“Why do you want it?”
The man guarding the “Nine Provinces Sealing Manual” turned his gaze to Lian Xin, seemingly aware that it was this young girl who wanted to take the item on the table.
Lian Xin thought for a moment before answering.
“So that no one else can get it.”
Although this reason sounded a bit convoluted, it was her true intention. Only by taking it herself could she ensure that it wouldn’t be used for evil purposes.
[Nine Provinces Sealing Manual: A high-grade magical artifact crafted through mysterious methods, resembling a book. Its specific abilities are unknown.]
“So this thing isn’t a secret manual,” Tang Xin said, resting her chin on her hand after reading the system’s description. “It’s actually a magical artifact. So, the guy in front of us is its spirit?”
Whether it’s a spiritual artifact or a magical artifact, if its grade is high enough and it has been cultivated for a long time, combined with some fortuitous encounters, it can give birth to a unique being called an artifact spirit.
Artifact spirits are attached to magical or spiritual artifacts, enhancing their power and even assisting their owners in battle. If a spiritual artifact has an artifact spirit, its value can increase tenfold or even a hundredfold.
However, if an artifact spirit loses its original owner and becomes “free,” it won’t be easy for others to control it. At the very least, the new owner must gain the artifact spirit’s approval.
“You are not qualified.”
The artifact spirit responded bluntly.
What?
A dignified demonic fire seed doesn’t meet the requirements of a pure magical artifact?
“I know I’m not qualified,” Lian Xin said without showing any surprise. “But I still have to take you.”
If being soft doesn’t work, then be tough. She stepped forward, bypassed the man, and grabbed the book on the table.
“Hmph.”
The artifact spirit snorted coldly, and a black mist appeared on the table, transforming into a giant claw that firmly pinned Lian Xin’s hand.
“Your power is not enough to forcibly control me!”
Both sides were at a stalemate, but it was clear that the artifact spirit had the upper hand.
The two teammates nearby scratched their heads in confusion.
“What should we do now, meow?” A Miao twitched her mouth. “It seems very unwilling to go with us.”
“Let me think…”
Tang Xin pondered.
Lian Xin’s goal was to prevent the “Nine Provinces Sealing Manual” from falling into the wrong hands and causing disaster, so whether the artifact spirit agreed or not was not important to her.
In other words, if it could be done, destroying this demonic artifact was also an option?
That made things easier!
[Cloud Snatching Hand: Randomly takes an item from the target person.]
Tang Xin had been using the system for a while, and her attributes had changed quite a bit since the beginning.
In terms of skills, she had righteous ones like Five Elements Fist, upgraded Meow Meow Fist, Seven Lotus Steps, demonic ones like Bone Snatching Technique, Ten Thousand Insects Devouring Heart Hand, and auxiliary ones like Cloud Snatching Hand and Spirit Eye Technique. She also had specialties like Torture Interrogation and Dance Mastery.
She had only used Cloud Snatching Hand on Su Ling once, and the effect… well, let’s just say with more practice, she could get what she wanted.
“Aim,” Tang Xin pointed her palm at the book on the table and fully activated “Cloud Snatching Hand!”
In a flash of light, something appeared in her hand.
Another piece of lingerie…
“Why do I feel a chill…”
A Miao hugged her arms.
Hey, your aim is way off!
“One more time,” Tang Xin said, “Cloud Snatching Hand!”
A flash of light appeared again, and something new materialized in front of her.
A table…
“Come on, do something useful, Cloud Snatching Hand…”
The third flash of light, and Tang Xin finally got what she wanted in her hand.
Lian Xin and the artifact spirit both looked over.
“What kind of magical technique is this?” the girl exclaimed in surprise. “It can ignore suppression and forcibly retrieve items from a distance!”
“Hmph, do you think just taking it will help?” The artifact spirit snapped its fingers, and the pure white space was gradually swallowed by darkness. “This is the artifact spirit’s domain. Without my permission, no one can leave!”
“Really?” Tang Xin said, “What if I destroy your main body?”
“With your strength, you can’t destroy my main body,” the other party didn’t seem too worried. “This magic artifact is made of high-level materials. Ordinary spiritual fire won’t work on it.”
“Quite confident, aren’t you…” She thought for a moment and then said, “Since it’s so impressive, it shouldn’t matter if I scribble on it, right? Your cover looks pretty plain. How about I draw something on it?”
At these words, the artifact spirit’s expression finally changed.
“Let me think, I’ll draw something that will attract everyone’s attention,” Tang Xin said with a smirk. “Something like… someone without clothes…”
“Give it back!”
The artifact spirit abandoned Lian Xin and lunged at Tang Xin.
Then, without missing a beat, it collided with the Soul-Devouring Banner.
“Damn it!”
The suction of the Soul-Devouring Banner firmly held the artifact spirit, which struggled desperately. On the book-shaped magic artifact, the words “Nine Provinces Sealing Manual” flashed continuously.
“Catch!”
Tang Xin threw the book to Lian Xin and gripped the Soul-Devouring Banner with both hands, immobilizing the artifact spirit.
“With my blood,” Lian Xin bit his finger and pressed it onto the demonic artifact, “I bind you as my servant!”
The moment the blood touched the demonic artifact, the entire book emitted a blinding light, causing everyone to shut their eyes.
“Darkness descends—”
In the next instant, everything plunged into darkness, and an ancient, deep voice echoed in their ears.
“You…”
The artifact spirit, entangled with Tang Xin, turned pale and stared intently at Lian Xin, questioning him.
“Who exactly are you? How can you summon the power of the Demon Lord?”
Lian Xin did not answer its question. Instead, she swiftly moved her finger across the demonic artifact’s surface. With each stroke, a blood-red energy was projected into the sky.
A few breaths later, the sealing pattern took shape. The surface of the ancient book was tightly bound by chain-like red energy.
Tang Xin felt the force on her hand lighten. The artifact spirit, which could even resist the power of the Soul-Devouring Banner, was being pulled back by another powerful force.
“Daring to use the Demon Lord’s power to control me,” the artifact spirit roared angrily, “I won’t let you manipulate me so easily!”
Just before being sucked back into the demonic artifact, a bright light shot up from the ancient book, breaking through the space and the main hall, alerting all the demonic cultivators nearby.
“Indeed, I can’t let others get their hands on you,” Lian Xin said in a low voice while sealing, “Even the artifact spirit has become like this… I don’t need to control you; I just need to make sure no one else finds you.”
Snap!
The chains tightened again, completely sealing the artifact spirit within the demonic artifact. The eye-catching light gradually faded.
However, the commotion caused by the “rare treasure” had already been noticed by the demonic cultivators of the Hundred Poisons Hall.
“We’ve got the item,” Tang Xin scratched her face and said, “Now we need to figure out how to get out of here safely…”
