Chapter 454: Chapter 454 – World Stone
The Qian Family Square was massive, with thousands, if not tens of thousands of vendors as far as the eye could see.

The number of people browsing goods was even larger. They were all there to check out treasures, buying on the spot if they found something they both liked and could use.

Moving among the crowd, the trio soon learned that this was a market organized by the Qian Family.

The sole purpose was to create a platform for both parties.

This was one of the Qian Family’s ways of winning people’s favor. They didn’t charge any fees, allowing vendors to set up their stalls here for free.

Despite the casual appearance of the vendors sitting on the ground, those who had things to sell here were all something special!

This approach by the Qian Family was pretty good. It allowed them to win a lot of favor, even more so than at an auction, which people generally preferred.

“This Qian Family, they’re smart. They do know how to use money wisely!” Ao Cheng commented with a laugh as he walked.

“You think everyone is like you, with a brain as dense as elm wood?”

Jiang Xiaobai could not resist retorting at his side.

Damn it, this was supposed to be a wonderful honeymoon trip for the two of them. How on earth did this giant light bulb Ao Cheng find a chance to tag along?

Ao Cheng slanted a glance at him, sneering coldly, “Jiang Xiaobai, do you think you’re getting pretty powerful lately? Dare me to tell Elder Sister a shocking news and make you lose some skin?”

Jiang Xiaobai: “???”

He had no idea what nonsense Ao Cheng was talking about.

What he didn’t know was that if Ao Cheng really planned to spill the beans about that matter, Ao Yan might directly tear Jiang Xiaobai to pieces on the spot.

Soon, the trio stopped at a stall due to Ao Yan’s pause.

There were many odd and peculiar things on it, but Ao Yan’s eyes remained on a jade hairpin.

“Good eye, this jade hairpin is a treasure I found in an ancient ruin. Though not a divine class artifact, it’s still quite powerful!”

The vendor, an old man, was boasting enthusiastically.

Ao Cheng curled his lips disdainfully: “Just this? Tell us more about its fearsome abilities. Can it kill invisibly, or behead someone from a thousand miles away?”

“Or can it instantly kill an expert who has passed the tribulation phase?”

“Such a valuable treasure, why are you selling it? Are you trying to fool my sister because she’s inexperienced?”

After Ao Cheng had finished his words, even the vendor had not come to himself yet, Jiang Xiaobai felt a biting chill from his left side.

Ao Yan was the source, needless to say!

Jiang Xiaobai could hardly contain his excitement. Perfect, this serves you right for insisting on coming along!

He was originally planning to find a way to deal with Ao Cheng, but now he didn’t need to lift a finger. Ao Cheng was practically suicidal!

At this time, Ao Cheng was still insulting the vendor without realizing the growing chill from the side!

“You’re just lying to people with this thing. Do you think my sister is foolish enough to buy your…”

“Ah!”

Before Ao Cheng could finish his sentence, Ao Yan landed a wallop on his head.

He immediately held his head in agony, sobbing in pain.

Jiang Xiaobai burst into laughter in his mind. Serves you right for not knowing better and insisting on coming along!

“How much.” Ao Yan’s voice, clear and cold.

Seeing a woman ready to purchase, the old man’s eyes glowed with excitement. He was going to make a sale!

“Not much, 100,000 high-grade spirit stones. Consider that this almost divine class artifact, whatever happens, you certainly won’t lose out at this price!” the old man hurriedly replied.

“100,000!”

“Why don’t you just rob us?”

Ao Cheng exclaimed in surprise, covering his head, only to be hit by Ao Yan again. Then Ao Yan turned to look at Jiang Xiaobai.

Jiang Xiaobai instantly understood what she wanted and was about to pay, but his eyes fell on a black stone on the vendor’s stall.

This thing looked ordinary, but Jiang Xiaobai instinctively wanted to pick it up.

“Ding dong, detected the host has picked up the world stone.”

“Preparatory mission for the breakout realm challenge released: obtain 100 world stones.”

“Congratulations to the host for triggering the selection!”

“Option one: Complete the preparatory mission within ten years. Reward: 100 prestige points, a thread of Merit.”

“Option two: Complete the preparatory mission within five years. Reward: 1,000 prestige points, two world teleporting appendices.”

“Option three: Complete the preparatory mission within one year. Reward: 2,000 prestige points, one Merit, ten world teleporting appendices, 10,000 Xian stones.”

The sudden appearance of mission information and the shockingly lucrative rewards left Jiang Xiaobai dumbfounded.

Good heavens, when he had just activated the ‘100 Cities War Simulator’, the system had reminded him that if he failed to complete the system’s breakout realm challenge, even if he had the ability to enter other worlds, the consequences would be dire.

Jiang Xiaobai had originally felt that this task would be a long way off, but to his surprise, he had found it!

And it was a preparatory task!

“Interesting, world stones, I guess that son of a bitch Baihe must have plenty of them. I’ll just ask him for them later.”

“Even if I can’t get that many world stones in one year, there should be no penalty, just loss of those rewards.”

With these thoughts in mind, Jiang Xiaobai chose the third task right away.

Sure enough, no system prompt appeared.

When he took the Seven-Colored Divine Soul task last time, the system only gave the prompt after he accepted the task, almost causing him serious trouble!

“Sir, do you like this stone?”

“Let me tell you, this stone really came from an ancient relic, it’s extremely mysterious. After countless attempts, I’ve been unable to damage it.”

The old man looked mysteriously wise. On the side, Ao Cheng wanted to speak but stopped, thinking of his sister’s heavy hand.

“If the gentleman likes it, I can give you a discount for the two treasures – how about 150,000 high-grade spirit stones?”

“Deal!”

Jiang Xiaobai casually handed over his storage ring, immediately threw the world stone into his own storage space.

As for the jade hairpin, he smiled and handed it to Ao Yan.

“Take off that hood, it’s uncomfortable.” Ao Yan said softly.

Jiang Xiaobai considered briefly and nodded. Now that his identity was no longer a secret, it didn’t matter if the Qian Family knew about him.

He quickly removed his black robe and mask, then personally put the jade hairpin in Ao Yan’s hair.

As he ran his fingers through her hair, Jiang Xiaobai’s heart pounded.

The sensation was wonderful!

In the unknowing crowd around them, there was a young man with a deathly pale face, watching them closely.

He was originally going to head to this stall but stopped when he saw Jiang Xiaobai grab the stone.

“Notify the Sovereign, someone else got to the item first.”

It wasn’t until long after Jiang Xiaobai and the others disappeared into the crowd that the boy, who looked as white as a corpse, muttered this.