–P-President, it’s really a Void Zero weapon… Oh my god, oh my god, is this really our Void Zero weapon?–
The three of them cautiously yet with incredulous delight touched it with their fingers—this ordinary-looking little gadget was a treasure many in the city dreamed of.
Hong Haocheng glanced at his already recovered fingers that had been tingling and asked, –What exactly is this?–
–It’s a Chronos weapon, but one enhanced by the ‘Spirit Binding Core’ that can penetrate Chronos defenses. This can only be made in City No. 11.–
So this was the purpose these people had for coming to the island.
–So terrifying! Doesn’t that mean even if someone uses ten thousand Chronos to defend, I can smash through it with one hammer blow?–
Li Yongqin nodded. –However, there is still a way to defend against it.–
He pressed his palms together, then abruptly pulled them apart; a flash of light like a spark of electricity flickered and vanished in his palm. Moxel threads darted to his hand, forming a small force field that enveloped his entire palm.
Li Yongqin carefully picked it up, and as expected, the iron ball landed steadily on his force-field-covered hand.
–What’s the principle behind this?– Hong Haocheng was exasperated.
He had thought he’d found a treasure, only to have it defended against so easily.
–Indeed, indeed, the rumor that was circulating is true.–
Li Yongqin gazed at the object with delight. He looked up and said, –A force field can defend against it, but ordinary force fields won’t work.–
–Then what kind can?–
–It’s the rank! Expanding a force field beyond the hundredth rank not only lets you shrink it down to the size of a glove, but also defends against Void Zero Chronos attacks. Though, it only works if your Chronos is weaker than the force field.-
–With this, facing a Scene Lord of an A-class Intertwined Land won’t be so one-sided. Having one means you can walk sideways in the city. Brother Hong, you’ve struck gold.-
Cui Rong said with undisguised envy: –This is exactly why these teams would rather risk their necks to get on the island.-
He sighed inwardly—this bald guy had been circling the island for so long, and he really did stumble onto a lucky break. What a lucky bastard.
–Don’t underestimate it just because it’s a small iron ball tied to a twig. If you take it out, a lot of people will be begging for it.-
The three of them joyfully examined this precious Void Zero Chronos weapon.
Across from them, Hong Haocheng pinched his chin with his fingers, scanning the man in front of him.
–So, kid, you were actually this loaded? Already pushed your force field rank to the hundredth?-
Li Yongqin’s face stiffened.
He looked at Hong Haocheng with a wry smile: –There are people in our city who own this kind of weapon. If you don’t find a way to upgrade your force field, you could get ambushed any day. I risked my life just to raise its rank.-
Worthy of a team that dares to land on the island—even though they almost got wiped out the moment they stepped foot.
–So the Bound Spirit Core is that useful. No wonder everyone’s fighting over it.-
Hong Haocheng took the iron ball. –Just from what I saw today, they’ve already taken down two Bound Spirit Cores. Does that mean two of these weapons are about to show up?-
The three shook their heads.
–Our island is just a fragment of City No. 11. To craft that kind of weapon, you have to enter the real City No. 11—the entrance lies deep within the island. Even the Four-Phases Heavenly Group, if they want to go in and out safely, can only count on luck.-
Hong Haocheng understood in his heart: the value of his own weapon had just skyrocketed. It was now a divine arm that could awe the eight directions.
Anyone who dared to defy him would get a hammer straight to the forehead.
–Then your battles must be a blast—do you have to wrap yourselves in force fields all the time or what?-
–No way, bro,- Zhang Miao said. –Good thing the only thing useless against this stuff is extra lifespan. We can still bank on our natural longevity. Like this hammer, it cancels out fifty years in one hit—I can take a blow like that no problem.-
Hong Haocheng fiddled with his treasure while munching on dry rations, nodding, completely oblivious that his own natural lifespan was not long at all.
……
Xu Aiyuan dashed out of the bedroom, slowing her pace only as she neared the main hall, her expression settling back into its usual calm.
She gently bit her tender red lips and strode out from behind the wall with a swaying, graceful gait, each step radiating dazzling allure. The hall was already buzzing with voices, and at that moment countless eyes filled with varied emotions locked onto the wine-red cheongsam figure emerging from behind the partition.
The Rose Queen looked over; though the crowd was dense, that single figure among them instantly caught her eye.
As if sensing the gaze, Yang Zicang turned his head, smiled, and raised his glass in a distant toast.
Inside the room.
Once the food and wine were served, Xu Aiyuan sat down and looked at the young man, whose temperament seemed even more refined and ethereal. His skin had improved significantly, with a subtle translucent glow. She wondered what kind of wonderful place he had been to.
–It’s only been a short while, but I feel like you’ve gotten stronger again. Which illusion company did you go to?–
Yang Zicang said, –Starlight Illusion.–
Xu Aiyuan smiled. –So you did go there. It must be much better than here, isn’t it?–
–Miss Aiyuan, if I say any more, do you think I’ll disappear immediately?– He smiled. –I’m on leave this time for one thing.–
–What is it?–
–City 11, have you heard of it?–
Bobo Li nodded, Xu Aiyuan showed a thoughtful and reminiscent expression, while Robin Lo only looked helpless: –What’s that?–
The curly-haired boy spoke with a lisp, –Elevend Ting City, destwroyed for many yeahs, it’s good thewe, have good stuff.–
The Rose Queen stood up and personally poured wine for everyone at the table. A hint of surprise appeared on her elegantly contoured face as she looked at Bobo Li.
–What’s wrong with you?–
–Me? Um…–
–He packaged and sold off the Chinese language ability he learned last time,– Robin Lo explained. –Morri’s confinement has become even more boring these days.–
Yang Zicang laughed heartily: –Previously, Boboli made a living off these. The Chinese he learned last time was originally a customized ability. 2500 years of Chronos—not exactly cheap.-
The Rose Queen looked at the young man in surprise: –Is that even expensive for you?-
–That is, before meeting Zizang, the contract signed. Loan interest, Chinese, I have secret, soon very fast will get good.- Boboli slowly articulated the words this time.
Xu Aiyuan smiled: –Then can I customize an English ability? I always failed when I was in school.-
The young man shook his head: –NO, already mastered, just not possible.-
–For abilities you already master, since you can’t learn from scratch, it’s impossible to help with power-leveling.- Yang Zicang explained for the stumbling kid.
Xu Aiyuan came over to the young man and filled his wine glass with red wine.
Robin Lo said: –Truly worthy of the Rose Queen. After you left, Zizang, Miss Aiyuan auctioned off the power-leveling contracts you left behind, and contacted Mr. Morri to make more coins infused with Chronos for the auction. Many people, for that one chance to escape, treated your natural treasures as real treasures.-
–Right, generally, a premium of one and a half times.- Boboli said.
The woman sat back down in her chair.
–Mr. Robin Lo, you must forgive my presumption. I was also left with no choice. Many people came to me, so I simply brought it out into the open and let everyone set their own prices. That way, those with ill intentions wouldn’t dare to cause trouble in private.-
Robin Lo nodded: –Yes, there’s business to be done here, and many experts voluntarily maintain it, given that Miss Aiyuan’s rewards are quite generous.-
Yang Zicang looked at Xu Aiyuan: –I’ve heard all this from Morri. You’ve worked hard, Miss Aiyuan. But I’m afraid if this continues, it will inevitably draw jealous eyes.-
–Let’s take it one step at a time,- Xu Aiyuan said with a hint of resignation.
Rumors had already spread outside that Yang Zicang had spent the night in the Rose Queen’s private chambers. Although the queen never entered the room, many refused to believe it. This time back, with a slightly stronger mental power, Yang Zicang could rationally analyze that his stay that night had become a card the woman used to intimidate the petty-minded.
Yang Zicang said, –The main reason I came back this time is to resolve this matter.-
–You mean City 11?-
–What’s inside that?- Robin Lo asked, looking at him curiously.
–Do you know what’s inside the top 25 cities?-
–I’ve heard there are good things, but they’re basically never disclosed. Are you saying City 11 also has that kind of good thing?-
Xu Aiyuan chuckled softly: –It’s not that City 11 has good things. Rather, the fragments of City 11 itself are extremely valuable.-
–That’s right. That city collapsed due to special reasons. Silver Hub Town moved some of its urban fragments into other top 25 cities, forming islands. As long as you can reach the island’s center, you can step into the real City 11.-
–I see. But this alone isn’t enough to keep others from snooping. You have more to say, don’t you?– Robin Lo said. –What exactly is in City 11?–
–It concerns the people inside. The people of City 11 are the strongest among the thirty-five cities. They…–
–Hold on.– Robin Lo raised his hand. –Aren’t there forty-five cities?–
As they spoke, Xu Aiyuan glanced at the young man’s unruffled expression. A peculiar feeling stirred within her, but it was quickly eclipsed by the images of many other girls. She looked away.
Yang Zicang leaned back in his chair and said:
–This secret is known to very few in the world. The first people of City 11 to learn it have all turned into monsters. That is because the first ten cities don’t actually exist—they are all called… Void Zero.–
–Void Zero? Cities that aren’t real?–
Yang Zicang waited a few tense seconds.
Nothing unusual. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
The people at the table mulled over Yang Zicang’s words. The door swung open, and Li Sumei entered carrying a steaming pot of vermicelli soup. –Soup’s here! Hey, why aren’t you eating? Who are you waiting for?–
–Haha, look at us—we came to eat, yet none of us has touched our chopsticks.–
–Please, Miss Aiyuan.–
–Mr. Zicang, after you.–
As they helped themselves to the lavish dishes, they listened to Yang Zicang recount the tale of City 11’s experts—how they tried to bring down –City 10– but failed, leading to their destruction.
–What a catastrophe.– Robin Lo shook his head.
–The big talker of the market? The sparrow failed,- Boboli said with puffed cheeks.
–The tens of thousands of people inside, as well as monsters and large animals, all turned into energy monsters.-
–And then?-
–Just like on the Frequency-Lost Land, after people die, Moxel becomes ‘Lost-Memory Moxel’. There, after people become ‘Earth-Bound Spirits’, an item called ‘Bound Spirit Core’ is born.-
This was most of the information that Yang Zicang learned about City No. 11 before entering the city.
–Using it to enhance the Chronos weapon will make the weapon undefendable,- Yang Zicang said.
Pfft!
Robin Lo’s nostrils sprayed out a few vermicelli noodles.
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