Chapter 117 Secret Exchange Conditions

"I'm trading the future depreciation of this weapon for this high-definition memory of my father's teachings."

A white halo emanated from Zhou Zhiheng's body—the transaction was successful.

The spear instantly became worn and covered in rust. The image of the father in the center of the room became clear and real.

"He's definitely a shrewd businessman," Ning Shuyin thought to herself.

What appears to be an equal exchange is actually a shrewd deal that leverages information asymmetry, trading the future for a precious present.

Zhou Zhiheng made a profit. However, the space remained unchanged, and the exit did not appear.

Not only that.

Ning Shuyin sensed the energy fluctuations in the surrounding air, with a faint backflow, like a deposit that had been refunded after being rejected by the system.

Zhou Zhiheng frowned.

"No," he muttered to himself. A moment later, his brow relaxed.

“Perhaps I should use my superpower to directly trade for exports.” He activated his superpower again, “I will use the profits from the Sirius mine over the next five years to exchange for information about exports.”

A white light emanated from his body again. The outline of a door appeared on the wall. But the door was only a faint, indistinct phantom.

“We can continue to change,” Zhou Zhiheng said confidently.

“I’ll exchange all of Zhou’s funds in the Three Star District for the stability of that door.”

The space shifted again. The door became clear and materialized.

However, the door displayed a complex combination lock.

Ning Shuyin felt that something was increasingly wrong.

She released her senses to investigate. She discovered that the surrounding energy backflow had become even more turbulent.

This space became even more unfathomable. Zhou Zhiheng beside him kept raising the price.

However, these transactions were like a bottomless pit. The locks on the door became increasingly complicated.

The unlocking solution they received was a more advanced algorithm.

Zhou Zhiheng wanted to analyze the algorithm, but it required a huge investment of energy, and the new transactions would be astronomical.

The more people try to "buy" exports, the higher the prices will be driven up, creating a vicious cycle with no solution.

Zhou Zhiheng had already realized this when the combination lock appeared on the door.

He looked towards the center of the room. His father's cold figure softened, and he smiled as he looked at young Zhou Zhiheng.

That scene, like a priceless treasure, was displayed before him.

Zhou Zhiheng's breathing became rapid; he was completely captivated by his father's expression.

“I understand.” He seemed to have found the final key.

"I'm using all the emotional memories I have of my father..." His voice trembled, "to exchange for the right to leave!"

He was going to use his most precious possession to make one last desperate gamble.

The energy lock on the door flickered but did not open. However, the middle-aged man sitting cross-legged in the center of the room vanished in that instant.

Zhou Zhiheng's body trembled.

He sat down helplessly in the training room and waved his hand.

The room view has been reset.

The blurry silhouette of his father and his younger self returned to their original forms.

Seven days have passed within the space.

Here, there was no hunger, nor drowsiness. The only thing diminishing was their combined supernatural energy.

Each perception, each exchange. These expenditures are real.

But an exit still hasn't appeared. They have almost nothing left to try.

Zhou Zhiheng sat on the ground, his composure finally replaced by unease.

He is used to being in control of everything and to measuring everything by value.

But this problematic space caused all his high-stakes gambles to fail.

Ning Shuyin looked at him, her thoughts churning.

“Perhaps… we should try a different approach,” Ning Shuyin said softly.

She walked up to Zhou Zhiheng and sat down beside him.

"This space follows your rules, an exchange of equal value. But you've been exchanging existing value for known clues, yet it keeps raising the price."

She stretched out her hand, palm facing upwards. A faint glow—her last remaining supernatural ability.

Perception, healing, and combat intertwine to form a miniature vortex of light.

Is it possible that what this space requires is an exchange that defies common sense?

Zhou Zhiheng looked up at her, a look of confusion flashing in his purple eyes.

"Contrary to common sense?"

"Hmm." Ning Shuyin's tone was also uncertain. "I'm your employee. Do you want to try... using all my value to exchange for..."

She paused, looked directly into his eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then continued: "...go and exchange your vulnerability."

Sure enough, Zhou Zhiheng frowned.

He didn't want to admit it. But he had no choice but to.

This space sealed away all his emotional memories—his most unacknowledged vulnerability was laid bare before her.

Ning Shuyin pushed her palm towards him.

In Zhou Zhiheng's exchange model, her value skyrocketed to infinity.

After all, in this galaxy, she is the only one who possesses all three types of superpowers.

However, her powers are dwindling. This makes the exchange incredibly fragile.

"I'm willing, let's switch."

The power formed by the intertwining of three rare supernatural abilities instantly enveloped him.

Zhou Zhiheng's fingertips trembled slightly. He could sense her resolve. Once the exchange was successful, her value would be forever fixed in this space.

They will not regain their freedom just because of the termination of that $5 trillion contract.

Just to ease his vulnerability.

From the very first lesson he received at birth, he was told that everything in the world has a price.

This was the first time he had tried to make a priceless exchange.

It was the first time I had ever been treated so unreservedly.

In this space, emotions are amplified. His rationality becomes very weak.

At this moment, the scales in his heart began to tip.

The girl in front of him stared intently at him, waiting for him to initiate the transaction.

Many things about her floated into his mind.

Her courage at Galaxy Cinema.

Her decisiveness at the K99 ruins.

And what he later learned through secret surveillance was that she had saved the Alice Space Station.

He reached out and grabbed Ning Shuyin's hand, which was brimming with supernatural power.

"No, you don't need to change."

He wrapped his hand around her small hand and returned all his supernatural power to her body: "I'll do it."

Ning Shuyin was taken aback.

Zhou Zhiheng, however, had already activated the exchange space.

"boom!"

As Zhou Zhiheng silently recited the exchange conditions in his mind, the entire memory space emitted a mournful cry of unbearable burden.

The spatial rules crumbled inch by inch, and the surrounding scenery became blurry and distorted.

Zhou Zhiheng covered his forehead and let out a muffled groan.

His exchange clearly triggered a backlash from his supernatural abilities.

The transaction ended, but the export still hasn't occurred.

Zhou Zhiheng's body trembled slightly. The pain from the backlash of his superpower made him extremely weak, and he slumped onto Ning Shuyin's shoulder.

"Zhou Zhiheng! Wake up! What did you exchange?" Ning Shuyin cried out worriedly.

"Don't shout so loudly, I'm not dead." His warm breath sprayed on her neck.

His tone was devoid of arrogance and haughtiness, replaced only by dependence: "Ning Shuyin... hold me tighter."

He gripped her hand tightly, his fingertips icy cold, his palm burning hot: "This time, I've really lost out big time."

He looked up, his purple eyes reflecting tears.

"Only in this space, under the influence of these damn emotions, would I do something so stupid."

"Outside... I would never."