12: Weird Zhao Xue, the NPC that suddenly appeared

"A godforged stone?"

Ye Xiao was stunned.

If someone were to ask what was most precious in the Eternal World, everyone would tell you it wasn't hidden professions or various top-tier equipment.

It could only be a godforged stone.

The reason was simple: a godforged stone allowed Professionals to gain an additional skill slot.

No Professional could remain indifferent after hearing the words "godforged stone."

However, godforged stones in the Eternal World were extremely rare.

No one knew where these stones came from, but every time one appeared, it would cause a huge stir in the Eternal World.

A year ago, someone accidentally obtained a godforged stone and, for some unknown reason, put it up for auction.

Ultimately, this godforged stone was purchased by a big shot for a high price of 500 million eternal coins.

This showed just how precious the godforged stone was.

Yet, the Zhao Xue in front of him was actually willing to give him a godforged stone?

How could Ye Xiao not be surprised?

However, for Ye Xiao, who possessed the Infinite Skill Bar, a godforged stone was naturally useless.

But that didn't diminish Ye Xiao's interest in it.

Even if he didn't use it, he could sell it for money, and what he lacked most right now was money.

So, Ye Xiao nodded.

"I can agree to your request, but you must give me the godforged stone first."

Zhao Xue seemed to have already known Ye Xiao would say this.

Without any hesitation, she waved her hands.

A blood-red stone appeared out of thin air in front of Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao took it and examined it.

---

【godforged stone: After use, it can increase your skill slots by one.】

---

It really was a godforged stone.

Ye Xiao had thought Zhao Xue was just talking nonsense.

After all, everyone knew how precious this godforged stone was.

Ordinary people wouldn't easily take it out.

At this moment, Zhao Xue said again, "Don't rush to use it."

"Oh? Why?"

Zhao Xue explained, "After using a godforged stone, the user will temporarily lose the ability to move. This place is a secret realm, after all, and not entirely safe."

Ye Xiao looked deeply at Zhao Xue but said nothing.

He didn't need this item anyway, so he naturally wouldn't use it.

"Now that you've seen my sincerity, can you send me out?"

Suddenly, a look of terror appeared on Zhao Xue's ethereal face.

"You... what are you going to do..."

A scorching Fireball leaped into his palm, and then Ye Xiao sneered.

"You seem to have forgotten one thing: this is a Level 20 secret realm."

"What do you mean?" Zhao Xue asked in horror.

"To be able to project your soul outwards, you must at least be a third-turn Psyker or higher," Ye Xiao said calmly. "Can you tell me how a Professional of at least Level 90 or above entered this place?"

Zhao Xue's expression changed, and she forced herself to explain, "I have a special method, so I can naturally enter."

Ye Xiao's lips curved slightly upwards.

Seeing this, Zhao Xue still wanted to say something.

Unfortunately, Ye Xiao didn't give her any chance.

More than twenty Fireballs instantly covered Zhao Xue's physical body.

A shrill scream pierced deep into Ye Xiao's soul.

This was the wail from Zhao Xue's soul.

Unfortunately, she was too weak.

As her physical body was incinerated, Zhao Xue's already somewhat ethereal soul body became even dimmer.

Her voice also became intermittent.

"You... you dare to kill me... I am from the Zhao Family... you..."

Before she could finish her harsh words, Zhao Xue's soul, deprived of its physical support, completely vanished in an instant.

Ye Xiao shrugged, looking in the direction where Zhao Xue disappeared.

"You didn't say so earlier."

However, Zhao Xue's words did surprise Ye Xiao a little.

The Zhao Family she spoke of would naturally not be just any ordinary second or third-rate family.

Since the appearance of the Eternal World, with the demise of old forces, countless new forces had emerged.

However, truly long-standing forces that had endured for a century were few and far between.

Among them, the most prominent were the Eight Great Families, known as the Eight Great Families of the Alliance.

And the Dragon Abyss Zhao Family was one of these eight forces.

If Ye Xiao remembered correctly, Bai Xiaoxiao's Bai Family was one of the allied subordinate forces of the Zhao Family.

The two families had a very close relationship.

From this, one could understand how terrifying the power of these Eight Great Families was.

Furthermore, the Zhao Family had produced an SSS-level genius two years ago, who was rumored to have even specialized in an extremely rare hidden profession.

When the news broke, the prestige of the Dragon Abyss Zhao Family almost overshadowed the other seven families for a time.

Ye Xiao hadn't expected to casually encounter someone from the Dragon Abyss Zhao Family in a secret realm.

However, Ye Xiao didn't regret his decision.

Zhao Xue's level was at least 90 or even higher.

Ye Xiao had no idea beforehand that Zhao Xue had a godforged stone on her.

Her willingness to so readily hand over a godforged stone worth 500 million was inherently unusual.

If it were Ye Xiao, even to save his life, he wouldn't have given it up so easily.

Especially since Zhao Xue had specifically instructed him to use it only after leaving the secret realm, which made Ye Xiao even more wary.

Ye Xiao guessed that Zhao Xue merely wanted to trick him into taking her physical body out, and then, after her body recovered, she would turn around and attack him.

After all, Zhao Xue's level was there for all to see.

She must have been very confident in her abilities.

As long as Ye Xiao died, everything in his backpack would drop.

That way, the godforged stone would ultimately fall back into Zhao Xue's hands.

How could Ye Xiao be so foolish as to actually agree to her?

Playing with the godforged stone in his hand, Ye Xiao glanced at Zhao Xue's ashes.

He was about to pack up and leave.

But for some reason, Ye Xiao suddenly felt a sense of incongruity.

Firstly, although the Dragon Abyss Zhao Family's strength was formidable, Zhao Xue clearly wasn't a core member of the Zhao Family.

Otherwise, the Zhao Family wouldn't have allowed Zhao Xue to venture alone.

So, given Zhao Xue's status, how could she possess a priceless godforged stone?

Secondly, Zhao Xue was clearly at least a third-turn Professional, so why would she enter this Miasma Hidden Forest?

Finally, how did she overcome the poisonous miasma of this Miasma Hidden Forest?

Could it be that her poison resistance, like his, was extremely high?

One Zhao Xue might be barely plausible, but what about the other four people?

Ye Xiao didn't believe in such coincidences.

If there was one inconsistency, it could perhaps be attributed to an accident.

But so many inconsistencies gathered together made it very unusual.

Ye Xiao quickly scanned his surroundings.

Could it be related to this secret realm, or more precisely, to the boss?

Ye Xiao's gaze finally fell on the boss's corpse not far away, which he had almost forgotten.

Suddenly, a figure darted out from somewhere.

Its target was clearly the boss's corpse.

However, this was not what surprised Ye Xiao the most.

What shocked Ye Xiao the most was that he saw a line of small text appear above the figure's head.

【Insect Master Remi】

This unique display made Ye Xiao pause for a moment before he reacted.

This was... an NPC!

An NPC that had long disappeared into the annals of the Eternal World's history!

He hadn't expected to encounter one in this secret realm.