Chapter 1037 - 544: Total War Against the 8-Armed Snake Demon Civilization_2

A black time-related component, how could I not be grateful?

Reflecting inwardly, Song Chi admitted that before this moment, lending out the [Black Hole Evolution Layer] component would have been nearly impossible for him.

It wasn’t a matter of stinginess; rather, components of this rank are already too rare to measure their worth. Despite possessing the Zhu Tian Ruins Market, the Heavenly Ruins Cang Qiong currently only has three black components in total. Lending one out casually? That would truly be difficult.

However, after this event, his mindset might change somewhat.

After chatting for a while longer, Song Chi finally stepped toward the Star Tower’s mission window.

Soon, Song Chi noticed Bai Mei hadn’t left but was walking with him toward the mission window as well.

"Bai Mei, you’re taking on a mission too?"

"Yes."

The response behind him remained flat and concise.

Having grown accustomed to this, Song Chi paid no mind and continued:

"Secret realm exploration mission?"

Interestingly, shortly afterward, Song Chi and Bai Mei both accepted the secret realm exploration mission that had been posted for decades.

Over such a long period of time, the mission’s details had undergone multiple updates.

Twenty years ago, the universe’s secret realm that had been discovered was officially named [Blood Battle Secret Realm]. Though the lowest-tier among cosmic secret realms, it housed native inhabitants of the Blood Battle Clan at the Eighth Rank level. Additionally, there were nearly ten Seventh Rank Blood Battle Dominators in this realm, highlighting its dangers.

The reason this mission was still listed in the Star Tower after so long is that, despite the dangers, the [Blood Battle Secret Realm] holds immense value.

Through years of exploration, the secret realm’s most prized resource was verified: a unique wondrous object called [Blood Battle Stele]. Not only can this object transform into warship components, but it is also a rare control immunity-type component.

Its effect is similar to the [Heart of Behemoth] aboard the Heavenly Ruins Cang Qiong, granting immunity to control. However, unlike the [Behemoth Overlord Body] ability requiring activation, the [Blood Battle Stele]’s immunity effect is permanent and always active.

But that’s not the critical point. The key lies in previous explorers’ reports suggesting that the [Blood Battle Secret Realm] contains [Blood Battle Stele] wondrous objects of Silver Quality, and even Gold Quality.

Naturally, Song Chi was immensely interested in the [Blood Battle Stele].

Previously, he had been focused on acquiring the [Time Chess Board], so he hadn’t taken this mission. Now, with the [Time Chess Board] in hand, he chose without hesitation to accept this task.

The [Heart of Behemoth] component’s quality was ultimately too low, and Song Chi had long wanted a higher-quality control immunity-type component. This was the perfect opportunity.

After the two sequentially accepted the mission, the Star Tower’s intelligent voice promptly rang out:

"Mission accepted. Please be patient; in six months, the Guiding Warship from the Main Hall will arrive on time!"

"See you in six months."

"Mm."

...

Buzz buzz buzz!

At the entrance of the Zhu Tian Ruins Market, amid intense spatial fluctuations, hundreds of vortex channels slowly coalesced.

A new round of market transactions officially begins.

As this was Song Chi’s first trading experience since advancing to the Sixth Rank, some adjustments had been made.

Time passed, and within mere minutes, one spatial portal was activated.

Soon, out from a portal emerged a creature gripping a large wolf fang club, its eyes filled with vigilance.

This creature had a dog’s head and a humanoid body, its life energy pulsations appearing quite weak.

"A kobold?"

Song Chi barely glanced at it before losing interest, immediately recognizing its identity.

Kobolds are one of the lowest-tier Starry Sea races; although they are numerous, their potential is severely limited.

The Second Rank kobold cautiously approached the Ruins Market’s main gate, its tiny eyes naturally drifting toward the rule-light screen beside the gate.

Upon noticing the most prominent text inscribed by the Power of Laws, the kobold’s little pupils widened to their limit.

"Eight... Eighth Rank... Gold-quality Sanctuary Wondrous Object!"

Its stammering mutterings attracted the attention of Goblin Luke, who immediately rushed out from within the market.

"Where... Where is the Eighth Rank? Where is the Gold-quality Sanctuary Wondrous Object?"

Following the kobold’s gaze, Luke, whose sharp teeth visibly protruded, noticed the rule-light screen displaying the most eye-catching Law Text:

"[Ruin Market Projection Rank] exchange prices have been fully adjusted. From now on, it will require six Silver Oddities to exchange for one [Ruin Market Projection Rank]. Correspondingly, after the exchange, the [Projection Rank]’s usage span will extend to 100 years."

"Additionally, if exchanged with a Gold-quality Sanctuary Wondrous Object, only one is required to obtain 500 years of usage span for the [Projection Rank], along with five opportunities to summon the Ruins Market Projection during this period."

Note: The Ruins Market Projection possesses Eighth-Order Combat Power.

After reading the updated information, Luke’s prior good mood over successfully acquiring vampire bloodline and extending his lifespan by several multiples instantly soured.

Eighth Rank, Gold Starry Sea Oddities—compared to these, what use is his mere 2,000-year lifespan?

Stirred, faint Fourth Rank magic power began swirling around Luke’s short legs as he darted toward the inn.

Over centuries, Viscount Tor’s Mansion had been exploring the Silver Continent’s starry skies with advanced machinery, far exceeding expected bounds. Among countless discoveries, besides the Fifth Rank Starry Sky Plant [Hidden Sea Flower], significant finds included a Gold-quality Sanctuary Oddity from the Starry Sea.

After acquiring this Gold Sanctuary Oddity, the ancient figures of Viscount Tor’s Mansion rigorously tried to unlock its functionality for a century, only to come up empty-handed.

Eventually, the mansion’s elders concluded that this Gold Sanctuary Oddity was likely a unique material, irrelevant to them.

Still, due to the massive implications surrounding Gold Oddities, the mansion’s elders refused Luke’s repeated suggestions of bringing it to the Ruins Market for trade.

"This time, I must convince the elders!!"

As Luke soared onward, his determination solidified, faint blood-colored glimmers swirling in his eyes.

Luke’s reaction wasn’t unique; many market veterans followed suit shortly thereafter.

Gazing at everything through a god’s perspective, Song Chi’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

Preliminarily, it appeared his adjustments had yielded good results.

But why make such changes?

The Ruins Market Projection had undergone a qualitative leap, upgrading from Seventh Rank combat power to quasi-Eighth Rank. Such improvements necessitated an adjusted price, didn’t they?

After careful deliberation, Song Chi revised the [Projection Rank]’s exchange criteria accordingly.

This adjustment would filter out many alien races; this was clear to him. After all, offering two Silver Oddities versus six Silver Oddities is a completely different matter.

Yet, Song Chi did not regret it, for Gold-quality Sanctuary Wondrous Objects intrigued him far more now.

500 years and five activation opportunities—he was confident these benefits would attract the interest of certain alien factions.

For example, Dark Night Elves, Fifth Rank Half-Rodent People, and the Wizard Civilization.

This change was merely a foundation for future events, so even though no alien approached to inquire during the market’s conclusion, Song Chi remained unperturbed.

He believed some alien races wouldn’t resist for long.

Time flew by, and six months passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Song Chi and Bai Mei met again at Shaking Light Star Tower, their figures standing atop the [Civilization Great Wall] outside the Star Tower. As they awaited the arrival of the Guiding Warship from the Main Hall, their gazes naturally roamed toward the pitch-dark starry sky opposite.

Suddenly, Bai Mei spoke softly:

"There’s word that the Four Great Empires are preparing to launch an all-out war against the Eight-Armed Snake Demon Civilization."

PS: One Chapter for today.