Scholar alone, he had harvested 102,000 Spirit Essence, equivalent to the yield of farming three and a half Veiled Aberrations.
Such a reward clearly violated the hellish game’s usual rule that greater risk yields greater reward.
Where had things gone wrong?
Was it because of his talent, exploiting a bug by impersonating a staff member?
After all, ordinary Apostles couldn’t possess that staff shell and certainly couldn’t impersonate an NPC to scam other NPCs.
Still, Lin Xun felt something was off.
For now, he decided not to explore the remaining illusion books and to leave the scene first.
He collected all the illusion books, switched back to the Corrupted Yellow-Robed Bishop of the White Moon Church shell, and exited the Knowledge Illusion Hall.