As the footsteps faded into the distance, Chen Ke felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders.
Shui Changqing asked timidly, "Young Master Chen, who was that person just now, and why was she here?"
Chen Ke had already prepared his explanation, and said with a wry smile, "As you know, I have a marriage arranged for me, probably sent by my father or someone else to keep an eye on me."
Shui Changqing suddenly understood, and most of his doubts disappeared.
Everyone in the entire Great Xia City knows that the Emperor Emeritus is going to marry the Princess of Qin to Chen Ke, and the uproar caused by this has not yet subsided.
During this sensitive period, it's understandable that the Chen family would send people to keep an eye on Chen Ke, fearing he might act recklessly.
Shui Changqing's heart skipped a beat; it seemed she should also keep his distance from Chen Ke.
What if those who were secretly monitoring Chen Ke also included her in their surveillance? Wouldn't that increase the risk of her identity being exposed?
Perhaps that female spy had already discovered something, otherwise why would she have shown such hostility?
Just as Shui Changqing was deep in thought, Chen Ke said seriously, "Miss Shui, you may not know this, but the notes and classics of Master Molin and other masters are kept separately in a secret room on the second floor of Shenlong Pavilion. Although I can go up to the second floor, I don't have the authority to enter that secret room. So, I'm afraid I can't help you."
Shui Changqing wasn't sure if he was truly disappointed or just pretending. After a moment of silence, she said softly, "Anyway, thank you. I'll think of another way."
After saying this, Shui Changqing nodded slightly, took her leave, and departed.
Just like that, you left?
Chen Ke watched Shui Changqing's disappearing figure, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
He was waiting for this young lady to use all her charms and all sorts of seductive tricks to seduce him.
Pshaw, what are you thinking? You're just causing trouble. It's good that you're gone, the farther the better.
And that female spy from earlier, her appearance was so strange, I felt like something was off.
After thinking for a moment, Chen Ke decided to tell Wu Jiutian, the headmaster of Haotian Academy, about the Eight-Winged Goddess's transformation into Shui Changqing.
Master Wu is highly respected and has connections in both spiritual practice and the secular world; his idea should be more appropriate.
Chen Ke witnessed firsthand that Academy Head Wu "saw off" the Eight-Winged Goddess as she left.
Having heard so many boasts from his senior, Mirror Serpent, he knew all too well that the world was far more complex than it appeared.
If it weren't for some purpose, someone like the Eight-Winged Goddess would never have any interaction with him.
Upon reaching this conclusion, Chen Ke felt both frustrated and relieved.
Frustratingly, he's fallen to a lower level.
The good thing is that, precisely because his level is so low, as long as he doesn't anger the Eight-Winged Goddess, she won't bother with him or the Chen family.
Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. Taking care of my own things is the most important thing.
Chen Ke stood up from the stone bench, drew his long sword, and continued practicing "Haotian Divine Sword".
Click!
A crack spread out like a spiderweb on the white bone sword, and the blade broke.
Chen Ke looked at the bone fragments lying on the ground and couldn't help but feel a little lost.
Over time, feelings inevitably develop; after all, this was his first sword.
"I still have quite a few blood crystals, which should be enough to exchange for a better bone sword, right?" Chen Ke thought to himself as he collected all the bone fragments on the ground and stored them in his ring space.
He changed his clothes, picked up a small suitcase, and walked out of the courtyard.
Back in the fifth level of Longmen, Chen Ke hunted down many mammoths and collected a lot of mammoth diamond-shaped blood crystals.
The small box contained more than sixty blood crystals.
According to the rules of the Great Xia Academy, blood crystals can be used to exchange for pills and items.
The Dragon Palace in the underground city was peaceful.
It was just before dawn, so the small square was deserted, and there was no sign of any Shenlong students.
Chen Ke traveled without hindrance and arrived at the weapon-refining workshop. After showing his token, he entered the front hall.
The Blood Crystal Exchange Point has a dedicated window with a large sign hanging in front of it listing the exchange rules.
"A trial-grade bone sword, only five blood crystals?" Chen Ke looked surprised, not expecting it to be so cheap.
"A bone sword from a level-five magical beast, and eight blood crystals?"
"A bone sword from a level nine magical beast, and twenty blood crystals?"
After thinking for a moment, Chen Ke decided to exchange for a bone sword made from the bones of a level nine magical beast.
A level 5 magical beast, with strength equivalent to a level 36 master, is actually perfect for Chen Ke to use now.
However, considering that a bone sword can be used for a long time, Chen Ke cannot only focus on the present.
Level 9 magical beasts are equivalent to a level 72 master in strength. Their bones are more resilient, and they may have other special effects as well.
Looking at the other items available for exchange, there wasn't anything particularly appealing. He still hadn't finished the pills that the Purple Cloud Sword Sect had given him as a reward last time.
At that moment, Chen Ke respectfully said to the old man at the window, "Elder, I would like to exchange for two bone swords."
The old man opened his slightly narrowed eyes and nodded approvingly: "These days, fewer and fewer children use bone swords. It's right to exchange for two. You can use them alternately. Animal bones actually have a stronger regenerative ability than metal. As long as they are properly maintained, they can be used as lifelong swords."
Chen Ke couldn't help but feel ashamed. He knew nothing about sword maintenance and realized he would have to pay more attention to it in the future.
How can a swordsman not cherish his sword?
Following the old man, Chen Ke entered a showroom, where his eyes were immediately drawn to the dazzling array of bone swords.
In the vast space, various bone swords were displayed on the sword rack.
Two-handed greatswords, one-handed broadswords, rapiers, short swords... the bone materials of bone swords also vary, displaying various colors, with black and white being the most common.
Some bone swords were rough and ancient, while others were as exquisite as porcelain. Some even shimmered with the unique luster of metal. If they hadn't been displayed here, Chen Ke wouldn't have been able to distinguish them with the naked eye.
The elderly elder, clearly having not encountered any students exchanging bone swords for a long time, spoke eloquently and animatedly, recounting the past and present of these bone swords to Chen Ke.
Chen Ke listened with great interest and curiosity; he truly hadn't expected there to be so much to learn about it.
Buzz!
Suddenly, Chen Ke's soul stirred mysteriously.
Chen Ke looked surprised, his eyes darting around before locking onto a bone sword on the sword rack in front of him.
He couldn't help but step forward and pick up the bone sword.
The sword has a bronze hilt and a white blade covered with blood-red natural patterns, making it difficult to distinguish whether the sword is white or red at first glance.
When Chen Kegang picked up the sword, it felt unusually heavy. Then, it quickly became as if the sword had lost its weight and felt as light as nothing in his hand.
A familiar aura flowed within the sword.
What exactly is that aura?
Ding!
(Synthetic energy detected. Should we synthesize it?}
Suddenly, a dialog box popped up, and Chen Ke's eyes widened in surprise.