Chapter 153: The Remaining 5 Lost Taboo Items

Chapter 153 -149: The Remaining 5 Lost Taboo Items

South Sea, Antique Shop Zero.

Jiang Chaosheng sat behind the counter, his mind slowly turning as he reviewed the events at Changlong Mall.

He held out his hand. His palm squirmed, and a small black snake poked its head out.

The little shadow person on his wrist seemed to sense something. It clambered up from Jiang Chaosheng’s wrist and looked around, bewildered.

The little black snake was drawn to the shadow person and flicked out its tongue to lick it curiously.

The little shadow person was scared out of its wits. It threw its hands up in surrender, leaped onto the table, and began frantically scrambling around the edge.

The little black snake watched the shadow person with a puzzled expression, following it at a leisurely pace.

Jiang Chaosheng murmured to himself,

“Lucifer, Human Emperor, revenge…”

Lucifer hadn’t mentioned the Human Emperor’s name.

His words had been ambiguous, but they revealed a great deal of information.

Jiang Chaosheng reassembled the meaning behind those words and came up with a few key points.

First, in the past, the Divine Buddhas enslaved humanity.

Whether it was the Angels of Western Heaven or the Buddhas of Paradise, they all saw humans as slaves.

The Human Emperor, who bore a strong resemblance to him, had ended the age of human enslavement.

Second, the world had once suffered some sort of cataclysm. This was the root cause for the disappearance of Extraordinary Life and the birth of the Taboo Items.

Jiang Chaosheng thought more deeply about this second point.

‘Could that cataclysm make a comeback?’

‘It probably will, right?’

‘Doesn’t the Taboo Sculpture in the basement always mutter about a ‘variable’?’

A sense of crisis welled up in Jiang Chaosheng’s heart.

‘If the cataclysm really does arrive, I definitely won’t be able to stay out of it.’

It wasn’t because he wanted to be the savior Zhong Shu spoke of.

It was simply because… he was the Manager of Antique Shop Zero.

‘If the enemy decides to take out the leader first, I’ll definitely be the first one they target.’

Heaven only knew if the rules of Antique Shop Zero and the Taboo Sculpture in the basement could withstand that cataclysm.

Jiang Chaosheng felt… they definitely couldn’t!

Otherwise, the Taboo Sculpture wouldn’t be trapped on the Golden Throne!

Jiang Chaosheng took out his personal notebook, picked up a pen, and prepared to write down some plans.

He had a habit of writing his problems down on paper. Once he had organized his thoughts, the answer was never far behind.

Jiang Chaosheng muttered to himself,

“The cataclysm… I have to get stronger.”

Just then, a raspy, squawking voice called out,

“With me around, you have nothing to fear.”

Jiang Chaosheng looked up at the Evil Crow, which was lounging on the tea table in a rather seductive pose.

The Evil Crow snacked on melon seeds as it said nonchalantly,

“If you really run into any trouble, I’ll take action.

Don’t look down on me. If I find my Hiding Device, I’m a total beast.”

Jiang Chaosheng chose to ignore the Evil Crow, holding his pen and pondering over his open notebook.

After a long moment, he began to write:

“There are three ways to get stronger.

Influence, Combat Power, and Information.”

Jiang Chaosheng wrote down the word “Influence”:

“My subordinates are growing like weeds after a spring rain. I don’t need to worry about them.

The Cleaner Fish are getting stronger, Divine Peptide Biotechnology Company is about to launch, the Witch Association…”

A strange look appeared in Jiang Chaosheng’s eyes.

“Jin Meiting’s Witch Association has exceeded my expectations.”

Jiang Chaosheng then wrote down the words “Combat Power”:

“All I can do is practice the Spiritual Consciousness Divine Art more diligently.

With the foundation of the Spiritual Concentration Divine Art, learning Magic will be twice as effective with half the effort.

Also, I need to collect more Taboo Items and keep them in Antique Shop Zero.”

Even without the ‘Sixth Rule,’ the Taboo Items themselves possess immense power.

One more Taboo Item means one more tool at my disposal.

Jiang Chaosheng wrote:

“Contain Taboo Items, retrieve Taboo Items.”

Jiang Chaosheng paused his pen.

“Retrieve Taboo Items…”

The previous Manager of Antique Shop Zero, Li Qinglian, lost a total of twelve Taboo Items.

He had retrieved seven and contained another five, which was how he broke the Curse.

By that count, there were still five Taboo Items in a lost state.

Jiang Chaosheng muttered to himself,

“It’s about time I went and retrieved those five Taboo Items.”

‘If the number of lost Taboo Items reaches twelve again, I’ll be Cursed once more.’

If any Taboo Items reawaken during the retrieval process, the members of the Taboo Association should be able to handle it.

‘If they really can’t, I can just come running back.’

Just then, a faint fragrance wafted over.

Jiang Chaosheng instantly felt refreshed and relaxed.

He knew it was Daji without even looking.

It was strange. He’d never really been affected by beautiful women before.

Physiologically, yes.

But he believed that sleeping with the opposite sex just to satisfy one’s desires was completely bestial behavior.

And yet, Jiang Chaosheng was so devoid of emotion, so cold, that he was completely unmoved by the concept of love.

But Daji always made his heart flutter.

Jiang Chaosheng figured it was probably because the charm of a thousand-year-old Fox Spirit was just that terrifyingly potent.

Daji served a cup of tea.

“Husband, please have some tea.”

Jiang Chaosheng thought for a moment.

“I’ll take you out in the next couple of days.”

Daji nodded.

“Is the enemy very strong? If it’s dangerous, I can go alone.”

Jiang Chaosheng shook his head.

“Not strong. They might not even count as enemies. Just think of it as a stroll.”

An unusual light danced in Daji’s beautiful eyes.

‘Is my husband taking me out to sightsee?’

A blissful expression appeared on Daji’s face, and she smiled sweetly.

“I’ll do as you say, Husband.”

Jiang Chaosheng turned his gaze back to his notebook and wrote the word “Information.”

For now, this was the most difficult part.

Jiang Chaosheng knew nothing about the secrets of that mythological era.

However, by containing more Taboo Items, he was gradually starting to understand that era.

“The secrets of that era are hidden within the Taboo Items.

They’re like riddles, and the riddles are the clues.”

Jiang Chaosheng paused, muttering to himself,

“The only people who truly understand the Taboo Items are the Managers of Antique Shop Zero.”

The Managers must have all had experience containing Taboo Items. They must have learned something about the mythological era through them.

The first Manager might have even been from that mythological era himself.

‘If only I could communicate with them, I would surely learn a great deal about the mythological era.’

Jiang Chaosheng shook his head.

“It’s a shame. Of all the past Managers, the only one still alive, Li Qinglian, has lost his memory.”

Suddenly, Jiang Chaosheng’s eyes narrowed.

“The Managers might not be the only ones who understand the Taboo Items.”

A name appeared in Jiang Chaosheng’s mind.

Taiping Dao!

That organization even has a way to perfectly control Taboo Items!

Jiang Chaosheng looked up at the bronze chandelier on the ceiling and murmured,

“The Penalty Fire Flintlock Gun appeared in Liancheng, the Sea Train stopped in Liancheng, and the God-Desecrating Bell also reawakened in Liancheng…

The first place I noticed the Evil Qilin and the other five members of Taiping Dao was also Liancheng.”

Jiang Chaosheng organized the thoughts in his head.

He didn’t believe in coincidences.

“There are just too many abnormal incidents in Liancheng. Could it… be related to Taiping Dao?”

Jiang Chaosheng pressed his lips together and took out the Manager’s handbook.

“Liancheng might just be an important stronghold for Taiping Dao.”

There was a lost Taboo Item located near Liancheng.

“Next stop, Liancheng.”