Chapter 00113: The Compliant Golden Hooped Staff
# The Compliant Golden-Hooped Staff
Chapter 113
Novel: AFK Game: Portal to Another World
Chapter 113 The Compliant Golden-Hooped Staff
In terms of material, it indeed looked like a fine treasure, but upon taking it in hand and examining it closely, one would discover it was far too crude.
Both ends of the wooden staff were cracked and worn, and its surface was covered in all sorts of scratches.
The presentation was truly nothing to write home about.
Its only remarkable feature was that it was exceptionally straight.
Li Chengxi pulled the black iron wooden staff out of the computer.
He looked it up and down, but no matter how he looked at it, he was not satisfied.
Such a perfectly straight wooden staff had gone to waste.
No man could refuse a particularly straight staff, especially one that was naturally so straight, without having undergone any sort of processing.
After all, it had been in the hands of monkeys.
They wouldn't know the first thing about craftsmanship.
So, Li Chengxi immediately decided, you don't know how to process it? No problem, I'll do it.
Since there weren't many customers at this time, Li Chengxi promptly hung a lock on his door and walked out carrying the black iron wooden staff.
However, he didn't notice that just as he left his doorstep, Lei Lei peeked her head out from a small alley, looking at him.
Lei Lei had come this time mainly to ask Li Chengxi if he had reminded Xue Wenshu not to speak carelessly.
On the side, she also wanted to take the opportunity to do some snooping.
The way Li Chengxi had stepped on the edge of the swimming pool yesterday was definitely not normal, but it happened too quickly for Lei Lei to get a clear look.
And today, as soon as she arrived, Lei Lei instantly felt that she had come at the right time.
She recognized at a glance that Li Chengxi was carrying a staff of hundred-year black iron wood.
This was good stuff.
Not only could it be used to craft weapon-type magic treasures, but it could also be used in pill refining, or to guide pill fire.
It was a very rare item, not something an ordinary person would possess, falling into the category of heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
Lei Lei had been to the convenience store many times, and each time she would carefully probe a little.
If a heavenly material and earthly treasure like the black iron wooden staff had been in the convenience store before, she would have discovered it long ago.
It clearly wasn't here before, yet today a length of black iron wood suddenly appeared in his hand?
She immediately realized that Li Chengxi must possess a Sumeru Realm-type storage magic treasure.
Today, old lady, I've finally caught your little tail!
Lei Lei was very happy.
Seeing Li Chengxi walk further and further away, she quickly and quietly followed, wanting to see what he was going to do with the black iron wood.
In Lei Lei's mind, carrying black iron wood should mean he was looking for a secluded place to refine a treasure, or perhaps Li Chengxi was cultivating some special technique that required a heavenly material and earthly treasure.
But not long after, Lei Lei was astonished to see Li Chengxi walk into a shop not far from the convenience store.
The signboard read ‘Hongguang Advertising’.
It was a small shop that made advertising signs, did photocopying, and took ID photos.
This left Lei Lei completely stumped.
Could it be that he wanted to take a picture of the black iron wood?
Couldn't he just use his phone?
Just as she was pondering what on earth Li Chengxi was up to, he came out of the advertising shop after only a few minutes, still carrying that black iron wood staff.
However, he did not return to his shop, but continued to walk forward.
This made Lei Lei think, could he have sensed that someone was following him?
After some careful thought, it seemed unlikely.
It must be a feint, a deliberate detour for safety.
Having made up her mind to figure things out today, Lei Lei increased the distance between them, ensuring she would definitely not be discovered, and continued to follow Li Chengxi.
This time, he didn't go very far either, walking to about the street corner before entering the shop at the very end.
Lei Lei looked up and saw the sign that read ‘Redwood Furniture’.
What on earth is he trying to do?
Does he want to use the black iron wood to make furniture?
What can you make with a single stick of black iron wood? A mop?
Lei Lei forced herself to calm down.
No, I can't be deceived.
This must also be a feint.
Huddled at the mouth of the small alley, Lei Lei took out a piece of yellow paper and casually folded it.
A paper crane appeared in her hand.
With a puff of her breath, the paper crane actually began to flap its wings and fly, silently making its way to the furniture shop's window and landing there quietly.
Lei Lei pressed one hand to her temple, establishing a visual and auditory link with the paper crane, wanting to see what Li Chengxi was really up to in the furniture shop.
Just then, Li Chengxi spoke to the old master craftsman who was working:
"Old Uncle, take a look at this staff."
"Yo, it's pretty straight, and it hasn't even been whittled. Did you pick this up on the road?"
The uncle, who was doing carpentry work, felt the staff and said with a laugh:
"You even had someone use a laser to engrave ‘Compliant Golden-Hooped Staff’ on it. How old are you, playing with this?"
"I saw it and just wanted to try it out. Besides, I'm not that old, only 26."
"Cut the crap. At 26, other people's kids are already running all over the place."
"....."
Listening to the conversation, Lei Lei felt it was utterly baffling.
A string of question marks popped up in her head.
Compliant Golden-Hooped Staff?
What kind of magic treasure was that?
The one Monkey Sun used in Journey to the West?
The black iron wooden staff shouldn't be that amazing, right?
Then she heard more of the conversation from inside:
"Right, why did you bring a staff to my place?"
"Old Uncle, look, the surface of this staff is all rough and frayed, and both ends are cracked. I was thinking of getting a couple of copper hoops for it, and giving it a good polish."
"Heh, you're lucky you didn't ask me to get you a couple of gold hoops. Young people nowadays are into that... cosplay? I think that's the bird-brained word."
"Close enough. Old Uncle, you think you can do it?"
"A small matter like this, I'll have it done for you in minutes. Sit here and wait. I happen to have a couple of leftover copper hoops from a sofa."
Getting a couple of copper hoops?
Polishing it?
What kind of magic treasure is made like this?
She had never heard of it.
When others made magic treasures, they did as little processing as possible.
A treasure that was perfectly natural was a true treasure.
How come when it came to Li Chengxi, he was laser-engraving it, polishing it, and even attaching a couple of copper hoops?
The question marks in Lei Lei's mind grew more and more numerous, and the more she listened, the more confused she became.
At first, she thought that perhaps this old master craftsman was no ordinary person, but an immortal craftsman hiding in the city, and his conversation with Li Chengxi was some sort of code.
But after watching for a while through the paper crane, Lei Lei discovered that he really was just attaching two copper hoops, then using sandpaper to smooth out the splinters, and finally applying a coat of clear varnish.
Such a good piece of black iron wood, wasn't this just a waste!
Lei Lei could only secretly lament the pity of it all in her heart, but she didn't dare to rush in and ask.
After all, what would she say then? That I've been following you this whole time?
That would be way too awkward...
–‐‐——–‐‐——
The street where Li Chengxi lived was remarkably well-equipped.
From treating illnesses and selling medicine to selling burial clothes and doing carpentry work, one could say that everything a person needed in their life could be found on this street.
Whether it was any good or not was another matter, but at least they had it.
For a simple modification of the wooden staff, there was no need to go far.
The whole thing was done in less than half an hour after leaving his home.
Returning to his seat behind the cash register, he sat down and opened his computer.
Yang Yiyi was practicing her boxing with Great King Shanying.
Li Chengxi casually pushed the modified black iron wooden staff... no, it should be called the imitation Compliant Golden-Hooped Staff, into the screen.
Just as he pushed it in and was happily watching Yang Yiyi, the doorbell chimed.
It was at this moment that Lei Lei walked into the convenience store.
"Here to buy potato chips again?"
"No, my pen is almost out of ink. I came to find some refills."
"They're on the shelves inside. Yes, walk a bit further in, that's the stationery section."
Although the conversation was very normal, and Li Chengxi went back to looking at his computer screen without paying her any mind, Lei Lei observed him attentively.
The black iron wooden staff was already gone.
Even with a careful probe, there was absolutely no reaction indicating a heavenly material and earthly treasure.
It really is a Sumeru Realm! He stored it away!
As always, Lei Lei was battling wits with the air.
(End of this chapter)