Chapter 6: Gem Master
Inside the insect tower on Gem Street in Dunk City.
Having run into an acquaintance, Su Xiao naturally chose to avoid her for now. He was currently in the middle of a world invasion. Just passing by would make it impossible for Molei to recognize him; that was the nature of the one-way disguise. When Su Xiao looked in the mirror himself, his appearance wouldn't change, but in Molei's eyes, Su Xiao was just a stranger among the contractors.
The one-way disguise was effective most of the time. If he entered a combat state and his aura fully erupted, that would be a different story. Unless Molei was stupid, she would immediately guess what was happening and then "report" Su Xiao to the Apocalypse Paradise.
Molei's observational skills were beyond doubt. Regardless, she was a Battle Angel and had killed many Violators.
Su Xiao speculated that Molei probably had nothing to do with the Space-Time Power trade. Her coming to the Dark Star world was most likely to get her hands on some mineral wealth.
For now, the more important thing was to follow the clues given by the main quest. This would help Su Xiao better understand the situation in this world, making it easier to compete for the Space-Time Power later.
Su Xiao's goal in entering the Dark Star world was actually quite simple: obtain a large amount of resources to enhance his own strength and advance toward the top echelon of the Eighth Rank. Although this was difficult, he needed to speed up the progress.
The Treeborn World was about to open. The final piece of Soul Severing Shadow Stone·Fragment that Su Xiao needed was there. There was also a talent awakening device there, through which one could sacrifice one of their own innate talents to awaken a unique talent exclusive to the Shadow of Law Destruction.
The Soul Severing Shadow ability and the Law Destruction talent were things Su Xiao could not afford to miss, so he had to enter the Treeborn World.
Back when he obtained the qualification to enter the "Treeborn World" at the Tree Arena, among the top ten in the Tree Arena, five were Huishenshi's puppets. This already said a lot.
Huishenshi had been preparing for who knows how long to stir up trouble in the Treeborn World. Not only Huishenshi, but Shenfu also seemed to be preparing for the Treeborn World.
The Treeborn World was certified by the Void Tree, which was absolutely neutral. As long as one had the qualification to enter, whether they were Contractors, Hunters, or Violators, they could all enter.
Su Xiao had a vague feeling that Huishenshi and Shenfu were going to do something big in the Treeborn World. Besides these two, there should be other Violators as well.
Earlier, Huishenshi had returned to the Real World, which seemed to foreshadow something. Due to too few clues, Su Xiao hadn't yet figured out the connection.
For now, he wouldn't consider these matters. The key was to handle the situation in the Dark Star world well. The current small goal was to find the Light King. To find the Light King, kidnapping the Holy Maiden of the Kodo School was the fastest method.
Su Xiao walked out of the insect tower. Merlos, who had been hiding behind the garbage cart, stood up. Although he didn't know why Su Xiao had suddenly disappeared, temporarily hiding was always the right move.
"This is Gem Street, the most prosperous and chaotic area in Dunk City. Let's find an inn to stay at first. What we need to do requires careful planning."
Merlos didn't ask about what had just happened. Everyone had secrets, including himself.
Merlos was very familiar with Gem Street in "Dunk City." On the way to the inn, he began to introduce the origin of Gem Street.
This place was originally called Old Street. It was a place for selling antiques, gems, jewelry, and other items, having little to do with the supernatural. But after people discovered that Crystal Resin could resist corruption, Old Street gradually prospered. Turning Crystal Resin into accessories made it easier to wear. The ones who could complete this process were the craftsmen who made gem artifacts.
The status of gem craftsmen gradually improved, but this was not the peak. A few years ago, a gem craftsman named Lindberg discovered that by dissolving Crystal Resin into a liquid state with high heat, cutting open a supernatural gem, and adding it in, after the Crystal Resin cooled, its purity would greatly increase, making its resistance to corruption even stronger.
Different supernatural gems, when fused with Crystal Resin, had vastly different effects on improving the Crystal Resin. Supernatural gems with characteristics like life, nature, and vitality had the best fusion effect. The resulting Crystal Resin was so pure it was almost transparent, making people yearn for it just by looking at it.
Gems with characteristics like flame and earth veins had a moderate effect. Gems with characteristics like darkness and profundity had the least improvement on Crystal Resin, and some even had the opposite effect.
That gem master named Lindberg did not hide this secret. He made it public, and the entire Dunk City was in an uproar. Old Street was surrounded and packed to the brim. Gem Master Lindberg's small shop was nearly burst at the seams.
Half a year later, Gem Master Lindberg died from overwork. His love and obsession with gems and Crystal Resin were beyond ordinary imagination. He regularly made public everything he had explored. One evening, his apprentice found him resting on his workbench. In fact, at that moment, Gem Master had already left forever, holding his supreme masterpiece in his hand.
That was a piece of completely transparent Crystal Resin with a faint white light shining from within, known as the "Berg Heart." Some people once believed that as long as one wore the "Berg Heart," even facing an Ancient God directly, they would not suffer corruption.
To commemorate the Gem Master, Old Street was renamed Gem Street, a name that has been used ever since.
"The Berg Heart, where is that piece of Crystal Resin now?"
Su Xiao was very interested in the Berg Heart. He speculated that it wasn't just a matter of fusing gems; it had also fused with thought or belief.
"That's unknown. Some say it was given to the Light King, others say it was given to the Great Sage, and there are rumors it was offered to the Wolf Spider Queen. There are at least a dozen versions. My guess is, it was probably taken by that little apprentice of the Gem Master."
Merlos stopped in front of an inn. This inn had seen some years, with the outer wall severely peeling.
At the door, Merlos straightened his appearance, looking as if he was trying to calm his breathing.
"Go in, don't block the door."
"Wait, let me calm down before seeing Masia. She was once my admirer, but I rejected her. Seeing her again now, it really stirs up emotions."
Merlos took a deep breath. Unknowingly, his heart felt much younger. The feeling of being about to be corrupted had lessened.
"You? You had admirers?"
"I had many admirers when I was young. Watch this."
Merlos pushed open the inn door and strode inside. The inn was too old, with no guests at all. Behind the log-colored bar stood a woman with graying hair and a thin build. She didn't have many wrinkles on her face, but her hands were covered in scars. Her eyes, though seemingly unfocused, vaguely gave off a subtle sense of danger. She was Masia.
"Staying for 5 days, 1 Lang of Crystal Resin. No change, no credit."
Innkeeper Masia spoke without looking up. Seeing this, Merlos raised his hand and knocked on the bar.
"Masia, long time no see. I'm Merlos. After all these years, do you... still remember me?"
Merlos tried to straighten his back, a smile appearing on his wrinkled old face.
Masia behind the bar looked up. She appeared to be only in her early forties, but her actual age was close to Merlos's.
Masia's unfocused eyes regained their sparkle, her face full of disbelief.
"So you still remember me."
"Of course, I remember. How... have you become so old?"
Masia's eyes reddened. She raised her hand to touch Merlos's aged cheek, her hand trembling slightly.
"Damn? A real old flame? Bubu, time to eat."
Baha really hadn't expected Merlos to have this kind of appeal.
"With so many people watching, and at our age, don't be like this."
Feeling Masia's hand touch his cheek, Merlos's old face flushed red. Su Xiao, Baha, and Bubu Wang were all watching, making him a bit embarrassed.
Just then, Masia's hand suddenly moved upward, grabbing Merlos's remaining sparse hair and slamming his head hard against the bar.
Bang.
Merlos let out a strange yelp. His sideways head was half-embedded in the bar. A short knife clanged as it stuck into the wood right in front of him, brushing past the tip of his nose. Merlos's eyes went wide, and he swallowed hard.
"You old bastard, you actually... actually dare to come back and see me? Where are my 13,000 Lang of Crystal Resin! Give back the Crystal Resin right now, immediately, or I'll castrate you."
Masia pressed her face close to Merlos. She had also once been a member of the Kodo School, her main duty being to extract information. To achieve her goals, she would stop at nothing.
Hearing Masia's words, Merlos felt a chill in his crotch, then let out a sigh.
"Go ahead. I came today to pay my debt. I promised these bastards I'd help them with some things. A promise must be kept. Just leave me alive."
Merlos closed his eyes. He wasn't a good man, but he had adhered to six words his entire life: once spoken, the word must be kept.
"Hmph."
Masia let go. With a flick of her index finger on the knife's guard, the short knife flipped backward and inserted into the sheath on the wall cabinet.
"I'll let you stay for ten days at most. Then get lost."
After saying this, Masia sat down behind the bar, crossed her legs, and ignored Merlos.
"We have a base. Bai Ye, we can start."
Merlos ran his hand through his hair, wincing in pain when he found a lot had been pulled out.
"Old bastard, what are you planning to do? Don't drag me into it."
Masia, pretending to read a book, shifted her gaze and shot a very unfriendly look.
"Nothing much. Just kidnapping the Holy Maiden of this generation. Masia, do you want to join?"
Hearing Merlos's words, the book in Masia's hand slipped. She stared at Merlos, looking as if she wanted to skin him alive.
"All of you, get the hell out of my inn!!"