The Boss Lady's unexpected kindness took Chen Chang'an by surprise—this woman was definitely not the type to act so warmly.
Could she have some ulterior motive?
Chen Chang'an wasn’t sure, but his immediate priority was to heal the young boy, so he didn’t dwell on it too much.
"In the northern part of No-Return City, there’s an auction house. You might find what you need there."
"However, the most critical issue is the blood-fiend energy in his mind. That won’t be easy to purge."
"If you want to completely cleanse it, you’ll need to find one thing."
"The Blood-Cleansing Herb from the Forest of Life and Death."
Blood-Cleansing Herb?
This was the first time Chen Chang'an had heard of such a thing. Was it unique to this chaotic region?
The Boss Lady seemed to read his thoughts and continued, "The Blood-Cleansing Herb is exclusive to the Forest of Life and Death."
"That forest is saturated with overwhelming blood-fiend energy. Ordinary people who enter rarely make it out alive."
"Most lose their minds from the rampant blood-fiend energy, and with the countless dangers lurking inside, few dare to venture there."
"Yet, the Blood-Cleansing Herb thrives in such an environment, completely unaffected."
"So, it possesses a unique property—consuming it can fully absorb and purge the blood-fiend energy within one’s body."
That sounded like a remarkable herb. But why did it have to be from the Forest of Life and Death? Couldn’t the auction house have it?
"Does the auction house not carry the Blood-Cleansing Herb?" Chen Chang'an asked.
"It seems you’re not entirely familiar with blood-fiend energy. While it can harm one’s consciousness and body, it also enhances combat power when harnessed properly."
"But the Blood-Cleansing Herb eradicates all traces of blood-fiend energy. Given the dangers of the Forest of Life and Death, it’s not worth risking one’s life for something like this."
"Even if it were sold at the auction house, it wouldn’t fetch a high price."
"So, why bother with it?" The Boss Lady explained.
Chen Chang'an nodded. From that perspective, it really didn’t seem worthwhile.
"How far is the Forest of Life and Death from No-Return City?" he asked.
"Hmm… If you move quickly, you can reach it in a day. But how long it’ll take to get out once you’re inside—that’s hard to say."
"Are you really willing to risk the Forest of Life and Death for this boy?"
"Even those in the Void Comprehension Realm avoid that place."
"You’re only at the first level of the Transcendent Realm. Aren’t you afraid of death?"
The Boss Lady couldn’t understand. Even if Chen Chang'an had hidden strength, why would he take such a risk for a stranger?
Chen Chang'an glanced at the boy, who had just finished washing up and stepped out, and his resolve hardened.
So similar. Too similar.
"This is what I owe him," Chen Chang'an said with a faint smile.
Owe him?
That only deepened the Boss Lady’s confusion. How could someone like Chen Chang'an owe such a heavy debt to a fool?
"Boss Lady, prepare some things for him."
"Da Huang, Xian'er, both of you stay here and keep an eye on him."
"I’ll head to the auction house first, then the Forest of Life and Death."
"I’ll try to return within three days!" Chen Chang'an said calmly.
He hadn’t forgotten—three days later, an important duel awaited him.
"Stay here and behave. I’ll be back soon."
Chen Chang'an patted the boy’s shoulder. The boy seemed to sense his kindness and grinned foolishly, though with a touch of sincerity.
"Let’s go!"
Without hesitation, Chen Chang'an left the Joyful Tower.
The Boss Lady watched his departing figure, her eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion.
Just what kind of man was he?
"Aren’t you going to stop your master?"
"Aren’t you worried about his safety?" the Boss Lady asked Gu Xian'er.
"My master’s decisions are not for a mere maid to question. Besides, I trust him completely." Gu Xian'er held blind faith in Chen Chang'an.
"No matter how terrifying the Forest of Life and Death is, it won’t stop Chen Chang'an now."
"What he wants to do, no one can prevent." Da Huang knew Chen Chang'an too well—this was something he had to do himself.
"If you can’t stop him, then just let him go? Then—"
Mid-sentence, the Boss Lady froze. The… the dog just spoke?
Until now, she hadn’t paid much attention to the dog, thinking it was just an ordinary animal.
But now, it had spoken?
"You… you can talk?"
"You’re not just a normal dog?" the Boss Lady asked, slightly stunned.
"Of course, I—"
"Da Huang is the King of Dogs!"
Before Da Huang could finish, Gu Xian'er proudly introduced his title, oblivious to the glare Da Huang shot her way.
"King of Dogs? I’ve never heard of that."
"But the world is full of wonders. Tell me, King of Dogs, what rank of spirit beast are you?" the Boss Lady asked curiously.
Rank of spirit beast?
Da Huang gave her a disdainful look before sulkily lying down in a corner, refusing to speak.
King of Dogs? You’re the damn King of Dogs! Your whole family’s the King of Dogs!
Seeing Da Huang ignore her, the Boss Lady chuckled helplessly and left.
Meanwhile, after leaving the Joyful Tower, Chen Chang'an headed straight for the auction house in the northern district.
As a Platinum Badge holder, he was immediately attended to the moment he entered.
"You… you’re Chen Chang'an?"
"Yes, that’s me. Who’s in charge here? I need to speak with them."
Chen Chang'an no longer cared why people recognized him—he got straight to the point.
"Well…"
"Very well. Please follow me."
Given Chen Chang'an’s rising fame in No-Return City and his Platinum Badge status, the attendant led him to a private room.
"Elder Ma, Chen Chang'an wishes to see you. He says it’s important."
Hearing this, Elder Ma, the manager, was taken aback. Chen Chang'an?
"Bring him in."
"Yes."
Once the attendant left, Chen Chang'an entered. Elder Ma studied him carefully.
So this was the man causing such a stir?
At the first level of the Transcendent Realm, yet bearing a Platinum Badge—undoubtedly, he stood out.
"You’re Chen Chang'an?"
"What brings you here?" Elder Ma asked.
"I’d like to know—do you have any soul-restoring treasures in this auction house?" Chen Chang'an asked.
Soul-restoring treasures?
"Aren’t you aware of the auction house’s rules? All items must be obtained through auctions—no private transactions."
"Even as a Platinum Badge holder with privileges, you don’t have the right to bypass the auction process."
Elder Ma's words were far from polite—in fact, they were downright blunt, carrying a tone of unmistakable sternness. It seemed he held no particular fondness for Chen Chang'an, though it wouldn't be accurate to call it outright hostility.
Chen Chang'an, however, remained unfazed. His reply was calm and measured: "I asked whether it exists or not."
"Are you deaf to reason?"
't think I'm that capable, I'm just trying my best to stay alive. I've been kind all my life, never did anything bad, yet worldly suffering spared me not one bit. The human world is a nice place, but I won't come back in my next life. A kind young man, who wanted to just get by singing, but through repeated deceits and betrayals, has gone down an irredeemable path.
his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...
ave】 Shen Qingling was a man with peerless looks, a cunning mind, and the ability to play both the aloof noble and the innocent sweetheart—a master of seduction who could outplay any player. But after an untimely death, he found himself bound to a system and transmigrated into the tragic "true young master" of a melodramatic novel. In the original story, his childhood sweetheart treated him as a backup plan, his fiancée swore to break off their engagement for the sake of the "fake young master," and his own sister saw him as the family's disgrace. He was nothing more than a rat everyone wanted to stomp on. System 077: "Your mission is to change the original fate and conquer the goddesses." Shen Qingling: "Thanks for the invite. If seduction had tiers, I’d be max level." His childhood sweetheart knelt, begging for forgiveness: "Qingling, I was wrong. Please give me another chance." His ex-fiancée refused to marry anyone else: "Shen Qingling, I was blind before. In this life, I’ll marry no one but you." A yandere CEO went mad for love: "Shen Qingling, you can only like me. I’ll stop at nothing to make you mine!" His green-tea sister clung to him daily: "Brother, look at me, won’t you? I’m more obedient than them—I love you the most~" At first, they scorned and trampled on him. Later, they burned themselves like moths to a flame, all for his sake. His looks were his weapon, his sweet words the bait—heroines obsessed over him, villains turned to madness for him. Shen Qingling became a true male siren, igniting battlefield after battlefield of women fighting for his affection. Years later, when System 077—now one of the elites—was asked how to become as outstanding as it, it lazily exhaled a smoke ring and replied: "Just know how to cheer ‘666’ at the right time."
