Chapter 486: Restaurant

“This was a bountiful harvest. We got a lot of Marvels. I’ve always believed in a certain principle: while my neighbor hoards grain, I’ll hoard guns—and all my neighbors become my granaries. The only good Marvels are the ones we put to use. You guys go ahead and pick first. We can keep any Marvels that have value for construction. The ones with low or redundant value can be used to boost our strength.”

“I wonder where they even got these Marvels,” Qin Ziwu said, picking a red shell out of the bamboo basket.

Qin Ziwen followed his gaze and used Insight.

[Level 4 Marvel]Blood Shell (Can be socketed into aquatic-type buildings)

(Effect: Aquatic life activity +30%, appetite +30%, hunting desire +30%, growth speed +30%, but greatly reduces reproductive desire)

‘This thing is suitable for seasonal use on certain carnivorous aquatic species. It’s not suited for long-term socketing.’

Soon, Qin Ziwen found another shell among them, a white one.

[Level 4 Marvel]Life Shell (Can be socketed into aquatic-type buildings)

(Effect: Aquatic life appetite -50%, hunting desire -50%, growth speed -50%, but greatly increases reproductive desire)

Individually, these two shells were merely equivalent to Level 4 Marvels, but when used together, they could produce the effect of a Level 6 or 7 Marvel.

He discovered there were quite a few other Marvels similar to these two shells. After a careful selection process, he soon set aside a batch of valuable ones to keep as spares.

As for the other Marvels, they were inventoried separately and then brought to the Abyssal Ruins.

A group of core members from the Home stood gathered around the altar in the Abyssal Ruins.

Qin Ziwen walked up to the altar and tossed an ore-shaped Marvel into it.

It didn’t make a single ripple, sinking slowly to the bottom as if swallowed by a bog.

A sliver of white light shot out from the giant sphere floating above the underwater city, pierced the surface of the water, and entered the space between his eyebrows.

[Law Body·Level 2 (13/500)]

This Level 2 Marvel had provided twelve wisps of Law Essence.

Qin Ziwen began to experiment.

From Level 1 Marvels to Level 5 Marvels.

After some testing:

Level 1 Marvels, depending on their individual variations, provided between 1 and 4 units of Law Essence.

Level 2 Marvels provided between 8 and 20 units.

Level 3 Marvels provided between 50 and 100 units.

Level 4 Marvels provided between 200 and 500 units.

There weren’t enough samples of Level 5 Marvels, but each one provided over a thousand units of Law Essence.

After sacrificing nearly a hundred Marvels, Qin Ziwen’s Law Body underwent an earth-shattering transformation.

[Law Body·Level 5 (145/20,000)]

It was worth noting that a Level 1 Law Body increased innate Basic Attributes by 100%. Each subsequent level-up was an exponential doubling.

A Level 5 brought the innate basic boost to 1600%.

Even an ordinary adult male with no training, with a sixteen-fold boost to his innate Basic Attributes, could easily punch with several tons of force.

His physical constitution would be strong enough to toy with a tiger as if it were a house cat.

And on top of such a powerful physical foundation, every subsequent improvement would bring exponential growth.

“Mogu, let’s have a sparring match.” Qin Ziwen turned to Mogu, eager to test his new strength.

One minute later, Qin Ziwen rubbed his swollen arm and casually retracted his right hand.

Mogu stood obediently to the side, staring at the ground as if there was something incredible on it.

Qin Ziwu raised his head to look at the sky, his lips pressed tightly together.

“It’s fine. At least now I know the gap between me and the Divine level,” Qin Ziwen said, shaking his head.

Mogu wasn’t an ordinary Fishman; he had also condensed a Level 1 Law Body. Therefore, the actual difference was only eight-fold.

“Your turn.” Qin Ziwen stepped aside.

Qin Ziwu took his place. A moment later, his sacrifice was complete, and it was Du Yu’s turn…

…

At the bottom of the Abyssal Ruins, within the underwater city, Marvel after Marvel shone like dazzling pearls.

Some Marvels were hung from the eaves.

Some rested silently on the streets.

Some were affixed to the outside of windows.

From a distance, they were a dazzling sight.

The entire underwater city seemed to have come alive.

Reborn with a second life.

On the progress bar that only Qin Ziwen could see:

[Current Growth Progress: 99,998/100,000]

“Growth Progress +3.”

When the growth progress bar filled up.

Above the city in the Abyssal Ruins, the surface of the dim, giant sphere began to glow.

It resonated with the vast number of Marvels scattered throughout the city below.

A crack appeared on the sphere’s surface. CRACK.

The sharp sound reached his ears.

The sphere split vertically down the middle, forming a fine fissure.

[Wonder: Abyssal Ruins – Level 2]

[Miracle: Sacrifice]

[Second Miracle: Gestating]

[Current Growth Progress: 2/1,000,000]

‘Looking at the Home panel, the Abyssal Ruins hasn’t changed much after advancing to Level 2,’ Qin Ziwen mused.

‘The only difference is the new vertical crack on the giant sphere above the underwater city ruins, and the notification that a second Miracle is gestating.’

Just as he was about to look away, he suddenly felt a gaze on him from below.

Following the sensation to its source, Qin Ziwen realized the giant sphere was “watching” him. He stopped and turned back to look at its mirror-like surface.

From the crack in the great sphere, Qin Ziwen felt an indescribable trace of “divinity.”

‘The second Miracle will take time to gestate. What’s important now is the future development of the Gated Community,’ Qin Ziwen thought.

‘After accepting the unconditional support from the big shots of the Alliance of Realms, our Home shouldn’t be lacking in Marvel resources anymore.’

‘What we’re really lacking are Cards. My decision to take Marvels from others as “life-saving money” was a calculated one.’

‘First, once a Card is used, it’s irreversible. Most people use a Card as soon as they get one.’

‘They wouldn’t have many unused Cards on hand.’

‘Marvels, on the other hand, can be removed even after being socketed into buildings.’

‘Besides, with the Abyssal Ruins, I can make extremely cost-effective use of Marvels.’

Qin Ziwen reached into his pocket and pulled out three tickets. They were white with black characters, looking like paper bus tickets from the last century.

On the thin paper, the words “Meal Ticket” were written in large brush script on the left. To the right, smaller characters indicated it was for “Three People.”

These were the restaurant tickets he had found in Yan Guihen’s Home.

The number of people written on it determined the maximum number you could bring into the restaurant.

It was still early, so Qin Ziwen summoned Qin Ziwu and Mogu.

“From what I’ve gathered, the restaurant is a neutral zone, so the danger level is low. Mogu has been there before, so he has to come with me this time. Do you want to go?”

Qin Ziwu asked curiously, “What kind of place is the restaurant?”

Qin Ziwen gave him a brief explanation.

After listening, Qin Ziwu mused, “The restaurant’s abilities… they sound a bit like the Abyssal Ruins.”

“If I’m not mistaken, the restaurant’s mysterious meals are likely also the ability of a Wonder.”

Qin Ziwu: “Then can we build our own neutral zone like the restaurant? We could make a killing just from admission and service fees.”

“Not right now,” Qin Ziwen said, shaking his head calmly. “If word got out, we might not be able to defend it. Besides, our function would overlap with the restaurant’s in some ways. If we also set up a neutral zone, we’d be stealing customers from them. It’s hard to say how the restaurant would react.”

Hearing his elder brother’s analysis, Qin Ziwu dropped the idea. “Then let’s just lay low and develop for now.”

Qin Ziwen led the two to a remote corner of the Home and tore up the restaurant ticket.

After being torn, the ticket dissolved into wisps of ink-wash smoke that drifted and coalesced before them, forming a black-and-white door.

Qin Ziwen looked at Mogu, who nodded. “It was the same when I used it. Looks like the restaurant hasn’t changed.”

Qin Ziwen took two steps forward and passed through the door. The surrounding scenery changed in a flash.

A warm, humid lake breeze brushed against his cheeks. An endless, misty green lake stretched out before him, its surface dotted with birds, large fish, and an island that looked like a paradise.

On the island was a small town, where the faint movement of a bustling crowd could be seen.

He found himself on a wooden arch bridge. Footsteps sounded from behind him.

Ripples appeared in the empty air, and Qin Ziwu and Mogu stepped through them.

“My Lord, that is the restaurant,” Mogu said, pointing ahead.

Text suddenly appeared before Qin Ziwen’s eyes.

[You have entered the High-Tier Home ‘Restaurant’. Current Status: Visitor]

[Please abide by the following rules: 1. Conflict is forbidden within the restaurant, including but not limited to physical, magical, mental, divine, and cursed attacks. Violators will be dealt with by the restaurant’s enforcers. 2. Based on your current Visitor status, you may stay in the restaurant for free for seven (7) Standard World Days. 3. The restaurant can provide cooking services, but you must supply your own ingredients. 4. Based on your current status, you are entitled to one free cooking service per visit. 5. Enjoy your meal.]

With a thought from Qin Ziwen, the text before him dissipated like mist. He glanced at Qin Ziwu and saw him staring into the empty space ahead, clearly having seen the restaurant’s rules as well. Mogu, on the other hand, looked completely unfazed.

He composed himself, reined in his thoughts, and took a step forward. “Let’s go.”