Chapter Forty-Three: Fellow Travelers Through Time and Space

Inside the Treasure House on Nicholas Square, the attendants continued to examine the magical beast egg, discussing its mysteries amongst themselves. Suddenly, the pungent scent of alcohol drifted in, wrinkling their noses and souring their expressions as they looked toward the door.

An old man, shabby and disheveled, entered, swaying unsteadily with a wine jug in his left hand and a slab of roasted meat in his right. He paid no mind to the curious glances from within, took a swig, let out a loud belch, and sauntered into the shop.

“Oh, it’s you, old drunkard. By the way, someone finally bought your black iron chunk!” one attendant exclaimed, recalling an incident from two years before. At that time, the old drunkard had insisted on selling his black iron block to the shop for a gold coin. To avoid him disturbing their business, the attendant had eventually accepted it.

“Heh, youngster, you’ve got a good memory! Still remember what happened two years ago. Who bought that black iron piece?” The old man’s eyes flashed with brief delight, and he plopped down carelessly on the threshold, taking another drink and grinning at the attendant.

“Trade secret. Can’t tell you!” The attendant replied with a mischievous smile, and the group resumed their discussion about the magical beast egg, ignoring the old drunkard. With the gambling egg festival underway, few customers came to the Treasure House anyway.

“Kid, that magical beast egg is a good one. It contains a fourth-level dark attribute beast—a Black Marked Demon Serpent!” Seeing that the group was ignoring him, the old man stood up, took another swig, and staggered toward the door, calling out his observation before leaving.

“Bah, trying to fool idiots!”

“Exactly, how could you possibly find a fourth-level beast egg in the low-level beast area?”

“Never mind him. We’ve studied it for so long and haven’t figured out any tricks. Let’s just hatch it and see what’s inside!” At this suggestion, the others readily agreed. The attendant who had won the magical beast egg stopped hesitating and began channeling energy from a first-level dark attribute magic crystal into the egg.

To hatch a magical beast egg, energy of the same attribute is needed. If the egg’s attribute differs from one’s own, one can guide energy from a matching magic crystal into the egg to hatch it.

Most people choose beasts with attributes similar or complementary to their own, so their magical beasts can assist them in battle. The attendant had chosen this egg for its rare dark attribute, thinking that once the beast matured, its magic crystal would fetch a good price.

After channeling three first-level dark magic crystals into the egg, with no sign of hatching, the attendant gritted his teeth and produced a fourth. The others watched with growing interest—the more energy required, the higher the beast’s level within.

Finally, as the energy from the fourth crystal was nearly depleted, the egg began to tremble gently, emitting a faint black glow. The attendant’s face lit up with excitement, and after pouring in the last trace of energy, he and the others eagerly awaited the beast’s emergence.

The egg, glowing black, shook more violently. Everyone could sense the little life inside struggling, striving to break free and glimpse the world outside.

Crack—

A subtle sound of eggshell breaking reached their ears. Not long after, a tiny black snake head appeared, its skin marked with strange, inconspicuous black patterns. The group cried out in surprise, “Black Marked Demon Serpent!”

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The orange flame of Heart Refinement enveloped the nameless iron block, burning fiercely. An hour passed, then two, then three—but the iron showed no sign of change. Wang Luo gritted his teeth, refusing to give up, closed his eyes and continued to temper the black iron, thinking, “I won’t believe you can’t be smelted!”

Time slipped by as the Heart Refinement Fire roasted the palm-sized iron block, and in the blink of an eye, a day had gone. Wang Luo, pale-faced, glanced at the unchanged iron, unwillingly extinguished the fire, and picked up the iron block, finding it still icy cold to the touch. Attempting to store it in his space ring yielded no response. Drained of spiritual energy, Wang Luo couldn’t be bothered to ponder it further, and plunged into cultivation.

Although Father Lion had sealed Wang Luo’s spiritual power, the seal did not affect the Heart Refinement Fire, which remained usable and could still absorb energy from his dantian to replenish itself.

Three days passed quietly. Wang Luo awakened from his cultivation, a flash of brilliance in his eyes and a healthy flush to his cheeks. He thought, “Not bad. The nameless technique that had stagnated lately has made good progress this time.”

The three beasts, seeing Wang Luo awake, immediately began to whine and complain. They had guarded him for three days, and counting the day spent refining the iron, they had gone hungry for four days in all. Wang Luo was deeply moved by this devotion.

After washing up, Wang Luo, under the strange gaze of the attendant, ordered a table laden with food and eight large cups of drink, then he and the three beasts devoured their meal ravenously—a truly spectacular sight.

Since it was evening, Wang Luo planned to take the three beasts to buy some daily necessities and Coo Coo Chickens, obtain an adventurer’s identity the next day, and continue his journey. As for the black iron block, Wang Luo placed it in a beast-hide pouch and carried it with him, convinced it was no ordinary item.

When the first rays of dawn pierced the room, Wang Luo, seated cross-legged on the floor, instantly opened his eyes from cultivation. At the same moment, the three beasts sprawled on the bed awoke and obediently followed Wang Luo to the washroom.

Seeing the three little beasts grasp toothbrushes in their paws, imitating his motions as they brushed their teeth, Wang Luo couldn’t help but chuckle. It had taken considerable effort and time to teach them this skill.

In the Celestial Profound Continent, toothbrushes are made from the bristles of a fish called the Furwater Fish—soft and moist. Toothpaste is a kind of medicinal paste, beneficial to teeth and invigorating to the mind. Wang Luo had been amazed when he first encountered these items.

On the Celestial Profound Continent, aside from things related to magic and battle aura, few items are documented. Yet these two are recorded, said to have been invented by someone named Qi Lu.

Wang Luo had made a point to learn about Qi Lu. Not only had he invented toothbrushes and toothpaste, but many other things as well. Through his inventions, Wang Luo was finally convinced that Qi Lu, like himself, was a smuggler from another time and space—in other words, a legendary transmigrator.

Azure Dragon of Another World 43—Chapter Forty-Three: Fellow Time-Space Smuggler, updated!