Misery: There is a pawn shop here

Chapter 120 Change of Color and Tone
To investigate the true nature of the Demon Realm, Jianzi Xianji, Tan Wuyu, and Mu Shaoai traveled swiftly to the Northern Martial World, outside the Vast Ocean Primitive Forest.

From afar, Jianzi and Tan Wuyu frowned deeply. The demonic energy of the Vast Ocean Primitive Forest could be seen from a distance, which explained why Ren Chenfu had investigated this place; it was indeed attracting too much attention.

At this moment, Ren Chenfu's expression changed and he said, "This is something else. When I came to Hanhai last time, the demonic energy was not this terrifying. I never expected it to be on such a scale now."

"From this perspective, the gate to the Otherworld might indeed be located within it." Sword Immortal Traces gazed at the primeval forest and said, "In that case, Pharmacist, you stay on the outer perimeter while I go in to investigate."

Mu Shaoai reached out and grabbed the sword, shaking his head. "The Vast Sea Primeval Forest is a dangerous place. Even just scouting the outer perimeter without geographical knowledge is quite risky. Moreover, the Demon Realm's strongholds were greatly hindered even if they weren't hidden. Now, the demonic energy within the Vast Sea is so strong that it can be sensed from afar, which is very different from before. Even if the Otherworldly Demon Realm didn't have any ambush plans there, they must have extremely dangerous protective measures. It's too dangerous to enter alone. Since we're only scouting the outer perimeter today, it's enough to confirm the target. We can gather everyone to attack later."

“Yes,” Ren Chenfu also advised from the side, “The pharmacist is right. Going in alone is too risky. The message I sent back was just a conjecture. We must not let anyone be injured because of me, otherwise Ren Chenfu will be guilty of a great crime.”

"Sir, you are too modest. In these turbulent times, there are few people as kind-hearted as you who are willing to work for the common people. Mu Shaoai thanks you."

Seeing that Mu Shaoai was about to bow, Ren Chenfu quickly stepped aside and shook his head repeatedly.

"Pharmacist, you are too modest. I, Ren Chenfu, am only of limited talent and knowledge. This is all I can do for everyone." Ren Chenfu said, "Now that the investigation is complete, let's leave as soon as possible to avoid alerting the enemy. We can gather everyone again later to make further plans."

Mu Shaoai nodded, and seeing this, Jian Zixianji also abandoned his idea of ​​venturing into the forest. After discussing it for a while, the three of them left.

Inside the Flame Demon City, the two Demon Lords, Guizhi and Mingjian, watched this scene, with Guizhi nodding in satisfaction.

"It seems that Ren Chenfu has initially gained the trust of the righteous path, and we will have the opportunity to obtain a steady stream of intelligence."

"We must not be careless," Mingjian warned. "Those people from the Bitter Realm are no ordinary individuals either."

"You're right. Damn it, it's all that pawnshop's fault. Otherwise, how could we be in such a passive position!"

The thought of the current state of the Demon Realm filled Guizhi with rage.

If the attack on the Holy Domain hadn't been intervened by Youjian Pawnshop, the Demon Realm would have won a great victory. At that time, with the Demon Lord resurrected, who in the Bitter Realm martial arts world could have resisted? Why would they be so cautiously switching to defense now?

"Although that person is despicable, the demonic heart is in his hands, so we must still find a way to take it back."

“You’re right.” Guizhi nodded. “I have an idea.”

"what?"

"By using his arrogant laughter to force the righteous path to make a deal with Youjian Pawnshop, he can retrieve the Demon Heart."

"Are you going to reveal that the Demon Realm did not take the Demon Heart?" Mingjian looked at Guizhi with surprise in his eyes. Wasn't this exposing their own weakness?
"The price to pay for the transaction with that pawnshop is extraordinary. Exchanging Ao Xiao Hongchen for it is ultimately beneficial to the Demon Realm. The righteous path cannot abandon Ao Xiao Hongchen. This is our advantage. We can write a letter and set a deadline. If the Demon Heart is not returned within the deadline, we will kill him. We can cripple Ao Xiao Hongchen's hands and feet and use the severed limbs to coerce him. Then we can let Ren Chenfu stir up public opinion in the martial arts world."

Guizhi had devised a series of schemes, and Mingjian pondered them again and again. The plan certainly had a chance of succeeding, but…

"What if the righteous path is unwilling to sacrifice trade and remain aloof from worldly affairs?"

"Then I will meet with the pawnshop owner myself."

At this moment, a voice rang out, and Guizhi and Mingjian bowed in unison. "Greetings, Queen."

"Please go ahead and do it, gentlemen."

Jiu Huo said loudly, "The Otherworldly Demon Realm still has me and the Zhu Emperor. With us as our support, let's do it."

"Yes."

Guizhi and Mingjian both agreed.

……

……

Li Xuanxiao, who was working at Youjian Pawnshop, did not witness this scene, but he could guess that because of his interference, the loss of the Demon Heart and the Eye of Anuruddha would inevitably cause both the righteous path and the demon realm a great headache.

As the pawnshop system further evolved, Li Xuanxiao also began to reflect on his past actions, especially his recent ones.

All along, within Li Xuanxiao's plan, there was a pawnshop that was supposed to be like a certain digital pawnshop in his memory, exploiting people's desires to harvest the pawners until they willingly traded everything they had.

He had always acted this way when facing famous warriors, lovers, and drummers, and even when trying to obtain Zhu Yan for the sake of Tunfo Tongzi's transaction, he never resorted to force.

He knew very well that although the pawnshop was a place for business, he did not want to become the complete controller of the pawnshop, a mere "shopkeeper" who only cared about completing transactions.

however……

"How could I have allowed someone to forcibly seize the Demon Heart?" Li Xuanxiao looked at his reflection in the tea in his cup. He still had the same face, but he realized now that his actions had gone astray.

"Moreover, even if I took the beauty of the Heartless Book as a pawn, its appearance should still be no different from that of an ordinary person. Why did I turn it into a female ghost with a distorted face?"

Are you influencing me? System...

No one knew or answered the suspicions in his heart. He had tested the system for self-awareness time and time again, but the result was always no. This was what reassured Li Xuanxiao.

But now, all that was a dream has been revealed, and it's been discovered that the system's origin is a fragment of the Myriad Realms Pawnshop, and its true owner even possesses a spiritual consciousness within it. So…

Was everything before just a dormant spiritual consciousness, or was it all a disguise?
In an instant, Li Xuanxiao felt a chill run down his spine.

Having come this far, is there any way back?
Li Xuanxiao didn't know, or even knew, whether his thoughts could be read by the system.

He thought he was the shadow, but then he realized he was Han Nuo.
Han Nuo's all-out resistance ultimately amounted to nothing more than being trapped in a bottle. What will become of him then?
"Even though I don't know if these are true or false, let's give it a try."

"There's no reason to sit idly by and wait for death. If things really come to a standstill, even a time traveler like me isn't lacking in the courage to perish together with the enemy."

(End of this chapter)