The Black Market and the Search for a New Path

Without lingering in the inn, Lister left the semi-abandoned tower.

The civilized citizens coming and going on the street can now finally be categorized into different social classes for most people.

The level is generally between 90 and 110. Since this area is mostly a place where low-level civilizations stay, it has a bit of a "slum" feel to it, so the overall strength of everyone is not high, generally between F and D level.

Lister continued his exploration in the opposite direction of the colossal tower.

He knew that the further away from the center of this Truth Star, the more chaotic it would be, and the more likely the "black market" he had envisioned would appear.

Two hours later, more and more bizarre life forms appeared around Lister.

As if each had its own designated territory, these life forms mostly knew each other.

He was all alone, stepping into this area for the first time, and received a lot of attention along the way.

With his senses Killing Intent Wave, Lister could detect that every gaze directed at him was, without exception, malevolent.

He couldn't say anything else, but there was one thing he was certain of at this moment: he hadn't come to the wrong place.

Not far away, a three-meter-tall blue giant finally couldn't hold back any longer and began to deliberately approach him.

According to the system scan, both are Level 1 civilizations, Level 97, with a comprehensive strength of C.

"Brothers of the Merrick Civilization, is this your first time here?"

The blue giant in front of him forced a smile, a scar on his face running from the corner of his eye to the base of his ear.

An already ugly face becomes even more repulsive when it smiles.

"This is my first time here. I wanted to ask where I can buy medicine?"

Looking at the large figure in front of him with great interest, Lister was also eager to test his own strength.

This chaotic area, without any Truth Star people overseeing it, is surprisingly suitable.

Haha! I can buy it right here.

After saying that, he reached into his waistband and pulled out a vial of medicine.

[Land's Wisdom Crystal: Increases Intelligence by 1 point upon consumption. (Note: Only usable before the first job advancement)]

"How's Merrick's brother?"

"I'll sell it to you for 4000 credits, pay up!"

They could have just robbed it, but they insisted on doing this instead.

Seeing this, Lister didn't bother to waste any more time and immediately delivered a Knee Strike.

Wow, so fast!

The blue-skinned giant's expression hardened; he hadn't expected that this newbie, who was visiting for the first time, would dare to make the first move.

Moreover, the kick left an afterimage; seeing that he couldn't dodge it, the blue-skinned giant simply prepared to take the hit head-on.

Looking at Lister's frail appearance, taking a single kick would certainly not be a problem.

"Boom!"

What seemed like an ordinary Knee Strike actually landed like a cannonball, hitting him squarely in the lower abdomen.

The next moment, countless tall towers floated past in front of us.

Knowing that he was flying upside down in the air, he felt weak all over and his head was getting dizzier and dizzier.

Attack: Deals 6607 damage.

"Because your soul strength is far superior to the opponent's, the opponent's immunity effect is ineffective. Based on the base attributes, the stun, paralysis, and knockback effects have taken effect."

The blue-skinned giant finally crashed heavily to the ground, his body aching all over until the dizziness in his head subsided.

He then realized that a foot was stepping on his chest, and a black knife tip was hovering in front of him.

Realizing he had met his match, he figured his friends should have come to his aid.

But when he met Lister's calm gaze, a piercing pain swept over him.

The aura emanating from the other party was like a real blade, constantly slicing at his soul.

Lister himself discovered that, under the passive influence of Robust Soul, his aura was becoming increasingly solid.

At the same time, one can faintly sense the soul fluctuations deep within the other party, providing a more direct deterrent.

As for the group of people around who were itching to help, they did indeed want to step forward and offer assistance just now.

However, after sensing the burst of energy emanating from Lister after he drew his knife, it had already vanished without a trace.

His strength was insignificant in the vicinity of the giant tower, or even within the Arcane Civilization.

However, in this region where low-level civilizations gather, even if their level is not high, their actual combat strength is absolutely in a class of its own.

With the cold blade hovering before him and feeling the intimidating aura emanating from Lister, the blue-skinned giant immediately became completely obedient.

"Sir, what kind of potion do you... want? I have some others here."

"Bring it all out."

A calm voice rang out, the black blade moved away from his eyes, and the blue-skinned giant dared not make any further movements.

He immediately pulled out more than a dozen bottles of medicine and even a few pills from his person.

Unfortunately, these were all potions from a first-level civilization, and they were useless to him.

"Anything else?"

"My lord... that's all... really..."

All my medicine... is... all of it.

Seeing Lister raise his knife again, his sharp aura surged into the depths of his soul once more.

Fear from the depths of his soul caused the blue-skinned giant's voice to tremble.

"No second-order ones?"

"Sir... only citizens of a level two civilization can purchase second-tier items, and my Land Civilization, is... only level one."

Seeing that the giant was indeed not lying, Lister pressed him further.

"You guys in this dump still enforce these rules?"

"My lord, you... you must be joking!"

"Our place is also managed by powerful figures from the Arcane Civilization. Who... who dares to violate the Federation Constitution!"

Upon hearing this, Lister realized that he had been somewhat hasty.

As the ruling planet of the Arcane Civilization, how could Truth Star possibly have an unregulated black market?

At most, it's just a policy of some important figure or ruler that's better to guide than to suppress.

The inherent barriers and limitations of civilization will not be easily broken down.

Based on his current understanding, it's truly not easy for potential individuals in lower-level civilizations to continuously climb the ranks.

No wonder Hoffman and Moore both looked at him with admiration and respect in the end; they probably had anticipated this situation.

For an advanced life form from a lower-level civilization, it wouldn't be difficult to continue climbing up the ranks under such limitations of advanced resources.

But to expect to maintain its Overlord Tier in combat power is wishful thinking.

Even now that Kavin has chosen to join the Leviathan Civilization, it is Lister who is tackling the most difficult challenge.

"My lord, please... please don't make things difficult for me."

Seeing that the blue giant was still begging for mercy, Lister finally shook his head.

He bent down and picked up the "Land's Wisdom Crystal" from among the potions the other party had just tried to sell him.

This potion, considered to be from a level zero civilization, was suspended in front of the enemy.

"I'm selling this potion to you now, how about I give you some credits?"

After speaking in a calm voice, Lister tossed the potion to the other person, then looked at him with indifferent eyes.

"Four thousand...? Oh! No! Five... six thousand...?"

You have received 13,123.41 credits.

Seeing the numbers with both whole and fractional parts, Lister nodded silently.

"Sir... can I leave now?"

Seeing Lister nod, the blue giant turned and ran without looking back.

Unfortunately, before they could run very far, a black light attacked from behind even faster.

After a long while, as the black light dissipated, only a blue body split in two remained on the ground, with blood and internal organs scattered everywhere.

Since learning that this region was managed by a powerful figure from the Arcane Civilization, Lister had no desire to explore it further.

He cut off the avenue for obtaining higher-level resources from the black market.

After wandering around other areas of Truth Star for three more days, he completely gave up on the idea.

Within the spheres of influence of these advanced civilizations, all items from those advanced civilizations are restricted to those from lower civilizations.

As for the idea of having his strength tested by the Mage of Moore in advance and upgrading the Merrick Civilization to a level two civilization, Lister found after carefully understanding the Federation's regulations that it was not feasible for the time being.

The registration criteria for a Level 2 civilization not only require the existence of a "Overlord Tier advanced life form" at least at the second stage of evolution.

More importantly, the civilization needs to possess a certain number of second-stage C, B, and A-level life forms, all of which are subject to very detailed regulations. Only when all of these requirements are met can one qualify for promotion.

The explanation given to him by the monk Moore actually overlooked this information.

After all, this is not a problem for other civilizations at all; most civilizations are simply unable to cultivate "advanced life forms" with Overlord Tier strength.

On the contrary, the number of life forms of level C and above can all meet the standard.

Lister can only truly register as a Level 2 civilization when the player enters the fourth act, "Alchemy Civilization Exploration."

More importantly, he recently discovered that even becoming a Level Two civilization is nothing special.

Purchasing level 2 potions, especially those that enhance strength, through legitimate channels is incredibly expensive.

A standard Heal potion costs 200,000 or more credits.

Potions that enhance strength require 500,000 or more credits.

Compared to the price of a level one potion, it's dozens of times higher.

Even though Lister had quite a few good items in his backpack, they probably wouldn't even be enough to buy a single level 2 strength-enhancing potion.

If things are already this difficult, it will be even more challenging for him to collect these resources once he reaches the third tier.

The current focus is on exploring other avenues for the Galactic Federation.

Lister was certain of one thing: no matter how severe the barriers and class stratification within the Galactic Federation's civilization were.

But at least there are still paths for lower-level civilizations to follow; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to become the Galactic Federation in the first place, but would have had a political system like the Galactic Empire.

Without internal pathways for advancement, the Federation would not be as stable as it is now.