Chapter 33: Ripped off

'Since I'm so important to both of them, why don't I get something from both sides then?'

The corner of his mouth twitched and a wry smile appeared on his face.

After a thorough planning, he turned around and smiled at Sky Wing. "He's saying that you don't have any divine weapons left and those forbidden scrolls are not real, is he right?" 

Sky Wing frowned. He stared at Jiang Ming for a while before nodding his head. "He's right. My divine weapon has been destroyed and I only had one forbidden scroll which I used just now. But if you help me get what I want, I still have a lot of good items that I can give you. Although they aren't divine weapons, it will make you invincible among the players of your level."

When he heard what Sky Wing said, he was delighted. However, he didn't reveal the excitement on his face. Instead, Jiang Ming frowned and asked Sky Wing, "You lied to me?"

"Young Brother, he is a scum who has betrayed his master. He even killed our master. Don't believe in what he says! We are now both severely injured and it will only last for another hour. Just kill him and the things that he promised you will drop out of his inventory. All of them will still be yours."

When Crow Cliff noticed that Jiang Ming was unhappy with Sky Wing, he took the opportunity to pull Jiang Ming onto his side. 

"Young Brother, don't listen to him. It's true that the items may drop out of my inventory after I die, but they might not necessarily be the good ones. But if you help me, I will hand them to you personally. I will even allow you to join the Holy Clan and be one of the law enforcers there. You should know that you would be paid thousands of gold coins every month. You would even have a group of men working under you."

Sky Wing continued tempting Jiang Ming. This time, not only was he offering items, he even offered status and power.

Jiang Ming's eyes lit up and he pretended to look at Sky Wing in excitement. "Really?"

"Young Brother, don't listen…"

"Young brother, this is a universal key. It can open any treasure box in the game. If you kill him, I will give you the other items and will offer you what I promised."

When Crow Cliff noticed that Jiang Ming was almost convinced by Sky Wing, he tried to stop what was happening. However, Sky Wing immediately threw out a key made of crystal to Jiang Ming.

"Here it is!"

When Jiang Ming saw that Sky Wing had already started giving him items in order to gain his trust, he was on cloud nine. He caught the keys and had a look at it. 

(Universal Key) : special props

Usage: Able to open treasure boxes of any levels. Remaining number of usage: 11/20.

The gaming strategy did mention treasure boxes. There were random airdrops that could be found in various places across the map, which were known as 'treasure boxes' because they literally look like one.

However, the treasure boxes have different levels and the items found inside would be according to the levels of the treasure box. The treasure boxes of different levels would need different keys as well. These keys could only be found in certain maps. The items inside the treasure box would also vary depending on where the box was opened.

For example, a lowest level iron treasure box was found in a monster map of level 100. When it was opened, you would get iron equipment of level 100. When a gold treasure box was found in a monster map of level 10, gold equipment of level 10 would be found. 

This Universal Key might be consumable, but if used the right way, it would bring Jiang Ming lots of benefit. After looking through the attributes of the Universal Key, Jiang Ming was so excited that he became at a loss for words.

Although that's what he felt on the inside, he still kept a cold face on the outside and pretended he wasn't interested in the Universal Key. He took a look at it, placed it in his inventory and looked at Sky Wing. "The Universal Key is only a consumable item; furthermore, it's extremely difficult to find a treasure box. If this is what you mean by the 'good things' that you have to offer, then I guess the hidden profession and puppet monsters are more useful." 

When Crow Cliff heard Jiang Ming's reply, he was delighted. However, Sky Wing, on the other hand, started to panic. "Wait, I still have other things. This is a life seed of a plant that I obtained while risking my life. You can plant it in your home and treat it carefully. Once it grows, it will flower many magical fruits."

As he explained himself, he threw a red-coloured seed at Jiang Ming. Jiang Ming caught it and immediately looked through its attributes.

(Frozen Blood Vine) : unknown life plant 

Intro: There are only chances of successful plantation, once plantsman technique has reached the grandmaster level. If planted with fresh blood, growth speed increases. 

 Function: Once it matures, it can be carried around and used against enemies. The vine can also be used to make weapons like whips and arrows which have special effects.

Life Plants! This was something good!

Not only could it be used to fight enemies when it matured, but also it would constantly be used to make weapons. It even had fruits that had magical effects. For someone like him who had the Divine Fusion Technique, these magical ingredients could be fused together. These could all bring him money! This plant was a cash cow!

But he still casually threw the Frozen Blood Vine into his inventory and gave Sky Wing a dissatisfied look. "So what, if I have the seed? I don't have a house of my own and I don't know anything about the plantsman technique. So this seed is basically useless. If you can teach me the plantsman technique until the grandmaster level and give me a mansion, I might consider killing him for you." 

"Really?" When Sky Wing, who was terribly empty now, heard that Jiang Ming would kill Crow Cliff for him, he asked curiously.

After getting the Frozen Blood Vine, in order to plant it, he found a friend who was an expert in plants. He wasted a lot of time and effort to get the Plantsman Technique to the grandmaster level and placed them into a scroll. Since he no longer had the seed, the scroll was useless to him as well. As for the mansion, he did have two mansions. Even if he were to give Jiang Ming one of it, it was still a reasonable deal.

The grandmaster scroll and the mansion were not as valuable as the other two items that he had left. Therefore, if Jiang Ming promised him, he wouldn't mind giving it to Jiang Ming.

"Of course!" Jiang Ming nodded his head.

Crow Cliff, on the other hand, was in despair. 

"Swear upon the Gods of the demon race!" Sky Wing shouted. 

"You don't believe me?" Jiang Ming frowned and said to Sky Wing, "Fine. Since you don't believe me, I might as well just help Crow Cliff since there isn't much time left."

Sky Wing's eyebrows furrowed. He paused for a moment and said, "Okay, I believe you! You better don't go against your words. Otherwise, if I die, I will bring you along with me!"

As he agreed, he threw a scroll and mortgage at Jiang Ming.

After receiving the scroll and the mortgage, Jiang Ming immediately used the scroll and changed the name on the mortgage to his own. 

Ding~ System notification: Congratulations. You have reached the grandmaster level in the Plantsman technique.

"You have got what you wanted. Now, come here. I'll tell you how to kill that old man over there!" When Sky Wing saw that Jiang Ming already used the scroll and even changed the name on the mortgage, he felt a sharp pain in his chest as he muttered to himself, Hmph, luckily I did something to all the items that I've given to him. I'll wait for him to come over here and then I'll kill him! Other than the scroll, all the items that he has will drop and it'll all be mine again! Once I'm done with him and the 'weak' status is over, I can still kill Crow Cliff by myself. Why would I need your help?!

When Sky Wing saw Jiang Ming who was walking towards him, there was a wry smile on his face and he was getting ready to kill Jiang Ming.

However, just when he was about to kill Jiang Ming, he saw Jiang Ming's figure dashing towards him…