Chapter 342: First Arrival At Red Moon Town And The Survivors?
As the two flying transport vehicles docked at the Crimson Moon Tower airport, Fan Yaoguang and the others stepped out. Their gazes swept over the entire Chiyue Town, and each of them could not help showing surprise on their faces.
“So many people?” Fan Yaoguang stared at the crowded streets at the foot of the mountain, his eyes full of disbelief.
He had thought there would not be many survivors living in this pure land, but unexpectedly, in the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall headquarters at Chiyue Town, a single glance revealed no fewer than several million people.
This population was two to three times that of the Sky Dome Shelter.
“Is this many?” Yi Ye Fu Yun looked at the astonished Fan Yaoguang and said indifferently, “Our Chiyue Town only has a few million people. Compared with the surrounding cities with tens of millions of people, we are far behind.”
“Cities with tens of millions?” Fan Yaoguang could not help asking, “Just how many people do you have here?”
In his view, for survivors after the Great Transfer to number in the several millions was already impressive, enough to match the population of two or three shelters.
A city with tens of millions was simply unimaginable, and from Yi Ye Fu Yun’s tone, it could be heard that this pure land likely held far more than just one city.
“I am not sure about the other three regions, but in the Wushan Region alone, there are at least two billion people,” Yi Ye Fu Yun said.
“Two billion?!” After hearing this, Fan Yaoguang’s jaw would not close for a while.
Two billion people, far more than all the shelters combined. It even made him wonder who the real survivors were.
However, Fan Yaoguang’s repeated shock only made Yi Ye Fu Yun more certain that this npc in front of him was absolutely crazy. It was just two billion people. The Wushan Region was the smallest in area among the four regions and had the fewest cities, so its population was also the smallest. He really did not understand what there was to be so shocked about.
As for the crew of the Dawn, aside from Fan Yaoguang’s barely controlled expression, the faces of deputy Ke Xueli and the others faintly revealed excitement and agitation.
“Xueli, we are rich, we are definitely going to make a fortune!” Fan Yaoguang could not help sending a message to Ke Xueli. “If we promote the latest products of our Sky Dome Shelter here, our Spark Merchant Guild will definitely become the number one chamber of commerce!”
“Captain, you must stay calm. When we meet that hall master later, you absolutely cannot show it,” Ke Xueli replied helplessly, seeing how worked up Fan Yaoguang was.
“I understand, I understand, don’t worry.” Fan Yaoguang quickly returned to a calm expression, putting on an air of indifference.
Fan Yaoguang’s behavior left Yi Ye Fu Yun and the others leading the way uncertain whether they should introduce Fan Yaoguang’s group to Hall Master Lin Qi. If Fan Yaoguang suddenly went crazy, the favorability they had worked so hard to build up might instantly drop to zero.
But in the end, considering this was the opening task of the new version, and especially thinking of the battle armor that Fan Yaoguang and the others had worn earlier, which was clearly high-end: armor that could appear at will, even partially, forming an energy shield. That was something completely unavailable in the current version.
Now, through this task, they were essentially confirming the start of trade between the two sides. If they did not do this task, they could probably forget about obtaining that new battle armor.
Yi Ye Fu Yun and the others then brought Fan Yaoguang’s group to the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.
Now the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall in Chiyue Town had been built even more magnificently than the one in the City of Light Chasing. It had seven floors, and tens of thousands of people passed through it every day.
Among these tens of thousands were not only players and hall disciples, but also a large number of family disciples from various cities who came to learn martial skills. Even some students from city genius training camps were arranged to come learn Lightning Palm.
Because of the terrifying penetration of the superconducting electromagnetic gun, and the fact that with enough shots it could even kill lord monsters, learning Lightning Palm had become a must. Otherwise, when going out to hunt monsters, no one would be willing to team up.
“The cultivation level here is really not high. Most are apprentices and ordinary martial artists, with few at the Bone Forging Realm,” Ke Xueli observed the people moving through the hall and compared the situation with the shelters.
At present, although the Sky Dome Shelter had a population of only a little over one million, apart from those under sixteen, everyone sixteen and above was at least at the Bone Forging Realm.
In contrast, although the pure land had many people, the vast majority were not even martial artists. In Chiyue Town, martial artists made up less than twenty percent, and those at the Bone Forging Realm were even fewer.
Overall, the two billion people in the Wushan Region were not much stronger than those of the Sky Dome Shelter.
The appearance of the Dawn’s crew also aroused great curiosity within the hall.
With dozens of people dressed in pure white clothing inside the hall, it was impossible for them not to stand out, not to mention that they were being led by grey-robed disciples of the hall.
Among the crowd, a man and a woman wearing clothing marked with Tianhe Domain City insignia, whose qi and blood had reached the Blood Condensation Realm, watched the Dawn’s people with great curiosity.
“Who are these people? I cannot sense any qi and blood from them at all, yet why does each of them feel stronger than me?” Ling Ye quietly studied the leading Fan Yaoguang and deputy Ke Xueli, her eyes full of shock and confusion.
A few dozen under Fan Yaoguang would be one thing, but she herself, as a super genius of Tianhe Domain City, had recently reached the Blood Condensation Realm Intermediate Level with the help of martial hall equipment, and had brought a sequence supernatural level martial skill to second level perfection. She was already recognized as the new generation peerless genius of Tianhe Domain City, outstanding even among the younger generation across the four regions.
Yet among the Dawn’s people, aside from Fan Yaoguang, most appeared to be under thirty, and all felt stronger than she was. It made her doubt whether her sixth sense was malfunctioning.
In particular, when facing Fan Yaoguang and the deputy Ke Xueli, who was about her age, she actually felt as if she were facing a teacher. That sixth sense seemed like a complete joke.
A Heavenly Human Realm mid-stage grandmaster was second only to a vice city lord in the four great domain cities. For the over-forty Fan Yaoguang, that was still acceptable; after all, the four regions did have Heavenly Human Realm mid-stage experts in their forties. But a Heavenly Human Realm mid-stage under thirty? What was that?
If her sixth sense had ever been wrong before, she would have suspected she had not yet woken up.
This time, she had originally come to further discuss cooperation with the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, to increase the number of beginner meditation rooms in the Tianhe branch. Lately, the beginner meditation rooms there were so popular they were nearly overwhelmed. If not for her teacher’s reluctance to join the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, her teacher would also have wanted to take advantage of the beginner meditation rooms.
But after arriving at Obsidian Martial Arts Hall headquarters, she discovered they had a new cultivation device called the beginner training room. She tried it once, and that left her completely unsettled. She was determined to bring this beginner training room back to the Tianhe branch.
Now seeing Fan Yaoguang and the others, she truly felt she had been too excited last night and slept too late, and might still be dreaming.
“Senior sister Ling Ye, these people are all human race. The Obsidian Martial Arts Hall is also a faction mainly of the human race, and the grey-robed disciples are all human,” Yi Feng at her side observed Fan Yaoguang’s group and speculated, “These people are so strong. Could they be the force behind the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall?”
He had never doubted Ling Ye’s sixth sense. If Ling Ye said that Fan Yaoguang’s group was stronger than them, then they definitely were.
The Obsidian Martial Arts Hall had risen with abnormal speed in the four regions and had recently killed the smiling skull grandmaster Ghost Hand. No one would believe they had no backing.
“This is indeed possible.” Ling Ye looked at Fan Yaoguang and Ke Xueli and felt it was very likely.
A group of human experts who were not originally from the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall suddenly appeared, all so powerful, with Heavenly Human Realm mid-stage grandmasters under thirty among them. The chances that such a force was not the backing of the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall seemed very low.
The sudden rise of the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall had been watched by the major factions of the four regions, and many had been sent to investigate, but they had found nothing. It was as if the hall had suddenly popped out of a rock.
With such rapid growth, it was impossible for them not to have some major power behind them.
The four regions were vast, and many hidden factions lay low without drawing attention. If one investigated these factions, they would find none were simple. Quite a few had connections to domain cities in other regions of the past, but after those domain cities became forbidden zones, they fled to the current four regions and developed there. This was also why the four great domain cities remained wary of the hidden forces in the four regions.
If the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall had the support of such a force hidden for hundreds of years, suddenly rising to become the leading faction under the four great domain cities would not be surprising.
In the hall lobby, while Ling Ye and Yi Feng were wondering which hidden force Fan Yaoguang’s group belonged to, Fan Yaoguang and Ke Xueli, under Yi Ye Fu Yun’s guidance, entered the beginner meditation room reserved for the hall master, while Yi Ye Fu Yun and the others waited outside.
“This feeling… this room can actually make the brain become more active?”
Feeling the changes in their brains inside the room, Fan Yaoguang and Ke Xueli’s expressions shifted slightly.
As for technology that activated the brain, not only did the Sky Dome Shelter lack it, but no other shelter had ever heard of it. The benefits this kind of brain activation brought to a martial artist were obvious even to a fool. It was a technology all martial artists dreamed of.
Of course, the brain activation in the beginner meditation room offered little help to Heavenly Human Realm grandmasters like them. Their brains had already been quenched, in all aspects far beyond martial artists below the Blood Condensation Realm. This level of activation improved them by less than five percent.
Even so, it was still astonishing, and at least before breaking through to the Heavenly Human Realm, it would be of great help to those below it.
When Fan Yaoguang and Ke Xueli recovered from their shock at the impressive technology displayed by the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, they could not help looking at the man sitting in the beginner meditation room.
The man was less than two meters tall, and like Yi Ye Fu Yun and the others, he did not have the bulky muscles and towering build that humans were supposed to have. He wore a black martial robe, and they could not sense any qi and blood from him at all, yet both Fan Yaoguang and Ke Xueli felt a significant threat.
“Hello, Hall Master Lin. I am Fan Yaoguang, captain of the Dawn under the Spark Merchant Guild of the Sky Dome Shelter. This is my deputy, Ke Xueli.” Fan Yaoguang took the initiative to greet, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
Although the survivors living in this pure land were generally weak, the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall was clearly not simple. Just the two, Ye Qinglu in the Initial Stage Blood Coagulation and Yi Ye Fu Yun, possessed power not inferior to a Heavenly Human Realm mid-stage grandmaster. Added to that, Lin Qi’s lack of any detectable qi and blood yet dangerous presence, none of it was something he could take lightly.
“Please, have a seat.” Lin Qi pointed to the sofa beside them and said with a smile, “I have already learned about your situation from the information Yi Ye Fu Yun sent me. You wish for a safe place to rest and reorganize. That is no problem. Our Chiyue Town is large, and there are still many unused houses on the mountain. You can rest there, and we will ensure no outsiders disturb you.”
As soon as Yi Ye Fu Yun had brought Fan Yaoguang’s group to Chiyue Town, Lin Qi had received Yi Ye Fu Yun’s message, hoping he would meet them, along with detailed information about them.
When he saw what Yi Ye Fu Yun wrote about Fan Yaoguang and the others, he was also shocked. He had not expected people could still survive inside the forbidden zone, and in considerable numbers. This was definitely a happy surprise.
He had originally wanted players to find the First City in the forbidden zone, and had not expected Yi Ye Fu Yun and the others to bring back living people instead. Their value was unquestionably higher than finding the First City.
By his estimation, the First City inside the forbidden zone had to be finished. A forbidden zone was no place for humans to survive; otherwise, the ancestors of Hou Fei’s line would not have taken the risk to leave the First City.
Compared with acquiring conversion equipment for energy ore from a dead city, directly trading with living people was undoubtedly better.
The equipment in a dead city would be limited, while living people could provide unlimited supply as long as they had the materials. Though it would cost something, the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall now had that kind of foundation.
“Thank you very much for your help, Hall Master Lin.” Fan Yaoguang bowed slightly in gratitude, then said, “Since you are willing to provide a place for us to rest, as thanks, our Spark Merchant Guild is willing to offer ten sets of our Sky Dome Shelter’s proudest equipment, the third-tier Sky Dome Battle Armor, as a token of our friendship.”
As he spoke, Fan Yaoguang, like a shrewd merchant, took out ten small boxes and opened one directly. Inside lay a white metal wrist guard.
Fan Yaoguang then looked at Ke Xueli beside him. Ke Xueli raised her hand to display an identical white metal wrist guard, then tapped it. In an instant, a set of white battle armor visibly formed over her whole body, and a half-transparent blue circular energy shield appeared at her wrist.
“This third-tier Sky Dome Battle Armor is the latest technology of our Sky Dome Shelter. With the energy barrier it generates, the armor itself can withstand high-level Blood Condensation Realm attacks without damage, reducing impact force by seventy percent. The energy shield can completely block high-level Blood Condensation Realm attacks, and even against early Heavenly Human Realm attacks, as long as energy is sufficient, it can withstand two strikes. As for the energy it requires, the wearer’s qi and blood can replenish it. The only drawback is that in battle it consumes significantly more qi and blood than before.”
Fan Yaoguang proudly introduced the Sky Dome Battle Armor, and Lin Qi was quite surprised. He had not expected those in the forbidden zone to have such technology.
Although the increased consumption of qi and blood was a problem, the fact that the armor’s energy shield could fully block high-level Blood Condensation Realm attacks meant that even Organ Refining Realm martial artists could preserve their lives before such opponents. That alone was remarkable. For martial artists of the same Blood Condensation Realm, as long as they still had qi and blood, they could remain undefeated against their peers with this armor.
Most importantly, it could withstand two strikes from a Heavenly Human Realm initial stage grandmaster. With this, if Bone Forging Realm players obtained it, there was a chance they could even fight Heavenly Human Realm initial stage grandmasters. Also, with such battle armor, the Bone Forging Realm geniuses of the Martial Arts Hall Guard Corps could suppress an area as long as no Heavenly Human Realm grandmasters intervened.
“This Sky Dome Battle Armor is truly a good item.” Lin Qi saw that Fan Yaoguang was proactively promoting it and understood he wanted to do business, which was exactly what he wanted. He smiled and said, “I wonder if your esteemed guild would be willing to offer more for sale. As for the price, that can be discussed. Our Obsidian Martial Arts Hall can definitely provide a price your guild will be satisfied with.”
“You flatter us, Hall Master Lin,” Fan Yaoguang replied with a smile. “Since the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall is willing to shelter us, you are naturally our friends. As for the Sky Dome Battle Armor, if you want it, we will not charge.”
“No charge?” Lin Qi was taken aback.
He indeed had no currency used inside the forbidden zone, and Fan Yaoguang’s group likely knew this. Normally, so-called money would refer to other resources. He had even been prepared to offer the Fruit of Life in exchange, since there were several disabled members in the Dawn’s crew.
If the Sky Dome Shelter had the technology to heal them, such members would not exist, so the Fruit of Life should be of considerable value to Fan Yaoguang’s group, making it suitable for trade.
“That’s right. Our Spark Merchant Guild can provide the Sky Dome Battle Armor to you for free, Hall Master Lin,” Fan Yaoguang said, nodding with utmost seriousness. “We only hope the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall can provide a piece of land in Chiyue Town large enough for tens of thousands of people to live on, where some of our Sky Dome Shelter’s youths can reside. As for residence fees, we can provide two hundred sets a year. In addition, regarding this beginner meditation room, we are willing to pay one hundred sets of Sky Dome Battle Armor per year for the lease of one room.”
He did not care about the resources of this pure land at all, but the pure land itself was highly valuable, as it was free from abnormal threats, something no shelter dared imagine.
The beginner meditation room was an unexpected gain. If they could rent it, it would undoubtedly allow the younger generation of the Sky Dome Shelter to improve more quickly.
“These terms are indeed good.” Lin Qi considered it, then shook his head. “The land is no problem, but the beginner meditation room is not.”
“If Hall Master Lin is not satisfied, how about increasing it to two hundred sets a year?” Fan Yaoguang said.
“Your Excellency Yaoguang, it is not about the armor.” Lin Qi shook his head and explained, “You know the value of the beginner meditation room. Usually only our Obsidian Martial Arts Hall core disciples can rent and use it. Outsiders are not qualified. If your people want to use it, they must become disciples of our hall, and they must become core disciples.”
“This…” Fan Yaoguang was troubled.
As people of the shelter, they definitely could not join external factions. But the beginner meditation room had an immense effect on those below the Heavenly Human Realm. If they could not use it, the growth of the shelter’s younger generation would definitely be a level slower.
“How about this,” Lin Qi said with a smile, seeing the reluctant look on Fan Yaoguang’s face. “How about exchanging Sky Dome Shelter battle armor for our hall’s advanced student status? Our advanced students enjoy treatment equal to core disciples for one year. Three sets of Sky Dome Battle Armor for one spot. I can offer one hundred spots.”
“Is that so?” Fan Yaoguang hesitated, biting his teeth. It was much more expensive, but the beginner meditation room was indeed worth it. This way, the shelter could cultivate more Heavenly Human Realm experts. “All right, I want one hundred advanced student spots.”
“Your Excellency Yaoguang, let me finish first,” Lin Qi raised his hand, signaling him not to rush. “Our hall’s advanced student spots are usually auctioned off. The major factions bid for them. But since you are important guests of our hall, I can offer one hundred spots, with one condition.”
Fan Yaoguang calmed down and asked, “What condition?”
“Do you know about the First City?” Lin Qi did not answer directly but asked.
He wanted players to search for the First City mainly to find conversion equipment. Although he could slowly do business with the Sky Dome Shelter and purchase conversion equipment, he was currently very short of energy blood essence. If he could learn the exact location of the First City, that would quickly solve this problem.
“The First City? You mean the First Domain City?” Fan Yaoguang could not help but smile. “You have come to the right person. The younger generation of the shelter might not know now, but that First Domain City was the city we destroyed after the Great Transfer, with experts from all the shelters and races joining forces. We barely managed to annihilate it. To deal with those alien spawn, we suffered heavy losses and have only just recovered. What is it you want to ask, Hall Master Lin?”
“Joining forces with all races to destroy the First City? Alien spawn? What do you mean?” Lin Qi stared at Fan Yaoguang, momentarily stunned.
