Welcome to the Bizarre Games

Chapter 454 Inventory and Return

—Wait, how did our perfectly good collection of supernatural tales suddenly turn into a cultivation story?

Zhou You was stunned for a while, then patted the altar hard.

"No, what do you mean? Can you explain it to me?"

The altar remained unresponsive, as if it were a dead object.

Seeing this, the person could only turn back to look at the other side of the statue—

The statue remained silent, as if it were merely a clay puppet.

"Okay, I guess we'll have to wait until we get to the script again to find out. Shall we get to the regular process?"

The altar remained silent for a long time before finally responding.

"The script is finished. Let's begin the statistics and settlement."

"The player killed the last member of the Corpse-Driving Clan, completely eradicating this lineage, and obtained 300 Soul Stones."

"Players in Da Chong's 'Haining City' kill the notorious evil cultivator Blood Infant Ancestor from the North and obtain 200 Soul Stones."

"Players in Da Chong's 'Haining City' slay the notorious evil cultivator from the North, the Soul Devouring Demon Lord, and obtain 250 Soul Stones."

"Players in Da Chong's 'Haining City' slay the notorious evil cultivator Thousand-Faced Yin Puppet from the North and obtain 150 Soul Stones."

"Players in Da Chong's 'Haining City' kill the notorious evil cultivator Xuan Sha Gui Lao from the North and obtain 200 Soul Stones."

"."

The preceding statistics were mostly of minor figures, many of whom were those who had been scheming and dying in the ghost town. However, all of them added up to a considerable sum.

After completing the statistics, we finally got to the main topic.

Players who help the inheritor 'Feng Qianlin' fulfill his last wish will receive an additional 2000 Soul Stones.

"Players personally slay Yu Sanzhi, the 'King of the North,' restoring decades of peace to the North and gaining an additional 1500 Soul Stones, as well as some accumulated Faith and Wish."

"The player indirectly caused the annihilation of a Qing army unit in Chahar, leaving the Qing Dynasty with no more usable troops, thus ending the path to the resurgence of Zhang Xun, the 'Pigtail General,' and earning an additional 1000 Soul Stones."

"Players will personally kill the obsession of Empress Dowager Cixi, annihilate the last resistance of the Qing Dynasty, and obtain an additional 8000 Soul Stones."

"The player has achieved the 'meritorious service' of the Three Immortals, thus completing the second stage of the Immortal Journey and obtaining additional Soul Stones."

"10000 points!"

Hearing the final number, Zhou You was stunned for a long time.

He originally thought that killing Empress Dowager Cixi was the main purpose of this trip—after all, her name was well-known throughout China. But why was he being rewarded so much for this achievement?
"And when I achieved the Three Immortals last time, I only had a little over 5000 points. How come this time it's doubled?"

After racking his brains for a long time, Zhou You still couldn't come up with any clues, so he could only scratch his head and decide to put the matter aside for now.

Next comes the much-anticipated shopping segment.

However, at this moment, the black book gave him another surprise.

"Due to the high completion rate of players, most of the redemption privileges will be opened this time."

Players can exchange for the skills of all the people they encounter and are related to in this scenario (excluding special units), but the types of skills that can be exchanged and the skill levels are related to the reputation between that person and you.

What do you mean?
Zhou You was a little confused about what the Black Book was up to, so he casually clicked on a phantom image in front of him.

As luck would have it, it was the afterimage of Yu Sanzhi.

The book in mid-air flipped through a few pages, then displayed several lines of text.

"Yu Sanzhi, a native of Shouyang, Shanxi, whose original name was Yu Huatian, was abandoned by his parents when he was young. He was later adopted by Jin Yuankai, the leader of the righteous beggars, but due to being consumed by evil thoughts, he eventually betrayed his family and left."

These are all introductions to the characters' lives and backgrounds, so Zhou You will skip them.

The following is a list of his abilities.

Unlike the previous few scattered examples, this list actually includes all of them.

"Mourning Stick Technique"

Pollution level: High

Grade: Purple

"Effect: When a player inherits this staff technique, vengeful spirits will attack simultaneously when the player uses it. However, the abilities and levels of these vengeful spirits are closely related to the innocent people the player has harmed."

Originally a beggar's stick technique, it was later modified by Yu Sanzhi into a vile and evil method.

"Please note that due to your and Yu Sanzhi's low reputation, the corrosive effect of this staff technique has intensified. You will suffer the pain of a wronged soul dying every three days (originally every two months)."

"Soul Stones required for exchange: 6000 points (Price increases due to low reputation)"

"The Heart Mantra of the Corrupted Firefly"

Pollution level: High

Grade: Silver

"Effect: By planting granulation tissue, a part of oneself can be parasitized on another person. The practitioner can use this granulation tissue to observe the parasite and its surroundings at any time, and can also influence the parasite's actions to a certain extent. After the parasite dies, the practitioner can also briefly manipulate its corpse for a period of time."

"Take one hundred corpses and feed them with various poisons and evil substances, then seal them into the body of a living person and nurture them for forty-nine days. Finally, implant them into one's own spine; only then can one cultivate this method."

"Please note that due to your low reputation with Yu Sanzhi, the corruption of this spell has intensified. Every time you cast the spell, you must sacrifice a newborn baby."

"Soul Stones required for exchange: 19000 points (Price increases due to low reputation)"

"Thousand-Eyed Weapon Festival"

Pollution level: Extremely high

Grade: Unknown

"This is a secret technique for transcending tribulation; it can only be obtained and used once."

"The ritual steps are as follows: the left eyes of one hundred people are gouged out and embedded in a clay Buddha statue; the *Reversed Lotus Sutra* is recited for nine days and nights; and human blood and entrails are fed to them for three years. Only after this process can the 'Vajra of Disorder and Power' be invoked to appear in the world."

"Effect: When fatally injured, one can use the power of the Vajra of Might to detach half of one's flesh and blood, and use it to escape from the enemy by wrapping the soul. However, the subsequent reshaping will be based on the remaining flesh and blood, so the body shape will inevitably change drastically and the strength will be greatly reduced."

"The tribulation-crossing secret technique that Yu Sanzhi obtained from the exchange with the Heavenly Demon after destroying the Divination Sect was extremely costly, but it was still equivalent to a second life."

"Please note that because your reputation with Yu Sanzhi is too low, the erosion caused by this method is more severe. The flesh and blood you detach will not be half, but only one-sixth."

"Soul Stones required for exchange: 56000 points (Price increases due to low reputation)"

This list, which includes all sorts of factors, provides a comprehensive overview of slope lengths.

Moreover, Zhou You noticed something else.

—The proficiency level of all abilities is calculated based on Yu Sanzhi himself.

In other words, if he could replace it, then he would be equivalent to another Northern King existing in the world!

However, he immediately pursed his lips.

"Unfortunately, this guy already hates me to the core, so almost all of them are negative options with extremely low reputation, and we can't... wait a minute."

Zhou You suddenly paused, startled.

The Black Book doesn't give you meaningless stuff; it provides itself with such a long list and specifically reminds itself of reputation.
He suddenly remembered something.

Before starting this script, Black Book had specifically reminded himself of one sentence.

People always need to have some goals, choose their purpose carefully, and not go astray.

On the surface, this is about making careful choices.

But to put it another way...
Does this also represent another possibility?
Zhou You sat cross-legged on the ground, frowned, and started counting on his fingers.

"Let's leave aside the first three beginner scenarios. Starting from the fourth one, it seems that every time I enter the Black Book, it gives me two paths. When it's about Buddha's Heart, I can completely help the old monk and let Maitreya complete his sermon. The rewards afterward probably won't be too bad. When it's about exterminating evil, the Thick Earth Sect has been trying to win me over from the beginning. I reckon if I keep doing this, I'll eventually end up helping Xie Anming."

The voice paused for a moment, then returned to the script that had just finished.

"Wan Yuan seems to have only one path, but if he doesn't become Li Laotou's apprentice at the beginning, given Yu Sanzhi's influence in the north, it would be easy for him to join his ranks. After that, things will be completely reversed. He will participate in the siege of Feng Erye, join the Qing Dynasty to fight against the Allied Forces, and may even have to face the two major sects, Shangqing and Maoshan, head-on later."

Ultimately, Zhou You reached a conclusion.

"I'm just a person who enjoys himself, and with the influence of Master Duxin and Uncle Xuanyuan, I chose to fight against demons and monsters all the way. But if I were the kind of ruthless and vicious guy, I could still take that ruthless path. But the problem is..."

His gaze lowered, turning to the black book in his arms.

"Isn't this thing meant to fight that extraterrestrial demon? Why does it provide this kind of route and even try to lure me into taking it in many ways?" However, the black book remained silent.

Finally, Zhou You could only shake his head and turn to something else.

Yu Sanzhi's reputation towards him is hatred, Chahara's reputation towards him is hatred, and Empress Dowager Cixi's obsession with him is also hatred—aside from the Water Heaven Buddha who is not on the exchange list, these three are cursed too strongly to be exchanged at all.

As for those evil sects in the north, their opinions ranged from hatred to mild disgust. To Zhou You's surprise, Madam Li's reputation towards him was actually neutral—unfortunately, most of the things in the brothel were tailor-made for women, and the rest were just prostitutes selling hooks, which he could hardly use.

And there's a lot left over.

Old Li and his group all had the highest reputation with him, but none of their items had any additional curses, and they even suffered broken bones. There were also a bunch of random people from all walks of life who were just there for show. After he killed Shui Tianfo, his reputation was basically maxed out, and there was more.
"Ok?"

While flipping through the pages, Zhou You suddenly scratched his head.

"Where did Cang Le and Han Lu's exchange list go?"

Someone thought they had missed something, so they searched again.

The result was the same—there was none at all.

"Putting aside Hanlu, that girl is shrouded in mystery. She's probably a remnant of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and part of Shi Dakai's group. But is Cang Le also a special NPC? That shouldn't be the case. What makes this guy so special?"

Zhou You tugged at his hair for a long time, but finally decided to give up.

"Forget it, they're out of the script anyway, and I probably won't see them again. Whatever problems they have are none of my business."

Putting that aside, we come back to the fundamental issue.

With the big reward for meritorious service, I now have nearly 30,000 soul stones in my possession, so deciding how and what to buy is indeed a difficult decision.

After much deliberation and reviewing all the other reputations that were roughly equal, Zhou You chose the first one.

Unexpectedly, it wasn't Old Man Li's group, but the feng shui master next to Yuan Chengwen.

Having only met him a few times, Zhou You was neutral about his reputation, but he only valued two things about him.

"Nine Palaces Dragon-Suppressing Inscription"

Pollution level: Low to medium.

Grade: Unknown

This book contains secret teachings on finding dragons. Although it is not the primary cultivation method, its level of corruption is not severe. The methods progress from simple to complex, step by step, and include annotations from past masters. It can be used to find dragons and observe their energy, and to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune.

"Combined with a curse: Eight Calamities."

"In Feng Shui, there is a saying of eight calamities, which are divided into wealth calamity, fortune calamity, romance calamity, life calamity, death calamity, etc. Those who practice this method will immediately encounter this calamity."

"5000 points are required for redemption."

"Dragon-patterned double-ringed jade pendant".

Grade: Orange

"Effect: Increases the wearer's luck, and when the wearer is affected by an 'inevitable calamity,' this jade pendant will automatically shatter to avert the calamity for the wearer."

"Six auspicious jade ornaments were made to represent the various states."

"6000 points are required for redemption."

He switched books because there are many useful things in the Feng Shui school, which can save him from falling into many pitfalls. Originally, he wanted to switch to the Divination school, but unfortunately, most of the other Divination schools among the Nine Schools are useless, and the old man he ambushed in the woods and his reputation are enemies, so he could only settle for this one.

As for the jade pendant...
Those who know, know. Luck may seem elusive, but it can be a matter of life and death in crucial moments, not to mention it can also ward off disasters.

The next choice is Old Man Li.

He didn't plan to exchange for any of the deeper cultivation techniques from the White Gate. Firstly, he wasn't particularly talented in those things, and secondly, he couldn't bear the five deficiencies and three lacks that came with mastering them. So this time, he opted for more functional techniques.

"Yin-Yang Dispersal"

"Pollution level: Low".

"Rank: Unknown".

This book is divided into two parts. The first part, representing Yang, contains the methods for preparing ritual implements and establishing ceremonies. The second part, representing Yin, contains the methods for summoning spirits and deities and for bribing and controlling them.

"The accompanying curse: Five Deficiencies and Three Shortages - because it overlaps with the player's 'Money Shortage' curse, it is no longer effective."

"4000 points required for redemption (after discount)"

"Substitute paper figures (three)"

"Consumables."

"Rank: Purple".

"Effect: This paper doll can be manually activated. When activated, it will appear where the user was originally located, and the user will be teleported to another random location within 100 meters."

"Don't look at it, it's watching you."

Points required for redemption: 1000 points (after discount)

Money comes fast and goes fast; in just a few days, 16,000 silver dollars were gone. As for the rest...
Zhou You only took a liking to two things.

It was naturally a ten-thousand-foot sword—but it was slightly different from the one he had received from Feng Qianlin.

"Ten Thousand Ren"

Grade: Orange

"Effect 1: This sword has two inherent attributes: fragility (doubles durability consumption) and ancient sword sharpness (greatly increases sharpness)."

"Effect 2: This place is made of Xuanluo Iron and can accommodate multiple magical powers without causing any conflict."

Effect 3: This sword once blinded a fallen Buddha, thus gaining two additional attributes.

"Godslayer: The damage to divine beings is greatly enhanced and will not be limited by the Dharma Realm."

"Hun Yuan: When the durability of this sword drops to 0, it will not be damaged, but will turn into a purple short sword of the same attribute. After a period of time, it will be restored to its original state."

"Exchange points: 4000 points (after discount)"

The sword is divided into two parts, one called Jingyang and the other Wanren. This is one aspect. If one can obtain the other aspect, the two swords can be combined and become one.

As for the last item, even among all the redeemable items, its price is among the highest.

Even after the discount, it still has a price exceeding ten thousand.

Moreover, the origin of this thing is something most people would never guess.

—It was none other than Wei Wunian from the Hun Dao Sect!
"The Big Dipper Celestial Star Tempering Method".

Grade: Red

"Pollution level: None."

"Effect: The method of guiding the stars allows one to nourish weapons with one's own blood essence. If it is a knife, it will be imbued with the killing aura of the Breaking Army, making it invincible under the blade's light. If it is a sword, its sharpness will be tamed, and it can eventually be transformed into a flying sword, which can be wielded at will."

This is a section from the Xuan Yuan Tai Xu Ascension Technique, which happened to fall into the hands of the Hun Dao Sect's patriarch. He modified it, discarding its essence and retaining its dross, forcibly transforming it into the Hun Dao Sect's fundamental technique. This is truly a case of casting pearls before swine, a waste of precious resources.

Exchange Points: 12000 (after discount)

"This is one of the fundamental mental techniques of Taoism. Although it is incomplete, it will not be contaminated or cursed."

When everything was settled and Zhou You returned from the Black Book, the first thing he saw was a peaceful scene.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, bathing the small, dilapidated rented room in a warm and peaceful light that illuminated the dust in the air, creating a hazy, dreamlike effect.

The sounds of cooking, cats meowing, and television programs mingled together in my ears, creating a chaotic yet surprisingly calming atmosphere.

It was as if everything that happened in that abyss was just a dream.

After some time, a small head suddenly peeked out from the kitchen.

When she saw Zhou You, she was slightly taken aback, but quickly realized what was happening and pointed to the table.

Zhou You laughed, brushed off the dust from his clothes, sat down in a chair, and then, looking at all the familiar scenery, uttered those words with a sigh.

"I"

"came back."

(End of this chapter)