Chapter 108 - 108 107 Sky Surveillance Bureau Third Update 5000 Monthly Tickets Additional Release

108: Chapter 107 Sky Surveillance Bureau (Third Update, 5000 Monthly Tickets Additional Release) 108: Chapter 107 Sky Surveillance Bureau (Third Update, 5000 Monthly Tickets Additional Release) “I’ll come again next time.” As An Jing was leaving, the shopkeeper gave him a small stack of Gentle Breeze Talismans, which could dispel odors and calm the air. In the Wilderness, they were quite useful for both hiding and tracking prey. They weren’t very expensive but were used up quickly; they were considered everyday items, so An Jing didn’t feel shortchanged for the five Good Deeds he had offered. “A chip, fundamentally, is a legal identity within the city’s safe zones, not to mention backdoors or anything. If I want to delve deep into the Tianyuan Realm, it’s essential.” After leaving the shop, An Jing pondered in his heart, “Five thousand Good Deeds… it’s not difficult for me, I’d even say my current assets are sufficient.” “But it’s the Military Merit that’s troublesome, necessitating the hunting of summoned Monstrous Evils.” An Jing’s requirements for the chip were indeed not low, not to mention facilitating transactions. Many Spirit Instruments, like those magic weapon guns and drones, needed the chip’s assistance to operate better. An Jing was also well aware that in the Tianyuan Realm, Psychic Core Chips were of the kind ‘common but high-tech,’ much like smartphones in his previous life. Its effect wasn’t considered special in the Tianyuan Realm since almost everyone had one. But if it were in the Embracing the Void realm… Shaking his head slightly, An Jing could only lament that he hadn’t managed to get one this time. It was then that a sudden explosion, like thunder, abruptly erupted over everyone’s heads. —Boom!!! All the shop owners and customers in the Free Trade Zone changed their expressions in unison, startledly looking up as cracks spread and debris and dust from the ceiling fell down, forcing everyone to swiftly dodge. Then, accompanied by earthquake-like tremors, amidst the cries and flashes of Body-Protecting Spirit Light from the crowd, the entire Black Market’s lights went out instantly, and after a few seconds, backup power kicked in, turning on the dim, yellow backup lights. However, by that time, the Protective Body Spirit Light had already illuminated the entire market. [Warning! Warning!] The red alert Spiritual Patterns flickered, and the Black Market’s emergency communication blared: [Sky Surveillance Bureau! Sky Surveillance Bureau!] Without any unnecessary words, those three words ‘Sky Surveillance Bureau’ explained everything. In an instant, all the experienced shop owners and customers were fully armed and began packing up their assets at the fastest speed, swarming towards the ’emergency exits’ in all directions of the trade zone! seaʀᴄh thё NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. “This…” An Jing blinked, scanning his surroundings warily, his thoughts racing: “Sky Surveillance Bureau… Patrol Officers… Is the Xuanye City government here to raid the Black Market?” —But this shouldn’t be! This Black Market was so legitimate that it barely seemed illegal, surely backed by major powers… wait a moment. Amidst his confusion, An Jing suddenly gained some clarity; he recalled the city-wide riot he had witnessed upon arriving in the Tianyuan Realm, the arrival of that Immortal Path warship: “It’s precisely because this Black Market is supported by major powers that it’s being targeted.” Damn, caught in the internal strife of major powers within Xuanye City! “This is bad, this is bad!” Behind An Jing, the normally lax Lucky Road shop owner’s face turned pale, a half-lit cigarette slipping from his lips: “Why would the Sky Surveillance Bureau make a move?” By then, he had already removed his full-cover glasses, revealing a pair of gold-green Spiritual Pupils, hurriedly packing up his belongings at the highest speed: “We have paid our taxes in full, never delayed a single payment!” Despite the tension, An Jing was momentarily amazed: The Black Market still pays taxes; isn’t my setup here completely aboveboard then? But this also confirmed his earlier speculation; this was clearly not some ‘law enforcement organization raiding a chaotic smuggling group,’ but ‘an official violence organization controlled by a major group raiding another major group’s underground trade market.’ At this moment, he also finished packing all his luggage, followed the Lucky Road shop owner, and the two of them hurried towards the emergency exit together. The Lucky Road shop owner’s physical skills were lacking, his steps floaty, but he moved with the grace of Breath of Pure, his speed not slow. The belt around his waist stirred up a gentle breeze, not only blowing away the falling sand and stones from above but also practically making him ‘float’ along. As for An Jing, he used solid Step Skills to dodge the falling rocks and debris from above. Occasionally, when rocks fell, he would simply swat them aside with his hand. Those he couldn’t deflect would hit him, causing a white light to flash, but they were neither painful nor itchy. “Young fellow, you’ve got some skills.” The Lucky Road shop owner noticed out of the corner of his eye and couldn’t help but be surprised. Not only was An Jing’s cultivation not weak, but his solid Step Skills and the dexterity he showed in blocking falling rocks were also quite sharp. With such skills, the Pioneering Team would be filled with people like him, and he would be considered a notable figure even among those in the wilderness; how come he was still buying the most basic Class C package? “Shop keeper, what’s happening here?” An Jing immediately seized the opportunity, leaning in to ask quietly, “Our Black Market is backed by people, right? How did the Sky Surveillance Bureau suddenly show up?” The previous remark was merely a matter of inquiry, but the latter was his true intention: “I remember the city was in quite a turmoil a few days ago, does it relate to that?” At that moment, the crowd at the market had already gathered at the emergency exit, where the Black Market staff had propped up a shield barrier to fend off falling rocks. They steadied the queue to prevent any stampede incidents. Although the line at the emergency exit was long, it was orderly and progressed quietly. After all, most of those who visited the Black Market were cultivators, who knew the importance of stability in such times. Creating chaos would not only lead to the Black Market staff taking drastic action, but other cultivators nearby would also show no mercy. Thus, there were mostly whispers exchanged privately, sharing information each knew. “The incident a few days ago?” In the same queue and beginning to leave, the owner of Lucky Road followed An Jing’s hints and pondered, “It might indeed be possible. I heard from my family that the Luofu Group lost a crucial ancient oddity. It is said to have been forged during the time when the Dao Sect ruled, before the calamity. And when the artifact was lost, there were people from the Shouyang Group at the scene, and a conflict broke out immediately, causing turmoil throughout the city.” Having said this, he became a bit frantic, “The Sky Surveillance Bureau is indeed Luofu’s territory… But what does this have to do with us?!” “Our place here is backed by Xuan…” Realizing his slip, the owner of Lucky Road immediately shut up, but An Jing had already grasped the meaning behind the word ‘Xuan’: “I see, this Black Market is backed by the Xuandu Group… No wonder there are discounted goods for sale, and even Xuanxiao Thunder Talisman, they are probably clearing inventory!” “But to clear inventory at such high prices! Indeed, I was caught by the discount tactics!” This was An Jing’s purpose. Given that the owner of Lucky Road was so young and yet managed to run a considerable shop in the Black Market, he had to be either extremely capable or well-connected. Either way, it meant he likely had access to information not known to the average person. From what could be seen, the owner of Lucky Road was well-connected. As for himself, he initially couldn’t think of why the Sky Surveillance Bureau would come, only realizing after An Jing’s prompting, showing that he was indeed not sensitive to intelligence. “The Luofu Group lost a certain ancient oddity and consequently had a conflict with the Shouyang Group. A week later, the Sky Surveillance Bureau under Luofu’s control raided the Black Market managed by the Xuandu Group… It must not be a shot in the dark.” As An Jing queued forward, he pondered, linking many clues together: “A week ago, wasn’t that when the Immortal Path warships landed?” “After that, there were huge disturbances and battles both in the Floating Dust Plains and Xuanye City… was it all because the Luofu Group lost something?” “As for the current turmoil in the Black Market… Could it be that the oddity had circulated to the Black Market, and the Luofu Group traced it here, hence they acted so rashly?” “Also, an ancient oddity, huh?” Thinking of a possibility, An Jing asked Sword Spirit in his mind, “Subdue Evil, could this oddity possibly be one of your fragments?” “Impossible.” Sword Spirit replied definitively, “I can generally sense the distance of my fragments. The fragments in Tianyuan Realm are still far away, definitely not nearby.” An Jing was not disappointed; he knew that recovering fragments for Subdue Evil wouldn’t be so simple. “However,” Sword Spirit added, “if it truly was crafted during the era of Dao Sect as an ‘ancient oddity’, it must have been created using ancient techniques, with all energies concealed and difficult to discern. Ordinary searches would likely not find it, even mistaking it for some old, broken vessel.” Indeed. An Jing thought, recalling how Subdue Evil originally looked quite shabby—”That was the Divine Object concealing itself!” As he was interacting with the Sword Spirit, his thoughts were perceived by the other, and An Jing heard a very serious and slightly indignant response: “I was very beautiful back then!” Yes, very beautiful! An Jing quickly apologized in his mind. “In any case,” the Sword Spirit said, “being an ‘artifact’ itself, if it is close enough to me, I will be able to sense it.” “How close exactly…” —— Boom!!! Before An Jing could say anything else, suddenly, an even larger explosion and tremor came from above, causing everyone present to stagger. Immediately following, the dome of the underground Black Market crumbled and fractured. Whirl-whirl-whirl—— Countless gray-brown rocks and earth fell through the cracks, like a torrential rain, striking the protective shield sustained by the Black Market. Along with a few shadows that mingled within, like meteors, they heavily impacted the ground, rippling outwards. “Huff… Hiss.” A deep and ocean-like breathing sound enveloped the entire subterranean space.