Chapter 142: The World’s Wound
“Crimson Flame Guild, right? Let’s find a quieter place to talk.” Ekaterina said to the Bald Man.
A flash of disappointment crossed the face of the middle-aged woman nearby, but it was merely disappointment.
After all, it was just losing a business deal. If she dared to show a bad facial expression, she might lose face or even her life.
Hearing this, the Bald Man immediately beamed with joy, then rubbed his hands obsequiously and flattered, “Lord, you truly have good eyesight. Please follow me.”
After the Bald Man finished speaking, he led the way in front, and the group soon arrived at a tent.
The main structures in this market were actually all made of wood. Building proper houses in the Qingyun Mountain Range had no cost-effectiveness, so simple and affordable tents were the way to go.
After entering the tent, the Bald Man hurriedly called someone to brew two cups of coffee for them.
Ekaterina sat down elegantly, then quietly waited for the Bald Man to speak.
“Shall I first introduce the basic situation of the secret realm?” the Bald Man old man probed.
Ekaterina nodded.
The Yekaterina Family’s power in Qingfeng City was just Marco and his family. Marco’s family had always controlled Qingfeng City’s Department of Commerce.
Although this department made money quickly, it actually held little status. At least for many trainer matters, Marco’s family couldn’t get involved.
This was also why Ekaterina had come to the market to gather information.
“The secret realm in the Qingyun Mountain Range is a medium-sized secret realm. The Secret Realm Overlord is a Peak Heavenly King Level Lord Serpent, and the entire secret realm is roughly the size of the southern region of Jiuzhou.”
The Bald Man briefly explained the situation of the Qingyun Mountain Range Secret Realm.
“Lord Serpent?”
Lu Li was somewhat surprised, then questioned, “Does the Qingyun Mountain Range Secret Realm have wild Starter Pokémon inside?”
The Bald Man nodded, then said in a matter-of-fact tone, “The overlord Pokémon of the Qingyun Mountain Range is the Lord Serpent. Of course it has a tribe, and there are quite a few of them.”
“Peak Heavenly King Level?”
Ekaterina frowned. A Peak Heavenly King Level overlord Pokémon, plus the Overlord Aura, even a Champion Level Pokémon might not be able to defeat the Lord Serpent in the secret realm.
This was not good news.
“Guests, what kind of information are you looking for? Not to brag, but our Crimson Flame Guild has been working in the Qingyun Mountain Range Secret Realm for over a decade. The information we know is definitely ahead of everyone else.” The Bald Man guaranteed.
“Are there Dragon Type Pokémon in the Qingyun Mountain Range Secret Realm?” Ekaterina asked.
“Yes.”
The Bald Man nodded affirmatively, then explained, “Our people have seen Altaria and Noivern in the secret realm.”
“What about Ice Type?”
Ekaterina asked again.
“Ice Type Pokémon in the Qingyun Mountain Range are relatively few, only some common and not very rare Ice Type Pokémon.” The Bald Man answered.
Ekaterina had anticipated this result.
If someone had really discovered Kyurem, it probably wouldn’t be her turn to find that bargain.
“I need the locations inside the secret realm where Ice Type Pokémon might appear.” Ekaterina said.
The Bald Man’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, then he patted his chest and guaranteed, “No problem, give me 10 minutes.”
After speaking, the Bald Man got up and left the tent, then made a phone call outside the tent.
7 minutes later.
The Bald Man walked in holding a tablet computer.
“This has the Ice Type Pokémon habitats we’ve marked. This is absolutely the most comprehensive, and every field has detailed information.”
After speaking, the Bald Man respectfully handed the tablet computer to Ekaterina.
Ekaterina took the tablet computer and glanced at it, then nodded in satisfaction.
Ekaterina crossed her legs and said, “I’m very satisfied. Name your price.”
“How about 600,000?” the Bald Man probed.
This price was definitely inflated, but Ekaterina didn’t care about this small amount of money right now.
Ekaterina nodded directly: “Fine, give me your account number.”
Seeing such a decisive Ekaterina, the Bald Man wished he could slap himself.
Priced too low…
With the mindset that not earning was a loss, the Bald Man helplessly said, “My card number is in the tablet computer.”
Ekaterina nodded, then sent a message.
A moment later, the Bald Man’s payment app sounded with a notification of incoming funds.
After the transaction ended, the Bald Man still flattered, “Lords, take care. For any future transactions, you can continue to come to our Crimson Flame Guild. We absolutely deal fairly with young and old alike.”
Ekaterina didn’t pay attention to him and left the market with Lu Li.
“Aren’t we going to browse around?” Lu Li couldn’t help but ask.
Ekaterina shook her head: “You don’t need to think about finding a bargain in this damn place. Everyone setting up stalls in this market are veterans; they won’t give you a chance to find a bargain.”
Lu Li nodded. He thought what Ekaterina said made sense, but the bargain he wanted was different from what normal people wanted.
In the eyes of ordinary trainers, there were only things related to Pokémon, but as a cultivator possessing the Cultivation Hundred Arts, the things Lu Li needed were different from those of normal trainers.
“If you’re really interested in this market, we can browse when we come out. Buying stuff now to bring into the secret realm will only take up space in your space backpack.” Ekaterina advised again.
Hearing this, Lu Li didn’t insist anymore. After all, browsing after coming out was the same.
Lu Li looked at the map on the tablet computer and said, “But speaking of which, the locations marked on this map are obviously ones that have been visited by people. Was buying this a bit redundant?”
“The main purpose of this map isn’t to use it as a map; it’s just for reference. We don’t need to go to the places marked on it.” Ekaterina explained.
Lu Li suddenly understood, but thinking about it, it made sense.
These places had all been explored by humans. If there was really a Pokémon egg left by Kyurem, people would have taken it themselves long ago, so how could it be Ekaterina’s turn.
“Let’s go. We have a lot to do next.” Ekaterina urged.
Lu Li couldn’t help but ask, “Straight into the secret realm?”
Ekaterina nodded and said, “Enter the secret realm first, then we’ll decide where to go.”
After speaking, Ekaterina released her Dragonite. The secret realm in the Qingyun Mountain Range had no management, so its entrance looked extremely terrifying.
From afar, the entrance to the secret realm looked like a scar carved into the world.
It was a massive space rift over 200 meters high and more than 40 meters wide at its widest point.
“This…”
Lu Li looked in surprise at the space rift before him.
Looking at the surprised Lu Li, Ekaterina said, “Someone once said that the entrance to a secret realm is a wound in our world.”
“I think that makes a lot of sense.” Lu Li nodded in deep agreement.
The rift did look like a scar.
Dragonite didn’t stop and charged directly into the massive rift.
As everything before his eyes changed, Lu Li found that the sky had instantly changed.
It was clearly still daytime outside, but in an instant, the sky had darkened.
“It’s night in the secret realm now?”
Lu Li was also somewhat surprised.
“Very normal. For unmanaged secret realms like this, time is very chaotic. Sometimes you stay a day inside, and a year might have passed outside.” Ekaterina explained casually.
Compared to Lu Li who knew nothing, Ekaterina from a noble family knew many things ordinary people didn’t.
Just in terms of knowledge about secret realms, even the Heavenly King Level Yu Zhonggang couldn’t compare to Ekaterina.
Ekaterina said, “Let’s find a place to rest first. Nights in the secret realm are more dangerous than nights in the wilderness.”
Lu Li nodded.
After Dragonite landed, Lu Li directly set up a tent on the spot.
Ekaterina also had rich wilderness survival experience, and the two set up the tent in less than a few minutes.
After having Dragonite stand guard at night, Ekaterina began studying the tablet computer.
With her profound family knowledge, as an Ice Type trainer, she could analyze which places might have hidden snowy fields based on simple mountain range topography.
In less than half an hour, Ekaterina had marked six snowy fields that hadn’t been discovered by people yet.
“Kyurem is a burrowing Pokémon, so our target is underground icy worlds, and as a pseudo-legendary, Kyurem has high requirements for its living environment.”
“It would be great if there were Ice Stone Veins in the Qingyun Mountain Range Secret Realm. Natural icy fields would definitely form in the underground caves near Ice Stone Veins.”
“Kyurem likes living in such places the most, but it seems there’s no Ice Stone in the Qingyun Mountain Range Secret Realm, so I need to look for more…”
Listening to Ekaterina analyzing to herself.
Cold sweat broke out on Lu Li’s back.
He found that Ekaterina’s analysis was too accurate. Except for the difference in the secret realm, the places she analyzed all matched the underground icy field in the Qingyun Secret Realm.
It was fortunate that Ekaterina wasn’t a local of the Jiuzhou Region; otherwise, Kyurem’s Pokémon egg might really have been found by this woman.
At this moment, feeling immensely fortunate, Lu Li only hoped that Ekaterina would never think of going to the Qingyun Secret Realm, or it would really be exposed.
“You can find Ice Stone Veins too?” Lu Li asked, feigning surprise.
Ekaterina gave Lu Li an exasperated glare.
“What do you think?”
From her expression, Lu Li knew she didn’t have that ability.
You can’t, but that doesn’t mean I can’t!
“If it’s just finding Ice Stone Veins, I can help.” Lu Li said with a smile.
When he discovered the Water Stone Vein, Lu Li had specifically researched various evolution stone veins in this world.
Plus the miner inheritance from the cultivation world, Lu Li did have the ability to find those hidden underground veins.
“You?”
Ekaterina looked at Lu Li with some disbelief.
Lu Li didn’t explain anything but confidently took the tablet computer from Ekaterina’s hand.
Lu Li frowned as he looked at the map on the tablet computer.
This map was extremely clear, just like a satellite map.
But this definitely wasn’t taken by satellite; it was probably recorded by someone riding a Bidoof from the sky.
In less than half an hour, Lu Li had identified over a dozen places where veins might exist.
Of course, the reality was that there definitely wouldn’t be that many veins.
