Chapter 168 - 145: Impermanence Inn

Chapter 168: Chapter 145: Impermanence Inn

No one nearby said a word, but the looks they shot Zhang Ji were clearly strange.

Though they all looked human, Zhang Ji was far too plain.

The others all had, to some degree, traces of Spiritual Technology modifications. At the very least, they would have a communication device. Almost all of them had a Divine Sense amplification device of some model near their temples, like a headset.

That was the tool they used to amplify their Divine Sense and connect to the Spirit Net, also known as a Consciousness Communicator.

The locals could even use it to log into the Void Illusion Realm, a virtual world where they could enjoy the pleasures of the "metaverse."

For the common folk of the lower class, the Void Illusion Realm was their only pastime.

Real-world entertainment was prohibitively expensive, after all. Experiencing virtual data feedback in the Void Illusion Realm, on the other hand, was quite cheap—a form of low-cost entertainment.

This social situation was somewhat similar to the otaku of modern society on Origin Star, only far more extreme.

No one paid Zhang Ji any mind. The suspension lift was quickly activated, and a glow of Spiritual Energy enveloped it. A little over ten minutes later, it arrived at the first level of the Abyss of Eternity: the Bone-Eroding Abyss.

The main business here was Spiritual Ability Body modification, but it was also a hub for the flesh trade. Most of the relevant shops were backed by capital from the Silk Tree Technology group, located in Miaoyu Heaven, the fifteenth heaven of the upper city.

Some people exited the suspension lift, but Zhang Ji stayed inside.

The suspension lift started up again, and after another ten-odd minutes, it reached the second level of the Abyss of Eternity: the Mishen Abyss.

Zhang Ji stepped out of the suspension lift. This was his destination.

Countless glowing Spiritual Energy data cables hung down from the massive buildings, a tangled mess snaking through the space—a result of poor planning during the initial construction. One could also see brightly flashing billboards, their projected images and artistically rendered text advertising all sorts of items.

Zhang Ji recognized one of them.

It was the logo for a piece of chip-based software: a turtle floating on the water’s surface, going with the flow, while next to it was a rabbit that had run itself ragged trying to catch up.

It was called Shunshui Turtle.

This was a Spiritual Ability System that aided in cultivation.

All you had to do was buy the jade slip chip and plug it into your external Divine Sense interface. It would then load the corresponding Cultivation Technique data and run it for you around the clock, keeping you one step ahead even while you slept.

But the device wasn’t as amazing as it sounded.

Without Spiritual Qi, it wouldn’t matter if you ran the Cultivation Technique until it smoked; it would still be useless.

Given that the Spiritual Qi concentration in the Abyss of Eternity was so thin—only level one—a few years of assistance from this gadget couldn’t compare to the benefit of breathing the air in the Thirty-Three Heavens for half a day.

That was the importance of resources.

Most of the time, hard work took a backseat to resources.

The main industries here in Mishen Abyss were various network services.

They sold information, Cultivation Technique software, and also things like electronic addictive substances.

Selling information and Cultivation Technique software was self-explanatory.

As for the electronic addictive substances, they were actually things like Silk Tree Technology’s virtual "dual cultivation" partners and custom-tailored dreams.

Anything you couldn’t get in reality, you could find satisfaction for here.

Want to become a world-destroying Divinity Transformation Stage cultivator? Impossible in reality.

But plugging in a chip to dream about it? That was easy enough.

Once the dream was over and you returned to reality, however, the emptiness would set in.

Then you would start craving more dreams, different dreams, to satisfy your every desire!!

As Zhang Ji walked down the street, he saw many people pass by with vapid smiles on their faces.

They were what you’d call "addicts"—lower-class people completely cut off from reality, living only in their dreams.

The atmosphere reminded Zhang Ji of his time back on Shanli Island.

Ignoring a taxi driver in a semi-levitating, shuttle-shaped vehicle, Zhang Ji continued on foot. He turned a corner, cut through a small alley, and saw a familiar sign.

Dark red lettering marked the top of the building. The bleak, cold surroundings suggested this wasn’t a very reputable place.

Wuchang Pawn.

A pawnshop that also dealt in information.

It had several financial backers, the largest being Silk Tree Technology and Nine Nether Deep Technology.

They took in goods without ever asking where they came from, and they would accept basically anything of value.

Zhang Ji stepped inside. The light was dim, and though he could see a few figures a short distance away, he couldn’t make out their features.

Upon entering, an Array would automatically blur one’s features to help conceal the customers’ identities.

Zhang Ji went to a ticket dispenser at the side, took a number, and then waited quietly.

After a moment, an exquisitely featured woman in a long pink dress emerged. Wearing a practiced smile, she approached Zhang Ji and gestured for him to follow.

Zhang Ji rose and followed the woman into the back.

Zhang Ji’s vision was powerful; he could see the faint, almost imperceptible traces of Spirit Patterns on the woman’s body.

’This isn’t a real person,’ he thought, ’just a Puppet controlled by a Divine Thought.’

The woman led Zhang Ji to a private room, where an Appraiser in black robes and a mask was waiting.

A transparent wall separated them, with a small compartment in the middle for placing items.

Zhang Ji took out a jade box and placed it inside the compartment.

The Appraiser on the other side opened it for a look. Inside lay five bright red Vermilion Fruits.

The man seemed taken aback by the valuable merchandise, freezing for several seconds before taking out a set of tools to begin the appraisal.

A number then appeared on the transaction screen on the table in front of Zhang Ji.

Truth be told, Zhang Ji didn’t quite understand it. The number wasn’t displayed in simple digits, but in the formal characters used for financial transactions.

So he couldn’t tell if the price was high or low.

But he fell silent, as if considering the offer.

The person opposite him waited.

After half a minute, Zhang Ji shook his head.

The other person spoke, seemingly asking Zhang Ji to name his price.

Zhang Ji didn’t understand what was said, so he simply raised his hand slightly, signaling for the other person to raise their offer.

Then a new number appeared on the screen.

This time, Zhang Ji mulled it over for ten seconds before confirming the transaction.

A clinking and clanking sound came from the transaction compartment.

They were crystalline coins, each one emitting a pure white glow and measuring about three centimeters in diameter.

Spirit Coins, a currency infused with Spiritual Qi.

The value of these Spirit Coins varied depending on their Spiritual Qi concentration.

Level one Spirit Coins had the lowest value and level ten the highest. The higher the level, the deeper and more profound its white glow.

The exchange rate was generally based on a factor of ten, but there was often a premium when exchanging high-level Spirit Coins for low-level ones.

This was because the higher the level of the coin, the purer and more concentrated its Spiritual Qi, not to mention the added benefit of portability.

Inside Wuchang Pawn, all transactions were done in physical currency for the sake of security and anonymity; they didn’t bother with the whole virtual currency charade.

With a wave of his hand, Zhang Ji used his Spirit particles to envelop the Spirit Coins, sweeping them all into the Ark of Hope.

At the same time, he took a quick count of the Spirit Coins he had received.

Thirty-five Level Five Spirit Coins.

That averaged out to seven Level Five Spirit Coins per Vermilion Fruit.

’Based on my memories from my time as a "player," the price is very reasonable, even slightly higher than expected.’

’Perhaps it was because they saw me produce an item rarely seen in the Abyss of Eternity and assumed I had a major power backing me, so they didn’t dare lowball me too aggressively.’

’Or maybe they just wanted to do business with me again in the future.’

Once he had the money, a door opened beside Zhang Ji. Exiting through it would teleport him to one of dozens of random Wuchang Pawn exits scattered throughout Mishen Abyss—another one of their client protection measures.