Time passed in a blur. Jianghe Building — ninth floor.
"That was a Tier-3 New Human!""I killed it solo!""And I only get this tiny reward?""You treating me like a charity case?"
Ouyang Miao flopped onto Chen Xiao, whining about the base's stingy payouts. She'd gone out of her way to hunt that Tier-3 — and all she got were a few meat cards. For Jiangbei Triangle, supposedly one of the richest bases around, this felt insulting.
Of course, Ouyang Miao used to be fawned over by Zhang Ying; now she was merely a captain. Expectations soured into gripes.
Chen Xiao let her rant slide. His mind was elsewhere — on the new talent he'd unlocked.
[Queen Bee Barrier] → Upper Evolution Talent — Nine-Foot Seal (SSSS, Rule Talent)Description: Manipulate rules to turn a battlefield into a prison.Effect: Instantly plant nine will-driven rule pillars, weaving them like latitude and longitude to form an unbreakable Nine-Foot Barrier. Any energy flow or skill activation inside is massively weakened by the barrier's rules.Note: Weakening ratio — 99%.Note: The higher the biological tier, the lower the weakening ratio (minimum 30%).
"Why are you snickering? I'm telling you my troubles — at least pretend to care!" Ouyang Miao puffed her cheeks, annoyed that Chen Xiao wasn't paying proper attention.
Chen Xiao blinked, looked at the woman who'd been spared his blade, and deadpanned, "Reaction? What reaction? Get out."
Moments later he found himself shirtless in the corridor, clutching his clothes as Ouyang Miao booted him out. "Heartless!" he grumbled while dressing, but his grin betrayed how excited he really was.
Ten talents now. The Nine-Foot Seal was his first rule-type ability. From the description alone, it was ridiculous — absurdly broken. Ninety-nine percent weakening. If he dropped that barrier on that Kunlun swordsman, the man might not even pull sword aura. If the military's Wolf King Chen Mo faced it, what could ten thousand-man enhancements do? Even Horse-Face — whose resistance to rules was notorious — might be squeezed down by at least thirty percent. Thirty percent was huge.
Dressed, Chen Xiao leaned on the windowsill. Sunlight bathed the Jianghe District. Since looting the top three families, Jiangbei Triangle had transformed — the place brimmed with new facilities and fresh infrastructure. Awakeners poured in, bringing money and manpower. The district looked prosperous, like a newly minted power center.
Is this what being nouveau riche feels like?
Chen Xiao wasn't cut out for administration, so he'd handed real authority to Jiang Yunhan. The man was competent, hardworking, and — best of all — on their side.
As fate would have it, Chen Xiao bumped into Jiang Yunhan in the hallway, who'd brought two base members in tow. The two looked at Chen Xiao with something close to admiration.
"Chen Xiao, I was looking for you," Jiang Yunhan said. "Neighboring Dachang City is holding a 'Dachang Auction.' We got an invitation a week ago."
Chen Xiao accepted a red plastic card. — Dachang Auction — The most comprehensive auction in the apocalypse. Hot items: pork, horse, chicken and other meats; drinks, tobacco, alcohol, oil; crucial supplies for social operation; even servitude contracts for several S-rank talents. Time: 1 PM tomorrow.
The kicker? Small print at the bottom: — Can purchase with Evolution Points.
Chen Xiao's brow tightened. Evolution Points… tradable? He'd used two evolution opportunities already; Evolution Points were supposed to be for evolution opportunities, not currency. Did Dachang have a device to extract Evolution Points? Or — was the device itself an evolution opportunity?
"Something wrong?" Jiang Yunhan's voice pulled him back.
"Is this Dachang's first auction?" Chen Xiao asked.
The young man beside Jiang Yunhan answered, "This is the third invitation Jianghe Grain Depot has received; we've never gone."
"Are you going?" Chen Xiao asked Jiang Yunhan.
"I'm building the fast channel for the Triangle. I can't leave." Jiang Yunhan shook his head.
"In that case — I'll go." Chen Xiao decided.
Jiang Yunhan smiled: "If you fancy something but lack Evolution Points, we can put it on credit. We'll have it delivered later. Dachang will give Jiangbei Triangle face."
After Jiang Yunhan left, the young man added excitedly, "Boss Chen, your name's known across Sanjiang now. 'Mad Ghost Butcher' — people shiver at the name."
Chen Xiao cleared his throat. "Stop. I don't accept that title." The young man snapped to attention.
Chen Xiao's eyes narrowed. That Dachang Auction smelled wrong; it might be profitable, or dangerous — probably both. If Evolution Points were involved, it had to be investigated. He planned to go.
Later that day he visited the seventh floor where Tang Shirou and Jiang Chuxue always chattered.
"Knock, knock.""Come in — since when have you been polite? Got a key or not?"
Chen Xiao grinned and walked in. "Shirou, Chuxue — I'm leaving for Dachang City early tomorrow."
"Huh? Dachang? For what?" Jiang Chuxue blinked, reluctant to be apart.
Tang Shirou moved closer. "Yeah, what for? Can we come?"
Chen Xiao sighed. "Dachang's holding an auction. I'm going to see what's up."
"Can we come with you?" Tang Shirou asked; Jiang Chuxue nodded.
Chen Xiao's answer was simple and firm: "No. This auction doesn't seem simple. That 'use Evolution Points' line makes me uneasy. I can't let you two come."
He wasn't lying — Evolution Points meant opportunities, and opportunities tended to be traps or treasures at the same time. Dachang might be linked to the first Blood Moon's game. If so, it was too big to bring others into blindly.
Tang Shirou pouted. "We've only been together a few days!"
Chen Xiao rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "My bad. I'll make it up to you later." He offered with a crooked smile, "Shall I reward you two beautiful ladies now?"
"Ugh, stop it!" "Chen Xiao, you're shameless!"
They laughed; the mood lightened, but Chen Xiao's eyes were distant. Dachang was moving him — and whatever waited there, Evolution Points were a part of it. He'd find out what was real, and what was bait.