Chapter 004: The Treacherous Bow Down

Seeing this, a very small number of individuals who hoped to strike it rich by betting on Su Jian have all lamented and regretted their initial decision

The old man muttered to himself, rubbed his eyes, and tried to see a little more clearly, but he found that the street corner where he had just seen a figure was completely empty; not to mention a human shadow, there wasn't even a ghostly silhouette.

An invisible chill instantly enveloped everyone

At this moment, this noble young man Gao Chang appeared quite displeased

In any case, this is of no concern; the ultimate victor of the entire affair is still Su Jian, and the bully father and son can only indulge in their verbal satisfaction now.

This time, it can be considered a lesson bought with money. Cao Dejing gritted his teeth and admonished his son, "From now on, you better be more restrained. Don't forget, our family is in business! Don't think that in this world, we can only offend the powerful; even someone as lowly as Su Jian, if he were to risk his life to scheme against you, it would be enough to make you suffer! Alas, you!"

"My son, as long as you can understand, that is good enough." Cao Dejing looked at his son, who appeared as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant, and felt a pang of sympathy. He comforted him, saying, "This time, we are not truly backing down. As your father, I am merely spending money to buy peace. Money, after all, is something the Cao family has in abundance. Our family is large and our business is substantial; we are not lacking in this regard."

On this Shenzhou continent, it is customary to categorize the crystal cores of demon beasts and spirit plants into five grades: A, B, C, D, and E. Although the Cao family only sent a medium-grade C type, it is still quite rare to have any grade at all. Therefore, for Su Jian, who only wishes to catch a breath, this is truly an unexpected delight

"Let me see if the pig is fat or not..." The old man leaned over to take a look inside the sack—this glance was not trivial. Despite being an elderly man, he suddenly let out a loud and piercing scream: "Oh my!" In an instant, he collapsed to the ground!

Luo Xueqiong glared at Su Jian with an icy gaze; upon witnessing this, the onlookers immediately speculated in their hearts whether she would remain silent and draw her renowned "Moon God White Rainbow Sword" to directly strike down Su Jian—if it were not for the urgent situation, these individuals could have easily set up another betting match for this event

This class, in itself, was nothing extraordinary, yet it was evident that many students were not as fully focused as they had been in the past. All of these individuals were participants in the gambling match organized by Tang Qiu, and throughout the entire class, their gazes were fixed on Su Jian and Luo Xueqiong.

On the other hand, how to refine crystal stones into suitable crystal ink is also an important factor distinguishing the proficiency in crystal symbol techniques

After a long while, Su Jian suddenly remembered something, and turned his face to look at the two corpses on the ground

This is it! The students observing from a distance, upon seeing this situation, immediately slapped their thighs in disdain and said, "I thought this little black-clad guard had some clever tricks, but it turns out to be just a crystal talisman made by Zhang Tingke. What could be so special about that?"

In an instant, the girl's pure and radiant beauty caused some of the onlooking students behind her to be so dazzled that they dared not meet her gaze directly

Although Cao Liang usually commutes and does not reside in the tavern, today is special, so he chose to stay with his father to observe the outcome. Thus, the commotion caused by the attendants also alerted the two of them at the first moment.

As Cao Dejing carefully examined the wounds on the corpse, he suddenly gasped in shock

Contrary to what many might imagine, Su Jian was merely going through the motions to fulfill his superior's task, appearing quite indifferent. Therefore, regardless of how aggressive Luo Xueqiong's gaze was, he simply looked at the young lady without concern and said: "Miss Luo, recently I have been attending Mr. Chunyu's lectures and have gained some insights. Based on my thoughts, I have created an unprecedented crystal talisman, which I would like to present to you for your evaluation."

Staring at Su Jian, the girl resembling an ice and snow fairy, suddenly her snow-white sleeves and cloud-like garments moved without wind. Consequently, not only Su Jian, but even Tang Qiu and Gao Chang, who were far behind, suddenly felt as if a winter wind had swept through the spring-like shores of Yusuh Lake.

Good lad, you have it!" After hearing this, Duanmu Chu patted Su Jian's shoulder, "Such a cunning trick, it's fortunate that you could think of it! However—

It is precisely for this reason that Professor Chunyu Bo, who teaches the art of crystal symbols, shows rare friendliness and regard for Su Jian, a student of humble origins

However, this is merely his instinctive reaction. Having experienced the mountains of corpses and seas of blood in the Silent Forest, he does not truly feel fear in his heart at the sight before him

For them, anything could be used to place a bet. Thus, the gambling game known as "Su Jian Finds Death" was initiated.

Gao Yuanbo himself holds the position of Minister of Revenue at the third rank, enjoying the honor of a Grand Master of the Purple and Gold, and is indeed a prominent minister of the current Huaxia dynasty. The history of the Gao family is astonishingly long, spanning nearly a thousand years, during which it has flourished and can be said to be intertwined with the nation and coexisting with the world.

As soon as he started this course, Su Jian discovered his unique talent in crystal symbolism.

Forget it? Now it depends on whether they are willing to let it go! Cao Dejing looked at his son, filled with anger, "You troublemaker! Don't think that just because your father donated half of the family fortune to get you into the Dragon-Slaying Academy, you can run rampant in the capital. What I am worried about now is that Su Jian almost got killed; he definitely won't swallow this grievance easily. I'm afraid it won't just be as simple as delivering two corpses to our door."

Moments later, as Luo Xueqiong quickly approached a small grass pavilion by the roadside, several pink peach blossom petals floated down between her and Su Jian, who were walking in opposite directions. The onlookers, who had been holding their breath in anticipation, finally saw the young man wave his hand forward and say, "Miss Luo, please hold on!"

Thus, the once grand and magnificent residence of the Cao family now appeared, at a glance, like a mine, like a battlefield, like a homeland ravaged by a giant dragon in years past. Even the most cold-hearted enemy would be unable to hold back tears of sorrow upon witnessing this.

Then is that settled? Cao Liang felt somewhat unconvinced

"Father, why are you asking this?" The bewildered Cao Liang was somewhat at a loss.

What should I do?" Upon being reminded by his father, Cao Liang suddenly felt a chill run down his spine

I am serious," Su Jian interrupted him. He gazed at the faint outline of the capital city in the distance and said solemnly, "Within five days, I will surely make Luo Xueqiong speak to me, and I will even make her smile at me. Moreover, I will be able to retreat unscathed.

Although Gao Chang is only about twenty years old, he appears quite mature and criticizes Su Jian's words vehemently: "He hasn't mastered the course well. This crystal talisman technique that draws upon the energy of the stellar river is merely for attacking enemies or defending oneself; there are also secret techniques involving crystal talismans, which, after refinement, can be integrated into the meridians and heart sea, allowing one to learn new skills and temper old ones. Is there any crystal talisman that can be separated from the matters of offense and defense techniques? This is unprecedented! I believe Su Jian is infatuated and is just grasping at straws!" Is there any crystal talisman that can be separated from the matters of offense and defense techniques? This is unprecedented! I believe Su Jian is infatuated and is just grasping at straws!

Without mentioning the secret machinations of the two brothers, let us discuss the strange occurrence that suddenly took place in the recently peaceful capital city of Jinghua over the next few days. A treasure map, claiming to be the "Giant Spirit Treasure," unexpectedly began to circulate among the common folk.

Speaking of Gao Chang, he comes from a very noble background, being a descendant of the Gao family, one of the most prominent families in the Huaxia nation. He is also the eldest son of Gao Yuanbo, the current head of the Gao family

Thus, after less than half a tea's worth of time spent on solving the problems, these wise individuals discovered that the answers to the four riddles, in the order of the questions, are: Wealth, Splendor, Wine, and Building

When Tang Qiu called out like this, those who were unaware had no idea what madness he was exhibiting, but his friends who understood him immediately grasped the situation and followed him to a secluded area of the Luming Forest

However, to their pleasant surprise, Su Jian not only did not give up halfway, but also did not keep them waiting for long

After staying in a daze for a while longer, Cao Fu seemed to suddenly awaken, but he could not stand up. He turned over on the ground, using both his hands and feet, and began to crawl laboriously towards the entrance.

Just now, the class on Crystal Symbolism had just concluded. As the students followed the teacher out one after another, Su Jian, however, trailed behind Luo Xueqiong, clearly preparing to take action.

What surprised Su Jian was that the big boss of Fuhua Building, Cao Dejing, this notorious miser, actually bled this time.

For ordinary people, they can only perceive the differences in color, shape, and transparency of crystals. However, Su Jian discovered that once he held a crystal in his hand and activated his blood pupil and heart eye, he could actually visualize the precise and orderly microscopic structure of the crystal in his mind

It is easy to imagine that the quality of the crystal ink refined in this manner has instantly increased by several levels

But human nature is such that "treasures move the heart"; in the face of immense temptation, even a little bit of reason counts for nothing; even if the scheme is riddled with flaws, there are still those who are willing to believe it is true

Shut up! In the inner hall, Cao Dejing was in a bad mood, "All you know is to shout for bloodshed! Don't forget that our Cao family is in business! Just look at how much revenue the restaurant has made these past few days?"

"Haha! Interesting, interesting!" Upon hearing Su Jian's words, Duanmu Chu burst into laughter and immediately went out to make arrangements. Seeing his enthusiasm, it seemed that the real victim was not Su Jian, but rather himself.

In fact, we still made a profit this time, Cao Dejing suddenly said

Pah! Tang Qiu cursed inwardly, "You Gao Chang are merely relying on your family background, acting all high and mighty here. Is Xiao Su really so infatuated? The desire for food and sex is a fundamental human craving. Moreover, he is also influenced by his close association with my good brother, which shows he has been positively affected by me!"

In order to cope with the peculiar task assigned by Gai Yingwei, Su Jian, in a moment of helplessness, decided to turn to the crystal symbol technique, which he was most proficient in.

After the worker called in and dragged in two burlap sacks, Boss Cao did not forget to smile apologetically at the few startled neighbors in the distance, saying: "It's two pigs, just ordered yesterday. The worker didn't expect them to arrive so early, hence the panic, hence the panic..."

Unlike other orthodox students of the Lingjiu Academy, Su Jian comes entirely from the grassroots, being a commoner. He does not have preconceived notions or follow a set routine in the design of crystal symbols. Instead, he explores new functionalities of crystal symbols based on practicality and even experiments with combinations.

Therefore, this high and lofty status is indeed remarkable, even among the numerous powerful figures in the Lingjiu Academy

How could that be! Tang Qiu's entire face was crammed together as he chuckled, "If my brother can really get together with Miss Luo, I would be overjoyed. Right now, I just want to use my brother's situation to set up a betting game!"

"Did you make a profit?" Cao Liang raised his head, looking at his father in surprise

Hearing him say this, someone in the crowd suddenly looked at him and coldly said: "Are you his good brother?"

At this moment, Tang Qiu felt extremely conflicted: "Should I raise the alarm? According to brotherly feelings, I should do so, but what if Fairy Luo stabs me as well?"

Alright. Although he did not understand the intention behind it, Cao Liang still recounted in detail how he had faced off against Su Jian yesterday, explaining how he had initially won and then lost.

After listening to his narration, Cao Dejing appeared skeptical, looking at his son and saying in a deep voice: "Is that all?"

To understand that the Age of Giants follows the Age of Gods in ancient times, if it truly is the treasure of the Giants, then it would be quite significant

Without saying a word, the reason for the commotion in the Fuhua Building is undoubtedly the bodies of those two assassins hidden in the pockets

He not only sent Su Jian two hundred taels of gold through an intermediary as compensation for the previous "misunderstanding," but also specially added three grade C fire-type crystal nuclei

At this moment, the sky was just beginning to brighten, and the old man's eyesight was poor; he could only see a shadowy figure, which seemed to wave at him.

What is going on? Calm down, everyone is in a panic! When Boss Cao first appeared in the front yard, he still appeared relatively composed, scolding the chaotic and rushing workers with a strong voice.

At this moment, the Deer Call Forest is lush and verdant, with the wind rustling through the leaves, and the Rain Rest Lake is clear and pristine, with gentle ripples; the figure of Luo Xue, dressed in white, gracefully walks along the lakeside path, resembling a fairy gliding over the rippling waters of the azure forest and clear lake

Let us speak of Su Jian again. At this moment, he is still unaware that the father and son of the Fuhua Restaurant are launching a frenzied personal attack against him

To understand, the Duanmu family of the Huaxia nation is not only a prestigious lineage with profound heritage but also renowned for producing many dignified and beautiful women, which has led to a long history of intermarriage with the royal family. Over many generations, the Duanmu family itself has come to be regarded as part of the royal lineage. In particular, this Duanmu Chu's sister is the current reigning Empress Duanmu! As the brother-in-law of the Emperor, Duanmu Chu has been able to attain the position of a Bronze Badge Guard in the elite Xuanwu Guard at the young age of just over twenty.

As soon as he saw the only friendly Copper Badge Guard, Su Jian said, "Elder brother, I was almost murdered, and I want to take revenge, but I do not know if you are willing to help me"

"Shut up!" Cao Dejing shouted, "What accomplices? Don't forget it was us who provoked and plotted against them. If we are to talk about accomplices," he pointed to the two on the ground, "it should be those two."

Su Jianjin has been at Lingqiu Academy for some time now, and as for that Luo Xueqiong, not to mention getting close to understanding any information about her, they haven't even exchanged a single word!

Speaking of Duanmu Chu, his identity is quite remarkable. He and Gai Yingwei are the only two individuals in the entire Xuanwu Black Guard who were able to attain the rank of Copper Badge Guard in their twenties; however, unlike Gai Yingwei, Duanmu Chu comes from a noble background, as he hails from the family of the current Empress

He was anxious and worried, feeling extremely tense, while Su Jian seemed completely oblivious to it all

Yes, yes, yes! Seeing that his father was truly angry, Cao Liang quickly put on a smiling face and said, "I know, I know! This time, even if I have to part with a few stinky bones, it will benefit that little dog!"

Fortunately, on this suddenly revealed treasure map of the Giant Spirit, the puzzles are very clear, with only four in total, and it is immediately apparent that they are word puzzles

He knows that his talent is merely average, and his conduct is quite unruly. Gaining admission to the Dragon Slayer Academy is already a stroke of luck. His greatest reliance in life is still his wealth

This has startled all the staff in the store

Speaking of Tang Qiu's gambling games, it turns out that the studies at Lingjiu Academy are indeed tedious, thus various gambling games have become popular among the students

As Luoxue Qiong stared at Su Jian, he also glared at Tang Qiu from behind: "Hmph, nonsense! What did your brother just say? A crystal symbol that is 'unprecedented'? Ridiculous! Truly naive, just boasting!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly ran away, shouting as he ran: "The game has started, the game has started, for more details please follow me!"

What? In a corner of Lingjiu Academy, when the chubby Tang Qiu heard Su Jian express his plan, he immediately disregarded the gazes of those around him and exclaimed, "Su Jian, do you want to create a crystal talisman to get close to Luo Xueqiong?"

As the Cao family father and son felt anxious, they were unaware that Su Jian over there had indeed not relented.

Of course, there are also some who are puzzled, saying that although there are many lost secret realms on this divine land, concealing the secrets of various ancient mythological eras, nonetheless, it has never been heard that there are any secret realms from the era of the Giant Spirits in the newly established Jinghua City, which has only been built for two hundred years.

Relying on his intuition, he felt it was necessary to flatter Commander Xuanyuan Hong. For this reason, when he presented the gold, he did so with confidence and a clear conscience, which unexpectedly led to a favorable outcome, allowing a prominent figure like Xuanyuan Hong to accept it readily.

"Could it really have been the butcher just now?" he muttered to himself, "But I don't recall having ordered two large pigs from him..."

What else can be done? Cao Dejing said, "When soldiers come, we will block them; when water comes, we will cover it with earth. We will just wait."

This senior brother Gao Chang, whom Tang Qiu regards with some reverence, is a year above them. Gao Chang is also skilled in the art of crystal talismans, and thus he was brought in by Mr. Chunyu Bo to serve as a teaching assistant

Thus, when Su Jian emerged from Xuan Yuan Hong and was caught red-handed by Gai Yingwei, upon learning that he had made no progress, Gai Yingwei immediately flew into a rage and unleashed a torrent of scolding upon him

"Are you serious?" Tang Qiu looked at him in surprise, "Well, since I consider you as my own brother, I have been open-hearted with you. If it is to be this way, don't blame me, brother!"

Due to the disruption caused by the lies surrounding the treasure of the Giant Spirit, not only has the Fortune Tower failed to generate any income, but the losses incurred over just these few days are nearly equivalent to one-fourth of the restaurant's total value

In the coming days, the Cao family of Fuhua Building will not only be unable to conduct business, but they will also be unable to protect this piece of property

The old man was quite nimble on his feet. After getting up and washing up, he realized it was still too early; the sky was not even dimly lit yet. He began to sprinkle water and sweep the floor in the main hall. However, after just sweeping a couple of times, Old Man Cao heard what seemed like two knocks on the front door.

Although he is a dandy, Cao Liang is still very enthusiastic about the income of the restaurant. In any case, he does have one virtue, which is self-awareness

As Su Jian clarified the background and details, Duanmu Chu was immediately filled with righteous indignation, shouting that he wanted to take people to smash the wine house.

This scene left the passing black-clad guards perplexed: how could a mere silver badge guard dare to issue commands to a copper badge guard? Moreover, the copper badge guard seemed to accept it willingly. Truly a pair of odd individuals

Therefore, when Su Jian smiled and mentioned that he would need to rely on him for the upcoming search and seizure of the counterfeit maps, the robustly built Duanmu Chu responded with a gentle smile and readily agreed

The young man in the blue robe, Su Jian, quietly followed behind; his furtive glances ahead and behind made him appear like a timid thief in the eyes of his classmates

Hearing someone call her from behind, Luo Xueqiong hesitated for a moment, then turned around.

It must be said that Su Jian's move struck at the very heart of the Cao family

He took out an inconspicuous light green crystal talisman and insisted on handing it to Luo Xueqiong, saying: "Luo classmate, please take a look at this first, it is guaranteed to be unprecedented!"

Although Mr. Chunyu Bo is over fifty years old, he is not at all rigid. The venue for the courses he teaches is intentionally not in the academy's lecture hall, but rather by the lakeside of Yusuhu, near the Luming Forest.

For a businessman, even if you beat him up, it is not as painful and distressing as failing to conduct his business.

It is evident that the crystals used for practicing crystal magic are of the lowest quality imaginable, riddled with flaws and imperfections. However, Su Jian, utilizing his blood pupil and heart eye, is able to bypass these defects and refine the crystals according to a flawless structure and network

Duànmù Chǔ, with his rough exterior, was well aware of his colleagues' genuine attitudes. It was precisely for this reason that Duànmù Chǔ yearned for everyone to forget his background and to value his abilities. Unfortunately, due to his noble lineage, Duànmù Chǔ was treated like a protected animal within the Black-clad Guards, regarded as fragile porcelain by everyone from Xuānyuán Hóng to his superior, Yínhuī Wèi.

"What is it? Brother, are you unwilling to help?" Su Jian hurriedly said

Not to mention the subsequent discussions, let us now turn to Su Jian's side.

As one ages, their hands may tremble. Cao Fu fumbled for quite a while before finally managing to untie the hemp rope at the mouth of the bag

Strange, who is looking for me so early in the morning? Could it be butcher Zhang who reserved the pork yesterday? He doesn't look that thin.

In approximately two days, this morning, Mr. Chunyu Bo will be teaching the art of crystal symbols. According to Su Jian's plan, the operation to approach Luo Xueqiong is about to commence!

It turned out that this sack almost tripped me. Seeing that it was two large bags, Cao Fu did not think much of it

Originally, Boss Cao harbored ulterior motives and had been waiting for a response from those two friends in the underworld. Although he did not receive a reply that night, which did not lead him to believe that something had gone awry, he still did not sleep soundly. Therefore, despite the early hour, he got up.

Thus, the once luxurious restaurant, one of the finest in the capital, with its several courtyards and the elegant pavilions and gardens, has been left in a state of disrepair, riddled with holes and utterly devastated. The sight is truly heart-wrenching for those who hear of it and brings tears to the eyes of those who witness it

"Does he still have accomplices?" Cao Liang exclaimed

After the fellows dragged the pockets into the backyard, Cao Dejing and his son immediately dispersed the crowd, and soon the entire backyard was left with only the two of them

Mr. Chunyu Bo found a lush green spot by the lake, where he had the students sit on the ground and imparted the wondrous art of crystal symbols in the splendid spring light

Even neighbors who occasionally return from a trip and pass by the entrance of the Fuhua Restaurant, upon taking a glance inside, are often startled, thinking they have mistaken the place—what kind of restaurant has pits dug everywhere in its elegant dining hall? Is this a place for dining or for mining?

Upon hearing the words "income," Cao Liang immediately felt deflated

This type of gambling is different from the gambling found in the streets today; the students merely wager a small amount, which is of little value, betting on various matters. Winning or losing is not important to them; what matters is having something to look forward to in their mundane lives and finding a bit of enjoyment.

Logically, such matters are enviable, yet they have become a source of distress for Duanmu Chu. Due to his rise to power through connections, the formidable individuals within the Xuanwu Guard regard him with a mix of respect and distance. Meanwhile, those like Gai Yingwei, who have ascended through their abilities, harbor a deeper disdain beneath their superficial respect.

The subsequent events were anticipated by certain individuals

Therefore, under the free conception and the superior quality of the crystal ink, Su Jian's crystal symbols are often significantly more refined than those of others

"Stop the noise!" It was Boss Cao who first reacted, shouting, "Quickly drag him in, drag him in!"

The old man mumbled to himself, presumptively thinking that the sack contained a fat pig, and carelessly reached out to untie the hemp rope at the mouth of the sack

Ah? Is this really the case? Duanmu Chu was taken aback and quickly asked Su Jian to explain the details of the matter

Tang Qiu was also quite clever; seeing the noble young master with a face like a jade crown looking displeased, he hurriedly left his words half-spoken, not completely severing the relationship with Su Jian

"Enough with the nonsense," Boss Cao said bluntly, "Tell me in detail how you fought with that Su Jian yesterday!"

In the vast city of Jinghua, various factions, according to their power and style of operation, whether overt or covert, all converge on the Cao Family's Fuhua Restaurant to seek treasures

As the owner of a restaurant, although it is not until the sun is high in the sky that we officially welcome guests, it is about time for the staff responsible for purchasing ingredients to head out.

Hearing this, Su Jian smiled mysteriously and said, "Actually, I have the same intention. However, it would not look good in the eyes of the common people and our colleagues if we brothers were to take action ourselves. I have a plan—" He then proceeded to explain the strategy in detail.

At this moment, the night grew increasingly deep, and the dusk enveloped everything. The lifeline, "Lei Bingfan," had already walked far away, his figure gradually disappearing like a dragon or snake in the evening mist. Looking at the two corpses beside him, Su Jian suddenly shivered.

Although two hundred years ago, during the Dragon-Human War, the member of the Gao clan who served as the commander of the Huaxia Qinglong Legion was removed from his position due to hesitation and fear of battle, resulting in a slight decline in momentum; the influence of the millennium-old Gao clan is beyond imagination, and even now, there are still several members of the Gao clan holding important positions in the Huaxia court

To a certain extent, in the minds of leaders like Xuanyuan Hong and other members of the Black Guard, there is no task more important than ensuring the safety of Duanmu Chu, as long as it does not involve the destruction of a nation. In such a strange atmosphere, Duanmu Chu is quite troubled. It is precisely for this reason that he has developed a very good relationship with the carefree newcomer, Su Jian.

However, when these two arrogant fellows saw what was in the sack at the door, they immediately resembled a duck with its neck grasped; no matter how loud and noisy their cries were, they could no longer utter a single word

At first, Cao Fu thought it was just his old ears playing tricks on him, but after a short while, there were two more "knocks" at the door.

However, Cao Dejing stared at his son with wide eyes and said solemnly, "My son, let this matter end here. It seems that Su Jian is not as simple as a mere Xihui guard. Today, the delivery of a corpse to our door is clearly a warning to the two of us. In the future, do not provoke him if you have nothing to do."

Speaking of Duanmu Chu, he has indeed been quite troubled by the protected animals in the Xuanwu Guard. It is not easy for Su Jian to have something to stir him up, and yet it is so righteous and so interesting. Naturally, he immediately became lively and was busy to the point of delight.

Especially Cao Liang, upon seeing the contents of the bag, the color drained from his face in an instant

What are you going to do? Su Jian was taken aback, Are you trying to cause trouble?

Immediately thereafter, Su Jian, utilizing his direct reporting authority, entered the inner hall of the Xuanwu Guard and presented one hundred taels of gold to Commander Xuanyuan Hong. He declared that this was the investigation fee paid by the victims in the recent incident concerning the false treasure map of the city.

"Ah! I didn't expect him to be so fast with that physique!" Su Jian was taken aback as he watched the plump Tang running swiftly.

Upon hearing these words, Luo Xueqiong's icy demeanor resembled a still ancient well. She remained silent, merely staring at Su Jian, her eyes gradually filled with a growing chill

Su Jian quickly discovered that his ability to perceive weaknesses, known as the "Blood Eye and Heart Eye," was also applicable when placed on the crystal stone

However, after all, he is an elderly person with rich life experience. Cao Fu felt that what had just happened was somewhat strange and he could not shake off his concerns. He then lifted his leg and stepped over the threshold, intending to walk towards the street corner to see what was really going on

However, what Su Jian did not expect was that within the Cao family, it was actually the head of the family, Cao Dejing, who was the first to be defeated

Hehe, it is also not in accordance with the identity, Su Jian said with a mischievous smile, it is just that doing it this way is more interesting

Early the next morning, at the break of dawn, the night had not yet fully faded. In the eastern sky, a hint of brightness began to emerge, faintly revealing the outline of the luxurious Huahua Restaurant in the capital city.

In fact, for these privileged youths, a small stake in a gambling game is of no consequence. What they are most concerned about now is whether Su Jian will suddenly withdraw midway out of fear of death

The Fairy of Luo is about to take action! Those who are watching are both tense and excited, each preparing their own skills in defense.

"What?" When Cao Liang heard his father's decision, he was so shocked that he exclaimed, "No way, Father! Why should we bow down to that despicable black dog? Last time, those two uncles just made a mistake; if it doesn't work, we can make it happen again and find someone more formidable!"

"Indeed, what are you shouting about?" Cao Liang exclaimed loudly, following behind Boss Cao, "How did my father teach you usually? You all look like headless flies!"

Thus, even those knowledgeable individuals who seemed to have discovered issues began to study the hidden locations on the treasure map under the clichéd reasoning of "there's no loss in trying; what if it is true"

Seeing him like this, Su Jian suddenly had a strange thought: if Duanmu Chu helped him with this matter and let his esteemed sister, the queen, know about it, he wondered what her expression would be.

Although Chad had unexpectedly gained wealth, Su Jian was not foolish enough to swallow it all alone. He first gave Duanmu Chu fifty taels of gold, claiming it was for investigation expenses, and then intended to "help" the Cao family eliminate the false information regarding the "Giant Spirit Treasure" map.

Thereafter, the crystal ink is applied to talismans made of various materials in a specific pattern. When needed, it can be activated and incinerated using a special method to achieve a specific effect

Speaking of which, among the various subjects at Lingjiu Academy, Su Jian is not particularly outstanding. However, in the course "Crystal Symbolism" taught by the esteemed Mr. Chunyubo, he has demonstrated remarkable talent

This treasure map, with its yellowed paper, appears to have been intentionally aged, making it difficult for the average person to discern. The map claims to indicate the location of treasures from the ancient era of the giant spirits, and one only needs to solve a few puzzles on the map to uncover the secrets.

Under great pressure, Su Jian was also in a state of desperation. One day in the academy, during a class called "Crystal Symbolism," Su Jian suddenly had a flash of inspiration and thought to himself: "Hmm? Can I create a crystal symbol that would attract Luo Xueqiong?"

At this point, Cao Dejing could not contain his anger and shouted, "You little brat, behave yourself! It was not easy for you to get into the Dragon-Slaying Academy, and now you should earn some face for your father. You spend all your time on frivolous matters and entanglements, and look what trouble it has brought? If it weren't for your ambiguous relationship with that girl surnamed Qiu, how would our family have gotten involved with a worthless scion like Su Jian?"

Cao Liang!" He suddenly turned his face and sternly questioned his son beside him, "How did you end up defeated when you faced that black-clad guard yesterday?"

This time, Cao Fu confirmed that he had not misheard, hurriedly walked towards the door, removed the bolt, and opened the door

With this matter at hand, Xuanyuan Hong will certainly not make things difficult for Su Jian, but the Copper Emblem Guard, Gai Yingwei, is not so easy to deal with

This does not imply that he is greedy for money, but rather that this income holds extraordinary significance for the emperor's brother-in-law: it is the first time he has earned money without relying on ancestral influence and nepotism

Indeed, Young Master Gao—" Upon seeing the young man speaking to him, Tang Qiuyi quickly concealed his lewd demeanor and politely said, "So it turns out that Senior Brother Gao is also here. I am somewhat acquainted with Su Jian.

Although Duanmu Chu is indeed an upright person and is not lacking in wealth, when Su Jian presented him with fifty taels of gold, his eyes still lit up with excitement

Similarly, those flawless structures are represented by green lines, while the defects within the crystal that are generally imperceptible to the average person can also be displayed in red

That morning, Su Jian made a special visit to Tanghuiwei Duanmu Chu.

At first glance, seeing these three bright red crystal cores ablaze with light, Su Jian was truly overjoyed

In the twilight, he fell silent for a moment, then leaned down and whispered softly into the ears of the two cold corpses: "You want to kill me? How despicable. This matter is not over yet, I still need to borrow your assistance, if you please."

This is indeed correct, Cao Dejing nodded.

Among these individuals, there are a few who are particularly heavy gamblers, and they have actually placed their bets on Su Jian's side. However, even they are looking forward to seeing Su Jian make a fool of himself

After finally stabilizing his stance, Old Man Cao looked down and saw two large burlap sacks lying on the ground at the entrance, filled with something unknown, bulging and swollen.

He had only taken a couple of steps when he suddenly exclaimed "Oh no!" as his foot was caught on something, causing his body to sway to the side. If it weren't for his relatively quick reflexes, managing to grab the door frame in the midst of his hurried movement, he would have truly fallen this time.

The Giant Spirit Treasure! This immediately excited those who obtained the treasure map

"This is truly unbelievable," Cao Fu shook his head and mumbled indistinctly, "I can't take it anymore, I'm getting old, and my eyesight is failing me."

"Do not use my identity to make an issue of this!" Duanmu Chu said displeased, "The Cao family father and son are so despicable; if we do not smash them to the point of utter defeat, I will not be able to relieve this anger in my heart."

Su Jian, seeing this, hurriedly stopped him and exclaimed: "There is no need for such a fuss; if they come to smash the door, it does not befit my elder brother's noble status"

"How could this be?" Duanmu Chu glared at him and said, "Brother, if there is a matter, I, Duanmu Chu, will stand by you. I just want to know, does doing this really align with our identity?"

However, what he found strange was that after the door opened, there was not a single shadow outside the door

Indeed. Regardless, Cao Liang still feels quite pained.

Help! Help! ... ..." Cao Fu shouted for help while crawling.

Seeing these neatly organized answers, the "lucky ones" who have obtained the treasure map are moved to tears together in gratitude for the ancient treasure map

Crystal Symbolism is a method employed by the people of Shenzhou to harness the energy of the Zenith Star Sea Crystal River. It combines with the ancient talisman techniques of Huaxia, refining the collected crystals into liquid essence or evaporating them into crystal vapor, thus producing "Crystal Ink"

Indeed, it is precisely because of the determination to become stronger, to uncover the truth behind the Dream of the Dragon Wing Goddess, and to expose the true identity of the terrifying murderer in the Silent Forest, that Su Jian can casually give away the golden items. However, he did not hesitate to keep the three fire-type crystal cores that could greatly enhance his own power.

However, this is strange. Cao Dejing walked around the corpse on the ground a few times, puzzled, and said, "These two brothers were clearly killed by an extremely skilled sword technique, and they do not resemble the Su Jian you mentioned, who relies on luck to win at all."

The purchasing clerk responsible for the Fuhua Restaurant is Cao Fu, the most trusted old servant of the Cao family. Cao Fu is in his early fifties, and being already advanced in age, he woke up particularly early that morning

When the fellows ran over in groups of two or three, the owner of the tavern in the backyard, Cao Dejing, was also startled

Is that so? Cao Liang asked in confusion, "Father, what is wrong with you? You are my father, what do I have to hide from you? If you are too proud to let it go, I could have simply not told you about this matter yesterday!"

This was an unexpected delight for Su Jian, as he did not anticipate that he would gain the long-lost confidence and sense of achievement from a single course

Indeed, indeed. At this moment, even Su Jian's only good brother, Tang Qiu, remarked, "I didn't expect Brother Su to be so uncreative. Well, I will keep a close watch later, and when Miss Luo draws her sword, I will loudly give a warning."

Therefore, upon hearing his grandfather mention money, he immediately fell silent, resembling a deflated balloon.

"Yes, indeed!" Tang Qiuman echoed wholeheartedly. However, deep down, he was not pleased. Although he actually agreed with Gao Chang's words, hearing Gao Chang say them in front of him, which undermined his brother, made Tang Qiu feel discontented.

Cao Fu hesitated for a moment, wondering if he had misheard. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a figure standing at the street corner not far away.