–What? Moxel can be upgraded? Oh my god, buddy. No, I mean, brother! We really need to have a good chat from now on!–
Yang Zicang looked on speechlessly as Robin Lo, in just a few words, managed to bluff the foreigner who had previously given him the cold shoulder and leave him stunned.
After bidding farewell to Hubville, they returned to camp the next day.
The entire following day, Yang Zicang and the others worked all-out on mass-producing Qingshen Aroma Pills. Xiao Liu, in his spare time, crafted a few wooden signs, painting them with the inscription –Majestic Client Qingshen Aroma Pills– in artistic lettering.
–Time waits for no one.–
–Yeah, the week’s almost over. We gotta seize the last couple of days for some marketing.–
Lyu Zhi tilted his head in from the side:
–Bro, how much do you reckon we’ll make this time?–
–Here you go again!– The professor rolled his eyes at the big guy with pent-up exasperation.
When Yang Zicang laid out his plan to leverage the A-level Frequency Entropy Scene Zone to accrue Chronos, everyone got fired up.
–So the boss intends to rake in a ton of Chronos by doing this!–
They still vividly recalled the exhilaration they’d felt upon hearing that news in the morning. If this actually pulled off, dividing up several thousand years’ worth of Chronos per person wouldn’t be a pipe dream. And the best part was, it’d be money they earned with their own hands, not something the captain invested into them.
Yang Zicang let out a helpless smile, sensing the eager anticipation bubbling in the crew.
–Hard to say. It all depends on how many people we can attract when the time comes.–
The camp buzzed with activity as Robin Lo stood arms crossed, surveying the scattering of signs on the ground.
On some signs, beneath bold letters, a smaller line read: –Lost but turning back? A single pellet in hand keeps you alive in the Scarlet Moon illusion—Grand Supreme Purifying Essence Pellet by Dajia.–
Others bore phrases like: –Ancient heritages from other realms—explore uncharted territories, and face the unknown fearlessly.–
Or: –Grand Supreme Purifying Essence Pellet by Dajia—help you see through the illusions.–
These were all large wooden boards.
Shiu Siuchuan hammered a long, sharp wooden spike onto a sign the size of a book, drove it hard into the earth, then stood hands on hips admiring the words:
–Your small step to clarity is a giant leap to acquiring psionic power—just one Grand Supreme Purifying Essence Pellet!–
–Quite the commotion—what’re you folks up to?–
Zuo Feixian, alongside Fan Xiuyun pushing a cart loaded with supplies from the Ning YangPeng Zone, wandered closer and asked.
–Old Zuo’s back!–
Zuo Feixian let go of the cart handle, scratching the dust off his face, then grabbed a sign off the ground: –Your…be what?–
–Beacon,– Xiao Liu answered without looking up, continuing to scribble with a charcoal stick.
–Bea-con, in the mist of I, LL…USO I get it, um, NS…–
Listening to him stammer out letter by letter, Xiao Liu sighed and looked up.
–Illusions, that’s the word. The full phrase is ‘the lighthouse in the mist of illusions,’ referring to our pills.–
–What’s all this about dying and perishing? Shoo, shoo, don’t jinx it with that nonsense, kid.– Zuo Feixian waved his hands repeatedly.
In a huff, Xiao Liu whacked him on the forehead with a piece of charcoal.
Just then, several jagged lines flashed out of the void.
{I’m Lu Xiang. I’ve encountered a few monsters. I’d like to ask all you bosses to toss in some Chronos—I’ll return fifty percent of the gains.}
–Hey, is this kid still hanging around?–
Yang Zicang connected to the Syn-Link and saw Lu Xiang in the footage, draped in animal hides, strapped with wooden planks, clutching a reinforced spear—looking like a caveman.
Looks like he’s still got psychological scars from being trampled by monsters last time.
–Not a bad stroke of luck—seven this time.–
–Wow, there are monsters this big around here too?– Liang Xi rushed out of the small tent and casually tossed 1,000 Chronos over.
Lu Xiang’s legs went weak with fright.
He was increasingly convinced there was a hub of experts nearby, but he just hadn’t found it yet.
[Anonymous Investor 200N]
[Three anonymous investors 720N]
[Player from Major Contractor Cargo Crew Invested 200N]
–Major Contractor Cargo Crew?– Lu Xiang finally stumbled onto a clue.
–Bosses, watch closely—I won’t let you down!–
He charged into the beast’s territory, and the moment he stepped in, a red-horned beast flashed electricity from its forehead and rushed straight at him.
–Oh no, it’s electrified!–
With a few crackling zaps, Lu Xiang couldn’t dodge in time and was flung into the air, wooden shards scattering in midair as they fell.
{Bro, your gear’s busted.}
Lu Xiang had no time to retort, feeling like he’d been hit by a truck as he rolled wildly on the ground.
–Ahhh—–
Thump! The beast stomped on his chest, nearly making him puke up breakfast. But seizing the moment, Lu Xiang swung his arm and shouted:
–Triple boost!–
A golden phantom-cloaked fist smashed into the beast’s leg. The monster shrieked and collapsed, crashing onto him with a rumble.
[I negated 56 N.]
I’m done for—I’m going to be crushed to death!
Before Lu Xiang could catch his breath, more beasts charged at him.
Yang Zicang shook his head. This guy was purely reckless, relying on taking hits for counterattacks, rolling around for ages just to land one punch.
But that was the real strength of an ordinary person—more than ninety percent of people here were worse off than him.
After a tough battle, Lu Xiang collapsed beside the monster’s corpse, gasping for air.
–Good thing I’ve got the Chronos boost, or I’d be totally screwed.–
–You’ve done quite well. Interested in going somewhere? There are plenty of mutated alien beasts there, but it’s dangerous.–
Lu Xiang shot up with a jolt—it was the voice of the one who had invested in him.
–Where?– he asked cautiously.
–I’m Jiazi Term. The major client, Zhù Cargo Crew, is preparing to enter an A-level Flicker Scene zone and set up a temporary market.–
–A market?– Lu Xiang thought he must have misheard.
What market could there be in the Shibin Wastes? Unless… it was the work of a large Peng Zone! His heart began to race.
–We’re inviting you to come along. Don’t worry—there’s a guaranteed investment, and profits will be split fairly.–
–Really?– Knowing he had little to offer worth coveting, Lu Xiang figured they mainly needed an obedient hired hand.
–If you trust us, cut off the funding and contact me alone. I’ll give you a map.–
After connecting with Yang Zicang, Lu Xiang was immediately stunned by the vast expanse of vegetation and forests around him.
What a vibrant, lively place.
If it weren’t for the unchanging sky, Lu Xiang would never have believed they were in the Shibin Wastes.
His doubts completely vanished.
–Arrive here within a week.–
The youth across from him pointed to the ground, where a map was sketched out.
Reading a map is the most basic skill. Lu Xiang quickly etched it onto the ground, planning to carve it onto animal hide later.
–Boss, that’s so far. It’s nearly four hundred kilometers from here!–
{No matter what method you use, reach there within a week, or forget it.}
[Jiazi Term intends to grant me full authority over ChronosInvest, with a time limit of one month.]
–Full authority over Chronos?– Before Lu Xiang could react, he received a thousand years of ChronosInvest authority, then the other party severed the connection.
–This, this…–
Lu Xiang stood dazed, feeling the extra thousand years of Chronos on his chest—the Chronos he could freely command within a month.
He quickly scrambled to his feet. Seven days, four hundred kilometers—he had to make it no matter what.
This was one of the rare opportunities in his life!
……
There were two days left until Saturday afternoon.
Yang Zicang brought a large batch of supplies and more than twenty people near several mountains. Protected by incense pills, as long as he didn’t approach the left third giant peak, the theoretical risk was low.
–Brother Zicang, the tent is set up.– Song Penglord walked over, wiping his sweat.
On the other side, Ning Yang and Niu Wa were still panting and pounding the ground.
Although these mountains would eventually collapse, that would not happen for another seven or eight months, so the camp must be set up for at least half a year. Ning Yang planned to build a few wooden cabins here to prepare for the upcoming –business.–
In his words, –As the main contractor, the Cargo Crew must have the demeanor of a major player and cannot afford to lose face.–
Even though Yang Zicang had not yet formally approved his joining, Ning Yang had already considered himself a member here—this Penglord now possessed a remarkably high level of awareness.
……
–Almost time, let’s begin.–
In front of the tent, Yang Zicang looked at Aya.
She nodded nervously, a folded line Moxel appearing on her chest as silk threads flickered and leaped to her fingertips. The moment she touched the contract initiator, she felt her thoughts drift as if resonating with the heavens and the earth.
[My communication range has expanded.]
[I want to issue a declaration.]
Aya opened her eyes.
–Huh, so it’s possible to broadcast like this without financing, similar to a financed broadcast?–
Everyone looked at her curiously.
Yang Zicang nodded, –Yes, but if you initiate financing, people within two hundred kilometers can Invest in you. Remember to always be ready to return Chronos; if it exceeds ten thousand, you’ll go to a very terrifying place.–
–Mm.– Aya agreed solemnly. This was her opportunity—no matter how dangerous, she did not want to give it up, especially since there was no risk at the moment.
She took a deep breath, silently reciting in her heart:
[Hello, fellow friends. We are the Grand Faction Building Cargo Crew. We are in the off-frequency area near the A-level Aggregation Zone. The area extends about forty kilometers east-west and thirty-seven kilometers north-south, housing tens of thousands of mutated monsters, with abundant mineral and timber resources.]
In an instant, within a radius of over two hundred kilometers, people in various Penguin Zones received this announcement curve.
–Who?–
In one Penguin Zone, a man directing others to dismantle wooden boards for fire was startled—This resembled an Invest request but couldn’t be Invested, like spam. When he connected, he saw several large mountains.
–What the hell is this?–
–Lao Guang, this is a Crimson-grade off-frequency zone, and an A-level area after landscape aggregation!–
–Crimson-grade? A-level? Where? There must be good stuff inside!–
……
In another Penguin Zone, several people playing cards received the message at the same time.
–Hey, what is this place?–
–It’s not in our area. Who knows where it is?–
{Don’t fall for it! This is a newly formed landscape in our region, entering it will cost you your life!}
The broader the financing range, the higher the principal consumption for each speech. But someone did not hesitate to spend months of Chronos to expose it.
{Exactly, there’s an illusion inside that drives people crazy, making them cut down teammates or even harm themselves!}
Another person shouted. They were precisely from the aggloated habitation that had the –recipe for Grand Frankincense Pill,– eagerly trying to spoil the show.
Yet, as soon as these words were spoken, countless hearts were stirred with longing.
–What? There’s a phantom realm?–
The few at the card table changed color instantly—they were no novices and knew well that a –phantom realm– meant at least a threefold chance of obtaining spiritual items, and might even directly awaken mental attack abilities.
The Declaration Moxel instantly erupted into chaos, with everyone clamoring over whether the news was true or false.
The few who had exposed the secrets were now so dismayed that they wished they could slap their own mouths.
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