Nightmare Apostle

Chapter 1296: Chapter 852: Living Bodhisattva

Yang Xiao had no intersection with the Exoteric Sect, and was not concerned with their affairs; after all, he already had enough troubles of his own.

After chatting for a while, the conversation gradually shifted to a lighter note. Yang Xiao talked to Sheng Yanlin about the results of their raid on the Gu Sect. Not only had they destroyed much of the Gu Sect’s foundation, but they also brought back some good items.

As he was speaking, Yang Xiao wanted Sheng Yanlin to take a look at these items, relieved by the old man’s return, as there was now a deep trust between the two of them.

But Sheng Yanlin squinted and smiled, saying there was no rush; he also had something good to show Yang Xiao.

Saying this, he went back to retrieve the cane that he had casually set aside when he entered earlier.

The bottom of the cane still had a bit of mud on it; there had been a sudden downpour outside last night.

"Feel it."

Sheng Yanlin lifted the cane slightly, with a bit of a showing-off demeanor, and it was only with his reminder that Yang Xiao finally noticed the cane.

The cane looked quite ordinary; the handle showed no signs of fine craftsmanship. To Yang Xiao, it seemed like nothing more than a large, rather rough tree branch.

Such things could be found in abundance in any grove and looked more like the type of stick villagers’ elders would casually pick up to help them walk. freёwebnoѵel.com

But as Yang Xiao took the cane in his hand, he immediately felt something unusual. The cane was exceptionally light, not made of gold or wood, and felt as smooth and warm as jade.

"Is this... a Magic Artifact?" Yang Xiao lifted his head, looking at Sheng Yanlin with astonishment. frёewebnoѵēl.com

"Hahaha—" Sheng Yanlin couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst into laughter, taking the cane back into his hands with great cherishing, "Indeed, it is a Magic Artifact, and it’s mine!"

"It was given to you by the Esoteric Sect." Yang Xiao understandingly noted, as he had already sensed something amiss when Sheng Yanlin donned the Esoteric Sect elder’s garment.

"Not given, but exchanged. It’s a business deal; I agreed to stay for a year and contribute my life skills to the Esoteric Sect, and this is my compensation." Resting the cane back on the ground, Sheng Yanlin’s face bore an unusually serious expression, indicating its significance to him.

Yang Xiao understood that although Sheng Yanlin was somewhat dependent on others, he had always retained his dignity. He wouldn’t abase himself to others, nor would he sell out the interests of the Yiling Academy for personal gain.

By emphasizing the transaction, he was also aiming to put an end to the gossipers’ rumors, openly severing ties with the Esoteric Sect, ensuring they owed each other nothing.

Noticing Yang Xiao’s silence, Sheng Yanlin’s tense expression quickly softened, reverting back to the kind elder’s visage, "Young Yang, don’t take it to heart, I wasn’t targeting you; it was me who lost composure."

Yang Xiao nodded, sighing with a bit of sentiment, "Mr. Sheng, it’s no bother, I understand the hardships you’ve endured along the way."

As soon as these words were uttered, Sheng Yanlin pressed his lips tight, his eyes quickly reddening. Over time, he too had come to regard Yang Xiao as his junior.

"Let’s not talk about this anymore; would you like to know the peculiarities of this item?" Sheng Yanlin diverted the topic back to the Magic Artifact he had exchanged a year of his life for.

Yang Xiao nodded; indeed, he was very curious as this normally critical man like Sheng Yanlin valued the item so highly, it must be extraordinary, "Is it a Netherworld-level Magic Artifact?"

"Of course." Sheng Yanlin’s face wrinkled into a smile, his hand gripping the cane tightly, "This item is named the Wisdom Staff, an exceptionally unique Netherworld-level Magic Artifact I had long heard about, once owned by the Chamber of Commerce."

"I remember back then, both I and that Ru Lin Academy’s Yang Qianhe desired this treasure, but our offered prices did not satisfy the Chamber of Commerce, and eventually, someone else exchanged for it."

"I inquired extensively, only to find out that the person who exchanged for this treasure was from the Yin Temple, but who specifically and which family it was, I couldn’t find out, so I had to give up."

"Never thought that so many years later, I would still have a chance to see this treasure. Hahaha, the heavens haven’t forsaken me, promising the day of revenge and settling scores for Sheng Yanlin!"

As Sheng Yanlin became increasingly emotional, Yang Xiao could sense that the otherwise ordinary-looking cane suddenly seemed to come to life in that moment, an astounding sensation.

Seeing Yang Xiao’s complexion change slightly, Sheng Yanlin chuckled nonchalantly, and without waiting for Yang Xiao’s reaction, he lifted the cane and lightly tapped it towards Yang Xiao, instantly clearing Yang Xiao’s mind into a void.

Though calling it a void isn’t very accurate, as while he remembered everything, when he tried to think carefully, those matters became very fuzzy.

Most crucially, he even forgot how to summon his own Magic Artifact.

This feeling wasn’t pure amnesia caused by the Human Bone Staff but was due to another extremity: the item could interfere with a person’s thought process, especially regarding the use of Magic Artifacts.

If in a confrontation, one side suddenly forgot how to wield their Magic Artifact, the battle couldn’t proceed, essentially equating to certain defeat.

Moreover, as time went on, Yang Xiao found himself becoming increasingly unfamiliar with the Magic Artifacts he possessed, as if these items had never belonged to him.

He even forgot the appearances, abilities, and origins of these Magic Artifacts.

With another light tap of the cane by Sheng Yanlin, the maddening feeling of chaos began to gradually vanish.

Yang Xiao staggered a few steps back on weakened legs, barely managing to stabilize himself, nearly falling to the ground.

Clutching his knees with both hands, he looked up, staring with fright at the cane in Sheng Yanlin’s hand, cold sweat beading on his forehead, gasping heavily.

"Young Yang, are you alright? This old man hasn’t wielded a Magic Artifact against anyone in too long, my aim faltered, I didn’t... didn’t injure you, did I?"