CHAPTER 76: 72. LAST CHANCE (3.8K WORDS - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE)

In the deep winter, the sky darkened early.

After locking up the Shadow Puppet Pavilion, Song Yan walked on the mountain path of Paperman Peak.

The biting wind blew eerily cold, the shadows of the mountains swiftly slanted with the setting sun in the west, large patches of shadows rushing forward with the piercing air, while on withered branches, carrion vultures and crows lingered, making strange calls.

Yuzhuang Xiao Niangzi followed behind Song Yan with her arms hanging down, carrying a small bag of fragrant wood that swayed as she walked. The aroma released when this fragranced wood was burned was pleasant, calming the mind and settling the spirit. She obtained Contribution Points from Song Yan and exchanged them at the Paper Money Tower on the main peak.

The Paper Money Tower was essentially the "finance department" and "basic tool exchange center" of Paperman Peak.

At that moment, many disciples lined up in front of the Paper Money Tower, with the one at the very front presenting an identity plate, discussing the exchange of Profound Jade and other items with the steward at the window, while the disciples behind urged impatiently.

"Such a long queue," sighed Xiao Niangzi, and added, "Master, do you need to exchange something today? I can queue for you, no matter how long it takes!"

"It’s Daoist Brother, not Master," Song Yan corrected.

Xiao Niangzi nodded repeatedly, agreeing, "Okay, Master."

Song Yan raised his hand and gently flicked her forehead.

Xiao Niangzi immediately had tears welled up in her eyes.

However, Song Yan already knew what she wanted to say, and stated, "You haven’t done anything wrong. It’s late today, we wouldn’t get a chance in the queue. We’ll come back when there are fewer people in a couple of days."

"Yes, Daoist Brother."

The late return together gave Song Yan a rare sense of warmth.

Though he was aware, such emotions should not exist because... separation, even life and death, was the destined end for him and every woman around him.

"It’s too cold."

He rubbed his hands together.

Xiao Niangzi hurried towards him, saying, "Daoist Brother, I’m warm."

Thud.

Song Yan gave her another flick on the forehead.

The flick activated a "rule," and Xiao Niangzi’s eyes started to turn red again.

Song Yan was very accustomed to this and promptly said, "You didn’t make a mistake."

"Oh." Xiao Niangzi returned to normal.

Song Yan couldn’t help but laugh.

As they walked and talked, they reached the edge of a cliff.

Song Yan tapped a sword technique, and the Flying Sword transformed into a rainbow, carrying them to the front of the cave mansion.

After a bustling period, they loosened their garments and went to practice Dual Cultivation...

After cultivation, Yuzhuang Xiao Niangzi lay in Song Yan’s arms, marveling, "Master, I’ve seen other furnaces that are almost half-dead, very weak... but why, after being harvested by you, I am still... still..."

She couldn’t find a word to describe the comfort she felt.

Song Yan replied, "That’s the effect of the elixir. If someone talks to you, don’t reveal your condition."

Yuzhuang Xiao Niangzi nodded vigorously, then shifted her body, the silky underwear forming enticing creases as she tentatively adjusted herself into a position that would be most comfortable for her master, preparing to sleep.

Soon, her breathing became steady.

But Song Yan could not fall asleep.

The bodiless phantom crow was still flying in the wilderness, carrying that extremely important "spoils of war." How could he sleep?

He had too many things on his mind.

’I wonder if the Fox Stabbing Alliance succeeded and how Mr. Su San and the others are doing.’

’Forget it, no matter what, Hua Rong is cut off from them.’

’But that mottled black shadow, even though it’s far inferior to Grandmother Fox, it shouldn’t be an ordinary demon beast if Grandmother Fox secretly hid it, right?

Its blood should barely help me step into the Crimson Palace Realm.

Though the effects might be average, it is still worth enhancing my realm first.

Yet, I wonder what will happen once I break through to the Crimson Palace. Will it render my Qi Concealment techniques ineffective? If so, that would be a big problem.

I need to learn more.

If possible, I should prepare higher skillful concealment techniques in advance and seek cultivation techniques and magic for the post-Crimson Palace Realm.’

’Granted, I can use Life Span Calculation.

But deriving a cultivation technique from scratch consumes too much, and it may not even succeed.

Having a ready-made one would be best.’

’Cold Pool Valley Market, that’s my opportunity.’

’On that day, many cultivators will be there, with a mix of fish and dragons. Many people might not even show their true faces since everyone has their own secrets.

An anonymous auction, a masquerade exchange, and the like, should all be there...

At that time, I can attempt to control the shadow puppet to go for transactions.’

"I need to purchase a new flying sword, a more advanced Qi Concealment technique, any information about the Crimson Palace Realm, cultivation techniques, magic..."

"Also, the Nanwu Sword Sect will surely come looking for me. Then, I need to complete initial contact with them and get by unnoticed.

That’s relatively doable.

I’ve talked so much with Mr. Su San that I know far more about the Nanwu Sword Sect, Su Changyi, and the Su Family than before, I should be able to manage."

’However, the most crucial is that my Fox Demon Shadow Puppet has all been used up... I must find an opportunity to hunt at least one more before the Cold Pool Valley Market opens, and then make some more.’

...

...

The next day, as soon as Song Yan opened the door of the Shadow Puppet Pavilion, a row of shadow puppet carriages came flying close to the ground outside.

Shadow puppet vehicles, like carts and the Void Ship, are not within the "domain of skin making" but rather "secondary processed shadow puppet products," with the "secondary processing peak" being Mechanical Peak.

Stone Seat Elder should know about these things, but perhaps he felt it unrelated to the legacy and didn’t discuss it with him.

And after the Stone Seat Elder left, Gu Huangzi must have thought Song Yan only needed to make skins, so there was no need to learn this "excessive" knowledge, hence he didn’t let him know either.