Chapter 167 - - 167 Trade_1

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He touched Selma.

Duge’s attributes surged once again.

Moreover,

the system rewarded him with two hundred points of spiritual power.

Indeed, stirring the waters can net the biggest fish.

Mermaids are fish too.

One Sea Beast, one Sea Demon!

Two of them!

Duge, beaming with joy, said, “No need, I’ve acquired an adventure and already possess a long life.”

Influenced by the principle of “Don’t hit a smiling person,” Selma retracted her spear and unconsciously revealed a smile. “That’s even better then. A prolonged life needs companions, and that old geezer, the Sea God, is too dreary. Besides, that old geezer must maintain his dignity, constantly restricting me. It’s been so long since I’ve seen such an interesting little fellow like you! Paul, I very much agree with your viewpoint. There shouldn’t be a second Sea God in the world. If one wants to be someone, be a fun person – happiness above all else.”

“Right, happiness above all else,” Duge snapped his fingers and then, changing his tone, said shyly, “Selma, do you have any artifacts for self-protection in your collection? As you know, although I have a long life, my own strength is still quite weak. If I die, you’ll have one less companion to share happiness with.”

“Of course I do,” said Selma, looking at Duge and patting the seashell on her chest. “I have a substitution puppet, it can create a real you and block a death for you; I have the Stone of Glory, which grants immunity to any negative effects when worn; I have the indestructible Sword of the Giant Dragon that grants whoever holds it the strength and courage of a dragon… Which one would you like?”

Gulp!

Eddie and Barry both involuntarily swallowed their saliva. This was the wealth of the Sea Demon Selma…

Too bad the part about spending a fortune to have children was fake.

Otherwise, they’d risk their lives to get their hands on these treasures!

“I want them all,” said Duge.

“As expected of the bad guy who came up with spending a fortune for offspring, always greedy,” laughed Selma. She shook her head, “You can only choose one, and you must give me a price I’m satisfied with. Those are the rules, and no one can defy them.”

“How many times can we trade then?” Duge asked.

“Once,” Selma replied, holding up a finger.

“Can I choose to strengthen my soul?” asked Duge.

Only spiritual power could be taken out from the simulation field.

Choosing other treasures, even if he won the simulation field championship, wouldn’t mean much.

Moreover, he was already the strongest in the field, with Selma and Enke as two super bodyguards. Who in this world could harm him?

Those Sullivan Family goods?

Not that Duge looked down on them, but it seemed the contestants in this so-called elite arena had been poisoned too deeply by the Gou Path teachings.

Every single one of them only thought about hiding their identities, dragging out the late game. Their performances were even worse than the green rookies from the first simulation field, not providing any challenge whatsoever.

“Of course,” Selma said with a smile. “But the price for strengthening the soul is not low.”

“Two ideas that can make the world more fun, is that enough?” Duge asked.

“Not enough,” Selma shook her head.

“How about three?” Duge pressed, “Selma, considering that we are partners…”

“Paul, you are very clever, and I do like you,” said Selma, shaking her head solemnly. “But rules are rules. Everyone must follow them. There is a balance in my heart. If the price you offer is insufficient, I cannot bestow the power onto you.” Selma continued, “The exchange is always fair. If I could easily trade with anyone, I would be the Sea God, not a Sea Demon.”

So it’s the world rules!

In that case, Selma’s trade was clearly not as good as his.

Such a formidable figure, yet without the power to set prices.

What a pity.

Duge sighed inwardly, contemplated for a moment, then looked at Selma. “What if one day, I die accidentally, or my soul leaves this body? If that happens, this body is yours, how about that?”

“Deal.”

Selma’s eyes brightened and she snapped her fingers.

The next moment,

a golden balance appeared above Selma’s head.

On both ends of the scale,

one side was the virtual Duge, and on the other lay Paul’s small body.

The scales were initially tilted, but gradually they reached equilibrium.

At the moment the balance leveled completely,

the scale vanished, and a golden light flew into Duge’s forehead.

Right after,

on Duge’s personal panel in front of him, the number representing spiritual power instantly doubled, soaring from 1500 to 3000.

And moreover,

the soul enhancement seemed to be more than just an increase in spiritual power; he felt as if the world itself had become much clearer to him.

Previously, Duge’s five senses could extend about 1,000 meters outward. After his soul was enhanced, his perception expanded by another 500 meters, and his sensitivity to the finer details greatly improved.

Although he couldn’t see as clearly as he could with his eyes behind his head, he could almost vividly picture the surroundings in his mind, especially moving objects, which he perceived even more specifically.

Perfect!

Caught another BUG!

“How does it feel?” Selma asked with a smile.

“Absolutely fantastic,” Duge replied.

“Paul, you’re a smart man. Artifacts and the like are external forces, only by improving oneself can one become stronger and stronger,” Selma said, “The day you grow into a true Sea God, I won’t be surprised in the least.”

Enke once again waved its tentacles.

Selma glanced back at it and said dismissively, “Alright, I know, he is the reincarnation of the Sea God.”

Under her cloak, Marsha rolled her eyes speechlessly.

“Selma, a person can only make a deal once, right?” Duge asked.

“Of course,” Selma replied, “If unlimited deals were possible, I could create a Sea God out of thin air. I could not possibly create a being more powerful than myself.”

Duge nodded and turned to look at Barry, smiling and saying, “Barry, you’ve heard it too, I might become the King of Pirates or I might become a new God Spirit. In any case, I am fated to become a new legend in this world. Do you have the desire to be the sword-bearer by the side of a legend, sharing eternal fame with me?”

Barry was stunned.

Selma was also stunned.

Marsha was equally stunned.

“Now, the opportunity is right before your eyes,” Duge encouraged with a smile, “For my sake, Selma would certainly be very willing to make this deal with you.”

Barry fell into silence.

He, of course, wanted to trade with Selma, but only for what he wanted. What the hell was a sword-bearer?

Selma frowned slightly, feeling that something was amiss, but couldn’t put her finger on what exactly.

No one had ever found a loophole in her deals before.

After all.

For many people, it was not easy to even see her.

Moreover, the items obtained from her dealings always came with a hefty price; most people would cherish them, so how could they possibly become mere sword-bearers?

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to say no; perhaps deep down, she too wished for her partners to become powerful.

“Paul, if possible, I would prefer to obtain longevity,” Barry hesitated and then ventured.

“Barry, longevity is a cruel torture,” Duge sighed, shaking his head, “Once you have it, you will watch your loved ones, your friends, leave you one by one. When you lose the first loved one, you will be sad; when you lose the second, you will still be sad. But the third, the fourth? Will you keep on being sad?

No.

You will gradually become cold-blooded, even numb.

In the end, even if a loved one dies in front of you, you will remain indifferent. When you live long enough, you will forget many things, just like you have forgotten who sat behind you in elementary school. Eventually, you will avoid everything, becoming a living dead, uninterested in anything. Barry, is this really what you want?”

“…” Barry furrowed his brow, “But just now, you said that you had obtained longevity.”

“But I also traded my body to Selma; I am ready to die,” Duge shrugged and continued, “I never intended to live that long. As soon as I’ve had enough fun, I will naturally leave.”

“But Selma also has a long life,” Barry said.

“Yes, otherwise, why do you think she is so interested in finding fun?” Duge said with a smile as he glanced at Selma, “Life has become meaningless to her.”

Selma’s face suddenly changed, and she felt uncomfortably exposed, as if seen through. Reluctantly, she countered, “I’m not, I’ve always been happy.”

Duge smiled and continued, “Logically speaking, the Sea God also has a long life, and he even has great power and his own daughter. But now, I think, he has probably disintegrated himself! He’s even psychologically twisted enough to have sealed his own daughter. Barry, do you still want longevity?”

“…” Marsha Hewitt.

“No longer,” Barry hesitated for a moment and then shook his head.

“So, come and be my sword-bearer! Follow by my side, live a glorious life to the fullest, amass incalculable wealth, and establish a great Sullivan Family with the flying fish as your family crest. In the future, when your descendants speak your name, they will feel the utmost glory,” Duge said with sincere and passionate enthusiasm.

Selma watched Duge with an intense gaze, as if seeing a new possibility before her, learning a new trick.

“Captain, is it possible to trade directly for power?” Barry instinctively did not want to be that sword-bearer.

“Barry, you have always been my most trusted first mate; don’t disappoint me,” Duge frowned, “Selma is my partner, and my opinion matters a lot in whom she decides to trade with. If you don’t want to be the sword-bearer, you will lose everything you have now.”

Barry’s face changed immediately, “Alright, I’m willing.”

Duge nodded in satisfaction, “Selma, I’ve helped you close another deal.”

Selma was speechless, looking at Barry, who had been tricked, and asked, “Barry, what price are you willing to pay for the Sword of the Giant Dragon?”

“Sorrow, I am willing to give up the emotion of sorrow,” Barry sighed, looking at Duge and then at Selma, “From now on, I will also be someone who will never be sad.”

Once Barry and Selma had completed their trade.

Duge then turned to Eddie, formerly under Mahamadu’s command, with a beaming smile, “Eddie, would you like to be my Stone of Glory?”

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