Chapter 63: The Old Law Destroyer's Lament
Su Xiao's mind raced. Based on his understanding, the witch was most likely still a fifth-rank contractor, with a small chance she had already advanced to sixth rank.
For a contractor of this rank, the possibility of her knowing about his earlier assassination attempt was extremely low. However, considering her identity as a member of the Traveling Group, it wasn't impossible.
The Traveling Group leader's rank was suspiciously high. Su Xiao even suspected that this guy was among the top echelon; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to create an organization like the Traveling Group.
If that were the case, it wasn't impossible for the witch to have learned of this through the Traveling Group leader. As for whether the Traveling Group had hired someone to assassinate him, or if a member of the group had done it themselves, Su Xiao felt that was unlikely.
The assassin clearly didn't know much about Reincarnation Paradise; otherwise, they wouldn't have chosen that timing to strike.
"Not for now. I've already received news from the Void side."
"Oh~"
The witch appeared unfazed, but inwardly she was somewhat disappointed. She had really wanted to obtain [Filthy Blood], a bloodline item that was priceless for newbie contractors. The witch wanted to recruit a "worker."
Although the witch hid it well, Su Xiao confirmed one thing: the assassin came from the Void, most likely from the Arcane Eternal Star side.
"You wouldn't be trying to extract information from me, would you?"
The witch stared intently at Su Xiao, her pitch-black eyes like two black gemstones.
"..."
"Just as I thought."
The witch's speech returned to normal speed for the first time. Though her face bloomed with a smile, inwardly she cursed "MMP."
"You old schemers, hmph~"
Leaving that remark, the witch departed. Not far away, she contacted someone through a special team channel.
Witch: "Message delivered, leader. If I had more intel, I could have gotten a very nice item. Too bad~"
Witch: "Leader? You there?"
Witch: "Leader, the payment."
[Tip: You have received Spirit-Sealed Eternity (Epic Equipment).]
Seeing the equipment in the mail, the witch's mood improved considerably.
Witch: "Thanks, leader. Oh, by the way, leader, Revolver has gone crazy. He's been slaughtering people in third-rank worlds recently. At least 300 contractors have died. He's half a violator now. What should we do?"
Leader: "Kill."
Witch: "Leader, travel expenses. Expenses."
[Tip: You have received 'Third-Rank Derivative World Entry Token.']
[Tip: You have received 1,000,000 Paradise Coins.]
The witch smiled even more charmingly. The Traveling Group's creed was absolute freedom, but there was one iron rule: never become a violator, or death was certain.
"I hate old schemers."
The witch walked away slowly. It could be said that when not provoked, the witch was the easiest person to get along with in the Traveling Group—a cultured beauty.
But if angered, she would abandon everything to fight until either the enemy died or she did. No other outcome.
...
Having successfully sold two scrolls, Su Xiao left the Trade Market. The other three items were too random to sell.
As for the information the witch provided, Su Xiao had little interest. Even if it came from the Traveling Group leader, it was the same.
From the fact that he established an organization like the Traveling Group, it was clear that the Traveling Group leader didn't command a large force. He was probably a lone powerhouse. As for the purpose of forming the Traveling Group, that was anyone's guess.
Compared to the Traveling Group leader, Su Xiao had a more reliable and stable intelligence channel: the Demon Race. As a top-tier power in the Void, their intelligence network rivaled that of the Arcane Eternal Star and the Feather Race.
Moreover, to get information from the Demon Race, Su Xiao only needed to pay 20 grams of Black Maple Tree branches. For him, the Black Maple Tree he grew himself had virtually no cost.
Lost in thought, Su Xiao arrived at Lide's forge. This time, several of his pieces of equipment were damaged, with Wild Hunt Night and the Black King Bracer severely broken.
"Are you a pig!!"
A roar came from inside the forge. As Su Xiao pushed open the door, he saw Lide holding a "strange-shaped weapon," glaring furiously at Wo Wo.
With greenish skin, standing less than a meter tall, and frail, Wo Wo was crouched in the corner, trembling.
"Waa~"
Wo Wo burst into tears.
"Shut it!"
Lide's eyes widened, and Wo Wo immediately fell silent.
Nearly fuming with rage, Lide picked up a mug of beer and took a big gulp. Seeing Su Xiao sitting by the furnace, he nodded in greeting.
"Damn Slinster race. They're supposed to be one of the most skilled crafting races in the Void?"
Lide slapped the strange-shaped weapon onto the table and sat down across from Su Xiao, fuming.
"This knife is barely passable."
"It's a barbed spear."
"..."
"What are you looking at! Get back to forging! If you can't forge a spear shape, no food for three days."
Lide glared at Wo Wo again. Wo Wo sniffled, looking pitiful, and went to the forge, picking up a hammer whose handle was thicker than her arm.
"Lide, know when to stop. This one... you won't be able to keep her forever."
Su Xiao wasn't referring to Lide's harsh treatment of Wo Wo, but rather that Lide seemed to be starting to accept her.
"..."
Lide's hand holding the mug paused. When he yelled at Wo Wo, he seemed ferocious, but only caring leads to anger. If he didn't care, Lide wouldn't have let Wo Wo forge at all, let alone get so worked up.
"Whoever comes to take her, I'll kill them."
Lide grinned coldly.
"Oh?"
"Besides, you wouldn't let me die, would you, Su Xiao."
"Who knows."
"Hahaha, this is Reincarnation Paradise. At worst, I'll never let her leave."
Lide glanced at Wo Wo. Just then, Wo Wo was slacking off with the forging hammer.
"Hey!"
Lide bellowed. Wo Wo jolted, nearly scared out of her wits. From their exchange, it was clear Lide treated Wo Wo somewhat like a daughter. As they say, a father's love is like a mountain, but Lide seemed to be a volcano.
"What brings you this time..."
Before Lide could finish, he saw Su Xiao pull out Wild Hunt Night and the Black King Bracer.
"Damaged to this extent..." Lide picked up Wild Hunt Night, which was almost in strips, and thought for a moment. "Consider reforging it."
Su Xiao removed most of his equipment and left a pile of materials for Lide to reforge Wild Hunt Night. As for specifics, Lide was more professional. Meddling at a time like this would only annoy him.
"What's the preferred direction for this equipment..."
Lide held up Wild Hunt Night.
"Keep the first effect. Everything else is up to you."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Lide nodded and said:
"Alright. Come pick it up tomorrow."
Leaving Lide's place, Su Xiao headed straight for his Exclusive Room. With the trivial matters handled, he needed to improve his abilities and exchange for Overlord equipment.
Half an hour later, Su Xiao sat on the bed in his Exclusive Room. Bubu Wang, Baha, and Amu had already gone off in a group to have fun, while Beini was still attending the auction—that was her hobby.
Only Su Xiao remained in the Exclusive Room. He took out 30 Soul Crystals (Complete) from his storage space, the spoils of his battles in one world.
[Yes/No to upgrade 'Blade Grandmaster Lv.33'? To upgrade this ability, consume 500,000 Paradise Coins + Soul Crystal (Complete) × 15.]
Su Xiao chose to upgrade. All 30 Soul Crystals burst open. Before Su Xiao's eyes, darkness reigned for a long time, until a faint light appeared.
Black Maple leaves rustled. An old man sat under a tall Black Maple Tree. The old man's entire eyes were pitch black.
Su Xiao recognized this old man. He was Mawen Hua'erzi's master, a ferocious Law Destroyer. This old man used himself as a vessel to bear the Demon Blade's energy and completely devoured it.
"You brat."
The old man frowned, staring at Su Xiao as if guarding against a thief. On the trunk of the Black Maple Tree behind him, a few finger marks and a large chunk of torn bark were faintly visible.
Planting a Black Maple Tree was no easy task. Su Xiao's success in cultivating one was due to three factors: first, the old man's Black Maple Tree was ancient enough; second, the environment provided by Reincarnation Paradise; and third, a bit of luck.
Before Su Xiao could approach, the old Law Destroyer raised his hand. Blades formed from Soul Crystals slashed toward Su Xiao.
The blades didn't cut Su Xiao but instead merged directly into his body.
Confirming Su Xiao had been teleported away, the old Law Destroyer grimaced in pain as he pressed his hand against the Black Maple Tree's wound. Although he had deliberately given Su Xiao a piece of Black Maple Tree last time, he hadn't expected Su Xiao to tear off such a large chunk from the trunk.
"In their youth, were all Law Destroyers bandits?"
The old Law Destroyer sighed. The space around him collapsed. He was now only a remnant soul. The grudges and past of yesteryear no longer mattered.