Ground Stars / 地上星 · Ch.148 第148章 棚区夺石 -3
第148章 棚区夺石 –3
Chapter 148: The Stone-Snatching in the Peng Zone –3
黑龙山聚集地。
Black Dragon Mountain Settlement.
如褐黄枯木般的圆柱形神石旁，一堆堆篝火熊熊燃烧，将四周照得如同白昼。 泱泱一片人举著火把与刀剑，等待著某个收集神石之人的到来。
Beside the pillar-shaped divine stone, as brown and withered as parched wood, bonfires blazed fiercely, illuminating the surroundings like broad daylight. A vast crowd held torches and swords aloft, awaiting the arrival of someone who had gathered the divine stones.
「大甲方，呵，收集那么多神石，我看一起留在我们这里就好了。」
“Big Jia, ha, you’ve collected so many divine stones—how about leaving them all here with us?”
这人骑在头凶兽上，身姿矫健，手中紧握著长鞭，眼神中透露出一种不容置疑的霸气。
The rider atop a fierce beast, agile and powerful, gripped a long whip tightly in hand, his eyes exuding an unyielding dominance.
突然，一阵急促的破风声打破了这份宁静，由远及近，如同狂风骤雨般席卷而来。
Suddenly, a burst of urgent wind-breaking sound shattered the stillness, surging in from afar like a raging storm.
随之出现的是天际的几道小光团。
Following it came a few small orbs of light on the horizon.
「传说中的记者？」
“The legendary reporters?”
「他们出现必有名人到来，肯定是大甲方来了！」
“Their arrival always heralds a celebrity—it must be Big Jia coming!”
众人紧了紧手上的武器。
The crowd tightened their grips on their weapons.
｛给我们神石，有大用。｝
{Hand over the divine stones to us—they’re of great use.}
人未显，Moexl的光芒已经出现，黑龙山棚区银白Moexl之人都接受到了这份资讯。
Before the figure appeared, the Moxel’s glow had already emerged, and all those in Black Dragon Mountain’s Peng Zone, connected to the silver Moxel, received this message.
[黑龙王为我投资了1R.]
[The Black Dragon King invested 1 R in me.]
「甲子间，滚出来，交出手上神石，否则以后见到你们的人，尽数灭之。」
“Jiazi Term, get out here hand over the divine stones, or from now on, we’ll wipe out every one of your people we come across.”
接受了这棚主一天投资的左非闲在Moexl中叫骂道：
Having accepted a day’s investment from the Penglord, Zuo Feixian shouted through the Moxel:
｛让你丫的长脸了。｝
{You really think you’re something now, don’t you.}
「甲子间居然是这样的浑人，呵，我就在这里，来，看看神石到底属于谁。」
“So this ‘Jiazi Term’ is such a lout. Hah, I’m right here. Come on, let’s see who the Divine Stone truly belongs to.”
轰隆一声，这块石头附近爆发出强劲风浪。
With a thunderous boom, a fierce gale erupted around the stone.
所有人顿时陷入慌乱之中，仿佛被世界遗弃，浑身感觉都不自在。
Everyone was instantly thrown into disarray, as if abandoned by the world, their entire beings feeling inexplicably uneasy.
「雕虫小技。」
“A mere parlor trick.”
身材魁梧如熊的黑龙王身上扩散出三角形Moexl，他在心中喊道：
The black dragon king, whose stature was as burly as a bear, emanated triangular Moxel around him. He roared in his mind:
[兄弟们，第一梯队为我投资，注意每次缓慢给我时序，不要超了。]
“Brothers, First Echelon, Invest for me. Pay attention to Chronos, feed it to me slowly; don’t exceed the limit.”
[李骧为我投资300N.]
“Li Xiang, Invest 300N for me.”
[王鹤孟为我投资175N.]
“Wang Hemeng, Invest 175N for me.”
[赵松为我投资200N.]
“Zhao Song, Invest 200N for me.”
[山里横为我投资200N.]
“Mountain Heng, Invest 200N for me.”
[王鹤孟为我追加投资200N.]
“Wang Hemeng, add another Invest of 200N for me.”
密密麻麻的小光点自丝线汇聚至其胸膛前的圆环内。
Dense, tiny points of light converged along the silk threads into the ring before his chest.
二十来人每次两三百的给棚主投资，没两秒这轮融资就结束了。
Over twenty people each Invested two to three hundred for Penglord, and within two seconds, this round of financing was complete.
嗡！他背后如孔雀开屏般展现出纷彩光线，光芒一抖，二十多条羽毛纹路般的东西射入众人身体，他们身上都长出虚无的怪物，每个怪物头颅都如同一尾孔雀羽毛。
*HUM!* Behind him, multicolored rays of light fanned out like a peacock spreading its tail. With a single flicker, over twenty feather-stripe-shaped entities shot into everyone’s bodies. Each of them grew a phantom monster, each monster’s head resembled a single peacock feather.
白影念龙轰地冲出。
The Paleshade Wyrm burst forth with a roar.
数十个羽毛怪物也张开诡异的修长双臂搅动而来，全都带着金色辉光。
Dozens of feathered monsters also spread their bizarre, elongated arms and surged forward, all glowing with a golden radiance.
小光团旋转着往下。
The small orb of light spiraled downward.
[我抵消了900N.]
[I offset 900N.]
[好多对手，它们的时序都有五六百以上。我抵消了6700N.]
[So many opponents, all with Chronos levels of five to six hundred or more. I offset 6700N.]
[我抵消了11000N！]
[I offset 11000N!]
白影念龙刚冲入人群不远就被密密麻麻的手掌将身上的红光抵消至金光，它赶紧消失。
Just as Paleshade Wyrm plunged into the crowd, countless palms drained its crimson light to golden, forcing it to vanish in haste.
枢纽镇中，看着这一幕的众人仔细审视着黑龙王的能力。
In Hubville, the onlookers scrutinized the Black Dragon King’s abilities as they watched.
这人隐藏得极深，此时正是一窥其实力的好时候。
This man had concealed himself deeply, and now was the perfect opportunity to glimpse his true strength.
米天禄道：「原来这家伙能分化出二十多个念力分身，不知道是不是极限。」
Mi Tianlu remarked, “So this guy can split into over twenty thought constructs. Wonder if that’s his limit.”
「羡慕，要是进我们团队就好了。」
“I envy him. Wish he’d join our team.”
房间中人暗赞。
The others in the room noted their approval.
大棚区内。
Inside the Great Peng Zone.
「哼，怎么样，别以为天底下就你一个人有念能力。」
“Hmph, think you’re the only one with mental prowess in this world?”
「看来，这座棚区是你一个人建设起来的，这里风评虽然不是很好，但至少供给千人以生存之所，我不想取你性命，把神石交出来，我们很忙。」
“Looks like you built this Peng Zone all by yourself. Though its reputation isn’t great, it still provides shelter for thousands to survive. I don’t want to take your life—hand over the Divine Stone; we’re busy.”
「真是不知所谓，你连靠近我都做不到，在那边哔哔什么。」
“Utterly clueless. You can’t even get close to me, so what are you blabbering about?”
黑龙王刚说完。
The Black Dragon King had just finished speaking.
一杆拥有暗沉细纹的长枪贴着他的鼻头从天际坠落。
A lance, marked with a dark grainy pattern, streaked down from the sky, skimming past his nose.
[我抵消了5000N.]
[I offset 5000N.]
下一秒，这杆枪上燃起了红色虚焰。
The next moment, crimson phantom flames ignited along the barrel of the gun.
咚！胯下野兽哀嚎声都没发出就到地死亡。
Thud! The beast beneath him collapsed and died without even a whimper.
众人哗地惊呼出声，看向倒在地上的黑龙王。
The crowd gasped in shock, turning to stare at the fallen Black Dragon King.
「棚主！」
“Penglord!”
「大哥，你怎么样。」
“Boss, are you alright?”
「咳，我没事。」
“Cough… I’m fine.”
几人跑来将他扶起，大伙刚才都吓死了。
Several people rushed over to help him up, all of them having just been scared out of their wits.
黑龙王刚想拽住前方的长枪，它嗖地快速缩向地面。
The Black Dragon King tried to grab hold of the Lance in front of him, but it rapidly retracted into the ground with a whoosh.
「别怪我没提醒你，看上方。」杨子藏叫到。
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Look above.” Yang ZiCang called out.
「什么！」
“What?!”
火光中，黑龙王抬头望去，头顶上方悬浮出道小黑洞，携带红芒的长枪缓缓从其中冒头，如同死亡的凝视，稳稳对准了自己。
Amidst the fiery glow, the Black Dragon King looked up. Hovering directly overhead was a small black hole, from which the crimson-glowing Lance slowly emerged, like the gaze of death, firmly aimed straight at him.
它刚才明明还在地下！
It was still underground just a moment ago!
「你应该知道我们刚从绯月级交错地那边，靠卖香丸赚到了多少时序，把神石交出来。否则，我不介意再来一场几十万时序的战斗。」
“You should know by now how many Chronos we made back at that Crimson Moon-class Intersection Zone selling those Incense Pellets. Hand over the Godstone. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind fighting another battle worth hundreds of thousands of Chronos.”
「你们！」
“You bastard!”
黑龙王震怒，但死亡的压迫如有实质。
The Black Dragon King was furious, but the oppression of death was palpable.
他早就听说了，之前听都未听过的大甲方货队，这次靠着A级失频之地一举赚得了二三十万的时序，相当骇人。
He had already heard that the unknown big spender, Cargo Crew, had shockingly raked in two to three hundred thousand Chronos this time from their A-rank Shibin Wastes venture.
这已经在获知消息的各大棚区负责人处，传为了神操案例。
That had already spread like a textbook operation among the senior Peng Zone overseers who had caught wind of it.
大家几乎将其运作方法制成了「批品贴」，在内部讨论学习，自己前两天也才刚跟几位副棚主研究过。
Almost everyone has turned his operational methods into a ‘batch paste’ for internal discussion and learning; it was only two days ago that I myself studied it with a few Deputy Penglords.
若不是里面的宝物被时迁盗走，再赚下去就有人忍不住要去试着分杯羹了，因为已经有人与自己联系过。
If the treasures inside hadn’t been stolen by Shi Qian, with the profits rolling in, someone would have inevitably jumped in to claim a share—because someone had already contacted me.
「几十万时序的战斗…罢了，让开，让他们拿走。」
“A battle of hundreds of thousands of Chronos… forget it, stand aside, let them take it.”
「棚主！」
“Penglord!”
「没有它我们得浪费多少Moexl。」
“Without it, how much Moxel will we have to waste.”
轰！长枪瞬间从一道劝说的身影旁穿透，将他的耳朵炸出鲜血。那人吓得失禁。
Boom! In an instant, Lance pierced through a bystander who tried to mediate, exploding his ear with blood. The man was so frightened he lost control of his bladder.
人群哗地退后几步，让出了条通道。
The crowd recoiled in shock, creating a path.
「谢谢。」
“Thanks.”
幻影般的列车往前而去，停在圆柱石头边上。
The phantom-like train glided forward, coming to a halt beside a cylinder-shaped stone.
「呵呵！各位，烤火呢。」
“Huh! Everyone’s warming up by the fire, huh?”
洛宾跳下来嬉笑了句，众人怒目而视。
Robin Lo jumped down with a unserious remark, earning a glare of fiery looks from the crowd.
「正经点，敌人说不定都要到了。」
“Get real. The enemy could be here any minute.”
「喔。」洛宾赶紧吐了口唾沫在手上搓了搓，扬起锄头挥动了起来。
“Oh.” Robin Lo hurriedly spat a wad of saliva into his hands, rubbed them together, and hoisted his pickaxe to swing.
「敌人？」
“Enemy?”
黑龙王靠近两步，脸色难看的望向几人，借着这由头，他转移着注意力，也是给自己找了个台阶，「什么敌人？」
The Black Dragon King stepped closer, his face hardening as he stared at them. Using this pretext, he shifted attention and also saved some face—”What enemy?”
「嗯，应该是很强的敌人。」
“Hmm, an extremely powerful enemy.”
「那你们来找神石，是为了什么。」
“Then why are you here looking for the Godstone?”
「或许后面你会知道。」
“Maybe you’ll find out later.”
随着列车消失，黑龙王胸膛内的怨气才再次升腾而起，想了想，他胸前射出银白色的Moexl光芒。
As the train vanished, the resentment within the Black Dragon King surged once more. After a moment’s thought, he emitted a silver-white Moxel light from his chest.
「老赵，神石被抢走了。」
“Old Zhao, the Divine Stone has been snatched away.”
｛什么，连你都失败了？他的念能力真的那么邪乎？｝
{What, even you failed? Is his Nen ability really that sinister?}
「那条大蜈蚣是挺厉害，不过杨子藏还有杆能随意出现的长枪，我差点被他一枪偷袭死掉。」
“That giant centipede is quite formidable, but much worse is that Yang Zicang has a Lance that can appear at will. I almost got killed by a sneak attack from him.”
可惜自己的念能力不能让身体变化，否则怎么会怕那种威胁。他叹息道：
It was a pity that his own Nen ability couldn’t alter his body, or else why would he fear such a threat? He sighed and said,
「小心点，按这方向，要不了两个棚区，他就会到你那边了。而且，这神石似乎有大用，那甲子间像是要借用其力量对付谁。」
“Be careful. Going by this direction, before you know it, within no more than two Peng Zones, he’ll reach your area. Moreover, this Divine Stone seems to have a major use; that small Term appears to be borrowing its power to deal with someone.”
另一边的人沉默了下。
The person on the other end fell silent for a while.
｛我知道了，原来神石还有这样的秘密。传说里面有神骨，或许是真的。｝
{I understand. So the Divine Stone holds such a secret. The legend says there’s a Divine Bone inside; maybe it’s true.}
「可惜我们不知道如何使用它。」
“It’s too bad we don’t know how to use it.”
……
黑夜中，互相靠Moexl链接谈论着黑夜的各大棚区间，流传出一则小道消息。
In the dead of night, as the two connected via Moxel talked, a piece of news spread among the various Peng Zones in the darkness.
似自银白枢纽镇附近百里开始，陆续有拥有神石的棚区遭到抢劫，已经持续了好几个小时。
Starting from around a hundred miles outside the Silver White Hubville, one by one, Peng Zones possessing Divine Stones were being robbed, and it had been going on for several hours.
「你问问那边的棚区，有人在偷什么？」
“Ask those Peng Zones over there—who is this person, and what is he stealing?”
翠岩谷棚区内。
Within the Emerald Rock Gorge Peng Zone.
几人有点担忧的让大伙儿互相打听打听，因为他们棚区就有个这样的神石。
Some people worriedly urged everyone to inquire among themselves, because their Peng Zone had exactly such a divine stone.
「不会真在抢神石？」
“Could they really be snatching the divine stone?”
虽然神石很小，但偶尔也会与副棚主进行沟通，帮助他制作出了好些失念引擎，换回许多物资。
Although the divine stone was small, it occasionally communicated with the deputy Penglord, helping him create several Shin Engines in exchange for numerous supplies.
「若没有神石，我们得浪费多少失念Moexl和材料。」
“Without the divine stone, how many Lost Memory Moxels and materials would we have to waste?”
「是啊，这些人真是可恶，趁着变天来搞浑水摸鱼的事情。」
“Yeah, these people are truly despicable, taking advantage of the turmoil to fish in troubled waters.”
篝火旁人越聚越多，一人叫到：「打探到了，是大甲方货队，他们在到处抢夺神石。」
More and more people gathered around the campfire as one shouted: “I’ve found out—it’s the major client, the Cargo Crew—they’re everywhere looting divine stones.”
「他们现在去哪里了。」
“Where have they gone now?”
「据说，刚从一个小棚区离去，而且有人传言，神石拥有神秘力量，包治百病，所以甲子间他们才抢。」
“Word is they just left a small Peng Zone, and some are spreading rumors that the divine stone has mysterious powers, curing all ailments—that’s why Jiazi Term and their gang are snatching it.”
何奶奶棚区内。
Inside Granny He’s Peng Zone.
「什么，神石还可以壮阳！」
“What? The divine stone can even invigorate virility!”
一个浓眉大汉腾地从桌子旁站起来，木桌上的蜡烛都晃了晃。
A burly man with thick brows shot up from the table, the candle on the wooden table flickering from the movement.
他左右人狐疑点头。
Those beside him nodded with suspicion.
「听说泡水喝就能让伤口快速愈合，要不我们找光明棚主那边试试？」
“I heard that soaking it in water fast-heals wounds. Should we try it with Lord Bright Penglord?”
「难道里面有什么神秘宝物。」
“Could there be some mysterious treasure inside?”
「话说那东西泡水喝真的没问题吗，我这就去刮点粉来试试，万一被人抢走了就没得刮了。」
“But is it really okay to drink water with that thing? I’m going to scrape some powder for a try—once someone else snatches it, there won’t be any left to scrape off.”
在他们旁边的中型棚区内就有块神石，此前只是听说能帮助人更好的制作失念引擎，虽然有人猜测可能还有其它作用，却不知如何发掘。
Beside them, inside a medium-sized Peng Zone, there was a Divine Stone. Previously, it was only rumored to aid in crafting a better Shin Engine. Although some suspected it might have other uses, no one knew how to unlock them.
而现在，似有人知晓了它的作用，正在抢夺。
Now, it seemed someone had discovered its purpose and was seizing it.
正当他们准备出门，忽地一道折线射来。
Just as they were about to step out, a zigzag beam suddenly shot toward them.
｛我是光明棚主，我们的神石被人抢了！大家请为我投资。｝
{I am Bright Penglord—our Divine Stone has been snatched! Everyone, please Invest for me.}
｛什么，甲子间这么快就过来这边了，他十分钟前不是还在百里开外吗？｝
{What, Jiazi Term arrived this fast? Wasn’t he a hundred li away just ten minutes ago?}
｛光明棚主，你说句话啊，还有其它人在抢吗。｝
{Bright Penglord, say something! Are there others trying to grab it?}
这浓眉大汉也没忍住，他付出了时序问道：
Unable to hold back any longer, the burly man invested Chronos and asked,
「大甲方货队是不是有好几只队伍共同行动啊。」
“Is the Big Client Cargo Crew operating with several teams?”
心灵感应中，光明棚主一群人正在跟十来人拼杀，对方并非传说中那样强，似乎只是比普通人厉害点而已。
Through telepathy, Bright Penglord’s group was locked in battle with a dozen people. The attackers weren’t as formidable as legend suggested, only a bit stronger than ordinary folks.
「不像是大甲方啊？」
“Doesn’t seem like the Big Client, huh?”
「像是旁边棚区的人，靠，他们也趁乱抢石头？」
“Looks like people from the neighboring Peng Zone. Damn, they’re taking advantage of the chaos to steal the stone?”
｛快把神石抢回来。｝
{Get the Divine Stone back—now!}
｛这样的宝物你们不配拥有，神石可以制造异界战争兵器，难道你们不知道吗！｝
{A treasure like this—you don’t deserve it! The Divine Stone can forge weapons for inter-world warfare—don’t you idiots even know that?!}
抢夺者边扯边叫道。
The robber shouted while struggling.
乒乒乓乓，战斗声传来。
Clang and crash—sounds of battle rang out.
何奶奶棚区中，这大汉一看心头火起：「俺们走，去帮老李，神石谁也甭想夺走！」
In Granny He’s Peng Zone, the big man’s heart blazed with fury: “Boys, let’s move! We’re going to help Old Li—nobody touches that Divine Stone!”
「走！」
“Let’s go!”
「抄家伙！」
“Grab your tools!”
｛杀啊！ 李棚主，我们来帮忙了！｝
{Kill! Lord Li Peng, we’re coming to help!}
杨子藏一行再次与棚区爆发了战斗，这次他都不敢让洛宾几人下车，眼见时间越来越紧，而身前之人根本难以交流，他只得痛下杀手，白影念龙废了两人后，在棚区众人怒火中将这块岩石给拔除。
Yang Zicang and his crew clashed again with the Peng Zone. This time, he dared not even let Robin Lo and the others out of the vehicle. With time slipping away and the people before him refusing all reason, he had no choice but to strike ruthlessly. After the Paleshade Wyrm crippled two foes, amid the raging fury of the Peng Zone crowd, he yanked the rock out.
「第十一块了。」
“That’s eleven.”
天上的小记者们此刻已经少了些，但还是有两三个。
The little reporters in the sky had thinned out by now, but a couple still lingered.
小光团旋转著飘下来，漂漂亮亮的小裙子转著小圈圈。
A small, radiant orb spiraled down, its charming little skirt twirling in circles.
｛坏坏杨，到处都在爆发名气。｝
{Naughty Yang, your fame is erupting everywhere.}
「到处？」
“Everywhere?”
杨子藏怔了下，「发生什么了？」
Yang Zicang froze, stunned. “What’s happened?”