Changsun Jing’s face was a mask of resentment, anger, and regret. He could barely stand, yet he forced himself to continue practicing his saber.
Losing his abilities had shattered his mindset. At this moment, asking how to strengthen himself felt rather inappropriate.
After leaving the backyard, Wen Wen felt a sense of melancholy.
The path of a demon hunter was like walking on thin ice. One moment of carelessness, one accident, and one could plunge into the icy depths, never to resurface.
Losing his abilities was, in fact, a form of luck. Becoming like Grandy was true tragedy.
...
Back in his office, Wen Wen began searching for information on his computer.
Even if Changsun Jing didn't provide answers, he could find information elsewhere.
After entering his demon hunter number and verifying his identity, Wen Wen logged into the demon hunter website.
Since officially joining the Hunter Association, Wen Wen had abandoned the detective website. Compared to the demon hunter website, the content related to supernatural powers on the detective website was merely a drop in the ocean.
On this website, Wen Wen could access all the information he was authorized to see.
For instance, the characteristics of common monsters, wanted criminals by the Hunter Association, and he could even purchase supernatural items and materials for special rituals.
Of course, both acquiring knowledge and purchasing items required the Hunter Association's internal currency, Demon Hunter Coins.
Information on exploration realms, materials, supernatural items, and the like, generally cost less than one thousand Demon Hunter Coins.
Items related to the mastery realm typically cost less than ten thousand Demon Hunter Coins.
Items from the assimilation realm were far more valuable. Wen Wen even saw a back scratcher priced at nine million Demon Hunter Coins... from Sudancn.com.
As for items from the ‘True Self’ realm, Wen Wen hadn't seen any at all.
The two guns Gu Panxi had helped Wen Wen purchase were bought with Demon Hunter Coins and were worth ten thousand Demon Hunter Coins.
Through his diligent contribution in various missions, Wen Wen now possessed over five thousand Demon Hunter Coins, making him quite wealthy among demon hunters, especially considering how frequently he undertook missions.
This time, Wen Wen intended to see if the website had any sword technique cultivation manuals. It was better to buy a complete set than to ask a few people for brief advice.
However, with a simple search, Wen Wen found a large number of similar manuals.
Their names were quite impressive, such as "Sword God Technique," "Bixie Sword Manual," "XXX Secret Sword Style," and so on. Their prices were also quite low, with the most expensive being less than a hundred Demon Hunter Coins.
It would be rash to label these items as fakes, but most people wouldn't be able to achieve much by practicing with these manuals.
These items held little value for supernaturals.
At most, they could satisfy a childhood fantasy of being a chivalrous hero. An ordinary supernatural practicing with one of these for ten years would gain less benefit than developing a new skill on their own.
After careful selection, Wen Wen chose a manual titled "Hunter Association Basic Sword Technique." He didn't lack high-end knowledge; he lacked the fundamentals.
After payment, the sword technique was downloaded to his computer. Wen Wen then transferred it to his phone and continued browsing.
To his surprise, he found some interesting items.
For example, a weapon called 'Buddha's Gatling' that, with every bullet fired, was accompanied by a Buddhist mantra, capable of dealing explosive damage to most monsters.
Unfortunately, it was too expensive, costing over thirty thousand Demon Hunter Coins, which Wen Wen couldn't afford.
Another item was a Beast Tamer's Handbook, originating from a legendary demon hunter in the Golden Eagle region, affectionately known by everyone as Master Monument.
This Master Monument had captured many monsters, but instead of harming them, he had subjected them to rigorous training, turning them into his assistants on his demon hunting journeys.
This handbook was priced at three hundred Demon Hunter Coins.
"Is this really useful? If I bought it, Tao Qingqing, Hu Youling... hehehe."
Don't get the wrong idea. Wen Wen only wanted them to run errands for him; he had no ill intentions.
"Tsk tsk, so many people have bought it. It seems there are quite a few like-minded individuals in the association."
Next, Wen Wen opened the comment section for the handbook and found that all of them were negative reviews.
"Everyone, don't buy it. This thing is a scam. I wanted to tame a werewolf, but it turned into a Teddy bear!"
"My octopus monster, after following the methods in this handbook, now clings to me all the time, it's so annoying!" This was a comment from a female demon hunter.
"The day after using the methods from here, my backside hurt a lot..."
...
Wen Wen stroked his chin and said, "Why do these bad reviews make me want to buy it even more? Aren't these comments just fake promotions by the seller?"
Fortunately, Lin Zhe Yuan pushed open the door just in time, stopping Wen Wen's mischievous hand and saving the monsters in the containment facility from further trials.
Lin Zhe Yuan sat opposite Wen Wen and tossed a box to him.
Wen Wen caught the box and asked, "What is this?"
"Do you remember the materials from those monsters you gave me last time?"
Wen Wen nodded. Of course, he remembered. Lin Zhe Yuan hadn't paid him for those yet.
"I sent those materials to the North Sea Province Branch. Yesterday, the branch sent back the reward, which is what you have in your hand. I told you earlier that the reward was uncertain, so don't complain."
Wen Wen pouted and complained, "Hearing you say that, it doesn't sound like a good thing..."
He opened the box and found a simple, old-fashioned cigarette holder. At first glance, it seemed nothing special.
Lin Zhe Yuan pointed to the cigarette holder and explained, "This is a containment item called the 'Prismatic Smoke Holder'."
"A containment item? The provincial association is so generous, giving me a containment item for just those scraps?" Wen Wen picked up the cigarette holder and played with it, admiring it.
"Containment items are also graded. Not all containment items are dangerous or precious. Most containment items just have magical properties but aren't very useful."
Wen Wen twirled the cigarette holder in his hand. This item was probably one of those "not very useful" containment items Lin Zhe Yuan mentioned.
Lin Zhe Yuan explained, "This cigarette holder cannot be used to smoke real tobacco, but it can change color and shape according to your will. As soon as you place your mouth on it and inhale, smoke will enter your mouth, and this smoke can also change color and shape."
"And then?" Wen Wen continued to ask.
Lin Zhe Yuan shrugged and said, "There's no 'then'."
Wen Wen's twirling motion stopped. He said drily, "That's it?"
Lin Zhe Yuan nodded. "That's right, that's it."
"...In that case, you might as well have bought me an 8848 mobile phone. That would have been much more impressive."
After saying that, Wen Wen placed his mouth on the cigarette holder and blew out a puff of smoke. The smoke condensed in the air into a peculiar shape: a giant middle finger.
Lin Zhe Yuan felt both amused and exasperated. He waved his hand, dispersing the smoke.
This Wen Wen, at times, had a temper like a child, which was rather exasperating.