14: Chapter 14 The Sword Saint's Legacy

Chen Ergou stared at the private message, his finger hovering in mid-air, hesitating to click reply.

Shen Ruoxi's message lay quietly in his private message box; it was just a short line of text, yet it made him feel an invisible pressure.

"I heard you're looking for something in the Shadow Nest?"

How did she know?!

Chen Ergou's first reaction was—it's over, I'm being watched.

His second reaction was—is she coming to steal the quest?

His third reaction was—I haven't even started yet and you're already messaging me, isn't that too coincidental?

He agonized over it for a long time, finally deciding not to reply yet, and turned to find Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen to ask for clarity.

"Old Xiao…" Chen Ergou ran back to the west corner of the Novice Village and found Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen huddled back under the broken wall, having returned to his listless beggar appearance.

"Hmm?" Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen lifted his eyelids.

"There's something I want to ask you." Chen Ergou squatted down and lowered his voice, "What exactly do you mean when you say those sword artifacts have a connection to my Stall System?"

Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen glanced at him, seemingly unsurprised by his question.

"Your myriad worlds stall system has a core energy called 'Myriad Worlds Source Energy'," Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen said slowly. "This energy is one of the most primitive forces in the myriad worlds and can be converted into any form of energy. My three sword artifacts were also infused with Myriad Worlds Source Energy during their forging. That's why I can sense your Stall System—in essence, I'm sensing energy of the same origin."

Chen Ergou only half-understood, but he grasped the general meaning: his Stall System and Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen's sword artifacts used the same kind of "battery."

"Then can you directly use my Stall System's energy to repair your soul?" Chen Ergou asked a crucial question.

Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen shook his head: "Your Stall System's energy is too weak; it can't even repair one percent of my soul fragments. But the sword artifacts are different—the Myriad Worlds Source Energy stored within them was infused by me during my prime, and the amount is vast. As long as I get them back, I can at least recover to… one percent of my peak strength."

"One percent?" Chen Ergou's mouth twitched, "That's not much."

"One percent is still one percent of a Sword Saint," Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen said indifferently, "It's enough to teach you."

Fine, that made sense.

Chen Ergou asked again, "Then where are the three sword artifacts you mentioned before located?"

"The star-shattering sword is in the Shadow Nest; you already know that." Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen held up his second finger, "The Void-Splitting Blade is in the Ice Abyss, which is a level 30 dungeon you can't enter right now."

"What about the third one?"

"The World-Ending Scabbard is in…" Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen paused, his expression becoming somewhat complex, "In the Demon God Palace."

"The Demon God Palace?!" Chen Ergou almost jumped up, "Isn't that the final dungeon?! No one on the entire server has even reached that point yet!"

"That's why I said, there's no rush." Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen waved his hand, "Just get the first two back first. As for the third one… we'll talk once you're strong enough."

Chen Ergou breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, at least the first two were still within reach.

"Right." Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen suddenly remembered something, pulled a tattered book from his chest, and threw it to Chen Ergou.

Chen Ergou caught it in a fluster and looked down—

[Sword Saint Introduction (Skill Book · Rare)]

[Quality: Purple]

[Description: Introductory swordsmanship written by Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen himself. Although it is only scratching the surface, it is enough for a mortal to step through the gates of the Sword Dao.]

[Effect: After learning, you can use the skill "Sword Saint Strike", dealing 200% weapon damage with a 30-second cooldown.]

[Note: This skill enhances as the user's level increases.]

Chen Ergou's eyes nearly popped out.

200% weapon damage! What kind of concept was that? His normal attacks were only 100% damage; learning this skill would immediately double it! And it could even enhance with his level!

"This… isn't this too valuable?" Chen Ergou felt a bit embarrassed.

"What's valuable about it?" Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen snorted, "This is just an introductory textbook I casually wrote back in the day; it wouldn't even cost a textbook fee at the Myriad Worlds Academy. You help me find the sword artifacts, and I teach you a few sword moves—a fair trade."

"Then I won't be polite!" Chen Ergou used the skill book without hesitation.

A golden light flashed, and a new skill appeared in his skill bar—

[Sword Saint Strike (Lv.1): Deals 200% weapon damage, 30-second cooldown. Consumes 20 Stamina.]

Chen Ergou was so excited he nearly jumped on the spot.

He finally had a decent attack skill! Before, he had been scraping by relying on normal attacks and items; now with this skill, fighting monsters wouldn't be so strenuous.

"Thank you, Old Xiao!" Chen Ergou bowed to Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen, his attitude as respectful as if he were meeting a teacher.

Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen waved his hand: "Don't be in such a rush to thank me. This is just an introduction. Once you find all three sword artifacts, I will teach you the true Sword Saint ultimate techniques."

"The true Sword Saint ultimate techniques?" Chen Ergou's eyes brightened even more, "How strong are they?"

Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen said indifferently: "A single sword strike to shatter stars."

"…"

Chen Ergou swallowed hard.

A single sword strike to shatter stars. It sounded outrageous.

Just as he was immersed in the joy of obtaining a new skill, Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen suddenly said something else.

"Right, your Stall System… I can help you upgrade it."

Chen Ergou was stunned: "You can upgrade my Stall System?"

"Although I only have one percent of my strength left, I still have some understanding of Myriad Worlds Source Energy," Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen said. "Your Stall System is currently at the most basic version, and its functions are pitifully few. I can help you optimize the core algorithms, at least enough to unlock a few more product slots."

"That would be great!" Chen Ergou didn't hesitate, "Come on, hurry up and upgrade it!"

Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen extended his withered fingers and drew several runes in the void. Those runes glowed with a faint golden light, hung in the air for a few seconds, and then "whooshed" into Chen Ergou's chest.

Chen Ergou shivered, feeling a wave of heat in his chest.

Then the system panel popped up—

[myriad worlds stall system · V1.1 (Upgraded)]

[Upgrade Content: Product slots +2, added "Product Customization" function (VIP Exclusive), added "System Inventory" expanded to 50 slots.]

Chen Ergou was so excited he nearly cried.

Two more product slots! This meant he could list more products at the same time! And there was also a "Product Customization" function? Although it was marked as VIP exclusive, it at least showed that the system was developing in a good direction.

"Old Xiao, you're amazing!" Chen Ergou gave a thumbs up.

Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen, however, shook his head: "I only performed the most basic optimization. Your Stall System has great potential, but it requires a large amount of Myriad Worlds Source Energy to drive it. Only when you bring back more sword artifacts can I perform deeper upgrades."

"Understood, understood." Chen Ergou nodded repeatedly, "I'll go to the Shadow Nest right now to find the star-shattering sword!"

He finished speaking and prepared to leave, but stopped after taking two steps.

Because he remembered Shen Ruoxi's private message.

"I heard you're looking for something in the Shadow Nest?"

He agonized for a long time, ultimately deciding to ask Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen.

"Old Xiao, there's something…" Chen Ergou scratched his head, "There's this female player, the guild leader of the number one guild on the whole server; she seems to know I'm going to the Shadow Nest. Do you think she's here to steal the quest?"

Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen closed his eyes, as if sensing something.

"The one called Xiguang?" Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen said indifferently.

Chen Ergou was shocked: "How did you know?"

"Although I cannot leave the Novice Village, my ears still work well," Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen said. "That girl… her strength is not bad, and there are traces of Myriad Worlds Source Energy on her as well."

"What?!" Chen Ergou's eyes widened, "She has it too?"

"It's infinitesimal, almost negligible," Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen said. "But it is indeed there. Perhaps she has cleared some dungeons related to my sword artifacts and became contaminated with a little aura."

Chen Ergou breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness she wasn't another Stall System holder; otherwise, his only advantage would be gone.

"As for whether she is here to steal the quest…" Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen opened his eyes, a meaningful smile appearing on the corner of his mouth, "I think she might just be interested in you."

"Interested in me?" Chen Ergou looked disbelieving, "She even told me to just wait yesterday!"

"Telling you to wait doesn't mean she wants to deal with you," Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen said leisurely, "Young man, sometimes you have to listen to what a woman says in reverse."

"…"

Chen Ergou felt that for a legendary Sword Saint, Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen actually understanding such things was a bit incongruous.

But he didn't dare to say it out loud.

Just at this moment, his private message rang again.

It was still Shen Ruoxi.

This time it wasn't just a sentence, but a paragraph:

"Stop playing dead, I know you're online. Our guild cleared the Shadow Nest BOSS yesterday, and I know the route well. If you need help, you can come to me. Of course, if you're scared, then forget it."

Chen Ergou stared at this paragraph, his mouth twitching.

Scared?

When had he, Chen Ergou, ever been scared?

Fine, he was indeed scared.

But to be provoked by a girl like this; if he really chickened out, how would he ever make it in the game in the future?

He took a deep breath and, with trembling fingers, typed a line of text:

"Who's scared? You can help, but there's a condition."

He regretted it immediately after sending it.

Negotiating terms with the Iceberg Empress? Was he tired of living?

Three seconds later, Shen Ruoxi replied:

"Speak."

Just one word. Concise, cold, and unquestionable.

Chen Ergou swallowed hard and bit the bullet as he typed:

"You help me clear the Shadow Nest, and I'll give you a… that, truth cookie."

After sending it, he cursed himself in his heart: Chen Ergou, are you stupid? She's a dignified guild leader, would she lack a cookie from you? You're using a cookie as a condition?

But Shen Ruoxi's reply stunned him.

"Deal. When are we setting off?"

Chen Ergou looked at this message, completely dumbfounded.

She… agreed?

Just like that?

And she seemed… very interested in the truth cookie?

Chen Ergou suddenly remembered something—Shen Ruoxi had previously mentioned that someone in the guild might have leaked tactical intelligence.

She wanted the truth cookie… was it to investigate the mole?

This woman, her mind was deep enough.

While Chen Ergou was pondering, Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen said leisurely from the side: "See, what did I tell you? She's interested in you."

"She's interested in my cookie!" Chen Ergou said unhappily.

Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen smiled and didn't speak again.

Chen Ergou put away his things, preparing to go meet up with Shen Ruoxi.

But just as he took two steps, the system suddenly popped up a new notification—

[System Prompt: Detected that the host is about to enter the "Shadow Nest" dungeon area. It is recommended to carry a sufficient quantity of items. Current recommended products: rebound wristguard, elastic shoes. Do you wish to spend gold coins to replenish inventory?]

Chen Ergou checked and saw that he had sold out of rebound wristguard and elastic shoes; his current inventory was zero.

"Replenish! Replenish them all for me!"

With a wave of his hand, he spent a large sum of gold coins to restock.

Then he took a deep breath and walked towards the coordinates Shen Ruoxi had sent.

Shadow Nest, here he comes.