"Run!"
The instant the Child of Joy realized its connection to Joy Street was severed, it understood that the being before it was no small fish, but an Archaic Giant Crocodile.
It imdiately turned to flee.
It reveled in the joy and torture of others, but it did not want to beco the one being tortured.
"I rather preferred your unruly appearance just now."
Lu Yu's calm voice sounded as Little Spider beside him extended a slender finger and swiped through the Void.
Swish, swish, swish!
The Transcendent-level Spider Silk swept out, directly wrapping the Child of Joy into a cocoon and suspending it in mid-air. It carried a trace of Corrosive Power that even its spiritual body could not break free from, not to ntion it was reinforced by a layer from the Thousand-Faced Soul Tree.
Straight into Solitary Confinent to be dealt with!
It had to be said, aside from its unsightly head, the Child of Joy had a rather nice figure.
If it were posted on a forum, so Silly Netizens might even comnt, "They all look the sa with the lights off."
In a sense, they were even more outrageous than the Devotees of Lust!
"Let go! Who are you? Do you want to offend Joy Street and the Convent of Joy…"
The Child of Joy struggled nonstop, issuing threats as its Tentacles writhed and its eyes unleashed a ntal Shock that swept outward.
However, the mont the ntal energy appeared, the Thousand-Faced Soul Tree took a "slurp," sucking it completely dry in an instant.
The Thousand-Faced Soul Tree swayed its Rootlets, not yet satisfied, signaling for more.
"How is this possible…"
This scene stunned the Child of Joy. It stared at the bizarre Rootlets as the aura of the Yellow Springs spread out, its expression growing ever more fearful.
"This is… a Ghost Tree? How could a Descendant of the Imperial Tree appear here, and why would it obey the command of a re human…"
The Seven Great Imperial Trees were all Great Existences from above the Mother River. Even their descendants were lofty beings who would rather die than submit to a Lesser Lifeform.
It knew this much because the Ghost Tree, which controlled ghostly power, was their greatest counter.
And the tree before it… gave it a feeling of constant change, its true essence obscured.
It was one, yet it was all things, far more bizarre than the legendary Descendants of the Imperial Tree.
It was even sowhat similar to the Mother Tree that created them.
How could a Mortal… be on par with a Great Existence!?
"Noisy."
Listening to its clamor, Lu Yu had Little Spider kill it directly, but he didn't touch its soul or mories.
After all, their origins were too strange. Prying rashly could lead to seeing things one shouldn't.
Even with Little Mouse shielding its aura, if a True King was involved, it couldn't be interfered with, and he might be hunted down through the network cable.
So, he used the simplest and most brutal thod: extraction as a Material.
He'd just toss it to the Thousand-Handed Demon God; if it had the guts, it could try to overthrow Her.
The Eternal White Light descended, enveloping the Child of Joy, and a new material entry soon appeared in the Material Library.
【Spirit Core of a Joy Banshee (Three-star High-tier): A Spiritual Lifeform born in the Joy Ecological Kingdom—the Kingdom of Ultimate Bliss. It is nurtured by the Mother Tree of Joy and lacks a complete physical form.
They can hide within the Mortal Shell of living beings, seeking out lifeforms with powerful desires. They gain power through extre joy and pain.
Because their bodies are composed of Spiritual Thoughts, they are immune to all Flesh-and-Blood-type Curses and ignore Physical Attacks.
It can be used as the main material for the high-tier Spirit-type Skill Secret Food "ntal Shock" or "Spiritual Touch," or as the main material for a Spirit-type Evolution Secret Food.
】
The Joy Ecology! The Kingdom of Ultimate Bliss!
What shocked Lu Yu the most was that the Mother Tree of Joy, a Deity of Desire on par with the 【Great Desire King】, seed to be planted in the Kingdom of Ultimate Bliss.
And the master of the Kingdom of Ultimate Bliss was, unsurprisingly, the King of Bliss.
He had planted an Evil God in his own backyard?
How utterly domineering!
'No, there's sothing wrong with this deity's birth. It seems to have only appeared in the last century, unlike The Supre Ones who have existed since ti immorial.
It's also possible… She doesn't exist at all, but was created by the King of Bliss. A forced, Artificial God Creation.
Are the eighteen Joy Streets tools for collecting the Desires of All Beings…'
Lu Yu considered another possibility. If that were true, then what was the King of Bliss's goal?
Was he unsatisfied with the Lifespan Limit of humans and wanted to transform into The Supre One?
Or perhaps, he wanted to create an Evil God Contract Pet Beast for himself?
Every idea was world-shaking, but they were all just speculation.
Lu Yu's 【Eye of Truth】 originated from his talent, the Master of the Gate, which was the Key of Truth. The information it revealed was absolutely true.
If there were errors or it was blocked by Higher-dinsional Shielding, it would display as "■■■".
But one had to rember that truth did not an absolute correctness.
Sotis, by selecting only a part of the truth, the original aning could be altered, leading to Thought Misdirection.
This was one of the thods used by higher-dinsional existences to conceal secrets, so he had to judge the specific situation himself.
Although he now had his speculations about the relationship between the Children of Joy, the Mother Tree of Joy, and the King of Bliss, Lu Yu had no intention of digging deeper.
With his current strength, he couldn't change anything.
He could only be wary of the King of Bliss.
After all, the great domain where this King resided seed to border the Abyssal Ecological World.
It was hard not to let one's imagination run wild!
Lu Yu suppressed these thoughts and said to Little Mouse:
"You can Erase All Traces."
"Yes, Sir!"
Little Mouse expertly used the Thousand-Faced Soul Tree to cleanse the aura of the entire Secret Chamber, even cleaning the aura outside and planting Misdirection.
With the protection of the Legendary-tier skill Sanctuary, Joy Street would never discover the problem unless a True King descended.
Lu Yu then waited for a while, confirming that no one from the Convent of Joy was coming to his door, before calmly walking out of the Secret Chamber and greeting Zhou Cheng.
He looked up at the sky. It was always noon in Joy Street, the light bright, just like a City That Never Sleeps.
However, it was already late at night, and the Trade Fair was about to begin, so Lu Yu and Zhou Cheng set off together.
They hadn't gone far when Lu Yu and Zhou Cheng noticed the people ahead of them moving to the sides, their expressions wary.
The two of them blended into the crowd.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Along with the trembling of the ground, a voice carried over:
"The Living… stand aside!"
The voice was low and hoarse, yet it contained a terrifying ntal Fluctuation, sweeping out like a Storm.
Soon, a large number of Children of Joy appeared at the end of the street. Countless pink butterflies fluttered about, spreading an Aura of Desire as they danced elegantly, their exquisite Jade Feet stepping on the ground.
They surrounded four towering giants, their heads covered with the sa white cloth as the Convent of Joy. Their bodies were feminine, but a ferocious face with a gaping Bloody Maw grew on their abdons, from which the voice had co.
On the shoulders of these giants rested a black and gold palanquin draped in a pink Gauze Curtain, a blurry figure visible inside.
"Those are Desire-Devouring Giants, special demonic beasts born from the Desire Ecology.
They can also be contracted as Pet Beasts. They're naturally cruel and love to devour lifeforms with deep desires.
Their racial skill is 【Jade-Shattering Roar】. The roar can compress the desire in a creature's heart into 'jade' and then shatter it, annihilating the soul.
They are considered Strategic-level Demonic Beasts on the battlefield, and their numbers are few.
"To think four of them would appear at once, each with Morning Star Rank strength.
This ans the one they're carrying must be an Important Figure from the Convent of Joy…"
Zhou Cheng explained in a low voice. Although he was wary, he wasn't afraid.
The Convent of Joy, while not one of the Orthodox Churches recognized by the Alliance, was considered an Ally. Because they enjoyed drawing on the desires of all beings, not only would they not engage in wanton slaughter, but they would also actively maintain order.
In their view, desire that broke free from the Cage of Order was the most valuable and delicious.
Therefore, as long as the Convent of Joy did not leave the confines of Joy Street or target ordinary humans, the Alliance would turn a blind eye.
They hoped for more friends and fewer enemies.
But in Zhou Cheng's eyes, they were still an unstable ti bomb.
It was best to stay away. He was also worried that Lu Yu, in his youthful vigor, might cause trouble, so he tried to impart so Worldly Experience to him.
However, when he received no response for a long ti, he grew a little confused.
He turned his head to see that Lu Yu had already moved behind the crowd, shielding himself.
He had truly mastered one of the nine secrets—The Art of Extre Caution!
'This kid really is prudent…' Zhou Cheng didn't know how to react, unaware that Lu Yu had just slaughtered a Child of Joy and was afraid they were here for revenge. He was even clutching the Star Leaf in his hand.
However, the Desire-Devouring Giants walked step by step down the center of the road, paying them no mind. Lu Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
He didn't use his Eye of Truth, only glancing at the palanquin from the corner of his eye.
Whoosh!
A sudden gust of wind blew, lifting the pink Gauze Curtain.
Inside sat several Children of Joy, serving a Woman in a Dark Green Qipao. Unlike the Children of Joy, she did not wear the mysterious white cloth.
Her slender jade-like hands held open a Black and Gold Folding Fan.
It was embroidered with nurous exquisite patterns and covered the lower half of her face, revealing only a pair of graceful, lively eyes that curved into a smile as she looked in the direction of Lu Yu's crowd.
Even with most of her face hidden, her very presence was like that of a mythical Goddess of Beauty, representing the ultimate beauty and nobility of all things.
Every move she made was captivating.
"So beautiful!"
Zhou Cheng couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. Lu Yu, too, was montarily stunned.
It was the first ti he had seen a woman more beautiful than Little Spider, Chiyue ng, or Chiyue Honglian.
If the three Chiyue sisters were described as the unattainable, unreachable Unattainable Beauty, then the woman before him was the bright moon that illuminated the starry sky.
This kind of beauty had transcended the limits of a mortal, reaching another level entirely.
It was so beautiful it felt unreal, giving off an illusory sensation.
"So beautiful…"
"Is that an important figure from the Convent of Joy? I suddenly feel like passing a hundred trials wouldn't be so hard!"
"Forget a hundred trials, if it's for her, I'd be willing to try a thousand!"
"…"Everyone couldn't help but cry out in astonishnt. After witnessing such ultimate beauty, looking at any other woman would only evoke the feeling of "cheap costics, nothing more."
Only Lu Yu remained calm, mainly because he had already seen the true face beneath the white cloth of a Child of Joy.
As an important figure in the Convent of Joy, she was unlikely to be a normal human.
Just thinking about it was enough to enter Sage Mode.
Coupled with his guilty conscience, he was afraid she would see through him, so he quickened his pace to leave. Zhou Cheng gave one last reluctant glance and followed.
Little did they know, this scene was all witnessed by the Woman in a Qipao, her eyes curving into a smile that could topple nations.
The next mont, the wind died down, and the gauze curtain fell, concealing everything and leaving many feeling a sense of emptiness in their hearts.
Though it was a pity, no one was courting death by offending a top-tier expert.
Inside the palanquin, a Child of Joy lit so Incense and asked respectfully:
"High Priest, is there a problem with that human?"
This palanquin was not a Transcendent Secret Treasure, but as long as the person before them willed it, not even a hurricane could stir the curtain in the slightest.
After all, the supre leaders of the Convent of Joy were the five High Priests, the Five Beasts of desire, corresponding to the five Main Joy Streets.
And she was one of them, the Beauty Beast.
The reason they had co was that a Child of Joy had gone missing within Joy Street. In addition, a certain stronghold had been spied on by a mysterious Raven, confirming that so faction was secretly Making Trouble.
If this human was related, they would act imdiately to capture him.
"It's nothing, I just saw sothing interesting."
The Woman in a Qipao waved her hand, but her mind replayed the mont she saw Lu Yu.
On his hand, she had detected a powerful and familiar Fox Aura.
It was as if it were guarding its food, warning others not to touch.
'To think that fellow would take the initiative to interact with a human. How interesting…'
The Joy High Priest was delighted, as if she had discovered a fun new toy.
It was just a sha she had other business to attend to now; otherwise, she might have approached this human.
Soon, they arrived in the area near the Secret Chamber, where the scent of the Child of Joy had last been detected.
The Convent of Joy turned the area inside out, but they found nothing. As a prudent little mouse who had watched a great number of cri dramas, Little Mouse's cleanup had been extrely thorough.
It had checked over a dozen tis, terrified of any mistakes.
It hadn't even completely erased the aura from the secret chamber, which would have been out of place.
Instead, it had concealed it.
The leading Child of Joy said in sha:
"High Priest, we found no problems."
"After all, even my Avatar couldn't find the source.
It seems a Magnate-level or even stronger entity has slipped in. This will indeed be a bit troubleso…"
The Woman in a Qipao narrowed her eyes and said with a smile:
"During this ti, have Joy Street operate at full capacity and search for any and all anomalies. Do not let anyone interfere with the progress of The Plan."
Her words were calm, with no ntion of punishnt, yet it sent a chill down the spines of these Children of Joy who controlled desire.
After giving her instructions, the Woman in a Qipao looked at the sky of Joy Street. Fiery clouds filled the air; it was already Dusk.
A figure crossed through the crowd, yet no one noticed His existence, as if He had traveled through ti.
The High Priest smiled and said:
"The timing is perfect.
Go and bring out those things from my collection. I must entertain my Honored Guest properly…"
The disappearance of the Child of Joy was just an unexpected incident.
This was her real business!
…………………………
On the other side, Lu Yu and Zhou Cheng had already entered the Mutual Aid Society, which was located inside a giant, house-shaped conch, hence its na, the Conch Trade Fair.
The interior was winding and convoluted, like a maze with several passages leading inside, which also increased the safety factor when leaving.
Lu Yu and Zhou Cheng donned Black Robes and Masks, paid a fee of ten Sin Gold Coins, and entered.
It was no joke.
They had offended so many people before. If they entered with their true faces, even if they weren't beaten up, the prices would be madly inflated against them.
Inside was a massive Round Platform. A Man in White sat at its center with his eyes closed in ditation.
Many other black-robed figures were seated around, most of them disguised.
Joy Street forbade prying into others' identities.
As long as one didn't summon a Pet Beast or reveal their Spiritual Puzzle, it was very difficult to be identified.
Lu Yu and Zhou Cheng quietly took their seats without interacting, like two strangers.
Lu Yu glanced down and saw a Display Screen on the table. One could directly input numbers to make a bid, or call an Attendant to take an item for exchange and state their requirents.
The two waited quietly for about twenty minutes as a large number of figures arrived one after another. The seats around the round platform were ninety percent full; almost everyone who was coming had arrived.
The man at the center of the platform then stood up, bowed slightly, and spoke:
"Welco, everyone, to the Conch Trade Fair. I am this session's host and Appraiser, Gao Hong.
All items this ti will be appraised by and my partner. After a rough price estimate, the trading will begin.
If there are any issues with the appraisal, our Conch Trade Fair will bear full responsibility for compensation."
As he spoke, a Summoning Array opened behind him, and a Bronze Mirror floated out.
A large eye grew on it, constantly swiveling to look in all directions.
"That's… a Bronze Demon-Appraising Mirror. Its racial skill is Eye of Investigation, which can see the Light of Spirituality contained within items. It is indeed a top-tier Appraisal-type Pet Beast."
"An established trade fair really has a strong foundation."
"This way, a lot of fakes can be avoided."
"…"
The crowd murmured softly, quite satisfied with this.
Soon, the first item was brought up: a large Cage covered with a black cloth.
After the cloth was pulled off, thirteen Beastn appeared before everyone's eyes.
There were males and females, retaining so bestial features but with a generally human-like appearance.
The most eye-catching was a huge Werewolf, panting heavily, its green eyes staring hatefully at the surrounding crowd.
Besides it, there were also so beautiful Rabbitfolk, Catgirls, and others, all covered in fur.
Furry delight.
However, no one rushed to bid. It wasn't because they didn't like them, but because…
Gao Hong introduced, "As everyone knows, although Beastn are not of the Human Race, so of their races are allies of the Human Race.
Buying the wrong one could easily violate Alliance Law.
"However, since we are openly displaying these goods this ti, it ans there is no problem.
This batch of Beastn were not exiled from their tribes or criminals. They are… followers of the Primordial Moon!"
As his voice fell, the crowd nodded slightly, understanding the reason.
Gao Hong continued, "The followers of the Primordial Moon do not worship the current moon, but the primordial moon. They believe that all things should return to an era of Wildness and Primordial Chaos and Ignorance.
"They sublimate their spirituality through slaughter, especially fond of using ordinary humans, Beastn, and other Intelligent Lifeforms as Sacrificial Offerings. They enjoy performing the Blood Moon Ritual to obtain the Moon's Spirituality, thereby gaining power.
They are one of the Evil God Cults wanted by the Alliance, a fact even the Beastn acknowledge.
"I have already appraised them.
They indeed bear the Symbol of the Ignorant Moon, confirming they are Evil God followers. Since they do not respect life, they have lost the right to be recognized and can only be treated as a commodity.
"This Consignor does not wish to sell them individually; they must all be taken at once. Custors who like Beastn or wish to study the spirituality of the Primordial Moon, do not miss this opportunity. The starting bid is two hundred Sin Gold Coins."
"Two hundred and ten.
I love Beastn the most. A little bit of beastly feature is just so cute, and they're very durable…"
A sturdy black-robed man placed a bid and laughed heartily.
"Especially this Werewolf, he looks so strong. A True Man should do…"
The unexpected turn of phrase left many people struggling to keep up.
Even the ferocious Werewolf tucked its tail between its legs and let out a whimper.
It never expected that before its companions were in danger, it would be the one targeted first.
But there were many lunatics among Beast Tars, and everyone's fetish was to be respected.
"Two hundred and twenty.
I happen to be researching so Beastman-related Magic Potions and need so Test Subjects," another black-robed person bid, explaining their reason to show they weren't a shill.
The two competed for a while, and in the end, the lot was won by the burly man who liked werewolves for two hundred and forty-five Sin Gold Coins.
Any more would not have been worth it!
The quality of the subsequent items was generally very high. There was Dragon Blood Grass that could help a pet beast with a thin dragon bloodline awaken Dragon Might, Sea Whale Blood that could enhance the power of a Water-type Pet Beast's attributes, Hell Dew that could strengthen the potential of an Abyss-type pet beast, and so on…
In between, several Commander Rank potential pet beast Cubs appeared, but they were quickly snatched up.
In this world, pet beasts represented power. Buying an excellent pet beast cub was extrely difficult, requiring a large amount of money and connections.
The Gold dal was precious for this reason; it was essentially a thod for the Alliance to win over Beast Tars.
The reason so many conditions were set… was because the Alliance wished you would choose the Monetary Compensation, but since you had made your choice, you couldn't just be Coasting.
However, as the auction entered its middle and later stages, Lu Yu grew a bit frustrated. He had hoped to rely on the 【Auspicious Star Shining High】 buff to find so suitable good items for himself, but he had found absolutely nothing.
Most of the materials were expensive and unneeded. The occasional one or two he encountered did not accept Sin Gold Coins for purchase, had harsh exchange conditions, and went unsold.
'Did I use up all my luck when I upgraded the Matriarch's Nest earlier?'
Just as he was pondering this, soone suddenly stood up and asked the question:
"Is there any Dream Kitchenware this ti? I'm willing to pay a high price for it."
However, no one spoke, and there were even faint, disdainful chuckles.
Gao Hong said with a smile:
"My dear guest, I understand your feelings, but it's unlikely. Ever since that Collector showed interest in peculiar items like Dream Kitchenware, the value of these originally niche items has skyrocketed, and they have been bought up by many people.
"Later on, so well-inford wealthy magnates also began to refuse to sell them, keeping them as top collection items in the hope of one day eting His Eminence again to make a trade."
The others nodded in agreent.
After all, a Taboo Existence one could communicate with was simply unheard of. Even a casual Boon would be a massive benefit for a Mortal.
So ti ago, many people even suggested re-excavating the history of the Spirit Food School to see if it was related to the Taboo War, but the School of Archaeology refused.
A hidden Taboo Existence could annihilate their entire expedition with a single curse, let alone one that was still active.
It was like wanting to look at soone's Dark History right in front of them—truly tired of living and seeking death.
They imdiately stated that if they wanted to dig, they could dig it up themselves!
In the end, the proposal was shelved.
"The Collector…"
Zhou Cheng also knew the inside story. After all, his good friend—"Burner" Sun Jie—had only advanced to Morning Star after coming into contact with a Taboo Existence.
He had been showing off in front of him ever since, making his eyes red with jealousy.
So, Zhou Cheng sent a ntal ssage to Lu Yu:
"If you ever have the chance to obtain Dream Kitchenware, you must hold onto it. If you ever et the Collector, it will be a trendous fated opportunity. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it an Omnipotent Wishing Machine."
"Oh…"
Hearing this, the expression under Lu Yu's Cloak beca incredibly strange.
He had been wondering why he hadn't seen any information or items related to Dream Kitchenware. He thought it was because the stuff wasn't presentable, but it turned out…
It was because of the persona he had previously displayed—a lover of collection items.
A bunch of people were trying to collect Dream Kitchenware and other similar items to curry favor with the Collector, his Taboo alternate identity.
This had led to him, his True Self, being unable to collect any Dream Kitchenware!
He had screwed himself over.
It was truly a dark humor joke.
The most ridiculous part was… they wanted to make a wish.
He wanted to as well!
'The Collector Vest is too famous now. An appearance could attract so top-tier experts and easily cause a chain reaction.
Otherwise, I could have done a wave of Freeloading. It seems I'll need to create so new Vests for future outings…'
Lu Yu sighed internally with regret and continued to listen to Gao Hong's introductions.
Unfortunately, few of the subsequent items were what he needed, so his interest waned.
Just when he thought he would be returning empty-handed, an Attendant ca to Gao Hong's side and whispered in his ear for a few minutes.
After listening, Gao Hong suddenly stood up, a trace of surprise on his face. He quickly composed himself and said to the crowd:
"The next item to be introduced is sowhat special. It is not an item, but… the location of the Primordial Spirit Ascension Tree."
As his voice fell, the entire audience was stunned.
Gao Hong continued, "I believe everyone has heard of this tree. It is a special transcendent spiritual plant born from the Blessing of the Mother River.
It only bears fruit once in its life, and it is a special spiritual secret treasure with no restrictions on who can consu it. In other words… humans can consu it as well.
"Its effect is also very simple: to enhance one's Spiritual Power. A single fruit can refine all the spirituality of a Peak Silver Beast Tar, transforming it into Gold Spirituality.
Furthermore, it will give birth to a special Azure-Gold Spiritual Power, which is more concentrated than ordinary Gold Spirituality, providing fifty percent, or even double the Sustain. Its nature is gentle.
"In fact, the growth process of a Beast Tar is like building a house. The deeper the foundation, the greater the probability of a successful Spirituality Transformation or ascension to Morning Star in the future.
Even if the promotion fails, it's less likely to result in Aberration.
"Of course, the prerequisite for consuming it is still having accumulated enough ntal Power, otherwise it's easy to lose balance…"
Hearing this, the others also beca interested.
Although those at the Spirituality Transformation stage could no longer use it, it didn't stop them from helping their juniors.
Moreover, those at the Gold Rank could also use the Spirit Ascension Fruit to transform their spirituality to azure-gold, though the effect would be lesser.
"I can't believe we ran into sothing this good!"
Zhou Cheng's expression was excited. If Lu Yu could obtain the fruit of the Spirit Ascension Tree, he had a chance of advancing to the Gold Rank before entering university, and with a special Gold Spirituality at that.
The Spiritual Puzzle he ford would be stronger, and his combat power would undergo a qualitative change.
At that ti, if he could suppress all the other geniuses and enter Imperial Capital University with a top-three ranking, there would be unexpected benefits.
Even if he went to the Border Battlefield, with this strength, he would be qualified to lead his own Squad, have greater autonomy, and more opportunities to earn military rits.
Thinking of this, he said to Lu Yu:
"If this intelligence is real, you must do everything you can to get it. If you don't have enough money, I can help you borrow so."
Beneath the hood, Lu Yu's expression showed no hint of pleasant surprise.
Instead, he frowned, faintly sensing that sothing was wrong.
Even with the buff from 【Auspicious Star Shining High】, the timing of this thing's appearance was too much of a coincidence.
Normally, if he were truly lucky, shouldn't a Spirit Ascension Fruit have appeared directly? Selling the fruit directly seed more valuable than selling intelligence, right?
Could it be that the place was dangerous, or perhaps…
It was a trap aid at him
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