“What are your plans?” Qiao Xiaoxian asked.
Jiang Ke’er really did not want to answer.
However, considering this fellow insisted on clutching her in her arms and rubbing her, making it impossible for her to walk on her own two feet, she had no choice but to speak. “To Jiangdu, I guess…”
“Fine.”
Qiao Xiaoxian’s robes fluttered as she lightly carried the fox-shaped Jiang Ke’er and flew toward Jiangdu.
“Sigh…” Jiang Ke’er looked at the moon and let out a long sigh.
Her original intention in coming to the Imperial Capital of the Great Sima Nation was to find a safe place to cultivate and avoid Qiao Xiaoxian.
In the end, she had used the ‘Zheng’ character tally marks on her thigh to successfully prove one thing—there was no safe place in all of Shenzhou.
No matter where she hid, this bastard would always find an opportunity to catch her.
So, she gave up. Instead of running around and eventually stumbling into a net out of panic, she might as well just find a corner, lie down like a Buddhist, and let whatever happens happen!
Coincidentally, keeping all this treasure in her hands was a waste, and the Li family’s side had high expenses lately; they were in desperate need of money.
It was better to head to Jiangdu, give most of the wealth to them to handle, and keep a portion that was enough for her own use.
However, those “Server-Only” rare materials, like the Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Lotus, she did not plan on giving away to be sold because… she currently happened to need a massive amount of rare materials.
‘Why on earth did I have to become a “leek”?’
‘Jiang Ke’er! You have no backbone!’
While scolding herself, Jiang Ke’er opened the material list for the Moon Design Blueprint and looked through it again.
She had originally made up her mind, deciding she would not pull from these two god-forsaken Knowledge Pools even if she were beaten to death.
But the sudden windfall of wealth and the massive amount of materials had slowly changed her mind…
If she had these rare materials but nowhere to use them, wouldn’t that be a total waste? One had to know that good Power-Enhancing Artifacts could not be bought even with money; one could only commission Refining Masters from various circles to custom-make them.
Not to mention how much material those Refining Masters would embezzle in private, the final finished product depended heavily on luck and the mood of those so-called masters.
Jiang Ke’er did not want to be a sucker who got ripped off; it was better to handle matters like Tool Refinement herself to be at ease.
Thus, she painfully spent 3,000,000 Points each to draw the Artifact Refinement Technique (S-rank) and the Moon Design Blueprint (S-rank) from the Knowledge Pool.
It really was exactly 3,000,000 Points each! She had to pull 300 times to get these two ultra-expensive items, making Jiang Ke’er feel once again that she had definitely been played!
Whatever, as long as she got them; it could be considered normal luck.
Jiang Ke’er sighed, looking at the two items she spent half a year’s savings to draw, and cheered herself up.
These two things were worth 6,000,000!
The Artifact Refinement Technique went without saying; it directly gave her a smooth path to becoming a Refining Master.
She only needed to practice Tool Refinement diligently, constantly grinding proficiency, and she could acquire knowledge, gradually becoming comparable to the top Refining Masters in Shenzhou.
The initial level was Level 1, and the maximum was Level 10. Jiang Ke’er looked forward to the day she reached the max level.
The Moon Design Blueprint was also worth mentioning—it was not a blueprint for a single item, but rather involved many small Power-Enhancing Artifacts used to assemble the moon.
These small artifacts each had their own marvelous effects, and even more rare was that their refining difficulty and the preciousness of the required materials varied.
For example, a screw for the moon’s interior only required Level 1 to refine.
Meanwhile, the moon’s surface panels and energy drive required Level 7 to refine, as well as many precious materials.
The various small artifacts and material parts involved a massive amount of Artifact Refinement knowledge and workload from Level 1 to Level 7.
This meant she could reach Level 7 in her refining skill just by crafting moon materials.
Even more precious was that this blueprint also mentioned many Runes that did not exist in Shenzhou, as well as highly efficient refining methods with entirely different lines of thought.
In this way, the Artifact Refinement Technique was like a basic theoretical tutorial, while the Moon Design Blueprint was an advanced and refined application tutorial.
The two complemented each other, allowing her to learn smoothly all the way.
‘This wave wasn’t a loss,’ Jiang Ke’er consoled herself. ‘Yeah, I’ll protest next time. I won’t be a “leek” ever again. Next time for sure, next time for sure…’
By now, Jiangdu City had already become the Demon Race’s base of operations.
Li Yuan lived in the small Jiangdu Imperial Palace, although he did not call himself Emperor; living in the palace was just for the convenience of official work.
The reunion with Jiang Ke’er made him exceptionally excited.
After all, in his eyes, Jiang Ke’er’s trip had been a narrow escape, and she would have had to pay a great price.
Jiang Ke’er did not explain the details; she simply organized the wealth she did not need and a large number of Magic Crystals to give to Li Yuan.
“…So the National Treasury was with you?!” Lord Li was dumbfounded on the spot.
He already knew about the theft of the Great Sima Nation’s treasury. Yu Wenhua Ji was frantic and in agony over it.
Li Yuan had been guessing which bold and talented thief or heroic rogue had pulled off such a massive feat.
To protect the secret that Qiao Xiaoxian was Blue Shadow, Jiang Ke’er did not say that Qiao Xiaoxian had already replaced Prince Hao of Qin.
Instead, she was forced to take all the credit alone. In truth, this money should have been Qiao Xiaoxian’s credit, and she had only played a supporting role.
Jiang Ke’er knew this in her heart and did not try to forcibly claim the glory for herself.
She could not explain in detail, so she just said, “Handle this money yourself. I’m not good at leading troops or fighting wars. The Demon Race still depends on you all.”
“This money cannot be taken for free; consider it a loan,” Li Yuan said decisively. “If the Demon Race flourishes and stabilizes in the future, we will certainly return it all, principal and interest!”
Oh? Did she just happen to buy the Demon Race’s first national bond by mistake?
“Fine,” Jiang Ke’er smiled readily. She knew that if she just gave it as a gift, Li Yuan would feel guilty and indebted, so she agreed to his condition.
The money was delivered, and Jiang Ke’er’s mind settled down.
Leaving the Jiangdu Imperial Palace, Qiao Xiaoxian followed her soundlessly, walking silently by her side. They entered a hotel together. Once in the room, Qiao Xiaoxian took off her hood.
Jiang Ke’er looked at the top of Qiao Xiaoxian’s head and suddenly pointed at her, laughing heartlessly, “Hahaha! A little mountain has grown on your head!”
“…It’s because of the stone you put in there.” Qiao Xiaoxian helplessly rubbed the swollen bump on the top of her head.
“Serves you right! Next time I’ll put in a pitchfork! A bomb!”
“Then that would count as a failed assassination on your part.”
Hiccup.
Jiang Ke’er’s laughter came to an abrupt halt.
After a while, Jiang Ke’er cleared her throat and asked as if casually, “Does it still hurt?”
“It hurt just now, but it stopped hurting once you asked,” Qiao Xiaoxian said with a beaming smile.
“…You’re sick!” Jiang Ke’er angrily closed her eyes and entered a state of cultivation.
Despite becoming Emperor and supposedly enjoying further wealth and rank, Yu Wenhua Ji, who was born into a wealthy family, experienced the taste of poverty for the first time.
Military supplies everywhere were in emergency status, and the army was on the verge of mutiny. If this continued, the Great Sima Nation would not even need an external enemy to attack; it would already collapse from within.
So before seeking revenge against Blue Shadow, he had to first resolve the Great Sima Nation’s unprecedented super financial crisis.
The ministers had already been squeezed dry; now even forced donations would be useless! Increasing taxes? That would take time; distant water could not quench immediate thirst.
Money… he wanted money so badly! What could he do to get rich overnight?
“Lord, the organizers of the Shenzhou Cup just came to ask if the Finals are still happening this year…”
“The Shenzhou Cup? What time is it now… Wait, the Shenzhou Cup?!”
Suddenly, his eyes widened.
“Hold it! Hold it now! Proclaim it to the world immediately! Three days from now, the Shenzhou Cup Finals will be held in the Imperial Capital!”
Thankfully, there was still the Shenzhou Cup Finals, which could quickly boost the Imperial Capital’s economy and provide some relief for his urgent needs.
Moreover, he could take this opportunity to deal with a major problem that had been stuck in his throat for a long time!
‘Qing Yi.’
‘Do you dare to come?’
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