106: Hatching the Cerberus
Page (1/3) — The Laws of Plane Trading
With a ripple of motion, Wood appeared in a space so white it seemed almost eerie, bringing Mu Siyu and Yaxin Yi with him. The space covered only one square kilometer, and its far end could be seen at a glance. Beyond it stretched a vast expanse of blackness, with meteors occasionally streaking across it...
This was naturally the Plane Trading Space. Every ten days, it would open, allowing the plane agents to come here to “treasure hunt” while also setting up their own street stalls.
In truth, this was only Wood’s second visit to the trading space. The method of trade here remained extremely primitive. Countless tiny stalls were scattered about in chaotic heaps, though everyone tacitly divided the area according to the planes they belonged to—the science-fiction planes on one side and the fantasy planes on the other.
Interestingly, the agents from the science-fiction planes were clearly more sociable. Most of them gathered together, chatting and laughing, while the agents from the fantasy and biochemical planes were generally aloof or poor at communication. Wrapped in robes, they wandered about alone.
Neither Yaxin Yi nor Mu Siyu had ever been to such a place. For a moment, they were captivated by the cosmic scenery beyond the space. Wood, meanwhile, looked around to see whether there was anyone he knew.
He had only possessed the plane-trading system for a short while, so his so-called acquaintances naturally consisted only of a few people, such as Gufeng, Baldhead, and Zigui. Oh! Oak Xiangnatan from Planet One of the Fantasy Plane could also count as half an acquaintance.
There were considerably more traders in the space this time than during his previous visit. After glancing around, Wood actually spotted two familiar figures—Gufeng and Baldhead.
Gufeng was strolling through the fantasy-item trading district, while Baldhead had set up a stall in the biochemical-item district. He seemed to be acting as a hands-off proprietor, however, leaving five burly men to handle the transactions for him.
“T-virus evolutionary serum: one high-grade energy crystal.”
“G-virus evolutionary serum: ten high-grade energy crystals.”
“S-virus evolutionary serum: fifty high-grade energy crystals.”
“We also have the latest evolutionary serum. It can only be injected after the recipient has received the S-grade virus evolutionary serum. It was refined from the blood of the Dragon King of the Fantasy Plane. Users gain a certain degree of bodily regeneration. As for the price? Not expensive—five hundred high-grade energy crystals!”
“Big Brother Baldhead, was this evolutionary serum really refined from the Dragon King’s blood?” Seeing the item, Wood naturally recalled the group’s glorious feat of slaying the dragon.
Hearing Wood’s voice, Baldhead turned around and smiled. “Wood, I knew you’d come when the Plane Trading Space opened this time!”
Wood nodded and looked at the new evolutionary serum. Baldhead pulled him aside and lowered his voice. “I developed this using the Dragon King’s blood, but what I’m selling is only the basic version. I have an advanced version here. I’ll give you some later!”
Wood hurriedly said, “How could I accept that? You developed it yourself!”
Baldhead shook his head. “There’s nothing to feel embarrassed about. This also involves Zigui’s contribution. If he hadn’t provided cutting-edge research equipment from the science-fiction plane, I couldn’t have developed it. Besides, that fellow Lu Daoxuan said that everything obtained from slaying the dragon belongs to everyone. Ordinary items we develop can be set aside, but something capable of greatly increasing everyone’s strength belongs to everyone!”
Wood asked in confusion, “The basic new evolutionary serum already provides a certain degree of bodily regeneration. What benefits does the advanced version have?”
“Besides accelerating bodily regeneration, it can also increase combat power and comprehension,” Gufeng interjected.
It turned out that he had also noticed Wood’s arrival and had come over specifically to greet him. “I haven’t seen Zigui or Lu Daoxuan today. What happened to those two?”
Baldhead shrugged. “That fellow Lu Daoxuan has always appeared and disappeared unpredictably, so it’s perfectly normal not to see him. Zigui, on the other hand, loves joining in the fun. It’s strange that he hasn’t come today.”
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As he spoke, Baldhead took out ten syringe-like tubes filled with a flowing, mercury-colored liquid. “This is the advanced virus evolutionary serum refined from the Dragon King’s blood. However, since we bathed in the Dragon King’s blood and absorbed the Dragon King’s heart and dragon soul, we don’t need it ourselves. But you can give it to your subordinates. It will greatly increase their strength.”
Wood accepted the tubes and also asked him for some G-virus and S-type virus evolutionary serum.
Gufeng checked the time. “You shouldn’t stay here either. Come on, let’s take a look at the other trading districts. I’ll show you something good.”
With that, he led the two of them toward the fantasy trading district and stopped before the stall surrounded by the largest crowd.
Wood noticed that there were three stalls throughout the entire trading space with especially large crowds. The first belonged to Baldhead. His virus evolutionary serums could enhance a person’s physical abilities and were naturally very popular. In particular, he had specifically noted that the serum possessed special enhancement effects in the matter of male virility, which drew even more eager customers.
The second-most crowded stall was the skill-card stall belonging to the agent from the Dream Plane, whom Wood had seen during his previous visit. After all, no one complained about having too many skills.
The stall Gufeng had brought them to was the third-most crowded. Looking closely, Wood saw that it displayed oval objects of various sizes and colors. Written in the common language of the planes was a sign that read:
“The finest pets for leisure, the finest partners for battle.”
The stall owner was also wrapped in a black robe. He sat there without saying a word. Strangely, although many people gathered to look, very few actually made a purchase.
Wood did not understand. “What are these things?”
“These are specialty items from a fantasy plane, called magical beast eggs,” Gufeng explained. “Magical beasts are essentially various monsters found in the wild. Unlike ordinary monsters, however, magical beasts can be tamed and will fight for their masters. The best magical beasts can even possess combat power surpassing that of their owners! But magical beasts are not easy to capture or tame, so people developed another way of obtaining them: acquire a magical beast egg and hatch it yourself. Then you can gain a loyal magical beast of your very own!”
Wood’s eyes lit up. “A fine thing indeed. It’s like gaining another powerful and loyal battle companion!”
Gufeng smiled bitterly. “It is good, but this thing depends too much on fate—or you could simply call it luck. If you’re lucky, you’ll naturally gain a battle companion. But if you’re unlucky, you may end up with nothing more than a pet.”
Wood thought for a moment. He felt that his luck seemed pretty good, so he decided to buy one and try it out. “How much are you selling them for?”
“One hundred high-grade energy crystals,” the black-robed man replied. “Or you may exchange something of equivalent value.”
The thing Wood had the least shortage of was energy crystals. He tossed over ten supreme-grade energy crystals. The black-robed man hurriedly caught them, then pointed to the ground. “Choose any one you like, but you only get one chance. I don’t know what kind of beasts these eggs contain either. Your fate is in your own hands.”
Wood casually glanced over the selection and picked up a black magical beast egg about the size of a soccer ball.
“Drip some of your blood onto it and it will hatch,” the black-robed man said. “I’m curious to see what it is as well.”
Wood bit his index finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the egg. At once, the golden blood was absorbed. A streak of dark light flashed across its surface, and the egg gradually became transparent. Everyone could clearly see an animal embryo inside, rapidly taking shape.
First, its body contracted. Then it suddenly exerted force, bursting through the shell.
A docile puppy with black fur appeared before everyone, circling Wood and whining.
“Ha... ha...”
The surrounding onlookers burst into laughter.
“It looks like a pet. It doesn’t have the slightest bit of combat power!”
The black-robed man also said apologetically, “I’m sorry. It seems your luck is truly terrible!”
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Wood ignored the crowd because he had heard the plane system’s prompt:
“Ding... under the stimulation of immortal blood, the fifth-level demonic beast Hell Mastiff has advanced directly from infancy to maturity.”
“Ding... under the stimulation of immortal blood, the demonic beast has evolved into the supreme existence among its kind: the Hellhound.”
As the plane system’s prompts sounded, Wood watched as the beast’s body grew rapidly. In the blink of an eye, it had reached the height of his thigh. Its body was powerfully built, its bones sturdy, and its entire form exuded an air of nobility and ferocity. Its black eyes were enough to make anyone tremble.
The crowd cried out in astonishment. Someone with broad knowledge shouted, “That’s... the mature form of a Hellhound!”
Gufeng was overjoyed as well. He slapped Wood on the shoulder. “What a fellow! Your luck is truly extraordinary!”
The black-robed stall owner also said, “Congratulations!”
Wood did not know how powerful a Hellhound was, but its ferocious, noble appearance reminded him somewhat of a Tibetan mastiff, and he was delighted. “It really does resemble an animal from our plane. By the way, what exactly is a Hellhound?”
Before Gufeng could answer, the people around them began shouting one after another.
“Hey, black robe! Give me a magical beast egg!”
It turned out that after seeing Wood hatch a Hellhound, the onlookers had all been inspired to try their own luck. They pulled out their crystals to purchase magical beast eggs, and in an instant, the black-robed man became the busiest trader in the entire space.
Gufeng did not join them. Instead, he explained to Wood, “Legend says that the Hellhound is a pet of the gods. Even in the Fantasy Plane, it is considered a divine beast. At full maturity, its strength is no weaker than that of the ferocious beast Qiongqi. It has three heads, each capable of casting a different type of magic: lightning, darkness, and curses. It is an extremely powerful battle beast.”
Hearing this, Wood was even more delighted. “If it’s that impressive, then the two of you should buy a couple of eggs and give them a try!”
Gufeng shook his head. “I already have Qiongqi, so I can’t enter into a contract with another contracted beast.”
Baldhead shook his head as well. “I have greater faith in my own strength.”
After the three of them chatted for a while, startled cries began coming from nearby.
“Damn! My luck is terrible! A hundred energy crystals, and all I hatched was a fifth-level wolf cub!”
Someone else said, “Brother, you should consider yourself lucky. I wasted a hundred energy crystals and hatched an ornamental crystal beast!”
Another person burst into hearty laughter. “Luck, luck! I actually got a ninth-level lizard dragon. Who could I possibly fear now?”
Wood and the others looked over. Among those who had purchased magical beast eggs, most had hatched battle pets with mediocre strength—neither particularly powerful nor completely useless. Only a very small number had hatched magical beasts of level seven or higher.
Although the crowd grumbled and cursed, none of them caused trouble for the stall owner. After all, some people had hatched magical beasts above level seven, proving that the stall owner had not been deceiving them with ordinary magical beast eggs.
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