Chapter 39: The Merfolk
Chapter 39: The Merfolk
This single fact alone reveals the Black Mountain Society's standing in Jiangyuan City.
As for the events unfolding in the black market of Jiangyuan at this moment, Song Chi was completely unaware.
After exhausting his funds, he left the Jiangyuan Ember Marketplace.
Two days later, in the Interstellar Bazaar.
After a full day of training in the all-attribute cultivation room, Song Chi appeared refreshed and energetic. He stood before the ultra-long-range spatial gate random deployment platform, waiting for the buffer to complete.
59 seconds
58 seconds
...
1 second
0
As soon as the buffer time hit zero, Song Chi wasted no time in reactivating the deployment platform.
The platform, which originally had 10 light beams, now displayed 19, indicating that 19 spatial gates had been deployed across the vast, fragmented star sea.
Perhaps due to the near doubling of spatial gates, it took only a couple of minutes before spatial fluctuations rippled from the bazaar entrance. This was the sign that a spatial gate had been activated, and clearly, beings had arrived through it.
Turning his head, Song Chi saw several figures tiptoeing into view. They had human torsos and fish tails, unmistakably a different race.
This time, there was no need to consult the Encyclopedia of Civilizations and Species; Song Chi was already well-acquainted with this race.
"Merfolk!"
These merfolk were renowned throughout the fragmented star sea, though not for any noble reason. Instead, they were known for their allure.
Maids, slaves, and concubines...
Of course, the merfolk entering the bazaar now were ordinary ones, not the extremely rare and beautiful mermaids.
Even so, Song Chi was curious. Merfolk were a rare sight in the star sea, typically found only on floating lands where water covered the majority of the surface.
The merfolk, upon entering the bazaar, looked around with curiosity. Noticing this, Song Chi approached them. It was clear they were well-educated or from a higher social class, as no translation device was needed. They could communicate in the universal star sea language without any barriers.
However, he soon lost interest. These merfolk were clearly young and inexperienced. While they provided various pieces of information freely, they had little of value. Apart from pearls from deep-sea clams and decorative sea snails, they had nothing that piqued Song Chi's interest.
Deep-sea pearls, while not without value, required a significant age to be truly useful.
Pearls over three hundred years old, when ground into powder, could enhance the cultivation of guiding techniques, especially when used in conjunction with a spirit energy cultivation platform. The results were astonishing.
If the pearls were over a thousand years old, they could significantly accelerate the cultivation of guiding techniques beyond level 20. Unfortunately, the pearls the merfolk had were only a few decades old, not even a century, and thus offered minimal benefits for guiding techniques.
Since Song Chi found nothing of value in their possession, the merfolk were unable to purchase anything from the various shops in the bazaar. This realization left them in a panic.
At the gene optimization serum shop, just the scent of the basic gene optimization serum was enough to make Gor's cells yearn intensely. There was no doubt that this serum would bring immeasurable benefits to him. If he could consume a few vials, it might even elevate his bloodline.
The thought of the merfolk's tradition of valuing bloodline purity in the Coral Sea brought a fierce glint to its eyes.
Suddenly, it spoke up:
"How can I purchase this special elixir?"
As soon as the words left its mouth, the text on the holographic screen in the center of the shop began to change.
[Deepwater Clam Pearls must be at least three hundred years old. The older the pearl, the higher its value.]
Gor's expression turned particularly vivid as he read this, and Song Chi, who was watching from another shop, almost burst out laughing.
In truth, Song Chi could understand. The shattered star sea stretched for countless light-years, harboring an unfathomable number of civilizations. Among those that did not rely on technology but sought great power through their own means, the quality of one's genes (bloodline) often determined their entire life within these civilizations.
Those born into such civilizations with inferior bloodlines but ambitious aspirations were truly pitiable, for they had no hope of achieving their dreams.
Now, with this seemingly impossible opportunity laid before them, the excitement in their hearts was palpable.
As the male merfolk moved quietly toward the entrance of the market, Song Chi watched with anticipation, wondering if this encounter would bring him a different kind of surprise.
...
Blood Sea Floating Land, Coral Sea.
In the southern part of the Coral Sea, about two hundred miles north of the Conch Islands, a faint, ethereal portal appeared in the depths of the ocean. At this moment, a subtle spatial ripple emerged from the portal, and Gor, who had just left the market, appeared before it.
Turning to scan the now calm portal, Gor's eyes could no longer hide the fierce glint within. The ambition that had long been buried in his heart resurfaced, and this time, Gor made no effort to suppress it. Within a short time, it became uncontrollable.
Inside the Conch Island, which had long been hollowed out, lay a somewhat dilapidated palace. This was the territory of the Copper Spear Clan of the merfolk, once a royal-level clan that had fallen into decline after a series of misfortunes.
Under the constant oppression of other large clans, the Copper Spear Clan now controlled only a thousand-mile radius around the Conch Islands, with resources so scarce that they were barely sufficient.
Over generations, the once-pure royal bloodline of the Copper Spear Clan had weakened. The strongest member of the clan was only a second-stage merfolk, struggling to survive in the brutal, dog-eat-dog world of the Blood Sea.
In a hidden underwater cave deep within the clan's territory, the clan leader glared at Gor.
"Use pearls from deepwater clams that are over three hundred years old to exchange for an unknown elixir? Gor, you must be insane."
Gor met his father's gaze firmly.
"Father, I am certain that the elixir can purify our thin royal bloodline. With your current strength, if we can purify the bloodline by even a fraction, you will surely advance to the third stage."
The clan leader stared at his son, his voice grave.
"You must understand the gravity of your words. Items that can purify bloodlines are extremely rare. If this elixir turns out to be fake, your monthly resource allocation will be reduced by eighty percent."
Gor did not hesitate, nodding resolutely.
The clan leader said no more, merely waving his hand to toss a jade box. Inside the box were several translucent pearls.
...
(End of Chapter)
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