Changing the subject, Su Qi took out an object from his pocket that resembled a black crystal, precisely the compensation given by the white-haired old man.
"This is what the old man gave to our village as compensation."
Liu Jun took it and examined it carefully, rubbing the smooth surface and asked in doubt:
"What is this? It doesn’t look like tal, with a peculiar texture, more like so kind of mineral?"
Su Lin also curiously leaned over, hesitated, and said:
"The color and texture of this, it’s a bit like... a Shadow Core?"
Every night, he dealt with a large number of Shadow Cores and was more than familiar with this stuff.
Su Qi said, "As hoowners, you can summon the House Title Deed to check and find out."
The House Title Deed has this function? Su Lin was startled for a mont, then with a slight thought, the silver-white House Title Deed materialized out of thin air.
Liu Jun, Su Can, and the always silent Zheng Weimin did the sa.
The four House Title Deeds emitted a faint glow, adding a touch of strange color to the dim tavern.
When Su Lin focused his attention on the black crystal in his second uncle’s hand, the House Title Deed in front of him moved automatically, turning to a blank page.
Clear patterns and explanatory text quickly appeared on the page:
「Shadow Stone」
「A mineral born with the Shadow Monunt at the center of the wilderness.」
「When added to weapon forging or chanism manufacturing, this Shadow Stone can increase the damage to Shadow Beasts by ten percent.」
「When added to armor manufacturing, this Shadow Stone can increase the defense against Shadow Beasts by ten percent.」
「Place it in the House Title Deed, and this Shadow Stone can be converted into fifty thousand Shadow Cores for upgrading the safe house.」
"Mineral? Shadow Monunt at the center of the wilderness?" Su Can frowned and pondered, "Never heard of it."
"Special material against Shadow Beasts?" Liu Jun tasted the information, "This ten percent boost... not much, not little, but might save lives at a crucial mont. As for replacing fifty thousand Shadow Cores..."
He shook his head: "For most people, Shadow Cores are not a bottleneck; strength and chanisms are."
Su Lin nodded in agreent and asked:
"What exactly is this Shadow Monunt at the center of the wilderness? It sounds deeply connected to Shadow Beasts."
Su Qi said solemnly, "I’ve never heard of any village or lone warrior truly entering the center of the wilderness. It’s a dead zone full of bosses and Lords, far more dangerous than imagined."
Su Can stroked his beard and recalled:
"When there were still official communications, the broadcasts seed to ntion that even camps of the sa level could hardly enter the center of the wilderness of the sa level. There’s rumored to be a secret about the birth of night-ti Shadow Beast tides..."
Liu Jun waved his hand, seemingly indifferent:
"Who cares about secrets! If Ni Yan can run from a city-level camp to our rural backwater, they’ve probably been inside. In this apocalypse, being too curious isn’t good."
Su Lin thought deeply and fell silent.
At this mont, Su Qi handed the Shadow Stone directly to him and said to Liu Jun, Zheng Weimin, and others:
"This item is compensation for the whole village given by the old man. I’ll hand it to Su Lin, and in exchange, our Su Family will bear all the costs of the village’s repairs from the storm."
Liu Jun and Zheng Weimin exchanged a glance and nodded.
To them, the Shadow Stone was rather valueless, so exchanging it for the Su Family taking on the repair costs was undoubtedly a worthwhile trade.
For Su Lin, this replacent for fifty thousand Shadow Cores would significantly reduce the ti needed to upgrade to a Level 4 Safe House and build the Smoked at Room.
As long as his strength could keep up, aiming for a Level 4 Safe House in two weeks was no longer a luxury.
...
Back at the Su Family’s Old Mansion.
At the quaint large gate, Su Tongxi was holding Su Yingying’s little hand, anxiously looking out.
When she saw the familiar figures of Su Lin and his group appear at the alley entrance, her anxious heart finally settled, she teared up, and rushed over, holding Su Yingying.
"Brother Kirin!!" Her voice carried a crying tone.
Su Lin opened his arms and caught her who was pouncing towards him steadily.
"Is everyone alright?" Su Lin asked softly.
Su Tongxi’s eyes still showed fear, but she nodded vigorously, wearing a slightly pale smile:
"Yingying and I are both fine, just... we were really worried about you guys just now."
Stuck in the middle, Su Yingying suddenly squird and protested:
"Auntie Tongxi! Your chest is too big! It’s squishing !!"
"Ah?!" Su Tongxi instantly blushed red in embarrassnt.
Zhao Yaxin hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Let hold her."
The look she gave her daughter was already filled with anxiety and concern.
"Oh, okay..." Su Tongxi awkwardly handed Su Yingying over to her.
Zhao Yaxin touched her daughter all over, making Su Yingying laugh out loud, then asked reassuringly:
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Su Yingying giggled and shook her head, seemingly not scared at all, nor hurt.
She said excitedly: "That really big bird flew over from the sky, and Auntie Tongxi took inside the house! Mom, did you see the big bird?"
"Yeah, I saw it."
Zhao Yaxin replied casually, reassuring her that her daughter was unhard, before finally relaxing, her tense body loosening up, and looked gratefully at Su Tongxi:
"Thank you, Tongxi."
"No... it’s nothing, Sister Yaxin." Su Tongxi felt a bit embarrassed.
Su Qi’s voice rang out: "Alright, let’s not stand at the door, let’s go inside and talk."
Everyone went inside and sat around the Eight Immortals Table.
As Su Can sat down, he grabbed the rough ceramic teapot on the table and poured it directly into his mouth without using a cup.
The tea poured accurately down his throat without spilling a drop.
Su Tongxi saw this and hurriedly got up: "I’ll go boil so water." She quickly headed to the kitchen.
"Leave so for ." Su Qi tapped his fingers on the table.
Su Can put down the teapot, blowing his beard and glaring:
"A son snatching his father’s water, unfilial child!"
Su Qi expressionlessly picked up the teapot and poured tea for Su Lin and Zhao Yaxin before pouring himself a cup.
Su Lin thanked him with a smile.
He observed that in this familiar mansion, the nerves that had been tense in his grandfather and second uncle had visibly relaxed, and their deanor seed more natural.
Su Lin took a sip of tea and asked:
"Second Uncle, we got three pieces of Treasure at this ti, how should we distribute them?"
Su Qi sipped his water, put down his cup, and asked:
"Don’t you want to ask your grandfather first?"
Su Lin grinned:
"Grandfather will definitely listen to your arrangent."
Su Can gave him a stern look, pretending to be angry:
"Nonsense! I am the head of the family!"
"Yes, yes." Su Qi casually responded.
His tone mimicked Zhao Yaxin’s earlier conversation with Su Yingying.
It was almost rebellious.
He then looked seriously at Su Lin and said:
"Let’s talk business first. The Tier Two Treasure at is all yours."
The second uncle looked serious:
"With that Shadow Stone, your speed for upgrading to a Level 4 Safe House is halved, but your strength is too low, it needs to be seriously improved, this Treasure at cos at the right ti."
Su Lin nodded solemnly, this ti without any refusal.
Having experienced the giant bird fright and witnessed Ni Yan’s prowess, the strength of the Skin Lock Realm did indeed make him uneasy.
Then Su Qi hesitated for a mont and said:
"Your martial arts aptitude is limited, but even half of the Tier Two Treasure at contains imnse energy. Theoretically, it should be enough to support your breakthrough to the Flesh Lock, or even attempt the Tendon Lock. In that case..."
He glanced at Su Can:
"Perhaps your grandfather won’t need to guard your ho anymore. What do you think?"
Su Lin nodded happily:
"Sure, Second Uncle, you’re injured, it’s more reassuring for grandfather to stay at ho."
Hearing this, Su Qi’s tense expression seed to ease a bit.
He had been worried about his old injuries resurfacing.
However, Su Can furrowed his old brows, expressing concern:
"But reaching the Level 4 Safe House, the beast tides will split into two routes, attacking the front and back doors simultaneously! Your house now only has you and Tongxi, the manpower is still too limited."
Su Qi’s gaze fell again on Su Lin and said solemnly:
"Therefore, you should consider recruiting a tenant. Coincidentally, the Shunfeng Travel Group’s people should arrive in two or three days, and by then, many wanderer forces will surely be attracted. You should go see if you can find a suitable and reliable helper. Rember, it’s better to be short-handed than to make do."
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