Why Are There Foolish Thieves Courting Death Everywhere I Go?

Across the vast, boundless sea, a large vessel was slowly drawing near to the Fire Dragon Country. From afar, a dense cluster of islands could already be seen. Small islands were scattered like stars, easily numbering more than a hundred at a glance. Splash. Lu Changsheng leaped up from the seawater and landed on the deck. A layer of qi and blood surged over his body, its scorching heat quickly drying his clothes. This had been his method of training during this period. Every day, he would dive into the sea, cling to the ship's hull, and immerse himself in the waters to comprehend the Ocean Wave Conception. He had also encountered several massive storms along the way. The results were quite decent. In just a few days, his Ocean Wave Conception had progressed to 5%. However, that was all. The further he progressed, the weaker the effects of his comprehension became, even in the midst of fierce storms. Compared to a sudden enlightenment, it truly paled in comparison. Beside him, Yun Haitang still felt a wave of astonishment every single time she witnessed Dao Twelve train, despite having seen it repeatedly. "Brother Dao, your martial arts are truly bizarre, actually requiring you to jump into the sea to cultivate. Aside from you, I doubt many people would dare practice such a method," she remarked calmly. Lu Changsheng said nothing, keeping his eyes fixed on the islands ahead. "The Fire Dragon Country is right before us. It looks like we'll dock in another two shichen or so." A trace of curiosity flickered in his eyes. After all, this was his first time in the Fire Dragon Country. The dense cluster of islands seemed to flank and guard a massive landmass. That colossal island was, of course, the Fire Dragon Country. Before long, the large ship slowly pulled up to the pier. Sophie finally emerged from the cabin, stifling a yawn. "We're finally at the Fire Dragon Country. Aside from spices, there seem to be many wonderful fruits in season right now. Mister Dao, would you like to join us for a stroll ashore?" Sophie invited him. Many people emerged from their cabins, but Longsha was nowhere to be seen. He was hiding inside, not daring to step out for fear that Dao Twelve might find his presence an eyesore. Evidently, Longsha was terrified of Dao Twelve. "Miss Sophie, I'll pass," Lu Changsheng said. "I plan to look around on my own after disembarking. When do you depart for Zhanhai City?" His visit to the Fire Dragon Country was merely an incidental stop; his primary goal was still to take the Ocean Commerce Guild's vessel back to Zhanhai City. "We intend to purchase large quantities of spices and local specialties here. We'll set sail in about five days," Sophie explained earnestly. "If you wish to return to Zhanhai City with us, Mister Dao, you had best not take longer than five days." "Understood. I will return to the docks in four days." Lu Changsheng reserved an extra day just in case anything unexpected occurred. With that, he disembarked. Yun Haitang stepped off the ship as well. Looking at Lu Changsheng, she said indifferently, "Brother Dao, I have things I must attend to as well. Let us part here." Lu Changsheng had long noticed that Yun Haitang was a person with a story, and she certainly had a purpose in coming to the Fire Dragon Country. Yet she said nothing of it. Perhaps she knew very well that their meeting was merely a chance encounter, and she could not expect Dao Twelve to lend her a hand. "Very well. See you in four days then." Leaving those words, Lu Changsheng turned and melted into the crowd. "In four days... Who knows if I will even be alive then?" Yun Haitang murmured under her breath. This journey to the Fire Dragon Country was fraught with extreme danger, yet she had had no choice but to come. This might be her only chance to break through into the Divine Strength Realm. In the jianghu, no one could be relied on except oneself. With that thought, she quickly slipped into the crowd and vanished from sight. Lu Changsheng strolled through Volcano City. The city was renowned for its numerous volcanoes. In fact, volcanic eruptions were frequent here. However, the eruptions were relatively small in scope and caused minimal destruction, turning them into scenic spectacles instead. After wandering about all morning, Lu Changsheng truly experienced the local exotic flavor. Still, scenery was not his priority. It was enough to just take a brief look at the sights. Now that he had arrived in the Fire Dragon Country, a land distinct from the Great Fish Dynasty, his first thought was of rare treasures. The Qiantian Treasure Transformation Secret Method had seven layers in total, requiring seven types of rare treasures. So far, he had only found one: the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure. Since he was here, he naturally wanted to try his luck and see if he could locate any of the other six. Before long, Lu Changsheng found an imposing shop that sold rare curios and treasures. He walked inside and glanced around. A sharp clerk stepped forward at once and asked respectfully, "Honored guest, what might you be looking to purchase?" "Just browsing." Paying the clerk no heed, Lu Changsheng carefully examined the wares on display. Unfortunately, none of the rare treasures he sought were among them. The clerk accompanied him the entire time without rushing to speak. Only when Lu Changsheng had finished looking did he say, "Honored guest, our Rare Treasure Pavilion keeps many treasures that are not displayed in the storefront. If there is something specific you require, you may tell me first. While our pavilion does not claim to collect every treasure under heaven, we possess quite a few rarities from across the four seas." Lu Changsheng fixed his gaze on the clerk, then said calmly, "You probably won't be able to make the call on what I need. Bring out someone from your Rare Treasure Pavilion who can make decisions." His words carried immense weight, leaving the clerk hesitant and uncertain. Nonetheless, the clerk promptly fetched a middle-aged man who introduced himself as a manager of the Rare Treasure Pavilion. Sizing Lu Changsheng up and down, the manager said, "Honored guest, what sort of rare treasure are you seeking?" Lu Changsheng directly listed the other six rare treasures required by the Qiantian Treasure Transformation Secret Method. The manager's brow furrowed deeply. He could tell that these were genuine rare treasures of extraordinary value. Regrettably, he had never even heard of most of them, let alone seen them. "Honored guest, out of the rare treasures you mentioned, our Rare Treasure Pavilion might only possess one," the manager said, choosing his words carefully. "Just one?" Lu Changsheng was pleasantly surprised instead. In truth, he had merely intended to try his luck, not really expecting the pavilion to have what he needed. Now, it appeared the Rare Treasure Pavilion truly had some capability. "Which one is it?" Lu Changsheng asked. "The Centennial Thunder Fruit," the manager replied. Excitement surged within Lu Changsheng, but his expression remained impassive as he asked, "How much silver?" In fact, while thunder fruit was scarce, it could still be found with diligent effort. What was truly rare was a centennial thunder fruit. The thunder fruit plant was a remarkable flora that blossomed and bore fruit only once every ten years. The moment it bore fruit, it would summon lightning strikes. If it miraculously survived, the heavens would strike it with lightning again ten years later. Plants that could withstand two or three lightning strikes were few and far between, to say nothing of one surviving a century. The manager narrowed his eyes slightly, as if weighing his options. After a long pause, he finally said, "One Centennial Thunder Fruit costs one thousand taels of gold!" One thousand taels of gold was equivalent to ten thousand taels of silver. Such a price was indeed exorbitant. Moreover, the fruit had limited utility; it could not be used in ordinary medicine and served no other special purpose. Only under very specific circumstances, such as practicing certain martial arts, would a centennial thunder fruit be required. The pavilion had held this Centennial Thunder Fruit for several years, leaving it sitting in their storehouse with no one inquiring after it. He had not expected someone to seek it out today. Even so, with such a specialized treasure, finding an interested buyer meant it could command a hefty sum. "Deal!" Lu Changsheng agreed without hesitation. A smile appeared on the manager's face. This was another major transaction. "The Centennial Thunder Fruit must be transported from elsewhere. Honored guest, you will need to wait a few days." "How many days, exactly?" "Three days." "Very well. I will return to the Rare Treasure Pavilion in three days. I expect to see the Centennial Thunder Fruit then." Lu Changsheng nodded, then slapped down a banknote for one thousand taels of silver as a deposit. Though it was a banknote from the Great Fish Dynasty, the Fire Dragon Country relied heavily on trade with the dynasty, so banknotes from the Great Fish Dynasty circulated freely here. "Take care, honored guest." Lu Changsheng departed the Rare Treasure Pavilion. Just as he stepped outside, several stealthy figures lurking in a distant corner locked their eyes on him. "Heh, another fat sheep." "From his accent, he's definitely from the Great Fish Dynasty. These out-of-town jianghu wanderers who enter the Rare Treasure Pavilion are all loaded. Slitting his throat will keep us fed for a year even if we don't catch another mark." "Still, anyone daring to enter the Rare Treasure Pavilion alone must have some martial arts skill. We'll have to strike together this time." "Tail him!" The five figures quickly gave chase. Lu Changsheng turned several street corners and entered a secluded alley. A dead-end wall blocked the path ahead. He came to a halt. Standing in place, he turned to face the five figures following behind him. "Heh, this brat actually lured us here. Did he do it on purpose?" "He probably thinks he has enough skill to turn the tables on us!" "Haha, it's not the first time we've run into fools like this. Haven't all of them ended up as ghosts beneath our blades?" Even though the five men knew Lu Changsheng had deliberately led them here, they had still followed. This was a testament to their confidence in their own strength, indicating they were by no means weak. "Were you sent by the Rare Treasure Pavilion?" Lu Changsheng asked. Having been tailed right after leaving the shop, his first suspicion naturally fell on the pavilion. Only the Rare Treasure Pavilion knew of his wealth. After all, why merely sell rare treasures when outright robbery was far more lucrative? It was entirely plausible for the Rare Treasure Pavilion to engage in such deeds. He was an outsider, as anyone could tell from his accent, so they would not fear causing trouble. "Hehe, brat, you have a bit of cleverness in you." "Whether we're from the Rare Treasure Pavilion or not doesn't matter. Either way, you're a dead man." The five men slowly closed in on Lu Changsheng. Although their tone was arrogant, as if they held him in contempt, they were in fact remarkably cautious, maintaining spacing among themselves and refusing to charge in rashly. Lu Changsheng shook his head. "Why are there foolish thieves courting death everywhere I go?" Too lazy to waste more words, his hand clamped onto his saber's hilt. Whoosh. His figure blurred, closing the distance of several zhang in an instant. Clang! A brilliant gleam of blade light flashed and vanished. It seemed like a single flash of light, but in reality, Lu Changsheng had slashed five times. Because his speed was simply too blinding, it appeared from afar like a single strike. It was five strikes fused into one! Splatter! These five Refining Organs martial artists were indeed capable, possessing numerous trump cards; ordinary Refining Organs practitioners facing them might truly have suffered. Unfortunately for them, they had crossed paths with Lu Changsheng. With just a single fused strike, all five collapsed to the ground. Lu Changsheng sheathed his saber and searched the five corpses, uncovering some banknotes. To his surprise, they totaled seven thousand taels—truly a handsome haul. "Ten thousand taels of silver, fully gathered." Last time in Zhanhai City, Lu Changsheng had slain a group of black-clad assailants and obtained five thousand taels in banknotes. Now he had gained another seven thousand taels. With this, he had gathered more than enough silver to pay for the Centennial Thunder Fruit. "The Rare Treasure Pavilion..." Lu Changsheng glanced down at the corpses. He did not know whether these five men had any connection to the pavilion. However, what he needed was the Centennial Thunder Fruit. In three days, he would return there. As long as he received the fruit, it mattered little whether these five men were affiliated with the shop. If the Rare Treasure Pavilion failed to produce the Centennial Thunder Fruit after three days, however... Then Lu Changsheng would reason with them using his blade. Such was the jianghu. Only with a blade in hand could one speak of reason. Over the following days, Lu Changsheng wandered throughout Volcano City. He inquired at nearly every general store and did not overlook a single medicine shop. Some of the rare treasures required for the Qiantian Treasure Transformation Secret Method could be used in medicinal formulas, so medicine shops might well stock them. Since he had nothing else to do, he made inquiries along the way. However, things did not go as smoothly as at the Rare Treasure Pavilion; he failed to find a second rare treasure. In the blink of an eye, three days passed. Lu Changsheng arrived at the Rare Treasure Pavilion right on time. The moment he stepped through the door, the clerk hurried over. "Honored guest, the manager is already waiting for you." Lu Changsheng nodded. He followed the clerk into an inner room. The manager was inside and hastily rose to his feet upon seeing Lu Changsheng. Dispensing with pleasantries, Lu Changsheng asked directly, "Three days have passed. Where is the Centennial Thunder Fruit I requested?" "Well... honored guest, please hear me out. There was an unexpected complication with the Centennial Thunder Fruit. Our Rare Treasure Pavilion no longer has it..." Before the words had even settled— Clang! A sharp ring echoed as Lu Changsheng's saber cleared its sheath. There was a martial artist standing beside the manager, yet the man failed completely to intercept Lu Changsheng's blade. Not only did he fail to stop it, he could not even track the speed of the draw. Snip. A few strands of the manager's hair drifted to the floor. Lu Changsheng's blade hovered a mere half-inch from the manager's neck. A fraction more force, and the manager's throat would be slit open. The manager's face went paper-white, and he screamed in terror, "Honored guest, do not be enraged! We are willing to compensate your deposit! Triple the amount—we will pay you three thousand taels of silver!" Lu Changsheng's eyes were icy as he said coldly, "I do not lack silver. I lack the Centennial Thunder Fruit." "I will ask one last time: do you have the Centennial Thunder Fruit or not?" Bathed in cold sweat, the martial artist beside the manager immediately warned, "Do not act rashly! If you harm the manager, you won't walk out of the Rare Treasure Pavilion alive today!" Lu Changsheng remained completely unfazed, treating the warning as mere wind past his ears. "Yes, there is a Centennial Thunder Fruit!" "It's just not in our pavilion right now—your Centennial Thunder Fruit was intercepted and snatched away!" the manager cried out in desperation. He knew that if he did not speak now, he would truly die today. "Intercepted?" Lu Changsheng glared coldly at him. "Yes, intercepted!" "Our Rare Treasure Pavilion does open business, and integrity is of utmost importance. How could we ruin our own reputation?" "There truly was a Centennial Thunder Fruit in our storehouse, and it was indeed brought to Volcano City. But the Xiao family here in Volcano City intercepted it and bought it by force!" "The Xiao family possesses a Divine Strength Realm martial artist! Our pavilion cannot afford to offend them, so we could only compensate you for your deposit!" Lu Changsheng returned his saber to its sheath. He had kept his gaze locked on the manager throughout; under such pressure, Lu Changsheng could tell at a single glance whether the man was lying. The manager was speaking the truth. The Centennial Thunder Fruit had likely been intercepted. Even so, the Rare Treasure Pavilion was hardly blameless. Unable to cross the Xiao family, they had chosen to push around an outsider like Lu Changsheng instead. Unfortunately for them, Lu Changsheng was not someone to be trifled with. "The Xiao family has Divine Strength Realm martial artists? How many?" "Uh... the Xiao family has only one Divine Strength Realm martial artist." Only a single Divine Strength Realm martial artist, and from what the manager described, the person was likely not even in the Hundred Tripods Realm. With just that little bit of strength, they dared to intercept his Centennial Thunder Fruit? The Xiao family seemed to intend to use the fruit to refine some sort of pill. If he arrived too late, the fruit might truly be consumed. Lu Changsheng made up his mind at once: head to the Xiao family immediately! "Take me to the Xiao family." "If the Centennial Thunder Fruit is gone, you will be buried with it," Lu Changsheng said chillingly. The manager's face drained of all color, his entire body trembling. "Yes... I will take you there." At this point, the manager could only pray that the Xiao family had not used up the Centennial Thunder Fruit yet; otherwise, his life would truly be forfeit.