The rolling sacred palaces gleamed with a metallic luster, hard as gold and stone, under the light. The highest palace was slightly tilted, its spire stabbing into the sky, piercing through the clouds and kicking up a swirl of diamond dust.
This was the sanctuary of the human world as she had imagined it.
–So beautiful.– Several heads crowded together. –What an imposing cluster of buildings. No wonder it’s a product of imagination.–
The girl, who had never seen the sacred land in her life, fervently believed in its existence and regarded it as the holiest of places. Just a glance at Yang Zicang was enough to feel an air of solemnity.
–Looks like it’s all brass? And glass.–
–You can push your imagination a little higher.–
–What, could it be… gold?–
After gazing for a while, Yang Zicang pressed his palms together toward it:
–Great Spirit, I won’t go in. I hope one day I’ll be able to see that sacred land for you; when I do, I’ll definitely bring your scarf and pay my respects.–
This was his tribute to the one who had willingly turned their body into a saint of the earth.
The chaotic whirlpool gate suddenly gave a quick spin.
The image inside it rapidly zoomed in, revealing the palace gates at the front.
Through the gates was a hall packed with people. On the wall inside hung a massive oil painting, which depicted rolling palaces, and outside those palaces were bustling crowds.
And the painting hung in the sacred land was the sacred land itself.
–This—is it a response to you?- Robin Lo stared in surprise at the spinning doorway.
–Isn’t that like making a vow?-
Suddenly the entrance of the psi field expanded in a flash, the flying carpet whisked everyone inside with a –whoosh,- and a vast but hazy world unfolded before them.
–Just as I thought—a golden palace, as if built entirely of gold and diamonds.-
–A temple!-
–So many people… but they’re all fake figures.-
The shadowy figures on the plain had no concrete form—they were nothing but countless phantoms.
All the images began to vibrate violently; energy mist swirled, and ethereal hymns faintly resounded from the entire earth.
–What’s happening?-
The group looked at the world as if it were about to shatter.
–I can’t control the carpet anymore.-
–What!-
Everyone was jolted—those who had been lounging moments before were now panicked.
Yang Zicang struggled to maintain the huge carpet, but couldn’t steer it in the slightest; it was rapidly hurtling toward the epicenter of the trembling world, where the mountain-like, undulating palace complexes were collapsing and turning illusory.
Whoosh~
A white light pierced through the energy mist from the empty sky. The flying carpet sped toward it and came to a halt beneath the beam.
The group shielded their eyes with their arms, but soon adapted to the brightness and looked up.
[I obtained 1N Void Zero Chronos.]
[I obtained 3N Void Zero Chronos…]
Many minds that had obtained Void Zero Chronos swept across everyone’s consciousness.
[I have cumulatively obtained 647N Void Zero Chronos.]
[I, the great quadrilateral, seem to… taste the freedom of wealth!]
Light blazed.
Yang Zicang lowered his head to look at his chest. Inside the ring, beneath the principal of 9000N extra Chronos, numbers like phantom reflections kept increasing, quickly reaching 1000N.
–This is… Void Zero Chronos.-
Bang bang!
The flying carpet shook violently, and an inexplicable thought suddenly emerged.
Yang Zicang raised his hand as if in a surge of impulse, then pressed it back down.
[I want to say something.]
[I…]
Riiip~!
Yang Zicang closed his eyes in pain as a strand of mental power was split off and entered the flying carpet.
{From now on… your mind Moxel can govern all positions of your own possessions…}
The giant carpet suddenly blazed with light.
[1000N Void Zero Chronos has been invested.]
[I have unlocked the flying carpet position. I can name it…]
[I call it… it’s called Woolen Waistcoat.]
What? Yang Zicang was stunned for a moment, then looked down at the flying carpet under his butt.
[Dream Rui. Haosha’s exquisite woolen waistcoat, position, hundred level.]
[Its owner wishes to head to the holy land.]
……
Night fell.
Divine light shimmered, radiating within the cave.
This was the light emanating from inside the desolate chariot.
Inside the half-collapsed cave, this ancient bronze chariot was parked, and within its coffin-like carriage space, more than a dozen graves emitted ghostly flames, illuminating the area brightly.
In the center, the Wasteland Lord held a small, greenish ability orb in confusion, like an unripe fruit.
–Chronos transfer? What kind of thing is that. Can’t invest in it either.-
The man across from him said, –Simple. After use, you can transfer your own Chronos to the opponent for a period of time. If you encounter an enemy like Yang Zicang who can use coin-investing abilities to make opponents disappear, you can crush it in advance.-
–Oh, no need for that. I’m not about to go looking for trouble with that guy.-
–Haha, you don’t go looking for him, but will he not come for you? Don’t forget what you did to him before. The rift between you two is huge.-
The Wasteland Lord looked at the other man and gave a contemptuous smile.
–Although I did put a bounty on him back then to stir up some fun, do you think I’m stupid or dumb enough to go provoke that guy now? Hmph,- the man said leisurely, squeezing the fruit. –A magnanimous person like him—if I bow down and pledge allegiance, there’s no way he won’t forgive me.-
Clap, clap, clap!
The man opposite rarely showed admiration and clapped his hands.
–You sure know how to admit defeat without hesitation.-
–There’s an old saying back home: ‘A wise man knows his place.’-
The Wasteland Lord tossed the ability orb in his hand, like tossing a small green orange.
The man across, amused yet annoyed, let out a scoff.
–Anyway, I’ve told you—I’m a Chronos merchant. I can store over ten thousand extra Chronos in my body. You should know that only a big shot like you can truly appreciate the value of this ability. That’s why I only come to find a hero like you.-
The man, with shoulder-length hair and stubble on his chin, leaned back in his chair and continued.
–Whether you like it or not, I’ll give you two of these as ‘trial samples.’ Use them when you’re really in danger.-
–Alright, consider this a gift for meeting me. You’re Chu Jun, right? From now on, you’ll be the new No. 1 truck captain of my freight team. Whenever danger strikes, one signal arrow and a thousand troops will rally to your side.-
The man smirked, glanced outside, and chuckled.
–Thank you for the recognition, Lord of the Wastes. Heh.-
Chu Jun left the wild truck, got into the battered Enightmare four-wheeler, and returned to his small base.
……
It was a desolate stretch of hills.
Inside the newly rebuilt house, several figures were gathered. Though they wore different clothes and one had a missing hand, they all shared the exact same face.
All of them bore the appearance of Li Shangxiang.
There were five such people around the table.
Counting Chu Jun, who had just returned, six of them sat around the table. One of them placed a small statue on the table, and a wave of energy radiated from within it.
–Chu Jun, did you succeed?-
–I didn’t use the ‘suggestion’ ability, so the Wasteland Lord didn’t use it either. Wuying’s invisibility has already made those who’ve seen Mingying quite suspicious. The Wasteland Lord’s overt influence is still very great—if the Bronze Car suddenly changes owners, startling the big fish would be too costly.-
–Yes, it’s best not to alert the enemy any further for now.-
–That Wuying kid really did stumble upon a dead mouse by blind luck.-
–I’m genuinely envious of the invisibility Moxel that guy obtained.-
A faint, almost intangible energy barrier enveloped the room. This statue rarely possessed the kind of barrier unique to other dimensions, allowing it to shield this place from weaker monsters.
–It’s already a new week. While none of us are celebrities yet and there are no pesky reporters around, let’s discuss that matter.-
Chu Jun, with his medium-length hair, nodded.
–With the train here, Yang Zicang could leave the Lost Frequency Land at any moment. We need to find an opportunity to act early. If we lose such an outstanding ChronosMoxel, who knows how many years it’ll be before we encounter another like it.-
–Right. Rumor has it that in their city, those people didn’t think much of his trajectory-changing ability at first. Hah, what a bunch of fools—no wonder their ranking is below forty, and there are only forty-five cities in total.-
Several of them let out scornful laughter.
–I heard it’s thirty-five cities, though.-
Knock knock. Someone tapped the table. –Stay on topic.-
–Yang Zicang alone raised the city’s ranking by nearly twenty spots. Those guys should be thanking him for earning them more rights in Hub Town. But, heh. They won’t have this powerhouse around anymore.-
–This time, we have to succeed.-
The five turned to look at the one person whose face wasn’t that of Li Shangxiang.
–Chu Jun, are you really going for his Moxel again? Then all the subtle suggestion ability you fought so hard to get would go to waste.-
–Yeah, Chu Jun. Without psychological suggestion, our chances of getting a good Moxel would drop a lot.-
Chu Jun said, –Any of you want it? I can trade it to you for free. Just help me get Yang Zicang’s ability ball. And like I said, I’ll do my best to help any of you get whatever you want—any item or ability—until all the Li Shangxiangs are no longer Li Shangxiangs.-
The group fell into thought.
–I’m really torn this time. If that car hadn’t turned into a ghost car, there’s no way I’d agree to let you take this Moxel again,- said one at the table.
–Yang Zicang’s ability is precious to begin with, and his performance over the past two days has been obvious. Sigh, I want it too. What should I do?-
The third person looked at Chu Jun. –If you’re really willing to trade psychological suggestion for it, you can give it to me. Heh, you know I’ve had my eye on that woman from Rose Creek for a long time. If I can make her fall for me, I’ll have not only an unmatched beauty in my arms but also a whole big town full of beautiful women.-
–From now on, our palace can be built right there—Rose Creek will be my harem.-
He rubbed his chin, a dreamy smile spreading across his face.
Suddenly, several people looked toward the air. A small light orb was floating there, having appeared unnoticed.
–……–
–Hello, Reporter-sama, we are discussing private matters. Please do not broadcast this.-
–Please leave for now.-
Inside the small light orb, a little sprite in red emerged. He scratched his head in puzzlement.
{No name appeared? Strange, then why is there a fluctuation?}
Swoosh—the small light orb vanished.
The few people turned serious again.
One person rested his elbow on the table, interlocked his fingers against the tip of his nose, and fixed them with a gloomy stare.
–‘Implication’ can be given to me too. I’m quite interested in establishing an organization in the Frequency-Lost Land that answers only to me.-
The others at the table looked at him. He spoke with a somewhat pompous tone:
–I used to be the president of a group with a market value of tens of billions. My habit has always been: rather than going into battle myself, I’d rather have other experts obey me and do it. The Implication ability suits me perfectly. Of course, once I obtain Implication, I’ll help you all get your Moxel—just as Chu Jun did before.-
–Then the two of you can discuss it yourselves.-
Chu Jun let out a sigh of relief—at least two had agreed. If they were willing to act, he was already halfway to success.
After all, this kind of Chronos transfer ability ball is special. The Moxel of the initiator (the victim) goes directly into the –Chronos transfer sub-Moxel- of the ability ball’s creator.
Having already replaced the Time Transfer Moxel of himself, he could only serve as an intermediary to pass the ball. Ultimately, he would need one of these five to give him Yang Zicang’s Moxel ability ball.
Beside Chu Jun, Li Shangxiang, dressed in a gray coat, said:
–Have you heard of the Black Dragon King? His Nen ability seems even better at defense than Yang Zicang’s. When the crowd surrounds him, even Yang Zicang’s detached monster can’t get close. I want to reserve this Moxel for now.–
Across the table, the bare-chested, muscle-bound Li Shangxiang nodded:
–Right. A bunch of strong people have surfaced this time. We really have to thank Yang Zicang—he just handed us this many candidates at once. I’ll sit this round out; good Moxels are plenty.–
The one-armed Li Shangxiang also spoke up:
–If Yang Zicang’s Cent-Arms could be separated and given to me, I’d withdraw from this distribution.–
–That elusive gun really suits you. I have no objection.–
–Neither do I.–
The broken-armed man looked expectantly at the last silent member. That Silver Lance was a game-changer for him—the ultimate weapon for the disabled, and no exaggeration to say it’s ten or even a hundred times more valuable than other Cent-Arms.
–That Cent-Arms… frankly, in close quarters, it’s no less than another Wuying. But we’re all brothers, so of course I’m willing to let you have it.–
All five had agreed.
–Then it’s settled.–
This group sounded as if they’d already carved up the prey, discussing every piece.
Chu Jun stood up, bracing his hands on the table.
–Since that’s the case, let me share some good news with everyone.–
The man’s black hair parted down the middle, vaguely veiling his cheeks as he revealed a sinister smile:
–Yang Zicang has already accepted Wuying’s invitation to attend the gathering in three days. Brothers, my fate’s turning point—let it be set for that time.-
–Three days from now, huh.-
They pondered. None of them noticed the faintly flickering little sphere of light within the flame of the hanging lamp above.
–Wuying has gained Yang Zicang’s trust. Coupled with the precious ability of psychological suggestion, the odds of success are high—after all, everything hinges on that single second.-
–Once we possess Yang Zicang’s Moxel, the combat strength we lack will finally be made whole.-
Invisibility… suggestion… psychokinetic forms, and the train that shuttles across the earth…
They counted off the various super Moxel abilities they had already acquired or were about to obtain.
Just the thought of it made several of them chuckle with satisfaction.
–All the top-notch Moxels will be in our hands.-
–Heh heh heh heh, that’s right.-
–We will be the Time-Jumping Hero Crew—the ones who pull off the miracle of stealing the earth!-
–Hahaha!-
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