AZI Volume 4 Chapter 42

Upon returning to the yacht, Long Hua is just about to go to bed; however—

(Come into the dreamscape, we need to talk.)

"Uh?"

In response to Long Hua's confusion, the Tai Xuan Emperor also speaks through her vessel, saying—

"Perhaps, she has had a change of heart—in regards to the way she does business with you, master?"

"Hmm. She's been keeping quiet for quite some time. …Actually, if she wanted me to head in, she could just drag me in without warning."

"Since she's inviting, maybe this is her giving master face?"

Thinking for a bit, Long Hua shrugs his shoulders, and decides to head into the dreamscape to see what the Tai Xuan Emperor has in store for him.

...…

"…"

As soon as he appears within the dreamscape, Long Hua is quick to raise an eye at the sight before him.

Black pedestals are scattered throughout the white voids, and placed onto each pedestal is an item.

Positioned in front of the displayed item is a plate, which details the item's name, supposed cost, and a description of their function.

"The hell is all this?"

Expecting absolute nonsense out of this, Long Hua's expression is quick to turn stern.

Standing to the side—

"Tch."

The Tai Xuan Emperor clicks her tongue. Similarly to last time, her entire body is shrouded in a veil of light, making it impossible to see her true appearance.

"…I'm leaving, since it seems like I'm not welcome here."

Turning around, Long Hua's figure begins to fade—

"Wait, wait, wait! I didn't mean to click my tongue just now! *-laoban, let's have a do over!"

Grabbing onto Long Hua's left arm, the Tai Xuan Emperor pulls him towards one of the black pedestals, and explains—

"Ahem. I've made some adjustments to my gacha system. Every pull you do from now on, you'll be able to earn exchange points. Each pull is worth 100 points. To start things off, I've decided to grant you 1,200 exchange points."

"…"

Maintaining a look of skepticism on his face, Long Hua shakes off the Tai Xuan Emperor's hands, and looks to the item displayed on the pedestal, which turns out to be a talisman of some kind.

Looking at the plate in front of the item, it reads—

"Magic treasure refining talisman?"

Nodding her head, the Tai Xuan Emperor says—

"Indeed, hasn't that trusty old soft sword of yours been breaking often in battle as of late? Well, paste this talisman onto it, and it will instantly be upgraded into a Core Formation realm magic treasure."

Hearing this, Long Hua shows a hint of surprise, and looks at the price tag, which turns out to be—

"400 exchange points, basically four pulls' worth."

Clear distaste appears on Long Hua's face, as he asks—

"…Isn't this basically an online game's item shop?"

"You can think of it like that, yes. Also, I've made it so that you can purchase a VIP membership; the cost is 20,000 spirit stones. You'll get one extra free pull a day upon purchasing it. Since it lasts 30 days, it…-"

Being directed at with a rage-filled glare, the Tai Xuan Emperor turns silent, and averts her gaze, while Long Hua says—

"…You evil bitch. What do you mean by a VIP membership, it's nothing more than a monthly pass! What are you going to add next, huh?! A battle pass?!"

Towards Long Hua's suggestion, the Tai Xuan Emperor's expression beneath the light veil, turns solemn, as she answers—

"Mm… A battle pass, well, if that's something that *-laoban wants, it's certainly possible. If you just give me a bit more time, I can-"

"Go to hell, you scum!"

"…"

Heaving a heavy sigh, the Tai Xuan Emperor, in a solemn tone, says—

"*-laoban, I've said this before, but I've got difficulties of my own. The fact that I'm adding in this item-shop-like system, and putting some of the items, which can only be pulled from the gacha pool, up for direct purchase—is my way of showing sincerity."

"Sincerity my ass, this is just another way for you to rip me off…"

Clearing her throat, the Tai Xuan Emperor replies—

"Fine, think what you will, *-laoban. In any case, care to purchase the VIP membership?"

"…Tch. Hand it over."

Seeing the reluctant expression on Long Hua's face, the Tai Xuan Emperor thought—

(Hmph. As much as you refuse to be ripped off by me, what other choice do you have other than to say, "ah, so fragrant" after tasting the benefits?)

"…Care to say what it is that you're thinking of right to my face?"

Seeing Long Hua clenching his right fist, the Tai Xuan Emperor says—

"…I'm only just thinking, it's a pleasure doing business with you as always, *-laoban."

"Hmph."

Looking back at the magic treasure refining talisman, Long Hua says—

"I'll take one of these."

"400 exchange points are deducted; you still have 800 more. Shall I walk you through the area a bit?"

"…Go on then."

As it would take far too long to introduce all the items, the Tai Xuan Emperor decides to focus on only the noteworthy few.

And the first item among them is—

"This is a high-grade combat body."

Placed onto a black pedestal is a black cube, the size of a basketball, to which, the Tai Xuan Emperor explains—

"It might look silly right now, but do keep in mind that combat bodies do not have a set form. In any case, this combat body is able to output strength equal to a Nascent Soul realm practitioner. Naturally, it possesses all the functions of an ordinary combat body as well."

Looking at the price tag, Long Hua's expression darkens, as he mutters—

"10,000 exchange points… 100 pulls' worth."

"Well, it is an SSR rarity item, after all."

"Can the pulls that I've done in the past be converted into points as well?"

Shaking her head, the Tai Xuan Emperor replies—

"Unfortunately, that won't be possible."

"Tch. Move on then."

"Right this way."

The next item that the Tai Xuan Emperor shows to Long Hua is—

"Hm?"

Looking at the item, which takes on the form of a black ring with intricate symbols carved onto it, Long Hua frowns.

The size of this ring is a bit too big to fit around a finger, but it should be able to fit a thumb perfectly.

"Battle armor? Uh? The hell…? 500,000 exchange points…?"

Seeing the price tag on this item, Long Hua can't help but twitch an eye. In total, that is 5,000 pulls' worth.

Shrugging her shoulders, the Tai Xuan Emperor says—

"Honestly, 500,000 exchange points for this is considered dirt cheap. The name of this specific battle armor is Nù Luō. Even in the Earthborn Elementals' Realm, it is a highly coveted Spirit Armament."

"…How so?"

Putting on a smug expression beneath the light veil, the Tai Xuan Emperor answers—

"Due to its unique ability to evolve by absorbing various materials, it could theoretically become the strongest battle armor. Do you recall the Zang Luo Realm's Nirvana realm cultivation base?"

"The one that is two realms above the Nascent Soul realm?"

"Correct. Just by equipping this battle armor, you can possess the strength of a Nirvana realm practitioner."

"Uh?"

Seeing the clear sense of astonishment on Long Hua's face, the Tai Xuan Emperor's expression beneath the light veil turns smugger, as she presses her face closer to the former, and asks—

"Well, are you surprised and shocked to hear that, *-laoban? Doesn't it make you want to purchase it as soon as possible? If you don't believe my words, I don't mind letting you try the battle armor on."

"…"

Taking a few steps back, Long Hua answers—

"How about finding me something that I can actually afford and use—with my remaining 800 exchange points?"

"Fine, fine."

Maintaining the smug look on her face, the Tai Xuan Emperor leads Long Hua over to the other items, while thinking—

(He's clearly interested in that battle armor; so long as I keep reminding him of it, he'll be tempted to throw resources at me.)

Following the Tai Xuan Emperor, Long Hua thought—

(I didn't think that a battle armor would be such an abnormal piece of equipment. If it can really grant me the strength of a Nirvana realm practitioner, then… The Immortal Sealing Chain would amount to nothing. But that price…)

Turning his head to the side, and glancing back at the Nu Luo Battle Armor, Long Hua's eyes emanated with a flame of yearning.

Facing forward, Long Hua asks—

"You say it can grant me the strength of a Nirvana realm practitioner, but for how long?"

"Caught on, have you? Hmm, with *-laoban's current cultivation base, probably less than ten minutes?"

"Ten minutes…"

A split instance is all the time it would take for two practitioners of great strength to end their battle, so ten minutes is actually quite a great deal of time.

"…"

Looking back at the battle armor again, the flame of yearning that emanates from Long Hua's eyes intensifies.

"…"

Noticing this, the Tai Xuan Emperor thought—

(Hmph, young man, you can only gaze upon that battle armor's glory from a distance. I've set it so that it isn't attainable from within the gacha. You've no choice but to do 5,000 pulls' worth to acquire it. Still… If at all possible, I'd rather keep it for myself.)

With 800 exchange points on hand, Long Hua eventually decided to spend them on two Spirit Armaments of the SR rarity.

The first Spirit Armament is an assault rifle, the same as the one that was used against Wang Bei Mu.

The second is a gatling gun. The body of the gatling gun is silver in color, while its six rotating barrels are black. Other than that, its chain that extends from it is gold.

"Right then, I'd say that's about-"

Just as the Tai Xuan Emperor is about to send Long Hua on his way—

"Uh…?"

Time comes to an abrupt halt, and the white voids—that surrounds them, darkens.

"*-laoban, wha…-?"

Placing a hand onto Long Hua's shoulder, the Tai Xuan Emperor attempts to shake him; however—

"…"

Regardless of how much strength she exerts on her grip, the Tai Xuan Emperor finds it impossible to move Long Hua—almost as if he had become a statue.

"This…-? What is going on?"

Just as the Tai Xuan Emperor had asked this—

[What an interesting system you've created.]

"…!"

Recognizing the voice that said those words, the Tai Xuan Emperor's complexion—beneath the light veil, turns pale.