“He really is a bumpkin!”
Staring at Liu Sheng’s retreating figure, Shopkeeper Chen’s eyes were filled with disdain.
Others studied with their eyes and brains, but this one, well, he studied with his hands, thinking he could memorize and learn by just touching. Such an attitude towards studying…
He deserved to spend his entire life toiling in the fields!
Fortunately, this business deal was good, earning him over one tael of silver. Tonight, he could go to Yicui Tower to listen to some tunes.
“This transaction was worth it. I gained over ten points of Spiritual Essence…”
Liu Sheng, clutching the more than one tael of silver in his embrace, had his eyebrows raised in delight.
Although it wasn’t much, it proved his approach was correct.
Next, it was time for a big harvest…
“This esteemed customer, our Great Yu Law clearly states that commoners should not approach pearls and jade, nor inquire about precious stones.
There are many street stalls near the City God Temple; those would be more suitable for you to find some simple hairpins and copper ornaments…”
The shop assistant from Ruibaozhai stood on the steps, looking down and blocking Liu Sheng from entering the door.
His words were filled with Yin and Yang sarcasm, almost as if the words “poor people, get lost” were carved on his forehead.
Inside the shop, several women and Young Misses dressed in luxurious silks heard the commotion, looked over, pointed, and chuckled behind their hands.
“…I forgot this is a feudal society with strict Ranks. Shops dealing in luxury goods like jewelry have always been closed to common people…”
Liu Sheng realized, and seeing the shop’s guards step out with clubs, he immediately turned and left.
He felt no anger or resentment in his heart, only that the words “strict class system” had long permeated every aspect of life.
Rather than complain, be angry, or resentful, it was better to strive to cross the Ranks.
“One day, you will kneel and invite me into your shop…”
Liu Sheng had always been magnanimous and never held grudges!
Really!
…
Next, Liu Sheng no longer went to pawn shops, gold and silver shops, or other such establishments. Instead, he took the advice and went to the street stalls near the City God Temple.
Most of the items here were second-hand daily necessities, and it was bustling with people coming and going, but unfortunately…
Liu Sheng spent nearly an hour, under the strange gazes of the stall owners, touching everything on each stall, only to gain 7 points of Spiritual Essence!
However, at one stall, he serendipitously found a set of fine iron willow-leaf daggers. After a heated negotiation, he eventually bought them for 800 copper coins.
After the transaction, the broad-faced, big-eyed stall owner habitually called out to attract customers:
“Customer, rest assured, our Li's Iron Shop has been passed down for three generations, and the quality is guaranteed. If you need anything in the future, whether it’s farm tools or weapons, you can find me in Ironware Alley…”
Passed down for three generations?
Doesn't that mean they have many antique items?
Liu Sheng’s eyes lit up, and he silently noted down the name “Li's Iron Shop in Ironware Alley.”
It was late today, and he still needed to buy some rice and meat, so he would go next time.
Half an hour later, having bought twenty jin of coarse grain and a few jin of pork offal, he met up with Zhao Lei and set off on their way home.
Along the way, Liu Sheng mentioned hunting, which Zhao Lei readily took on, stating that he would “impart all his knowledge and never hold anything back.”
Upon returning home, Liu Sheng handed the coarse grain, pork offal, and the remaining two hundred-plus copper coins to Liu Apo, then eagerly lay down on his bed…
【Name】: Liu Sheng
【Dao Fruit】: Seventy-Two Transformations
【Talent】: Magpie Eyes
【Cultivation】: None
【Incarnation】: Sparrow (Can invest Spiritual Essence for deduction)
【Spiritual Essence】: 23
23 points of Spiritual Essence!
Who knew how hard he had to endure on the way back!
“I hope for a good result.”
Liu Sheng exhaled a breath of turbid Qi, nervously licked his lips, and immediately stopped hesitating.
“Invest 10 points of Spiritual Essence to deduce Sparrow Transformation!”
In an instant, light and shadows trembled, and the panel was like a waterfall of ink—
【Year One, you broke through the eggshell, seeing the first light of dawn…】
【Year Two, you are already familiar with this forest, and begin to attempt flying far away.
You learned your lesson, keeping your mouth shut, only shuttling through the forest, successfully avoiding the hawks in the sky.
You flew for a long time, until you were too tired to bear it, and then rested on a large tree.
A wildcat quietly approached from behind you…】
【You died, 8 points of Spiritual Essence refunded.】
…
Damn it!
Last time, I attracted a hawk by calling out; this time, I didn’t make a sound, just got tired from flying and rested for a bit, and encountered a wildcat?
This little Sparrow’s life is too bitter!
It's not like Dark Souls…
Liu Sheng’s mentality was a bit explosive, and he complained wildly in his heart.
After a while, he recovered. It was just a waste of two points of Spiritual Essence; he still had 21 points!
Continue!
…
【Year One, you broke through the eggshell, seeing the first light of dawn…】
【Year Two, you are already familiar with this forest, and begin to attempt flying far away.
You learned your lesson, keeping your mouth shut, only shuttling through the forest. When thirsty, you drank dew; when hungry, you ate bugs, avoiding the hawks in the sky and the snakes and wildcats in the trees. You flew over one mountain after another…】
【Year Three, you continued to fly…】
【Year Four, in the deep winter snow, you stopped on a withered branch, powerlessly looking back at the path you came from, a vast expanse of white, nothing there.
A Sparrow’s lifespan is only four years; you have reached the end of your life.
In this life, you have seen too many charming sceneries, eaten many novel and delicious bugs, and escaped danger from the claws of eagles, snakes, wildcats, and foxes several times.
The only regret is that you ultimately failed to fly out of this forest sea and see a wider world.
You recalled a personal experience a yellow oriole told you in the summer…
There was once a bald old crow that accidentally ate a green jujube and regrew green feathers.
If it were you who ate this fruit, would you live longer?】
【You died, 6 points of Spiritual Essence refunded.】
…
This time, he lived safely until natural death…
But he didn’t advance into a mutated beast!
Liu Sheng came back to his senses, carefully read through the text that had appeared on the panel, and finally found the key:
That green jujube eaten by the bald old crow!
The yellow oriole said it witnessed the bald old crow eating the green jujube and then growing brand new green feathers…
So the key is that green jujube!
Liu Sheng’s eyes flickered a few times, and he decided to try again:
“Invest 10 points of Spiritual Essence for deduction; the Incarnation must try to eat that green jujube!”
As his thoughts turned, lines of ink-wash text once again flooded the screen—
【Year One, you broke through the eggshell, seeing the first light of dawn…】
…
…
【Year Four, you arrived, travel-worn, at the forest the yellow oriole spoke of, and saw the green jujube hanging on the tree.
The green jujube emitted a strange fragrance, attracting countless birds and beasts, and below the tree, blood flowed like a river from the fighting.
You could not resist your instinctive craving. Taking advantage of the birds and beasts fighting amongst themselves, you swooped down, wanting to snatch the green jujube.
A ten-foot-long venomous python spat venom…】
【You died, 6 points of Spiritual Essence refunded.】
…
I'm losing it, again!
【Year One…】
…
…
【Year Four, you saw that green jujube, its strange fragrance wafting, attracting birds and beasts to fight over it.
You suppressed your instinctive craving, looked left and right, and finally found that bald old crow, so you quietly hid behind it.
The birds and beasts suffered heavy casualties. You seized the opportunity to fly out from behind the old crow and rushed towards the green jujube.
Just then, a black shadow swept over your head—it was a gray crane!
It also deeply understood the Dao of stealth, waiting until the very end…】
【You died, 6 points of Spiritual Essence refunded】
…
“The Sparrow itself is too weak; it simply can’t compete with those fierce birds and beasts!”
Liu Sheng looked at his Spiritual Essence points, which had fallen back into single digits, his expression solemn.
Only two chances left…
He repeatedly reviewed the previous deductions, and a question suddenly arose in his mind…
Since the birds and beasts fighting for the green jujube were so fierce, why was it that the bald old crow, of all things, ended up receiving the fortune?
Or was it that an unexpected change occurred later…
What if he just kept playing dead until the very end, waiting for that bald old crow to get the green jujube… and then snatch it?
Thinking of it, Liu Sheng immediately put all his remaining Spiritual Essence into it.
…
【Year One…】
…
…
【Year Four, you saw that green jujube, its strange fragrance wafting, attracting birds and beasts to fight over it.
You suppressed your instinctive craving, and after finding that bald old crow, you quietly hid behind it.
You decided to play dead until the very end, no matter how many opportunities appeared, you would remain still.
The birds and beasts fought in chaos, suffering heavy casualties. Finally, a gray crane snatched the green jujube, but as it left the forest, it was pounced on by a heavily injured wildcat and fell to the ground. The fruit rolled to the base of the tree where you were perched.
The bald old crow was stunned for a moment, then spread its wings and swooped down.
Just as it was about to snatch the green jujube, you mustered all your strength and dove down, successfully snatching the jujube from the crow’s beak.
You swallowed the wind jujube at the risk of your life, only to live longer and see a wider heaven and earth.
A pure, light Spiritual Qi enveloped your entire body.
Your body underwent drastic changes: your size expanded, your claws and beak became sharp, old feathers shed, and new green plumage grew, and you awakened the Bloodline talent “Heaven-Born Swordsman.”
You transformed into a streak of green light, using your tail feathers as a blade, slaughtering all the birds and beasts that pounced on you, and finally let out a long cry towards the sky before departing.】
【Deduction successful. Your Incarnation “Sparrow (Gray)” has advanced to “Blade-tailed Finch (White),” gaining the blessing of its talent “Heaven-Born Swordsman.”】
【Remaining Spiritual Essence: 5 points.】
…
In an instant, a light, cool Qi emerged from thin air, enveloping Liu Sheng’s entire body.
A strange sound came from his ears, like a blade cutting through the air, emitting a “swish, swish” sword hum…