Chapter 258: Saint Fighter Lore's Statue

Chapter 258: Saint Fighter Lore's Statue

"Hey, you made him cry."

Xiao Yu looked at her sobbing classmate, feeling the stares drawn by the commotion, and couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

It made her seem like she was bullying her classmate, when in fact, she was the one who was usually unpopular in class. It was Xiao Zhu and Tie Niu who often mocked her and made her feel humiliated.

However, she could somewhat understand. After all, the story she told was indeed unbelievable, and only Lu Ke knew it was true.

Lu Xie, with his arms crossed, showed no remorse. Normally, he might have tried to comfort Xiao Zhu, but the current him lacked morals.

Rather than focusing on the crying child, Lu Xie was more concerned about a faint yet pure white aura inside the museum.

His gaze penetrated through the door, observing the museum's interior—the clean marble floor, the dim lighting, the bustling janitors and security guards, the bustling visitors, and the numerous exhibits in the display cabinets.

Ignoring the imposing dinosaur skeleton and a pile of ordinary objects, Lu Ke spotted a finely crafted statue. The statue was well-preserved, depicting a middle-aged man in an exotic robe, brought to life with exquisite detail. It was the source of the white aura.

Saint Fighter Lore, who had sealed the Dark Lord in the distant past and transformed his power into twelve Charm characters.

In theory, the Saint Fighter's aura didn't disappear but would cycle through his bloodline with each reincarnation. The kind-faced Lu Ke, pretending to be the Saint Fighter, was his reincarnation.

It should be noted that the abundance of white and dark auras doesn't directly equate to strength. This represents the world's favor upon you, which might allow you to find powerful artifacts or design stronger Magic Incantations. It could also manifest as pure good luck, often reflected in the depth of involvement in the plot.

Even with considerable strength, having little of both auras could still result in a one-episode character destined to die. On the other hand, there are characters like Xiao Yu, who is favored by both auras despite being an ordinary person.

However, characters with exceptional strength and intelligence, who understand the flow of events, will undoubtedly gain the favor of both auras, ensuring balance when things go awry.

Lu Xie stroked his chin, thinking that the statue was just an ordinary one, but it was probably the only Saint Fighter Lore sculpture. In today's era, creating a new one wouldn't be that difficult.

"Big...cough, Dragon Uncle! I'm talking to you!"

Lu Xie snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at Xiao Yu, who glared at him indignantly.

"It's okay. He'll stop crying once he's tired of it."

Xiao Yu rolled her eyes and turned away to comfort Xiao Zhu.

"Sorry, my uncle didn't mean it. He's a bit blunt in his speech, but he's not a bad person. How about I help you with your homework for a couple of days as compensation?"

Xiao Zhu cried and shook his head vigorously, "With your failing grades, who wants your help? I want Lu Ke to help me!"

Xiao Yu: (ー`ー)



Such kindness is like feeding a donkey with liver and lungs!

She must have lost her mind to speak up for this idiot who always mocks her at school!

After a while, Xiao Zhu gradually stopped crying, displaying unexpected self-regulation skills, probably developed by the previous Lu Ke.

Wiping his tears, Xiao Zhu spoke to Xiao Yu, "Let's go inside and look at the museum's exhibits."

Xiao Yu was a bit surprised. She thought that after Xiao Zhu's crying episode, their museum visit would be over. She didn't expect him to insist on continuing, even with swollen eyes. What reason could he have to persevere?

The answer soon became apparent.

As the three of them entered the museum, a well-dressed black couple was discussing an antique vase. Their conversation was somewhat proper, but their words were stiff, as if they had memorized information from the internet, giving off an air of pretentiousness.

"The craftsmanship of this vase resembles the style of Bagoria from the last century. Bagoria often employs traditional handmade techniques. Their ceramics are not only aesthetically pleasing but also durable, maintaining their luster and transparency over time."

"Indeed, this vase is elegantly designed. I believe the inspiration for its creation comes from natural elements, combining simplicity and modernity, resulting in a unique artistic beauty."

Xiao Zhu immediately ran up to them, hugging their legs, and looked at Xiao Yu with a proud expression.

"Mom and Dad, let me introduce you to my classmate, Xiao Yu, and her uncle, Jackie Chan."

The black couple smiled, both tilting their heads slightly.

"Hello, I was just admiring Bagoria antiques with my wife, and we didn't notice you. My apologies. I'm Xiao Zhu's father, an antique dealer."

"To those unfamiliar, this place might seem boring, but we find antiques captivating. They carry the relentless passage of time, a microcosm of history. Just gazing at them evokes endless reminiscence, which is why we brought our son here."

"Xiao Zhu's mother smiled, revealing her teeth, 'Of course, this requires a bit of appreciation.'"

The two adults continued to boast, each trying to outdo the other.

Xiao Yu sighed in disdain at their pretentious display. She discreetly tugged at Lu Xie's sleeve, speaking softly and swiftly.

"Xiao Zhu's parents are like two roosters, always craving attention and respect from others."

"It's natural to want what you lack the most."

"You said you're a jack-of-all-trades. Archaeology should be a piece of cake for you. I don't expect you to be as professional as Dragon Uncle, but just talk the talk so we can save face."

Xiao Yu lowered her expectations, not wanting to pressure Lu Xie too much.

Lu Xie patted Xiao Yu's head and scoffed, "Teenagers shouldn't be so concerned about face. What's the point of comparing faces? You should be comparing other things with others..."

Xiao Yu's thoughts drifted to her parents in Hong Kong, and she could already guess what he was about to say. Her lips twitched slightly.

"I know, you're probably talking about comparing grades, right? I'll study hard after this."

She slightly regretted asking Lu Xie for help.

"Wrong! There's no point in comparing faces. You should be comparing material possessions with others!"

Lu Xie stated firmly.

"Material possessions?"

Xiao Yu was taken aback, "What do you mean?"

"I'll buy all the artifacts in this museum and see if your classmate's parents can still keep up their pretentious act."

Xiao Yu rolled her eyes, "Don't joke..."

Mid-sentence, she recalled that the person before her had indeed done something similar. He had acquired a museum containing the Snake Charm and the Pink Lion Diamond, so she quickly stopped him.

"Don't make such a big deal out of this. It's just a...uh...contest between me and Xiao Zhu. Just don't lose face."

Lu Xie stared at Xiao Yu for a few seconds, then sighed with a hint of regret, "Fine."

He stepped forward and nodded at Xiao Zhu's parents, glancing at the vase. Although he wasn't an expert in antiques, he had an unfair advantage!

"This vase was part of the collection of Ludwig Otto Friedrich Wilhelm, the Mad King of Bagoria in the 19th century. He was known for his passionate pursuit of art."

"Ludwig built several castles, including Neuschwanstein Castle. He was also a devoted admirer and patron of Wagner, funding the construction of the Bayreuth Festival Theatre specifically for Wagner's operas. This vase was part of his personal collection."

Lu Xie recited the vase's origin and owner's history, leaving Xiao Zhu's parents dumbfounded and Xiao Yu's eyes sparkling with admiration.

His gaze shifted from the distant to the near, his words flowing without pause.

"This is 'The Joy of Life' by the French artist Henri Matisse. It's one of Matisse's most important works, clearly demonstrating the characteristics of Fauvism. The flat colors, undulating lines, and primitively charming human forms reveal the influence of Paul Gauguin."

"This is the fossil of Comptonosaurus, discovered on the Isle of Wight. It's the most complete dinosaur fossil in a century. It's a larger species of Iguanodon, and this skeleton is mostly artificial, with only a small amount of fossilized remains."

"This is Saint Fighter Lore, a powerful mage who, according to the records, liberated an enslaved people from an evil force. Unfortunately, the details are unclear."

Lu Xie approached the statue of Saint Fighter Lore, examining its intricate details.

The benevolent-looking statue held a powerful staff, and an unexplained surge of White Aura and a relatively weaker Dark Aura appeared, almost balancing the scales once more.

He needed one side to become stronger to break the balance and expand the limits. This statue was a potential breakthrough.

Xiao Zhu's father reluctantly nodded, feeling the pressure of being outclassed by an expert. His pretentious act was losing steam.

"Mr. Cheng seems very knowledgeable. What do you do for a living?"

"In reality, Cheng Long is a secret detective and kung fu star with superhuman abilities."

Lu Xie caressed the statue, feeling a bit uneasy as the White Aura from the statue seemed to affect his mood, making him slightly irritable.

Xiao Yu kicked Lu Xie awkwardly and scratched her head, "My uncle means he's an archaeologist."

"Yes, he occasionally does archaeology, but most of the time, he's searching for Charms, fighting the Shadow Troops and the Black Hand, and he's skilled in the 'Unlucky Unlucky Unlucky' comedy routine and the 'I Will Get It Back' robbery technique."

Xiao Zhu's parents were clearly lost at Lu Xie's latter comments, looking at each other in confusion without offering any opinions.

Beside her, Xiao Zhu habitually mocked, "Now I know whose nonsense Xiao Yu has been listening to. There's an uncle who can dream, so naturally, there's a niece who can dream too."

Xiao Yu frowned, clearly unhappy, but considering Xiao Zhu's parents were present, she refrained from engaging in a childish contest with him.

Lu Xie suppressed his agitated mood, withdrew his hand from caressing the sculpture, and crouched in front of Xiao Yu.

"Why don't you show your classmates some magic or charms, or even your pet? That way, they'll know you're telling the truth."

Xiao Yu hesitated, "Lu Ke said it's not good. We should follow the order."

Lu Xie snorted. They shared the same goal of liberating their true forms, but their philosophies on good and evil in human interactions were completely opposite. Moreover, his desire for attention and destruction had not yet found a suitable outlet.

"Who cares about order? What's most important is your own happiness. Don't you want to show off more and earn the admiration of your peers?"

"This..."

"You're willing to tell your classmates about your experiences, which means you have a desire for attention. I think you should either keep quiet or show them the evidence. Otherwise, you'll always be ridiculed."

Lu Xie took out a Rat Charm with his right hand, clenched it in his palm, and revealed a faint smile.

"Let's have another round, Xiao Yu. Guess which hand the Rat Charm is in. If you guess right, the charm is yours. If you guess wrong, you'll remain true to yourself and show those who ridicule you a thing or two."

Biting her lip, Xiao Yu took a step back, her eyes filled with caution.

"No, I think my current life is fine. You seem to be tempting me to fall into depravity."

Lu Xie: "..."

He frowned, feeling that his words and actions had been a bit out of control, and his emotions were a bit too intense. It must be the influence of the white aura from the statue.

There was an innate opposition between dark and light auras, and he couldn't help but feel a bit of disgust towards the white aura, especially since the white aura on the Saint Fighter statue was weak but exceptionally pure.

"Then, if you guess right, the charm is yours. If you guess wrong, you won't have to pay anything."

Lu Xie calmed himself down, feeling that he needed to vent some emotions.

Xiao Yu looked at him suspiciously, "Are you sure?"

"Sure."

"You have my word."

The Rat Charm was obviously in his right hand, but Xiao Yu predicted that Lu Xie would definitely use some means to switch it back to his left hand. The question was whether he would anticipate her prediction and keep it in his right hand.

A chain of doubts formed, and after some hesitation, Xiao Yu gave her answer, "Left hand."

Lu Xie was a bit helpless, "I didn't move at all, okay?"

"How do I know if you're pulling some trick?"

Xiao Yu said righteously, "Quick, open your hand!"

Lu Xie pursed his lips and opened his left hand. A Rat Charm was exposed under the light. He threw the charm to Xiao Yu without any hesitation.

"The Rat Charm can animate objects, giving them a life force. It's yours now."

He stood up and nodded to Xiao Zhu and his parents.

"I have something urgent to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

After saying this, he didn't pause and quickly disappeared around the corner.

Xiao Yu held the Rat Charm, still in disbelief. Did he really give it to her?

A few minutes later, the sky suddenly darkened.

A strong wind started blowing outside, and within the dark clouds, lightning flashed. The clear sky transformed into a gloomy, rainy day within a few breaths.

The tourists inside the museum began to complain.

"Huh? The sky changed so quickly. It looks like a heavy downpour is coming."

"What's the weather bureau doing? They're wasting taxpayers' money!"

"I didn't bring an umbrella."

Amidst the chaotic noise, shadows gathered, and dark energy enveloped the entire museum. Hundreds of ninja soldiers slowly emerged from the shadows, their appearance much slower than usual, as if intentionally showcasing themselves.

The crimson eyes and unique entrance elicited a chorus of exclamations.

"What's that? A monster!"

"Is this a prank? Are they filming something? Check for cameras!"

The crowd scattered like chickens when a fox enters the coop, their screams echoing.

Facing the slowly surrounding Shadow Troops, Xiao Zhu's parents also joined the chorus of screams, frantically pulling Xiao Zhu to run away.

In the shadows above the museum, a figure wearing a demon mask appeared, defying the laws of nature as he floated in the air, his cold tone sending chills down everyone's spines.

"Shadow Troop ninjas, obey my command and retrieve the charm!"

Xiao Zhu, who was being dragged, forcefully turned his head and stared in disbelief at Xiao Yu, who was slowly being surrounded by the Shadow Troops.

Xiao Yu was telling the truth?

The Shadow Troops really exist!?

The charms are real too!?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end