Chapter 545: The People Inside the Bronze Mirror Were Gone |
"Give them away?"
Pill Spirit heard his words and asked in confusion, "Give who away?"
"Of course Xu Qingqiu."
Ning Qi smiled, then added, "We can't just leave empty-handed, can we?"
"Master, don't we have lots of natural treasures and many cultivation techniques?"
"Wouldn't any of those be fine to give her?"
Pill Spirit thought for a moment, then spoke up. That little face was full of puzzled expression. He couldn't understand why Ning Qi was making an extra fuss.
"You don't get it. What would girls be interested in?"
"We should give her something girls actually like!"
"Oh, I get it now!"
"Master, I told you you like Miss Xu, and you still wouldn't admit it!"
Pill Spirit finally understood the situation and began to tease him.
"How could I like her? I've simply not seen her for many days."
"I'm just giving her a small gift. Don't blurt things out, especially when we see Miss Xu!"
Ning Qi shook his head to correct Pill Spirit after hearing that.
"Fine, I won't say anything."
"You say one thing and mean another, not me!"
Pill Spirit pouted. But his eyes were scanning the road ahead, also helping Ning Qi look for the shop they needed.
Ning Qi naturally walked toward the busy marketplace.
"Master, look, these shops are pretty good!"
"That's Myriad Treasures Pavilion, there must be some valuables inside!"
Pill Spirit's sharp eyes spotted several shops selling jewelry and antiques at a glance.
"Alright, let's go in and take a look."
Ning Qi nodded, then followed. He glanced around casually and headed straight into one of the shops.
"Young master, what are you looking for?"
Just inside the door, a shop assistant stepped up to greet him.
"A gift for a girl."
Ning Qi didn't hide his purpose and stated it plainly.
"Oh? Then may I ask, is it for a friend or for someone special?"
The assistant, clearly experienced, smiled and asked.
"An important friend, but not someone special," Ning Qi explained.
"Understood!"
The assistant smiled and led Ning Qi forward. "Young master, we have jade and some rare-material treasures here. They're all suitable for gifts. You can look first, and if you can't decide, I can recommend something."
"Good."
Ning Qi nodded, then began to inspect the shop seriously.
Many pieces hung on the walls; others sat on wooden display counters. Without exception, they glittered with gemlike luster. Many emitted condensed radiance, clearly not ordinary items.
However, Ning Qi showed no interest in most. After a glance he headed to another section. Soon he reached the opposite wall, looked at the hanging items, and shook his head. Again, nothing caught his eye.
Then Ning Qi bent down to the counter for a closer look. The treasures here were slightly different from those he'd seen before.
"Young master, these are valuable treasures," the assistant explained as he approached. "You can pick one first and I'll give you a price afterward."
"Oh? Really?"
Ning Qi's interest was piqued. He focused on the wooden counter and examined the pieces more closely. His eyes glimmered as he selected what he liked.
"Master, this jade pendant is pretty!"
Pill Spirit sat on his shoulder, pointing softly at a pendant.
Ning Qi followed Pill Spirit's direction and saw a pendant that radiated condensed light throughout, with green rays swirling inside.
"Young master, this is a thousand-year spirit jade," the assistant began to explain. "It condensed from heaven-and-earth essence. It’s not ordinary jade because it was accidentally devoured by a spirit beast during formation. It was refined inside the beast for a thousand years to become what it is now."
"Put this on and it can ward off disaster and nourish the body. You can try it on if you don't believe me."
The assistant handed it to Ning Qi to feel.
"Alright."
Ning Qi didn't hesitate and took it, feeling it carefully. The touch was indeed warm and smooth, with a faint sensation of nourishing his veins. Though the feeling was subtle, it proved the pendant was no ordinary trinket.
"So? Do you like it?"
"If this were given to the girl you fancy, she'd absolutely love it!"
The assistant looked pleased when he saw Ning Qi holding it. "Once this leaves the shop, there may be no more. Our business is good; it won't last two days on the shelf."
"Alright, then it's decided!"
Ning Qi held the pendant in his palm and asked, "How many spirit stones?"
"Young master, this one costs five million spirit stones."
The assistant counted on his fingers. "That's already our lowest price. If you like it, I can lower it by two hundred thousand for you."
"Still a bit pricey."
Ning Qi shook his head. Although he had seemingly endless spirit stones, he wasn't so foolish as to be taken advantage of.
"Young master, it's not expensive at all. How much would you like to offer?"
The assistant, surprised by Ning Qi's stance, let him name a price.
"Three million, take it or leave it."
"If you want it, I'll take it!"
Ning Qi swirled the pendant in his hand and added, "If not, I'll keep looking."
"Young master—" The assistant was helpless; he hadn't expected Ning Qi to be so ruthless. He had hoped to make a profitable sale, but Ning Qi's pressure left slim margins.
"If you won't accept, I must bid farewell!"
Ning Qi, seeing the assistant hesitate, cupped his hands and prepared to leave.
"Wait!"
The assistant finally made a decision. "Alright, three million, just three million. Consider it a favor to make a friend of you. Next time you come, buy a few more."
He sighed and agreed.
"Good. If there's a chance, I'll return."
Ning Qi nodded in agreement.
"Young master, the pendant is yours."
Fearing a change of heart, the assistant handed the pendant over directly. Ning Qi did not hesitate either; he accepted it and tossed a storage bag to the assistant.
"There are three million spirit stones inside. Please check."
"Okay!"
The assistant scanned it with his spiritual sense, smiled, and said, "No problem, young master."
"Then I'll take my leave."
With what he wanted in hand, Ning Qi had no reason to stay. He left immediately.
"Master, that purchase wasn't a loss."
"Actually, he was a bit wrong earlier."
"This pendant was actually condensed from Immortal Realm spirit marrow."
"Just like spirit marrow formed from spirit stones."
Pill Spirit said playfully on Ning Qi's shoulder.
"Oh? So I found a treasure?"
Ning Qi perked up at that and asked, "Have you seen one like it?"
"Of course I've seen them. In Mount Buzhou back then, such things were as common as dirt."
"Sadly, later..."
Pill Spirit's words trailed off, clearly reminded of some painful memory.
"Alright, let's keep wandering."
"We haven't properly walked around since we came."
"Before we leave, let's look around this Giant Ship a bit more."
Ning Qi smiled and continued forward with Pill Spirit. This area was basically a bustling entertainment district, evidently created by the ship's owners to encourage spending so they could take commissions. Ning Qi, however, wasn't particularly interested. He and Pill Spirit strolled along the two or three main streets.
"Master, do you think the people inside the cabin noticed us messing with things?"
Pill Spirit suddenly worried and asked.
"They probably didn't."
Ning Qi shook his head and smiled. "I'm a master with strength comparable to a Celestial Immortal, and I had the bronze mirror helping me. How could anyone notice?"
"Master, should we go check on those women?"
Pill Spirit suggested.
"Oh? You're not reassured yet?"
Ning Qi frowned. "They're very safe inside my bronze mirror. Nothing should happen to them."
"Master, I still feel the bronze mirror is off. We should go back and check properly. If something goes wrong, we could become criminals!"
Pill Spirit said with concern after considering it.
"Hmm, good point."
Ning Qi was persuaded. He looked at the nearby streets and said, "Alright, let's return first and check the situation."
"Okay!"
Pill Spirit agreed, and Ning Qi stopped dawdling. He headed straight back to the inn where he stayed. Once in his chamber, he reopened his Pocket Dimension. After confirming it was safe, Ning Qi entered the Pocket Dimension and took out his bronze mirror. He activated it and inspected the women he'd sealed inside.
This time, however, after a full look, Ning Qi felt strange. The women who had been placed inside the mirror were nowhere to be found.
"What's going on?"
Ning Qi's expression turned grave. Four living people were placed into the mirror's world, and now they had disappeared? If they couldn't leave the mirror, where else could they possibly go?
"Master, see? I told you!"
Pill Spirit said, "I suspected the bronze mirror was problematic; I knew something was wrong. Damn it, I'm going in to check!"
Ning Qi gritted his teeth and prepared to send his divine sense in.
"Master, don't be impulsive!"
Pill Spirit hurriedly warned.
"What is it? Did you discover something?"
Ning Qi stopped and asked, puzzled, looking at Pill Spirit.
"Master, this place feels very strange."
"Why not wait until we return and have Sea Ancestor and the others provide protection, then investigate?"
Pill Spirit's face showed worry as he explained.
"Oh? You have a point."
That remark made Ning Qi think. The mirror did feel eerie and made him cautious. Pill Spirit's warning increased that caution.
"Since we already know something is off, there's no need to probe it right now."
"We just need to be careful."
Pill Spirit looked at the bronze mirror and continued, "Master, we should just store it away directly."
"This bronze mirror even has the capacity to swallow people."
"Then I can use it as a treasure that absorbs opponents!"
Ning Qi's eyes brightened, and he smiled. "Then when we meet powerful enemies we can't defeat, we can store them inside. Plus, we can keep an eye on the mirror to see what oddities it hides."
"Exactly, Master!"
Pill Spirit clapped his hands. "Great idea!"
"Alright, let's go."
"Since this matter is settled, let's go see how lively it is tonight!"
Ning Qi stretched and stood up. He exited his Pocket Dimension, with Pill Spirit following. When they stepped outside, the streets were already filling with people.
"It's dark, and everyone's starting to come out."
Pill Spirit looked around and said, "Master, it's been a long time since we tasted the local cuisine."
"It's dinnertime. Why don't we find a place to enjoy a meal?"
"Don't say it, I actually do want to try the food here."
Ning Qi rubbed his belly and chose a restaurant. "Let's go to this place."
"Good!"
Pill Spirit applauded and licked his lips. "Although the food here isn't as good as in the Immortal Realm, it's still pretty nice."
"Let's go."
Ning Qi was already at the entrance.
"Young master, please come in."
Someone greeted him as he arrived.
"Is there a table?"
Because it was crowded, Ning Qi asked to make sure there would be a seat.
"Yes, young master. Upstairs, please."
"Our upstairs is lively!"
The assistant pointed to the upper floor to invite Ning Qi up.
"Good. Let's go."
Ning Qi accepted and followed the assistant upstairs. The scent of food and spirit wine filled the air, whetting the appetite. They soon reached the second floor, which was even more bustling. Small groups gathered at tables, eating and chatting.
"Young master, please sit here!"
The assistant led Ning Qi to a quiet corner and invited him to sit.