Void Black Market
“The Fallen God Realm…” Zero clicked his tongue. “That’s a notorious ‘meat grinder’ dungeon. Legend has it that it was the final battlefield of the ancient gods’ war. The rules are broken, spacetime is disordered, and there are divine remains and out-of-control divine power everywhere. It’s no less dangerous than the ‘Eternal Exile’. Moreover, the ‘Order of the End’ has spies everywhere outside. If we go to a high-difficulty dungeon in such a high-profile manner, we’ll easily be targeted.”
“But we have no choice.” Jiang Yu’s tone was calm but firm. “The ‘Cult of the End’ targets me and the key. Hiding won’t solve the problem; it will only give them more time to consolidate their power and lay a trap. Only by improving our strength as soon as possible and collecting the key can we fundamentally turn the situation around.”
He looked at everyone: "'The Fallen God Realm' is dangerous, but it is also an opportunity. The remnants of divinity and the chaotic rules there may help us to grasp the power of the key fragments more quickly, and even find a way to fight against 'Annihilation'. Moreover, the more dangerous the place, the harder it may be for the tentacles of the 'Order of the End' to penetrate."
Everyone understands the logic, but going to the "Fallen God Realm" is undoubtedly a huge gamble.
Rock looked at his team members. Although the doctor and the fox's eyes were solemn, they did not back down. He took a deep breath and said to Jiang Yu, "Mr. Jiang Yu, since we, 'Dawn,' have chosen to pursue the truth, we will not back down halfway. You saved our lives, and fighting against the 'Cult of the End' and the 'Core of Annihilation' is also our mission. We will go with you!"
Zero shrugged: "Don't look at me like that. I love watching a good show, especially making things even more exciting. How could I miss out on something this interesting? Besides, I'm waiting for you to become my 'sub-landlord' and give me a discount."
Seeing that everyone was determined, Jiang Yu nodded. This trust and bond formed in adversity was invaluable.
“After leaving the ‘Memory Corridor,’ we cannot go directly to the ‘Fallen God Realm.’” Jiang Yu devised a plan. “We need a transit point to obtain the latest information about the ‘Cult of the End’ and the ‘Fallen God Realm,’ and to resupply as necessary.”
He pointed to another glowing spot on the list map, a dungeon area marked "Neutral Chaos":
"Void Black Market - Exchange of Intelligence and Forbidden Items"
"Go there?" Zero raised an eyebrow. "That's a chaotic, lawless place, but it's certainly well-informed. However, with your current 'fame,' going there would be like walking into a trap, wouldn't it?"
“So we need a disguise.” Jiang Yu looked at Zero and the key fragment. “Can you and the fragment’s power create a disguise strong enough to fool most detectors?”
Zero stroked his chin, then looked at the fragment in Jiang Yu's hand, a sly glint in his eyes: "It's a bit difficult, but... it's not like we can't give it a try. The 'energy conversion' law of the key fragment, plus a little trick of mine, might be able to produce something interesting."
Without further ado, after a short rest at "Silent Heart," everyone prepared to leave.
Jiang Yu took one last look at the space that had given them a brief moment of peace, then resolutely turned away.
The road ahead is fraught with peril, and formidable enemies abound. But their steps will not falter.
Leaving the "Memory Corridor" was much smoother than entering. Perhaps it was the stardust that guided them, or perhaps it was the power of the key fragments that gave them a deeper understanding of the corridor's rules. They found a relatively stable exit and returned to the edge of that cosmic graveyard filled with countless floating ruins.
According to the map, they need to go to a special area called "Void Rift," which is one of the many unstable entrances to the "Void Black Market."
The atmosphere was heavy throughout the journey. The news Nightingale brought back weighed heavily on everyone's hearts. The rise of the "Cult of the End" and the manhunt for Jiang Yu meant that they would have to proceed with extreme caution from now on. They were no longer merely explorers of dungeons, but fugitives and rebels.
The name "Void Rift" is truly fitting. It is an extremely unstable spatial region, with countless tiny spatial cracks scattered throughout the void like shattered mirrors, shimmering with a dangerous light. Behind some cracks lie deadly spacetime turbulence, while others connect to some unspeakable place.
Zero, with his keen sense of spatial fluctuations, led the group carefully through the rift zone, avoiding the cracks that exuded an aura of destruction, and finally stopped in front of a seemingly inconspicuous dark purple crack that could only be passed by one person at a time.
“This is it.” Zero lowered his voice. “Beyond the crack lies the edge of the black market. Remember, once inside, conceal all your presence, do not easily reveal your strength, and especially do not mention the name ‘Jiang Yu.’ We are now… well, let’s call us the ‘Wandering Mercenary Group.’ I am the leader, ‘Shadow,’ Jiang Yu, you are my ace fighter, ‘Blade,’ and Pan Shi and the others are team members.”
The simple disguises were in place. Zero took a deep breath, placed his hands on the edge of the crack, and injected a gentle spatial energy, temporarily stabilizing the entrance. He was the first to crawl in, followed closely by the others.
The moment I passed through the crack, a wave of heat mixed with countless strange smells rushed towards me. My ears were instantly filled with various hawking cries, arguments, and the roars of some indescribable creatures.
Before them lay a colossal, three-dimensional city, seemingly haphazardly pieced together from countless abandoned starships, space station wrecks, and bizarre structures. Neon lights and holographic billboards flashed with dazzling texts and images, advertising weapons, intelligence, slaves, and even rare treasures from various worlds. Creatures dressed in outlandish costumes, from different races and dimensions, thronged the area, the air thick with an atmosphere of desire, danger, and chaos.
This is the Void Black Market, a lawless place, a breeding ground for intelligence and crime.
"Stay close to me, don't look around, and don't cause trouble," Zero (now known as "Shadow") whispered. He was clearly quite familiar with the area, skillfully leading the group into a narrow, garbage-filled alleyway, avoiding the most chaotic crowd on the main street.
Their objective was clear: to find reliable intelligence brokers, purchase the latest information about the "Order of the End" and the "Fallen God Realm," and replenish some special supplies.
However, the moment they set foot on the edge of the black market, they keenly sensed something was amiss. The number of armed men patrolling the streets—uniformed in black with purple trim and adorned with insignia of grotesque skulls and twisted tentacles—had noticeably increased. Their sharp eyes constantly scanned passersby, as if searching for something.
"It's the 'Purgers' squad from the 'Order of the End'!" Fox lowered his voice, his tone tense. "They really have their hands on the black market! It seems the wanted poster has had a bigger impact than we thought!"
“As expected,” Shadow (Zero) said calmly. “The black market has the best information network, and the Order will definitely have a large force here. We need to be even more careful.”
They bypassed the main roads, navigating through a maze of slums and underground passages, finally arriving at an inconspicuous iron door hidden behind a massive sewage pipe. 'Shadow' knocked rhythmically a few times, and a small window in the door slid open, revealing a pair of wary eyes that scrutinized them, paying particular attention to Jiang Yu (Ren) and the cloth-wrapped machete on his back.
“'Shadow'? Long time no see. These guys you brought… they look unfamiliar.” The voice behind the door was hoarse and deep.
“Old customer, Scarface. Don’t worry, they’re all trustworthy brothers. I’m here to buy some ‘goods.’” ’Shadow’ handed over a small bag of crystals that shimmered with energy (the black market’s common currency).
The iron gate slowly opened. Behind it was a smoky, crowded tavern, where various menacing-looking individuals whispered amongst themselves in the corners. This was the black market within the black market, a place where shady deals truly took place.
The tavern was a melting pot of people, the air thick with the scent of conspiracy. 'Shadow' led the group to the innermost booth, where a one-eyed old man with a hideous scar on his face was wiping glasses—the information broker "Scarface." Just as they sat down, a group of purifiers from the "Cult of the End," led by a sinister-looking leader, entered from the tavern entrance, their gazes sweeping across the room.
Crisis is imminent.
The atmosphere inside the cubicle was heavy. Scarface's one eye swept over 'Shadow' and the "mercenaries" he had brought, finally settling on Jiang Yu (Ren), a barely perceptible glint flashing in his single eye.
“Shadow, you’ve gotten yourself into big trouble.” Scarface put down his glass, his voice lower. “Right now, the entire black market, no, the entire Infinite Game, is frantically searching for a guy named Jiang Yu. The bounty offered by the Order of the End is enough to buy a small plane. And this brother you brought…” He looked at Jiang Yu meaningfully, “His aura doesn’t seem like that of an ordinary mercenary.”
'Shadow' (Zero) was startled, but remained outwardly calm: "Scarface, what are you saying? I, 'Shadow,' rely on my reputation in this world. These are my brothers who have risked their lives for me. They just came back from the 'Land of Exile,' so it's normal for them to have a bit of a menacing aura. As for that Jiang Yu, we have no interest in him, nor can we afford to offend him. We're here to buy some information about the 'Fallen God Realm' and... the recently popular 'Order of the End.'"
Scarface stared at 'Shadow' for a few seconds, then glanced at Jiang Yu, who remained silent but exuded an astonishing aura. Suddenly, he grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth: "Alright, I'm a regular customer, I'll trust you this time."
He pulled two dirty data crystals from under the counter and pushed them over: "The latest star map and safe route to 'Fallen God Realm' (if that place is even safe), as well as public intelligence and some internal structure analysis of 'The Order of the End,' are all inside. Price: triple."
"Three times? Why don't you just rob someone!" the doctor couldn't help but exclaim.
"That's the price." The scarred man glared with his one eye. "How risky is it to gather this kind of intelligence these days? The Cult is keeping a close eye on us! Take it or leave it!"
'Shadow' stopped the doctor who was about to argue and readily took out two more bags of energy crystals: "Deal. Also, prepare three more doses of 'Advanced Cognitive Interference Agent' and one set of 'Spatial Beacon Disruptor' for us."
Upon hearing the last two items, Scarface's eyes flickered slightly: "Oh? Planning to pull off something even more exciting? Looks like there's some treasure at 'Fallen God Realm'... Alright, add this amount." He quoted another high price.
The transaction was completed in a tense atmosphere. Just as 'Shadow' put away the data crystal and the purchased items, preparing to leave with his people, the curtain of the cubicle was rudely pulled open.
The group of "Cult of the End" purgers who had just entered the tavern, led by a man with sinister eyes, was coldly watching them. His gaze went straight past the 'shadow' and locked onto Jiang Yu.
"You, remove the disguise from your face," the sinister man commanded, his voice icy and carrying an unquestionable authority. A device in his hand was emitting a faint detection fluctuation targeting high-concentration ordered energy! Although the power of the key fragment helped Jiang Yu conceal most of her aura, at close range, this specially designed detector still detected a slight anomaly.
The tavern fell silent instantly, all eyes fixed on the small booth. Scarface's expression changed, and he quietly took a step back, indicating that it was none of his business.
A crisis is imminent!
Jiang Yu (Ren) slowly raised her head, her eyes calm and unwavering beneath the mask, but her hand was already on the cloth bag containing the machete on her back. Pan Shi and the others also tensed their muscles, ready to fight to the death.
'Shadow' (Zero) immediately stepped forward, blocking Jiang Yu's path, and put on a businessman's smile: "Sir, is there some misunderstanding? My brother here is cold-hearted and doesn't like to talk, but he's definitely a law-abiding citizen..."
"Get out of my way!" The sinister man impatiently swung his arm, a surge of dark purple energy sending 'Shadow' staggering back several steps, crashing into the partition! "I'll give you one more order: show your true face! Otherwise, kill without mercy!"
The Purgers raised their weapons in unison, pointing their energy guns at Jiang Yu.
At this critical moment—
"Bang!"
A loud bang and explosion suddenly came from the other end of the tavern!
It seems a deal between some gangs broke down, and they started fighting! Instantly, the entire tavern descended into chaos, energy beams flew wildly, and patrons screamed and fled in all directions.
"Damn it!" the sinister man cursed, forced to distract himself from the stray bullets and the chaotic scene.
"Opportunity! Let's go!" 'Shadow' shouted, grabbing the things he had just bought, signaling everyone to take advantage of the chaos and escape through the back door of the tavern.
Jiang Yu gave the sinister-looking man one last cold glance, memorizing his appearance, before quickly catching up with the group and disappearing into the shadows of the chaotic back alley.
Although they escaped by sheer luck, Jiang Yu's identity had already aroused the suspicion of the "Cult of the End." The black market was no longer safe; they had to leave as soon as possible and head to the "Fallen God Realm." And that sinister leader of the Purifiers would likely not give up easily.
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