"Frosty Heaven! An excellent Frosty Heaven spirit weapon! Only need fifteen third-stage spirit crystals!"
"Spirit marrow! Top-quality spirit marrow can relax muscles and tendons, enhance blood vitality!"
"Is anyone selling leaves from Wood Spirit? I'll buy them at a high price!"
"Long-term, stable, high-price purchase of spirit crystals, all grades accepted! Large quantities can negotiate prices!"
...
Chad stepped onto the third floor, feeling as if he had entered a bustling marketplace. Various voices rose and fell in a cacophony, especially those skilled in using source power, who enhanced their vocal cords to make their shouts even louder than a loudspeaker.
Chad looked around and turned in a circle. He discovered that the basic currency for transactions here was not the Aumabiai currency used by ordinary people but spirit crystals. Strict rules governed the exchange rates: ten first-stage spirit crystals could be exchanged for one second-stage spirit crystal, and ten second-stage spirit crystals for one third-stage spirit crystal. This meant that the two fourth-stage spirit crystals he had could be exchanged for a thousand first-stage spirit crystals!
Realizing this, Chad felt extremely fortunate. "To become stronger, I have to keep moving upwards! If I had stayed in the First Zone, even if I obtained more low-level spirit crystals, it wouldn't be as rewarding as killing a fourth-stage eerie being in the Second Zone! This gap will only grow larger as I ascend higher!"
...
After walking around the entire third-floor trading hall of the association, Chad had a good grasp of the layout. The area was divided into three sections: the "stall area," "intention area," and "wanted area." The stall area functioned as expected, with sellers displaying their goods on fixed booths and haggling like in any outdoor market. The intention area, however, did not use spirit crystals as currency; instead, items were exchanged based on mutual agreement, often with parties making up the difference in value. This area frequently boasted the best items. The wanted area was for awakened individuals seeking various bizarre materials or treasures, offering high rewards for what they needed.
With no spirit crystals to spend, Chad naturally headed to the intention area. He carefully removed the shield wrapped in thick cowhide from his back and placed it on the ground. As he prepared to write down what he wanted in exchange, a nearby awakened individual couldn't help but exclaim, "What the? Am I seeing things? Is this a unique artifact?"
The person looked at Chad as if he were an alien, shock and incomprehension evident in his eyes. "Bro, you're putting this thing out for trade?"
Chad nodded. Upon confirmation, the person looked as if he thought Chad was crazy. He swallowed hard and eagerly asked, "Bro, can I take a look at your shield?"
Chad handed it over. The person hugged the shield and examined it thoroughly, the shock in his eyes only growing stronger. "What the! It's even a fourth-stage unique artifact!" he exclaimed, drawing the attention of all the awakened individuals nearby.
The news of someone selling a unique artifact spread quickly, causing a small commotion. Many people surrounded Chad, eager to get a glimpse of it. When they noticed the three-star badge on Chad's shoulder, their astonishment deepened. "Is it true? A three-star awakened individual with a fourth-stage unique artifact?"
"I'm already four-star, and I don't have a single unique artifact!"
"Some people just can't be compared to—it's so frustrating!"
"I can't believe he's actually trying to sell a fourth-stage unique artifact! Is he stupid?"
"Whether he's really stupid or not, since he wants to sell it, we have a chance!"
A group of people discussed. Chad sat quietly, observing without intervening. He couldn't explain to everyone that the shield was useless to him, so he let them speculate. Perhaps he could exchange it for something good.
Indeed, many people were unable to resist their enthusiasm and came forward to inquire about the price. Since Chad had placed it in the intention area, he clearly wasn't selling it for spirit crystals. So everyone asked him which type of treasure he wanted. After some thought, Chad announced, "I need resources that can significantly enhance my internal source power level, potions, spirit weapons, unique artifacts—all are fine!"
As soon as he mentioned treasures that enhance source power, people understood and quickly rushed back to the first floor to gather items. Watching the crowd disperse and then return reminded Chad of a swarm of bees, and he chuckled to himself.
Soon, a fast-running four-star awakened individual approached, panting as he held ten bottles of light blue potions. "Here! The source power enhancing potion you wanted! Ten bottles, is that enough?"
He seemed very eager for the defensive unique artifact. Chad examined the potions and found that they significantly enhanced internal source power. Ten bottles for just one unique artifact felt like a huge profit! However, the man's expression was hopeful yet anxious, afraid Chad might decline.
Chad understood that while the shield was trivial to him, it was a lifesaving treasure for others. Smiling, he handed over the unique artifact shield to the four-star awakened individual, completing the transaction. The man's face lit up with joy, his hands trembling slightly as he accepted the shield. When he attempted to engage Chad in small talk, he realized that Chad had already vanished without a trace.
...
On the other side, in the conference hall on the fifth floor, the long conference table was filled with high-ranking members of the Second Zone Spiritual Energy Association. President Caleb and other leaders wore solemn expressions, their brows tightly knit, as if a dark cloud loomed overhead.
"William has been missing for 48 hours now. No news!" Caleb's tone grew heavier, revealing the fury simmering beneath the surface. "If he's alive, where is he? If he's dead, where is his body?"
He continued, "We also found the body of a five-star awakened individual in the eerie mist last time! According to our investigation, this five-star awakened individual was the helper William invited from the Third Zone. Witnesses reported that this five-star awakened individual's death was very strange; he had no fatal external injuries, yet his internal vitality was completely gone, as if he had suddenly died."
"The most noteworthy point is—the location of the body was in the ruins of a battlefield, and we concluded that the being or eerie being responsible for this five-star awakened individual's death had the fire attribute."
Upon hearing this, several high-ranking members flipped through the materials in their hands. The documents contained detailed photos and descriptions of the scene. The broken walls and crumbling ruins resembled remnants of a devastating conflict, evoking fear merely by looking at the images. They struggled to comprehend what sort of entity could wield such a powerful fire attribute.
"What should we do?" one member asked. "William's brother is Christopher, a big shot in the Fifth Zone..."
Another member voiced their concern. "Christopher is a nine-star awakened individual! If he learns that his younger brother has disappeared without a trace and is likely dead, won't he be furious and unleash his wrath upon us?"
The exchange rate of spiritual crystals clearly demonstrated that higher-level zones and advanced awakeners held an overwhelming advantage over lower-level forces. Once Christopher arrived, who in the vast Second Zone could withstand him?
The high-ranking officials shared a bitter taste in their mouths. The First and Second Zones were merely beginner villages! Why did they have to deal with such a troublesome matter? William, with his mediocre strength, had chosen to settle in their second zone. Everyone knew that the Third and Fourth Zones were the backbone, while the Fifth Zone, before the Sixth Zone was opened, was the elite!
Christopher, a nine-star awakener, could potentially become a heavenly-grade awakener at any moment...
At the end of the table, Dolores in a professional black polo shirt remained indifferent, seemingly unaffected by the officials' concerns. Occasionally, she would lower her head, lost in thought, revealing a faint, mysterious smile.
"Could it be... related to that kid who just got promoted from the First Zone? I heard he had a conflict with William, and his ability attribute is exactly fire." Just then, an old man in a corner said tentatively. Upon hearing this, someone quickly objected. "That kid who just got promoted only has an F-grade ability talent. Even if he trains for a thousand or eleven hundred years, he couldn't possibly cause the devastating burning effect shown in the picture."
Dolores remained thoughtful. Dolores's charming eyes showed a contemplative expression. "Chad? Could this matter really be related to him?"
Although she had an unreasonable hunch, she chose not to voice it publicly. Instead, she remained silent until the meeting concluded.
...
Time flew quickly. In the blink of an eye, three more days passed. Within these three days, Chad fully absorbed the ten bottles of Source Power Medicine he had exchanged for his peculiar shield. His internal source power level surged, allowing him to maintain his Ghost form for even longer!
Meanwhile, the system prompted that Chad's Ghost Rider template fusion rate had increased by another one percent, reaching 11%. Just as he changed into his training clothes, preparing to head to the training room, an uninvited guest pushed open his door.
Chad looked at the visitor in surprise and raised an eyebrow. "Dolores? Why are you here?"
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