Chereads / A THIEF IN TALES OF DEMONS AND GODS / Chapter 5 - CHAPTER 5: STEALING HERBS

Chapter 5 - CHAPTER 5: STEALING HERBS

After the first day of school is over. Nie Li and the group prepares for their hunting fiesta to earn some demon coins. Kwangsoo went straight to the library and took some books with ancient writing on it. He put it in his inventory. The librarian inspect everyone's storage rings, to make sure any books that belong to the school remain in school. It was their policy.

"They won't notice these books are gone anyway. Nobody can read the scriptures anyway." (Kwangsoo)

He then went out to go to the alchemy association. Being an apprentice means that you have to help the master alchemist and grandmaster alchemist for a certain time everyday. Some apprentice works on receptionist which gets a lot of contribution points, in which you cam exchange for cultivation pills each month. It was like being an intern in the modern age. Since he has high reproducibility for alchemy pills, he was assigned to make basic recovery pills and soul enhancing pills. He has to finish his quota everyday to get his internship signed off. His contribution points are fixed and he was given written instruction on how to make the pills. The herbs that were given to him is enough for 3 to 4 batches of hundred pills. The alchemy association probably think that he will at least make 3 to 4 mistakes at a time. Little did they know, he has 100% efficiency. He just put the extra herbs into his inventory. He also took the extra pill furnace. He cam create pills when he goes home for his servants.

As apprentice, he was allowed to get ingredients in the storeroom where some rare herbs are being stored. When apprenticing over there, they always search for storage rings and search each one for extras. They keep it in the safe to prevent theft in the association.

After making his quota, he pretended that he needs more herbs to finish his job for the day. So he was escorted by a master alchemist in charge of the storeroom. While they we're passing by rare herbs, Kwangsoo willed the rare herbs to his inventory without alerting the alchemist. He took a few of basic herbs on his hand and left the storeroom.

The items won't be found out until the end of the month when the alchemy association do their end of the month checks and balances. He also stole a lot of pills.

The next day, a lot of investigators are in the storeroom trying to find clues of the thief. But nothing came up. So the alchemy grandmaster ordered more guards in the storeroom. And apprentice are not allowed to go in. They just have to submit an order form to the receptionist and the alchemist will deliver the herbs himself.

"These thefts are getting out of hand! Are you telling me that there is still no clues on who he or they are?" (Ye Zong)

"I really can't explain it brother. Some say that the item just vanished in front their eyes. Some was even wearing their storage rings tightly and still vanished.... If the dark guild is behind it, i wouldn't be surprised." (Ye Xiu)

"Even the alchemy association got victimized... Hmmm, get the inscription masters to develop an inscription to capture people that can camouflage themselves. I think were dealing with a person who can turn invincible. Must be their demon beast ability." (Ye Zong)

"I'll get on it, right away!" (Ye Xiu)

At the same moment, Kwangsoo was going through all the market places stealing purple haze grass and also stealing from rich nobles and merchants their demon coins. He now found out that they hide it on their servants that was following them.

"Man, believe it or not. I feel like I'm working too hard. But I'm rich though. I'm close to a billion demon coins now. I should stop, since i don't use the coins anyway. I can directly steal the product. Why bother paying." (Kwangsoo)

He then went home very tired. He even skipped dinner and told the servants to knock off for today. They can do whatever they want. He just went to sleep.

A week afterwards....

In class, Xiao Ning'er gave Nie Li a home made breakfast lunchbox. This in turn shock the whole class. Some classmates we're asking Nie Li how he tamed the ice cold princess.

"I guess he cured Ning'er's arctic disease. The next part should be coming soon." (Kwangsoo)

"Nie Li. I know you told me about buying the purple haze grass. But due to the theft of purple haze grass, the price doubled. I can only purchase a couple of tons of purple haze grass. They have limitation on selling it, since there is not enough production." (Xiao Ning'er)

She gave Nie Li the storage ring.

"This is more than enough. I'll pay you back someday." (Nie Li)

"No no. This is the least I can do. You helped me more than you could imagine. This herb is the least i can do to pay you back." (Xiao Ning'er)

She went back to her seat. Nie Li on the other hand was thinking who could have stolen those herbs.

"Do someone know about the importance of purple haze grass? I might have to change my plans. I'll wait on sending out the usefulness of purple haze grass to the alchemy association. Not until I have a lot of supplies of it. I got to corner the market price. as low as possible to earn a suitable profit." (Nie Li)

When Nie Li saw Shen Xiu coming in to start class

Him and his friends started to make their way to the back of the class until Sheng Xiu stopped them.

"Hold up Nie Li! You and your group sit down on your seats. We have guess arriving later. I want you all to be on your best behavior later." (Sheng Xiu)

That day Nie Li gave the accusation of plagiarism on originality of the sacred family made inscription. Which was proven when the same inscription was found in the divine lightning book which was much older than the founding of sacred family.

Vice principal Ye Sheng was asked by the city lord to give some protection to Nie Li and his family. Nie Li has proven that he is knowledgeable in ancient scriptures. But on the other hand, he became the target of sacred family hatred. His friends were also bullied.

The vice principal offered Nie Li a job as library collection deacon. He will also earn 300 demon coins monthly.

While Kwangsoo headed to the ancient books section, he noticed that Nie Li was gathering his friends around. He was using soul crystals on each of them and telling them a superior cultivation techniques. They didn't notice him since he is masking his cultivation to nothingness. He put excess spiritual aura to his inventory. But still Nie Li noticed him.

"I know your over there behind the shelf. Come out!" (Nie Li)

Kwangsoo came out smiling at them.

"Well well well. I see you guys doing secret meeting. Thanks by the way. I heard the cultivation process of the heavenly lightning Qilin. It's quite powerful, but it's just not for me." (Kwangsoo)

"What do you want?" Nie Li said angrily.

"Whoa whoa there sparky. Don't get your panties in a twist. I just want to make a deal with you. But privately without your friends here. Don't worry, it's not anything harmful. It's just about your knowledge in ancient scripture." (Kwangsoo)

"Go away! I don't need money or anything from you rich snobby nobles." (Nie Li)

"Wow~ quite the attitude you got there. Well for starters, this a library for all students. I have every right to be here. Secondly, the deal is not money but a thing." (Kwangsoo)

Kwangsoo pulled up a piece of the demon temporal book page that he found in the tomb. He showed it quickly and put it back in his inventory. Nie Li was full of shock when he saw the page. He was a little speechless. Then he shouted out.

"Where did you find that page?!" (Nie Li)

"It's the thing left behind by my family before they pass away. I'll let you have it after the deal is done. I can't say the deal right now since your friends are all gathered here. So I'll be going now. If your interested, I'll be in the alchemy association doing my quota of pills until nighttime. I'll let the receptionist escort you to my room when you get there. Later Nie Li." (Kwangsoo)

Kwangsoo waved goodbye and left for the alchemy association. Meanwhile Nie Li's friends gather around them.

"Hey Nie Li! Why are you so guarded around him. I know he is a little weird but he treats commoners pretty good. But it sound as if your really scared of him." (Lu Piao)

"Nie Li, is everything alright?" (Du Ze)

"Y-Yeah.. I'm okay. It's just that he has a lot of secrets. I wouldn't have noticed him if it wasn't for the flower vase over there. It barely showed his reflection. The problem is, nobody can mask their whole aura. It has to leak something. I can only assume that he can be an assassin, and a very good one at that." (Nie Li)

"Then you should not go to make that deal then. Wait until everyone is stronger." (Du Ze)

"No~. I'll see what he wants. I really want that page he got anyway. And the alchemy association is a safe place. Plenty of guards around, he wouldn't do anything." (Nie Li)

"Okay. But if you need us, just call us right away. Be careful." (Du Ze)

"It's okay. You guys stay here and cultivate. I'll come back later for the sheep hunting." (Nie Li)

Nie Li headed towards the alchemy association. Because he headed straight there, the event where he humiliate Shen Yue never happened. And Nie Li never meet Ye Ziyun to correct the faulty inscription she had.

Once he got there, the receptionist escorted him to Kwasngsoo's room. Oncw he entered, he saw hundreds and hundreds of basic pills. It was basic but he notice the quality is really high.

"I see you are very good in alchemy, might be even better than the grandmaster." (Nie Li)

"Oh thanks. Sit down and relax. I'm finishing up my last batch right now." (Kwangsoo)

After he finished up his quota for the day, he called the receptionist to call the master so he can sign off the contribution points. After the deed was done, both Nie Li and Kwangsoo was having tea together.

"So what do you want for the page?" (Nie Li)

"Nothing much, I just need you to translate a book. I'll make it as a reference to read ancient scriptures." (Kwangsoo)

"I see, so may I ask what is your purpose in doing that?" (Nie Li)

"Nothing much, just a hobby of mine. ... Okay maybe I found some ancient pills... and maybe I found some pill recipe to go along with it. But the pills will be for my personal use only. I'm not lacking funds. I'm just here to advance my knowledge in alchemy." (Kwangsoo)

"Well that's reasonable. I will agree to this deal then. And don't mind me asking, are you a professional assassin? I couldn't sense your presence even now. How are you doing it?" (Nie Li)

"Well, sorry to break it to you. I'm not an assassin. I just like to stay low key that's all. I'm not like you offending everyone and make myself a target. You should think about that. And secondly, everyone has their secrets. I know your hiding it too. I also know how special this piece of page is. It almost killed me when the energies attacked me. But it's useless for me. So I'm making it as the payment for the deal." (Kwangsoo)

"Okay, I'll get it done by tomorrow. And another thing. After the deal is done, can you give me a recommendation to take the alchemy exams. I heard you aced it." (Nie Li)

"No problem, I'll even recommend you to take the master's exam. My teacher said I cam go straight to masters since my knowledge is more than him, but I declined. I told him I had to stay low key. Don't want to be the youngest in anything again. I might get a hit on me for being special." (Kwangsoo)

"Okay deal! See you tomorrow Kwangsoo!" (Nie Li)

Nie Li left with a copy of ancient literature book. He headed towards the hunting ground to meet up with his friends.

Kwangsoo then went to steal some groceries and came home.

"Welcome home master!" (All servants)

"Hey everyone, good to be home. Ming, how is the status of the walls and inscriptions?" (Kwangsoo)

"Everything is done master. Also you have an invitation from the divine family patriarch." (Ming)

"So those sons of b*tches want to meet me huh. Okay, let them know i will visit on the weekend." (Kwangsoo)

He then went to his room and meditated. The heavenly Qilin cultivation is pretty good. He advanced to gold rank right away.

"Now that I have a superior cultivation technique, it's time to merge with the shadow devil." (Kwangsoo)

He took out the lamp and released the inscription. The shadow devil tried to escape but using his spiritual force, he caught it and deliver it into his forehead to merge it with his spirit. The process taken him an hour to stabilize.

When he opened his eyes, some parts of him was invisible. He also notice his cultivation jumped once again. It went up to 3 star gold rank. Then he also noticed all the black gunk all over his body. The smell was by far the smelliest thing he have ever smelled. It made sh*t smell amazing.

He took a bathe almost 3 times to get the smell of and also burned the clothes.

The next day he came to class, everyone was looking at him. After the cleansing, his looks went through the roof. He is now one of the handsomest man in Glory City.

That day was the first time he had nightmares. The girls and women in town look at him like a piece of meat. He had chills in his spine several times a day. His table was full of love letters and marriage request after lunch. The guys look at him at envy and at the same time thanking that it's not them. Cause there were ugly girl stalkers and obsessive fangirls.

One more thing he found out. Using the heavenly lightning Qilin cultivation also enhances his brain. You can say it supercharged his brain to have photographic memory. All the books he read stayed in his brain. Although he can store the knowledge, his comprehension is still a little above average.

He met Nie Li later after school and exchanged the translated book with the temporal demon book page. And as soon as Nie Li held the page, the aura of the page attacked Nie Li.

Nie Li quickly went on a meditative state. While he was meditating, his friends around him guarded him from external force trying to disturb hid cultivation. Kwangsoo was also pushed away by Du Ze.

"It's okay. Our deal is done anyways. Tell him thanks again. I'll be heading towards the alchemy association. Tell him to let me know when he wants to take the test for alchemist. I'll even escort him to the test center." (Kwangsoo)

"Thank you for understanding." As Du Ze bowed respectfully.

Kwangsoo headed to the alchemy association to do his quota. While Nie Li was advancing rapidly. He broke through bronze rank 1 star, but kept going ....2 star.... 3 star.... 4 star.... then stopped. Nie Li opened his eyes.

"Hahaha, that was exhilarating. I almost breakthrough 5 star rank. Just need to push more. I'll probably hit it over the weekend." (Nie Li)

"Glad to hear that. Oh, Kwangsoo said to let him know when you gonna take the test." (Du Ze)

"Maybe after the assessment are over. I'm in no hurry to be an alchemist yet. There's still the ruins and stabilizing my foundation." (Nie Li)

Meanwhile, Kwangsoo went in his alchemy room. The room was filled with herbs. He just sent it all in his inventory and pulled out the ready made pills. He sat down the couch and reviewed the translated ancient book. It all went into his head. And at the same time translated the other book in his head. He started to picture the miscellaneous pills he found in the emperor Kong's tomb. He have an abundance of pill supply of all Nie Li's pill

He started to sort out and organize all the pills in his inventory. He also translated the scrolls he found in the tomb. There were other cultivation that was right for him.

He found the cultivation technique Divine Pulse. Which was used by Emperor Tian Yuan and Long Yuyin. But he can't practice it until he reach the heavenly fate realm. He needs the power of law of the heavens. He also need the law of earth, life and death.

But first, he ingested several scarlet body enhancing pills. This pills will strengthen the body to legend rank faster. But on the downside, it was painful as hell.

"Aaarrrrggghhhh!!!! Fuuu*****kkk my life this hurts!! Uuuuuuuuuggghhhhh.. Sssshhhh*******ttt!!!" (Kwangsoo)

He was screaming for hours on end. The room was protected by a soundproof inscription. Since pill making may sometimes have their furnace explode.

When the pain subsided, he probably cough up almost a liter of blood. Black goo escaped from his skin again which made him stink like hell. He took a bathtub from his inventory and filled it with soapy water and took a bathe. Afterwards, he stored the bathe water and dirty clothes in his inventory for later disposal.

His body strength is now at 4 star black gold rank.

He then took several soul enhancing pills.

- Soul assembling pill

- Soul nurturing pill

- Soul concentration pill

- Soul temper pill

This increased his soul force.

(BOOM!)

His spiritual pressure soar once again. 4 star... 5 star gold rank... (boom!) ..... 1 star black gold rank then it stopped.

"Alright! My body's strength is 4 stars and spiritual force is at 1 star black gold rank. (sigh) I'm still not ready to go to the abyss prison realm. Those silver wing family will beat my a** silly. Gotta reach legend rank first." (Kwangsoo)

He then went home to stabilize his foundation. He is only lacking experience of fighting.

"Maybe I should join a dojo or something. I'm a dumba** when it come to martial arts." (Kwangsoo)

He also practiced his void form which he can turn invincible for an hour the longest. Any more than an hour, he will feel some painful backlash.

On the weekend, he was preparing to visit the divine family patriarch through the received invitation. At the same time, the son of the patriarch Chen Linjian was gathering people for the expedition towards the old holy orchid ruins.