–Excuse me, Big Tipper’s Cargo Crew, are there really illusion attacks in these mountains?–
–Are you sure there are illusion attacks in there?–
If it weren’t for the mention of the illusory realm, people in the know wouldn’t have felt an itch of curiosity.
mmediately, the Moxel broadcast buzzed with excitement.
Under the tent, Aya looked at the crowd not far away and broke into a delighted smile—this meant the first shot had finally been fired.
Yang Zicang nodded at her, and Aya, catching his cue, spoke gently in a clear, elegant voice:
–Yes, there are illusion attacks in the mountains.–
She tried hard to steady her voice, lest anxiety make it tremble.
–Besides the mutated beasts that have lived for decades in the mountains, there is also an illusion that disrupts the mind as soon as one steps into it. But it is precisely because of that, few can venture in nowadays. Everyone, please take a look.–
Her Moxel quickly connected with a member of Song Penglord who had been waiting in the mountains for some time.
In an instant, switched across the senses of thousands linked to Moxel.
A figure walked through the forest, surrounded by ruins of another world, engulfed by vines and trees, as if deserted for centuries.
Suddenly, a monstrous beast, like a bear driven mad, crashed through a crumbling wall and lunged ferociously!
That person swung his weapon with a hint of panic.
Bang!
The figure was sent flying backward from the impact, but with a flash of sword light, it simultaneously struck the beast. The brown-black bear fell to the ground, instantly killed.
{This bear… has lived for over twenty years.}
A joyful cry came from the scene, sounding utterly genuine. Zuo Feixian and his companions were deeply envious, let alone the others who witnessed it all through Moxel.
–That was easy.–
As long as one is blessed by Chronos, even the most frenzied beast would only cause pain, not death. And slaying them could net decades of life. How could anyone not be green with envy?
Aya said in a clear voice:
{Our team member is currently ten kilometers deep in the mountains. He is clear-minded and alone.}
–Impressive, daring to charge into an A-level zone all by himself.–
–If that’s the case, the main threat in A-level zones comes from mental attacks.–
The crowd watching through the mental link stirred restlessly, especially those near these mountains. Those desperate to enter were ants on a hot pan, while those holding the –Incense Pellets– were terrified of drawing too many people and turning this treasure trove into someone else’s backyard.
But more people thought: If a brat who got sent flying could do it, why can’t I?
{Excuse me, young lady from this Major Constructor Cargo Crew, by promoting yourselves like this, are you trying to attract Investment?}
–Investment?–
Many of those busy at work couldn’t help but pause.
Someone stepped forward, spending their Chronos to seek answers on behalf of the crowd, and everyone pricked up their ears.
If they could invest in this group, they’d surely rake in plenty of Chronos. Many nervously assessed their own excess lifespans, ready to snap up the first share the moment the other party nodded in agreement.
[So many people are pinning their hopes on me…]
[It still feels like the intensity of that wishful anticipation isn’t quite there yet.]
Amidst the clamoring streams of fixation, Aya caught a feedback signal from Moxel through some strange inkling. She found it baffling, but since nothing seemed out of the ordinary, she brushed it off without a second thought.
Tossing it aside, she took little pause before continuing with a smile:
{Ladies and gentlemen, our Major Constructor Cargo Crew has mastered a method to safely enter the mountains. Let me reiterate—we are the Cargo Crew Construction Corporation, and that’s why we’re here to sell goods.}
–Selling goods?–
–What does that mean? Are they trying to peddle something from inside the mountains?–
All around, people looked at each other in bewilderment, sharing glances with those who had also tuned into Moxel’s broadcast—while some among them turned pale.
–D-Does that mean…–
–A way into the mountains?–
Boom. In an instant, various discussions within Moxel erupted into utter chaos.
{And what exactly is it that you intend to sell?}
{The Great Buyer? You’re selling something that lets people enter? How many Chronos does it cost?!}
Aya smiled and nodded gently:
–That’s right, what we’re selling is precisely an item that allows safe entry into the forest—the exclusive possession of our Great Buyer Cargo Crew, the Clear Spirit Incense Pills.–
Those far away were still calm, but those nearby were instantly stirred into a frenzy, frantically rummaging through their belongings for weapons and dry rations.
–Fuck! They’re selling something that lets you get in!–
Countless people were eager to enter; if they stumbled upon a phantom realm treasure, they would strike it rich in no time.
These several mountains stretching over forty kilometers allowed those who fell into this place to linger for months; entering earlier meant a chance to find treasures sooner, and at the very least, they could harvest more extra lifespan from the wild beasts.
Yang ZiCang listened quietly to the uproar from the Moxel broadcast. He let out a soft breath, then touched the nightmare imitation device, resembling a radio.
[I will consume 6Y to make a declaration.]
The youth spoke through the Moxel:
–I am Jiazi Term, captain of the Great Buyer Cargo Crew. Everyone, we will begin selling the Clear Spirit Incense Pills that allow entry next Tuesday morning. Their coverage ranges from about five to eight square meters, with a price of two hundred years per serving. Supplies are limited—first come, first served.–
{What? Not starting until next Tuesday?}
{What? Two hundred years?}
–Five or six meters, what’s that supposed to mean? That Clear Spirit Incense Pill, are you saying it can take several people in at once?–
The silk strand snapped, Moxel’s declaration coming to an end.
Those nearby—Zuo Feixian, Ning Yang, Song Penglord, and others—cheerfully swarmed around.
–Seems like a good response.–
–Bro, why aren’t we starting tomorrow? Aren’t you afraid they’ll snatch our business?–
Yang Zicang said gently, –Let the news simmer and spread. We’ll earn even more by then.–
Suddenly, a ball of light appeared in the sky, followed by another materializing before Yang Zicang.
–Oh, little naughty one, your business has really grown big.–
–Naughty Zicang’s about to score a ton of Chronos all at once.–
The little reporter had appeared. This time, his fame must have already grown, hadn’t it.
A small ball of light perched on Yang Zicang’s shoulder, swinging its tiny legs.
Suddenly, Yang Zicang sensed a faint, almost imperceptible gaze.
[You have attained fame in the Shibin Wastes.]
[Your fame value this week has surpassed 10, currently at 35.]
Yang Zicang breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Two days before the deadline, he had finally brought his fame value back above ten.
Then, he furrowed from.
「35？」
……
Two hundred Chronos per share!
Upon hearing this price, many were stunned. For most people, this represented their entire life savings, and quite a few could only shake their heads with bitter smiles. They simply couldn’t come up with the extra Chronos.
–Two hundred years of Chronos… that’s so expensive.–
–Yeah, way too pricey. Two hundred years is half of the Great Qing Dynasty!–
–Shut up! Didn’t you hear what that Cargo Crew chief said? The coverage area is several square meters—meaning the items they’re selling can fit multiple people inside!–
–That’s right, I heard it too. It really can cover an area several meters wide!–
These words reignited hope in the hearts of those who had been in despair, stirring them with excitement.
–Exactly! We can pool our resources! If three or four of us split the cost, each person won’t have to pay much. Just kill a few monsters inside, and we’ll recoup our investment!–
Many were getting worked up by the thought.
You have to understand—even a B-grade dimensional space monster nest, as long as the core isn’t destroyed, churns out monsters steadily every month. So why not an A-grade intersecting zone?
Even if the Shibin Wastes only lasted a few months, it would still be enough to earn back several times, even dozens of times the initial investment.
Inside a drafty wooden shack in a certain small Peng Zone:
–Five people? No, that’s too cramped to fight effectively. Three people is the limit.–
–How about this—the few of us with the best skills go in, and the rest Invest in us?–
–But that’s an A-Class zone, and a geologically merged one at that. Wouldn’t more people be safer?–
The group gathered at the foot of the bed in discussion. Each of them only had a few decades of lifespan left, and they still had to set aside a principal of lifespan to carry them through the forest zone. After calculating the risks, splitting the Chronos among five seemed within their capacity to endure, but the more who went in, the thinner the spoils would be.
–I think two people would be enough—makes us more nimble. Old Money, what do you think?–
They all turned to look at a lean, wiry man.
The thin man called Old Money, his heart surging with emotion, rose and walked to the wooden shelf by the wall, fetching down a Chronos war weapon—each strike costing ten turns of years.
–If I slaughter that ox of mine, I should be able to scrape together a hundred fifty or sixty years. I also still have two triangular Forgotten Moxel.–
The few of them exchanged glances of astonishment. Was this guy planning to go it alone?
–No rush, Old Money. We’ve got a few days to scout out the situation first.–
Old Money realized he had spoken out of turn. He didn’t want to offend these comrades who had watched each other’s backs in the Shibin Wastes, either. Maybe after this job, he could truly form his own squad—and when that time came, he’d need them all.
He quickly forced a smile: –No, brothers, what I meant was… we grab two of those things, and we go in together!–
–Two!–
The remaining four felt a jolt through their bodies; just moments ago, they were worrying about gathering a single share, and now Big Shot Qian directly asked for two. Light shone in their eyes—no wonder he was someone who could get his hands on a Chronos war artifact, his boldness was truly extraordinary.
……
Similar scenes unfolded everywhere, with many people setting off immediately.
A team trudged across the sandy ground.
–Other bosses said sales would start next week, pricing it at two hundred years, heh, but that doesn’t mean they’re not selling now.–
Only the gullible would foolishly wait until the next Tuesday to show up. As for the gap of a few days left open, it was obviously VIP time.
A man in a black cloak spoke to the person beside him:
–Five hundred and fifty years per share—that’s my final offer. Get me that thing the big client mentioned by tonight, if you can.–
–Boss, isn’t that too steep? For that price, we could buy two or three sheds.–
–It’s something I can earn back with a few beasts, and you’re telling me it’s expensive? A place where I might gain mental attacks or even mind powers, and you call it pricey? You’re really something, Xiao Li.–
The man shuddered and promptly slapped himself on the head.
He had been back in this cheap backwater for too long and was losing his edge.
–I’ll head out right now then.–
The cloaked man raised his hand: –Five shares, if he’s willing—get me five! No, make it ten!–
He gave a cold smirk; he could just as well become a middleman himself.
And some of those who had just received Moxel’s announcement were mulling over the fact that they seemed to have heard the name –Big Client A– somewhere before.
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