This did not explain how those eighty plus Stranger Hunters died though. There were still more truths they had yet to hear.
As expected, someone shared the exact same doubts as Ye Qing and voiced it, “If the gravestone’s activation conditions are really that stringent, then how did the Stranger Hunters lose so many of their numbers?”
Xi Duoduo explained, “That’s because the gravestone was surrounded by a kind of plant called the Daydream. When you daydream, you’re not usually aware of the passage of time, are you? The Daydream is a very special kind of plant that sleeps during the night and blooms during the day. If someone encounters the Daydream during the day, they would sink into a dreamlike state without knowing. In this state, their eyes remain wide open like they were sleepwalking, and they wouldn’t notice the passage of time at all. When they awake, they would think that only a few breaths had passed.”
“Normally, the Daydream is completely harmless. But because it grew next to the gravestone, it resulted in most of the Stranger Hunters staring at the gravestone for over thirty breaths without knowing. That was why they lost so many of their numbers.”
That explained a lot. It also opened Ye Qing’s mind to new possibilities. On its own, it was nigh impossible for the gravestone to activate successfully. However, its chances of success would be much higher if it was used together with sense-warping Strange Artifacts, secret arts, Magia and more.
Even so, its usability in a practical situation could only be described as average. Anyone who could be paralyzed for thirty breaths using a Strange Artifact, secret art or Magia could probably be killed via normal means, and those who were strong would not be affected by such tactics for long. In the end, the gravestone remained an incredibly situational Strange Artifact.
In conclusion, the gravestone was okay versus weaklings, but no better than a particularly large brick against a true elite.
To borrow a saying, it was akin to a chicken rib—bland and uninteresting, but a shame to just throw away.
Despite the poor sale, Xi Duoduo didn’t look too disappointed. He had probably expected this outcome. It wasn’t long before he brought out the second item.
The second item was a strand of hair. That’s right, a strand of hair. Pitch black in color, it looked no different from a normal person’s hair. It also smelled quite fragrant.
But unlike a normal person’s hair, this strand of hair was insanely long, over twenty meters to be exact. It looked like a bundle of black aquatic grass.
“As you can see, this is a strand of hair.” Xi Duoduo pointed at the hair as he said, “As for who it belongs to, I have no idea.”
“In fact, the only thing I can tell you is that the hair is insanely long, and it seems to be alive and growing every day. When we received this hair, it was only ten meters long. Just a little over a year later, it was over twenty meters long. It’s quite unusual, don’t you think? Is there anyone who’s interested in this hair?”
It’s unusual, sure, but why the fuck would we bid for a strand of hair?!
Everyone rolled their eyes, hard. Who in their right mind would spend fifty thousand silver on a strand of hair?!
“As a reminder, we can give away the hair for free if anyone knows about its origin!”
Unfortunately for him, no one knew anything about the hair. No one was interested in it either, so the hair was bought in.
With that behind them, Xi Duoduo produced the third item. It was a rough, shoddy-looking peachwood hairpin.
“This hairpin is carved using ordinary peachwood. The craftsmanship leaves much to be desired as well.”
Xi Duoduo introduced, “On the surface, it looks perfectly ordinary. However, did you know that this hairpin was found in a millennia-old tomb?”
“It had been stored inside the tomb for over a thousand years, and yet it shows no sign of deterioration whatsoever. In fact, it looks brand new almost as if a craftsman had just carved it. That is clearly unusual. Despite its ordinary appearance, this peachwood hairpin is anything but ordinary.”
“Would you be interested in owning it, customers?”
This piqued the crowd’s curiosity, and murmurs broke out here and there. Despite their curiosity, the number of people who were actually interested in buying it could be counted on two hands. Ye Qing shared the sentiment as well.
The reason was simple. It was clear that the wooden hairpin was special, but what was the point of spending fifty thousand silver to buy a secret that could never be solved?
Disappointed that no one was interested in the wooden hairpin, Xi Duoduo was just about to declare that the hairpin was bought in when suddenly, a lazy voice spoke up, “Fools. I can’t believe that no one recognizes or wants such a valuable treasure.”
“Hmm? Are you going to bid for it, celestial?” Xi Duoduo’s eyes lit up.
“Oh no, I am—burp—far too broke to bid anything.” The Red Calabash Celestial sipped his wine before continuing, “However, I recognize its origin.”
“Hmm? Are you sure?” Xi Duoduo asked. “If you’re willing to enlighten us about its origin, you may have it for free as promised.”
The Red Calabash Celestial sleepily forced open his eyelids just a tad and began slowly, “The hairpin is not a hairpin. It is a painting.”
“A painting?” Xi Duoduo exclaimed in surprise.
Everyone else in the Popularity Tower was stunned as well. Specifically, they felt like Red Calabash Celestial was ridiculing them. Do you think we’re blind or stupid?
“Did you accidentally drink your brain into your stomach, Red Calabash? That’s obviously a hairpin!” Ancestor Greenwood taunted.
“You say that only because you’re old. Your vision is so blurry you can’t even tell right from left anymore!” Red Calabash Celestial shot right back.
“Is it really a painting, good celestial?” Xi Duoduo ignored their argument and prodded.
“Go bring a pot of hot oil and put the peachwood hairpin inside. You will know then if I’m telling the truth or not,” Red Calabash Celestial said. “And before I forget, the oil must be boiling hot.”
“Got it.” Xi Duoduo did not hesitate. He immediately ordered someone to carry a pot of boiling oil onto the stage and set the wooden hairpin inside.
Unfortunately, nothing happened after awhile.
“This is the painting you’re talking about, Red Calabash?” Weak Old Man coughed.
“Patience. Let it cook a while longer!” Red Calabash Celestial remained calm.
The crowd waited a little longer when suddenly, the wooden hairpin began swelling little by little. The longer the oil boiled, the bigger it grew until it unfurled into an exquisite-looking painting.
“A painting! It’s actually a painting!”
“How is this possible?”
“But why is it blank?”
Everyone’s eyes widened like saucers when they saw this. They couldn’t believe their eyes.
The canvas was over one meter long, but only about as wide as a human palm. Its sides were adorned with elegant golden flowers.
Strangely, the canvas was completely empty.
“Celestial…?” Xi Duoduo subconsciously looked to Red Calabash Celestial for instructions.
Red Calabash Celestial shrugged. “You gotta lift it out of the oil to see its contents.”
Hearing this, Xi Duoduo immediately reached into the pot of boiling oil and scooped the canvas out with his bare hands.
Incredibly, things went exactly as Red Calabash Celestial said. As soon as Xi Duoduo scooped the canvas out of the pot, a painting slowly appeared on its blank surface.