Misery: There is a pawn shop here

Chapter 194 Blood Moon and Tears of the Sun

The towering pillar stood like a blade, piercing the clouds. At its top, a vortex of illusions churned with a faint blue light, seemingly both alluring and mocking. As the first rays of dawn swept across the pillar, the martial arts enthusiasts who had already flocked there surged towards the entrance like a tidal wave.

The limit of one hundred people was reached in the blink of an eye. Gold hairpins and jade pendants clattered to the ground, and incomplete sword manuals fluttered in the air. Some even gripped the wrists of their relatives and friends, shouting in hoarse voices, "Use kinship as collateral to exchange for a chance!" Yuan'er and Xiao both recorded the pawned items expressionlessly, the rustling sound of their fingertips tracing the jade slips creating an eerie resonance with the frenzy of the crowd.

Without exception, after the first day, many people who had paid a price to climb the Heavenly Pillar to make transactions soon returned to its base. They passed the word around and found that their experiences had differed the moment they entered the illusion.

Whether they fight against evil, do good, or struggle to the death, or experience birth, aging, sickness, and death, without exception, no one can get past that hurdle. Such an outcome was entirely within the expectations of all parties involved.

The pawnshop's release of the five divine artifacts was undoubtedly intended to attract more people to trade and pawn items. If the five artifacts were taken on the first day, wouldn't that defeat the purpose? In the following days, there was a constant stream of people trying to complete the challenge, some even to the point of obsession, but all their efforts were in vain.

"This result is not surprising at all."

As dusk settled over Ping Mountain, the aroma of medicine filled the bamboo building. Mu Shaoai stood with his hands behind his back before the medicine furnace. With a flick of his sleeve, his moon-white sleeves billowed, and the charcoal fire beneath the furnace suddenly turned from crimson to bluish-green. The white mist rising from the cauldron condensed into a lotus shadow in mid-air.

"So, Mu Shaoai, when do we start?" Qin Jiaxian directed his two underlings as they squatted by the stove, poking at the firewood, their red noses still smudged with ash.

Mu Shaoai shook his head, looked at the medicine furnace beside him, and with a flick of his sleeve, the fire beneath the furnace changed.

“Those who are currently involved are all ordinary martial artists. The barriers they have set up will not be easily broken. What we need to guard against are still the Otherworld and the Pit of Sin. As long as they do not make any moves, we do not need to take action.” Mu Shaoai said, “We can take this opportunity to refine medicine and pills for Yunren. As long as Yunren is no longer affected by his special physique and can exert his full strength, it will also be beneficial to us.”

"While what you said isn't entirely wrong," Qin Jiaxian said, scratching his head somewhat dejectedly, "it's just that if that Yama Drought Demon from the Otherworld really succeeds..."

"We cannot stop Yama Hanba from getting involved in this unless we intend to make enemies of that pawnshop."

Before Qin Jiaxian could finish speaking, Mu Shaoai interrupted him. This situation on the Tongtian Pillar was a steady stream of business for Youjian Pawnshop, so naturally they wouldn't allow anyone to interfere with it. Even the righteous sects of the Central Plains were unwilling to provoke the pawnshop at this time.

As for the five divine artifacts, Mu Shaoai admitted that there was an element of gambling involved, but at this moment, facing everyone, he had to be able to show enough confidence.

"Don't worry, we have limited information right now. Although Yama Hanba seems reckless and hasty, she won't easily put herself in danger. In this stalemate, time is on our side. There is one more thing that I need you to pay close attention to."

"Just tell me what it is, and I'll definitely get it done," Qin Jiaxian said, patting his chest.

"Regarding Tan Wuyu, there has been no news of him since he left to investigate the Blood Moon and Tears of the Sun. You need to keep a close eye on him," Mu Shaoai said. The imbalance of Yin and Yang energies in the world is intensifying, and the battle with the Otherworldly Demon Realm cannot be slowed down. However, the matter of the Blood Moon and Tears of the Sun phenomenon has also reached a point where it must be dealt with.

……

“Tan Wuyu.” Inside a pawnshop, Li Xuanxiao raised an eyebrow slightly as he looked at Tan Wuyu across from him.

As the first pawnshop agent, Tan Wuyu's pawned items were limited to gold and silver. Even so, Tan Wuyu's speed of accumulating transactions was extraordinary. It can only be said that he was worthy of being called the talented Yue Zi. He quickly figured out this logic.

Whether it's gathering intelligence or collecting clues, such a tedious process is less worthwhile than accumulating points through trading and exchanging them at the pawn shop for what you need.

Li Xuanxiao understood that Tan Wuyu was treating him like an NPC.

However, he wasn't against this approach. After all, while Yue Caizi might make a fortune, Youjian Pawnshop never lost money. "Now that the points are complete, the shopkeeper should be able to explain the origin of the Blood Moon Tears Sun phenomenon and the solution to it, as agreed."

That day, reminded by Lian Emei, Tan Wuyu broke away from the righteous path and began investigating the Blood Moon Tears of the Sun incident. However, Tan Wuyu quickly realized that since a pawnshop claimed to pawn everything, information about the Blood Moon Tears of the Sun could also be traded there. After gaining Li Xuanxiao's approval, Tan Wuyu temporarily put the investigation aside and focused on trading to accumulate points.

"Don't worry, Youjian Pawnshop has always been based on integrity. I believe you already know about the Red Tide incident," Li Xuanxiao said leisurely.

"Hmm." Tan Wuyu nodded.

The red tide mentioned by Li Xuanxiao was the manifestation of the Blood Moon and the Tearful Sun. After the Golden Crow fell to the ground and caused turmoil, a strange place emerged from the depression where the sun had fallen. Along with the appearance of the red tide, strange venomous insects also caused harm.

"The appearance of the Tearful Sun and Blood Moon is due to the change in gravity caused by spatial anomalies, which also affects the earth's veins. I believe you have also observed that the imbalance of Yin and Yang energies in heaven and earth is becoming more and more serious. To dismantle the Tearful Sun, three lands need to be destroyed."

"Three places?" Tan Wuyu asked hurriedly upon hearing this, "May I ask which three places?"

"The City of Immortality, the Purple Palace Family, and the Hall of Longevity of the Mysterious Age—each of these three locations contains a point corresponding to the ominous stars of the Three Stars."

"Hmm? May I ask about the Blood Moon?"

"The Blood Moon arises from the Red Tide and the Sea of ​​Blood. To eliminate the Blood Moon, we only need to trace back to its origin."

"Then how do you intend to destroy the Blood Moon?"

"The water surges three thousand feet high, and the waves roll for a hundred miles."

"What does this mean?"

"The solution has been provided; your time has come."

Li Xuanxiao said calmly, "Talented Yue, your brain will rust if you don't use it."

"Wow, motivation is much easier than using your brain."

Although he didn't get all the answers, Tan Wuyu felt no regret. The information revealed by the pawnshop had already saved him a lot of time. All he needed to do next was target the three key locations and decipher the meaning of the phrase "The water rises three thousand feet high, and the waves roll for a hundred miles."

"I would like to thank the shopkeeper for his tolerance and assistance. Now that the transaction is completed, I should take my leave."

"Hey, why must you leave in such a hurry, Yue Caizi?"

"Ok?"

"A good show is going on at the Heavenly Pillar. Would the talented Moon Scholar be interested in watching it together?"

(End of this chapter)