Previously on Unstoppable Martial Arts: Starting with brother's wife and young sister...
Li Fu eagerly awaits his father Li Mu's signal to attack the Human Race, seeing this as the Li Family's final chance for revenge and glory. Meanwhile, Chen Xuan, undercover at the Jiang Mansion, receives a mysterious summons from the elder, indicating the elder knows his secret and intends to meet him. Chen Xuan prepares for a clandestine rendezvous, suspecting the elder has his own agenda.
"Green!"
"Thanks, Brother Jiang Tian! Take this!"
He stated this while presenting a pouch of Stone Coins, the recognized currency of the Stone Race.
"No need!"
Chen Xuan declined the offer, saying, "Consider it a gift for your wife!"
Although the Stone Race lacks physical gender differentiation like the Human Race, their emotional connections are distinct, and they traditionally practice monogamy.
"Thank you then!"
He accepted the gift without hesitation, a common trait among the Stone Race, devoid of artifice.
Interacting with such straightforward individuals is rather more comfortable.
After Chen Xuan departed.
"Boss, even those with lesser surnames aren't too bad, not as terrible as we might have imagined," a young Stone Race member approached and whispered.
"What lesser surnames are you talking about? Soon that won't be the case, and he won't be inferior to us then!" Shi Lin considered that if a top-tier Crystal Stone were to manifest, it would be a significant achievement, earning him great rewards and likely a promotion, potentially even to higher ranks.
Though the odds are slim.
"Exactly!"
"How did the Human Race put it... Ah, yes, like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, a mountain chicken transforming into a phoenix overnight!"
At the very least, he belonged to one of the third-tier surnames and had evidently read a fair amount.
" flaunt your literary knowledge! "
...
Chen Xuan was in no hurry, meandering through the surroundings with the unhurried gait of a loafer.
Simultaneously, he meticulously scanned his environment, ensuring he wasn't being shadowed.
Initially, he had detected a persistent presence trailing him.
However, this had ceased in the most recent instances.
They had likely abandoned their pursuit, recognizing his lack of any suspicious activity.
Yet, considering his recent encounter with the old man, exercising caution was the wisest course of action.
After a leisurely stroll of over an hour, Chen Xuan finally spotted the Spirit Stone Shop.
It was a modest structure, a three-story wooden building.
Above its entrance hung a simple wooden sign bearing the characters "Spirit Stone."
Chen Xuan entered without delay.
The interior's design closely resembled that of Human Race establishments, featuring a counter manned by a middle-aged individual.
Chen Xuan immediately discerned that this man was a modified Human Race member.
The sound of approaching footsteps caused the middle-aged man to glance up slightly. Upon seeing Chen Xuan, his expression shifted momentarily before settling into a smile. "Is our distinguished guest here to purchase Spirit Stones?"
"We stock every color imaginable; you're sure to find something to your satisfaction!"
"I'll have a look around first!"
Chen Xuan chuckled. Despite the modification, this individual was fundamentally still of the Human Race, adhering to familiar customs.
"Certainly, please proceed to the second floor!"
The man promptly emerged from behind the counter and guided Chen Xuan upstairs.
Numerous small, fist-sized wooden cubicles lined the walls, each containing vibrantly colored Spirit Stones.
The designation of "Spirit Stones" was somewhat misleading; these were, in essence, ordinary Crystal Stones, albeit aesthetically pleasing in their hues.
"Take your time, esteemed guest. Whichever catches your eye, I'll retrieve it for your inspection," he offered.
However, Chen Xuan offered a brief glance before responding, "They're too small. Do you have anything larger?"
"For larger selections, you'll need to visit the third floor, dear guest. Continue up the stairs, and someone there will be able to assist you further,"
the man replied respectfully.
"Excellent!"
Chen Xuan offered a faint smile and then ascended the wooden stairs to the third floor.
Upon arriving on the third floor, he observed another middle-aged man, but judging from the discernible aura, Chen Xuan was certain this was the old man in disguise.
"Sit!"
He indicated the seat opposite him.
"Thank you!"
Chen Xuan gave a slight nod, making no pretense of formality, and took a seat.
He remained silent for the moment.
He was keen to understand the old man's intentions.
Why had he recognized his true identity, yet refrained from exposing him?
"Hehe!"
"Just to be safe, I altered my appearance. You likely noticed."
He then picked up a teapot from the table, poured a cup of tea, and with a subtle gesture, the cup smoothly floated to rest before Chen Xuan. "Try it. This is tea I cultivated myself within the Stone Race territory. It might not rival the finest from the Eastern Continent, but it's quite pleasant!"
But... Chen Xuan made no move to take the cup.
Observing this, the old man chuckled again. "It seems unless I take the first sip, you won't partake either!"
He then poured himself a cup and drained it in a single gulp.
Despite this, Chen Xuan remained wary; confronting such a seasoned individual always demanded unwavering vigilance.
His eyes momentarily flashed with a blue light as he scrutinized the teacup presented to him.
After a brief pause, he picked it up, took a small sip, and then set it back down.
He nodded slightly, remarking, "It's quite good!"
"It appears your standing among the Human Race is not insignificant."
The old man's observation caught Chen Xuan by surprise, prompting him to inquire, "How do you know that?"
"This tea is considered top-grade even in the Eastern Continent, and you've simply called it 'quite good,' indicating you've tasted superior brews. That led to my speculation!"
"Of course, you might dismiss it as an old man's idle chatter!"
Chen Xuan's suspicion of the old man intensified; his inner voice warned that intuition could be deceiving.
He had already been wary of the tea, but the old man skillfully used it as a means to probe him instead.
"Tricky old fellow!"
"Hehe!"
The old man let out another chuckle.
However, this laughter sent a ripple of unease through Chen Xuan, making him feel as if his secrets were on the verge of being revealed.
"No need for concern, I merely made an educated guess!"
"However, your identity genuinely piques my interest. Would you care to enlighten me?"
"My standing is quite ordinary, neither exceptionally high nor particularly low!"
Chen Xuan responded evasively.
"That implies it's not of low standing then!"
"So, what brings you to the Stone Cave?"
This abrupt and direct inquiry almost threw Chen Xuan off balance; he had anticipated a more circuitous conversation.
Sensing his surprise, the old man sighed, "Neither of us has a simple path. As a priest of the Stone Race, I may appear to hold a high position, but I am fundamentally of the Human Race, constantly under scrutiny."
"Therefore, wouldn't it be best not to waste time and speak plainly?"
Chen Xuan, however, remained quiet.
If he were to openly state his objective, and if the old man's strategy was simply to disorient him and bait out his true reasons for visiting the Stone Race, then what?
