The staff was over a meter long, all black with a layer of gilded light on its surface, and it had some embossments in the same black color that could only be seen clearly upon close inspection.
Just looking at this object conveyed one impression, expensive!
It was an E-grade time-limited prop awarded for a perfect completion on one's first visit to the secret realm.
It was only for seven days.
After seven days, the prop would be reclaimed.
'Prop Name': First Show of Sharpness.
'Prop Level': E-grade.
'Prop Effect': Can ignore the restriction that only one occupational weapon can be crafted.
'Prop Restriction': None.
'Prop Source': There is a small chance to obtain this prop when a player perfectly completes the secret realm on their first visit, and it can only be acquired in this way. Once obtained, it will be bound forcefully, cannot be traded, cannot be gifted, and other Supernatural Profession Players cannot use it if obtained.
'Prop Description': "This prop is the glory given to a genius young man who reveals his edge fully on his first entry into the secret realm! Whether you are a transient genius or an unstoppable one is for you to decide."
'PS: If the prop holder ranks in the top 500 of any Fengtian City leaderboard within seven days, the prop will be retained, and its rank will be promoted; otherwise, the prop will be reclaimed.'
This prop was one of his biggest gains this time.
The effect of the prop, which allowed him to ignore the restriction that only one occupational weapon could be crafted, instantly eradicated his idea of selling the materials acquired from the secret realm for credit points. Instead, he decided to buy another 'Fox-Tail Grass' and craft another 'Python R6 Revolver'.
Become a dual-wielding Li Xiangyang!
The sense of security from two guns was always better than just one.
But there was a risk, if he failed to enter the top 500 of any Fengtian leaderboard within seven days, it meant not only would the staff prop be reclaimed, but the second 'Python R6 Revolver' he crafted would also be taken back - a loss of both his wife and his troops.
Busting into the top 500 of the Fengtian leaderboard was not an easy task.
Decades of transcendentalization had almost solidified the classes in this world; no one in the top 500 of any Fengtian City leaderboard was a nobody, all were influential figures.
Toppling these people and finding a place for oneself was hard.
But there were still chances; he would see which leaderboard was easier to climb after he got back tonight.
It was already 10 pm.
They had entered the secret realm at 10 am, and after 12 hours, they left at 10 pm, with the time inside the realm synchronized 1:1 with the outside world.
...
Soon—
Chen Miao, accompanied by Hungry Monkey, walked into the urban area and returned to the barbecue stall they had visited the day before, which was Hungry Monkey's favorite.
Generous portions, cheap, and filling.
Hungry Monkey had a large appetite, which made him wonder for a long time if Hungry Monkey took a long time in the bathroom.
But this time was somewhat different from the usual; as they had just sat down and before they even had a chance to order, they heard an exclamation from nearby.
"Boss Chen!"
"..."
This voice sounded somewhat familiar. Hearing it, Chen Miao's expression changed slightly, and he instinctively prepared to leave with Hungry Monkey.
That voice belonged to the owner of the clinic.
If nothing else, Doctor Gou from that clinic probably already had someone come seeking revenge today, and he must be holding a grudge in his heart. He might be looking for revenge at this very moment, and by coincidence, they ran into each other at the barbecue stall.
Talk about a small world, indeed!
I'll never come to this BBQ stand again, the feng shui here is terrible. Why do I always run into people I shouldn't?
"Eh?"
Perhaps seeing Chen Miao starting to walk away, Doctor Gou, dressed in his white lab coat, quickly hurried forward to block his path, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice, "I mean, Boss Chen, didn't we agree that you would come in again for a day today?"
"Where were you today?"
"I waited for you all day and you didn't show, but I, Doctor Gou, am a man of my word. I said I'd give you the entire surplus of the Big Sunflower Andrology Clinic's 24-hour revenue minus costs and profits, and I won't go back on that."
"We had three more skinning cases today, and I practiced the method you taught, Boss Chen. It works nicely."
"Here, this is the 18,000 credit points you're supposed to get today."
"You can rest assured, Boss Chen, ask around about me, Doctor Gou, and you'll find I never do a sloppy job."
"..."
Chen Miao was a bit bewildered as he took out his hand that he had subconsciously stuffed into his pocket and fell into a strange silence, glancing at Hungry Monkey next to him who had already opened his wristwatch to receive the transfer with the payment code, hesitated for a moment before tentatively asking, "No one came to make a fuss?"
"Oh, there was!"
Doctor Gou nodded seriously, gesturing towards a nearby alley, "Come over here!"
A group of about fifteen black-suited men, each with a bruised face resembling a chastised child, obediently came out of the alley and stood behind Doctor Gou. These people were clearly the same ones Chen had seen at the BBQ stand the night before.
These were the same ones who had vowed to seek vengeance the next day.
The man at the forefront, their very first client, was also the man Chen had met at the BBQ stand the night before, his face seething with anger.
"Umm..."
Now the man standing behind Doctor Gou, his eyes filled with a mix of respect, awe, and a touch of helplessness, said, "Three years ago, the Sword Emperor who was ranked 48th in Fengtian City's combat power listing, suddenly vanished without a trace and never showed his face to the public again."
"It wasn't like no one speculated that the Sword Emperor might have met his end, but as long as his name didn't disappear from the rankings, it meant he was still among the living."
"It's just that there has been not the slightest change in his combat power, and there were no changes on other rankings as well. Later, everyone guessed that the Sword Emperor must have mistakenly entered a secret realm and got trapped there, unable to escape."
"Over the years, with the pursuit of newcomers, the Sword Emperor's ranking has fallen to 178th on Fengtian City's combat power listing."
"But who would have known, the Sword Emperor wasn't trapped in a secret realm but had instead opened an andrology clinic and become the chief surgeon himself."
"I knew there was something about the way the Sword Emperor wielded that scalpel. It was so decisive."
At this, the man's face even showed a hint of wistful sentimentality, "To be personally 'skinned' by the Sword Emperor himself is an honor for someone like me, Yuan. 8,888 credit points is not at all expensive. Many people would be willing to pay that to seize such a good fortune."
As he finished speaking.
Chen Miao and Hungry Monkey faced each other expressionlessly, falling into silence.
"..."
"..."
Meanwhile, Chen Miao immediately pulled up the Fengtian City's combat power listing and at the 178th spot, he saw a familiar name.
'Fengtian City Combat Power Ranking 178': Doctor Gou, lv18 Sword Emperor.
Well, that's interesting.
Chen Miao silently leaned on his cane, for a moment unsure of how to break the awkward situation. It seemed he had... swindled a legendary character with a lv18 Sword Emperor Profession?
Is the world really this perilous?
You're so powerful and you don't go save the world, but run an andrology clinic instead?