Chapter 1019: Lost Town (Part 2)
Chapter 1019: Lost Town (Part 2)
It was so obedient earlier that I almost forgot it's actually a wild beast companion... Qiao Sang reflected inwardly and hurried to catch up.
Bao Wu Wu led the way, winding through the streets. After about ten minutes, they finally stopped in front of a lavish shop.
"Wuwu!"
The purple light in Bao Wu Wu's eyes faded, and it pointed at the shop with its claws, calling out excitedly, indicating that there were many treasures inside.
Qiao Sang and Migala looked up at the sign above the door, which read "Extraordinary Pet Artifacts Store", and both fell silent.
"Xunxun."
"Xunxun." The Treasure Seeker floated beside Bao Wu Wu, explaining earnestly that everything inside needed to be purchased with money.
"Wuwu..."
Bao Wu Wu seemed to understand, but not entirely.
Migala glanced at Bao Wu Wu and then turned to say, "I heard there's a place in Xi Han City that is always shrouded in ghost mist. It seems to be somewhere around here. Want to check it out?"
Ghost mist is different from regular fog; it's darker and filled with negative energies. It's said that places with a high concentration of ghost-type energy can produce such mist.
Qiao Sang didn't hesitate. "Sure."
Now that she was a B-Rank Beastmaster, and with an S-Class Beastmaster by her side, she had nothing to fear, even if they were heading to a place shrouded in ghost mist or a Hidden Realm teeming with ghost-type beast companions.
She opened her navigation system, confirmed the route, and called over the Treasure Seeker to start the location process.
"Wuwu?"
Bao Wu Wu floated over, looking puzzled, and called out, wondering if they weren't going to look for treasures anymore.
"Steel Blade."
The voice of the Steel Treasure translated in her mind.
If we keep looking, I'm afraid you'll end up in someone's house... Qiao Sang thought to herself and smiled. "Let's find a different place."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Treasure Seeker completed the location.
The two of them and their familiars vanished from the spot.
Qiao Sang's vision went dark, and when it cleared, she found herself on a narrow path. Ahead was an open area filled with various stalls and a crowd of people and familiars.
If it weren't for the dark ghost mist in the distance, she might have thought the Treasure Seeker had led them to a large marketplace by mistake.
"Xunxun..."
The Treasure Seeker looked at the ghost mist in the distance, its expression dazed, as if drawn to something.
The aura of the ghost mist is irresistibly attractive to ghost-type beast companions. The Treasure Seeker, being a General-Class beast companion, could sense the presence of the aura from such a distance, but Bao Wu Wu, being of a lower level, wasn't affected.
"Wuwu!"
Bao Wu Wu looked at the scene ahead, its eyes glowing purple, and then flashing brightly, pointing and calling out, indicating that there were many good things here as well.
Qiao Sang's interest was piqued. The items in the shop were generally confirmed in terms of level and use, with clear prices, but the items at these stalls could often be bargained for, and sometimes you could find a real gem.
Migala noticed Qiao Sang's interest and said, "Let's take a look."
With that, he stepped forward.
Qiao Sang looked at Bao Wu Wu and said seriously, "This time, it's up to you."
"Wuwu!" Bao Wu Wu nodded solemnly.
Qiao Sang stepped forward.
"Xunxun!"
The Treasure Seeker snapped out of its daze and quickly followed.
Once they reached the open area, Qiao Sang weaved through the crowds of people and ghost-type beast companions, examining the surrounding stalls.
Migala casually glanced at each stall, seemingly uninterested.
"Wuwu!"
Suddenly, Bao Wu Wu's eyes glowed with purple light, and it stopped in front of one stall, pointing at a stone emitting dark aura and let out a cry.
Qiao Sang walked over, and before he could ask, the vendor said:
"Your Bao Wu Wu is quite the expert at identifying treasures. This is an A-Class Negativity Absorbing Stone. Once you enter the Ghost Fog, it will ensure that your negative emotions don't flare up, keeping your mind clear."
The Ghost Fog, when inhaled, triggers negative emotions in the heart. Apart from Ghost-type Beast Companions, both humans and other attribute familiars are affected. Wearing a Negativity Absorbing Stone can absorb the surrounding black mist, minimizing its impact.
Rather than spend money on this, it would be better to have Lulu cast Healing Waves... Qiao Sang casually asked:
"How much is it?"
The vendor's eyes lit up, "An A-Class Negativity Absorbing Stone isn't easy to come by. Just give me 1.99 million."
1.99 million? Why don't you just rob someone? A-Class Negativity Absorbing Stones are pure black; this one is blue-black, at best B-Rank. Do you take me for a fool? Qiao Sang didn't say anything more and turned to leave.
The vendor called out from behind:
"Don't go! This is an A-Class Negativity Absorbing Stone. Even if you don't trust me, don't you trust Bao Wu Wu's ability to identify treasures?"
The surrounding passersby and vendors frequently glanced over, their gazes landing on Bao Wu Wu.
In this place, a familiar like Bao Wu Wu, which can sense the location of treasures, is highly regarded.
Soon, many passersby gathered around the stall with the Negativity Absorbing Stone, inquiring about the price.
So, this is why he dared to ask such a high price, thinking Bao Wu Wu had identified a good find... Qiao Sang lowered his voice and said to Bao Wu Wu:
"Next time you see something good, don't get excited. Shake your head and sigh, indicating that it's not worth it."
"Wuwu."
Bao Wu Wu, though confused, nodded.
At that moment, Migala walked over and said:
"Everything here was brought out from the Ghost Fog. There's a rumor that someone saw a Soul Ferry Cat inside a week ago, which is why so many people have gathered here. In about a week, the things inside the Ghost Fog have probably been searched through."
Meaning there won't be much left to find inside.
Qiao Sang was taken aback:
"Teacher, how do you know so much?"
Migala calmly replied:
"I just overheard it."
Most people here are here to enter the Ghost Fog, so naturally, they discuss related matters.
I thought he was just here to buy things, but it turns out he was gathering information... Qiao Sang realized he still had a lot to learn. He looked at Teacher Migala with admiration and asked:
"Did you hear anything else?"
Migala paused for a moment and said:
"This Ghost Fog is said to have existed for over ten thousand years. It was originally a place called Ghost Flourish Town. One day, over a hundred Mystic Rifts suddenly appeared, and wild Ghost-type Beast Companions gathered. The sudden outbreak trapped everyone inside, cutting off all contact with the outside world."
"When everyone thought the people of Ghost Flourish Town had perished, they emerged unharmed. The legend goes that a legendary familiar, the Mystic Black Ram, saved them."
"The people were saved, but the Ghost Fog remained, making the place uninhabitable and taboo, essentially a forbidden zone."
"Now, everyone is gathered here because of the Soul Ferry Cat."
A forbidden zone is indeed terrifying, but the allure of the Soul Ferry Cat is enough to overcome fear, especially for Beastmasters nearing the end of their lifespans.
Qiao Sang was taken aback for a moment before blurting out:
"Lost Town?"
Migala nodded slightly:
"Indeed, this place is known as Lost Town. I've heard that many Beastmasters have gone in to explore, and quite a few have stayed inside."
Qiao Sang: "……"
I meant the Chamber Escape I chose back then...
It seems that the Chamber Escape scenario was based on real events...
Qiao Sang's thoughts suddenly shifted, and she asked in disbelief:
"Did you just hear that?"
"No", Migala shook her head. "This place in Dragon Nation is quite famous. I had heard about it back in Eagaria."
I see, I almost thought you heard about it just from browsing the stalls... Qiao Sang thought to herself.
Migala asked:
"Do you still want to go in?"
Qiao Sang pondered for a few seconds before asking:
"Can we come out in time? I'm worried about missing Bao Wu Wu's Mystic Rift."
Initially, she didn't know that the ghostly fog here was connected to Lost Town. Now that she knew many people had gone missing inside, she wasn't worried about not being able to come out, but rather about not being able to come out in time.
"Wuwu..."
Bao Wu Wu was taken aback by her words.
Migala said:
"With me, we can."
Her calm demeanor and confident tone made Qiao Sang feel an instant sense of security. She lifted her head, chest out, and said fearlessly:
"Since we can come out in time, of course we should go in. Dragon Nation has a saying: 'Since we're here, we might as well go.'"
With an S-Class Beastmaster and Bao Wu Wu by her side, not going in would be like leaving a hundred-dollar bill on the ground and not picking it up.
With Bao Wu Wu around, the treasures they could find would be worth far more than a hundred dollars.
Migala nodded:
"Let's go, then."
"Eh?" Qiao Sang was taken aback again:
"Aren't we going to browse a bit more?"
Migala looked around and said:
"Everyone is preparing to go in. Do you think there's anything good left for you?"
Qiao Sang looked at the people around her, who were seriously studying the items at the stalls, and fell silent. She said no more and walked with Teacher Migara toward the ghostly fog.
"Wuwu..."
Bao Wu Wu looked disappointed; it hadn't even started looking around yet.
"Xunxun!"
Just as it was feeling down, the Treasure Seeker turned around excitedly and called out, indicating that there were sure to be many treasures inside the black fog!
"Wuwu!"
Bao Wu Wu's spirits lifted, and it hurried to follow.
About three hundred meters from the black fog, a few people in formal attire and Ghost-type Beast Companions were loudly advertising:
"Destiny insurance, destiny insurance! If you buy our insurance, even if you don't come out, we'll not only compensate you but also inform your family of your fate as soon as possible."
If you don't come out, knowing whether you're alive or dead isn't very important. Staying in there for a long time, you'll die eventually... Qiao Sang wasn't very interested in this kind of insurance.
However, many people heading in swarmed over to inquire about the insurance.
Migala glanced at them and said:
"Most people who come here are determined to find the Soul Ferry Cat, so showing them this kind of insurance right before they go in will likely make them buy it."
She paused and scanned the crowd, adding:
"Don't look at how young they appear; most of them have very little life left. If you encounter someone asking for help inside, ignore them. With Bao Wu Wu by your side, they'll target you easily."
I've used Invisibility Powder. If someone attacks, they'll go for you first, Teacher... Qiao Sang said seriously:
"I understand."
Steel Treasure quietly glanced at its Beastmaster, a smile in its eyes.
As they took a few more steps, various food stalls came into view.
The aroma was overwhelming.
Qiao Sang couldn't help but look at them for a moment. She then realized she hadn't eaten since arriving in Xi Han City.
Migala followed Qiao Sang's gaze.
A Vendor noticed their attention and enthusiastically called out, "Come and have something to eat. Once you go in, you might not get another chance to eat."
Such a ominous statement... Qiao Sang turned to Teacher Mikara and said, "Let's eat something."
Migala nodded, showing no objection.
Qiao Sang walked over to the neighboring stall.
Migala followed behind.
The Vendor who had spoken earlier was left speechless.
After a quick bowl of wontons, Qiao Sang led Fangy and the others, along with Teacher Mikara, toward the black ghostly mist.
The black mist surged, enveloping the two people and their familiars, and they vanished into the shadows.
Everything returned to calm, as if no one had ever entered.
...
Inside the ghostly mist.
The view suddenly opened up.
Contrary to expectations, they were not shrouded in an impenetrable fog. Instead, a light mist hung in the air, and looking around, they saw dilapidated buildings that had clearly been attacked. Shadows of people and Ghost-type Beast Companions could be seen moving about inside the buildings.
Qiao Sang looked back.
The street and buildings behind them were equally rundown, and the path they had taken was no longer visible.
"It feels a lot like the Hidden Realm", Qiao Sang reflected.
It was as if they had entered another world.
"It's still quite different", Migala said, scanning the surroundings. "There are only Ghost-type wild Beast Companions here, and it's much smaller than the Hidden Realm. Most importantly, the resources here are far less abundant. If there are any, they are likely brought in by the Ghost-type wild Beast Companions from the Mystic Rift."
Hearing this, it seemed like the danger level was quite low... Qiao Sang pondered, "Will there be any other attribute wild Beast Companions coming out of the Mystic Rift?"
Migala replied coolly, "The environment here is unsuitable for any familiars other than Ghost-type Beast Companions. Even if they do appear, they won't survive for long."
"Because of the ghostly mist?" Qiao Sang furrowed her brow.
Migala nodded, "Exactly. The ghostly mist contains various negative energies. Other attribute familiars will become irritable and suffer physical discomfort if they stay in it for too long."
Qiao Sang's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked at Fangy and the others.
Apart from Qingbao, who appeared, frowning and covering his nose, the others seemed unaffected by the environment.
Migala noticed Qiao Sang's concern and said calmly, "You are now a B-Rank Beastmaster, and Yan Jiaou and the others are Royal Tier Beasts. They would only be affected if they stayed here for over ten years."
She then looked at Qingbao and added, "The Clear Hidden Sprite is the most affected. I suggest you put it back in the Beastmaster Codex."
Qingbao, who loved freedom, might not want to go back into the Beastmaster Codex. The place was rare and interesting, and seeing it firsthand was much better than being inside the Codex. If Qingbao refused, they would only be here for a day or two, and Lulu could heal them afterward... Qiao Sang was about to speak.
"Qingqing!"
But at that moment, Qingbao showed a frustrated expression, as if urging, "Let me in quickly." Even his voice was rougher than usual.
Qiao Sang: "..."
The power of the ghostly mist was terrifying. Qingbao, who usually had such a good temper, was already showing signs of irritability... Qiao Sang, thinking this, waved her hand and returned Qingbao to the Beastmaster Codex. (End of Chapter)
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