Player Auction House and Black Market

The summer heat was blazing.

Binhai City First Central People's Hospital.

The air conditioner's chill could not dispel the oppressive summer heat. In the slightly quiet ward that afternoon, more than a dozen students crowded in.

The young Nurse, wearing a mask and a White Lab Coat, gave these University Students who had come together to visit their classmates a few reminders before hurrying out of the ward.

"Those students have all been placed in these wards. If you want to visit your classmates, remember to be careful and don't make too much noise."

The vicious Laboratory Gas Leak incident at Binhai University a few days ago had put fifteen students in the hospital. Although examinations and treatment showed that all their physical indicators were fine, not a single one had shown any sign of waking up, much less returning to campus.

Under the spontaneous organization of the class representatives, more than a dozen of them had come specifically to the hospital to visit their classmates. Bai Zhi had slipped into the group as well.

But honestly, Bai Zhi could not understand why these classmates had specifically bought watermelons, bananas, apples, and other gifts on the street before setting out.

They were still unconscious. Could they even eat all this fruit? Besides, it was so hot that it would probably spoil after a few days. How sad would those uneaten apples be...

Casually tossing the Apple Core in his hand into the Trash Can, Bai Zhi turned and walked into the Restroom.

Based on his own experience, he had reason to believe that the reason these students could not wake up was because they were trapped in that bizarre School Corridor. He also needed to go to the so-called Shadow Realm to claim his land, so he might as well handle both matters at once.

In the shadows behind the Curtain, Bai Zhi took out the [Shadow Realm Pass]. About ten seconds later, a pitch-black door slowly formed in front of him.

Just as the pitch-black Portal took shape, Mu Qiansè, who had accompanied her friend to the hospital to visit those students in another ward two rooms away, turned toward Bai Zhi's direction with a slightly uncertain look.

Taking the [Evil-Breaker] Small Knife from his Inventory and holding it in his hand, Bai Zhi stepped through the black door. After the world before his eyes blurred and shifted, he found himself in a rather bustling Plaza.

"Come take a look! Don't miss out as you pass by! Top-notch equipment going cheap—if you like it, take it!!"

"Buying all kinds of Access Passes and Skill Cards in bulk! Prices negotiable, honest business guaranteed!!"

"Level 15 Berserker with high Strength and Constitution recruiting long-term teammates! Noobs, get lost!!"

It was a quaint, medieval-style Plaza. Above him was a dim, black Void. He had appeared in the very center of the Plaza, while hundreds of Stalls lined the Plaza Edge, their cries of sale and greetings ringing out without pause.

For some reason, perhaps due to the unique rules of this space, no one's face could be seen clearly. It was as if they were all covered by a faint Black Veil.

"A dedicated trading ground for Players..."

After a brief moment of shock, Bai Zhi quickly regained his composure. As he considered these things, he began wandering around the Plaza. Since people like him would occasionally appear abruptly in the Plaza's center, he did not stand out much.

"Strength Attribute Potion, Skill Cards, Elite-grade Equipment..."

After browsing Stall after Stall, Bai Zhi found quite a few good things. However, the prices, often reaching tens of thousands, were far beyond what he could afford right now.

After making a full round, Bai Zhi thought for a moment, then returned to a certain Stall and sat down.

"I knew you'd come back. I've seen plenty of newbies like you. So, how about it? Have you decided to buy some Newbie Guide information?"

Behind the Stall, an Information Broker with the ID Astolfo grinned slyly.

"Fifty Game Coins, please. Pay first."

"Where is this place?"

Without any hesitation, Bai Zhi readily transferred fifty Game Coins to Astolfo.

"This place? It's a lost, forgotten world. You can think of it as an Otherworld, if you want. Here's some advice: don't leave the Town. It's relatively safe inside, but outside is dangerous. There are countless disgusting Monsters, and they don't drop Items or give experience. It's completely not worth it."

True to the saying that money got things done, Astolfo answered readily. He also took a Card from his Inventory and handed it over.

"Still, this isn't somewhere a Player of your Level should be able to come. Most Players qualified to trade here are above Level 10. You're pretty lucky, huh? Here, this is an extra gift for new customers."

[Item Name: Access Pass]

[Type: Consumable]

[Quality: Ruined]

[Description: An Access Pass to the Plaza outside the Auction House]

[Trait: None]

[Usage Condition: None]

[Note: Each Player may remain for one hour]

[Manufacturer: Chu Ci]

"What is this?"

After taking the Card and glancing at it, Bai Zhi frowned slightly and looked up at the other party.

"It's where you were originally supposed to go. Once a Player reaches Lv5, the Auction House function opens, and it sells Cards like this. One Game Coin each. Very cheap... This is an improved version."

As he spoke, Astolfo pointed toward the Town Center west of the Ruined Plaza.

"This Plaza is a Black Market formed after those Large Organizations cleared it out because they couldn't stand the Auction House's outrageous commission fees. To get from here to the Auction House, you have to cross two dangerous streets. Not everyone is willing to make that trip, so someone deliberately improved this Card to create this Black Market. You must have arrived here by some coincidence... You entered through a black door, didn't you?"

Astolfo's words were filled with the confidence of someone who had seen right through him.

"Doors are a strange phenomenon that only appeared within the last month. They come in several colors, and crossing one will send you to another place at random. However, aside from Black Gates leading here, no one who entered doors of other colors has ever returned. You're quite lucky. Next time, don't go crawling into every door you see. As long as you don't enter them voluntarily, they aren't dangerous, but if you insist on Seeking Death, the outcome will be miserable. So? Was those fifty Game Coins worth it?"

"So you don't know exactly where this place is either?"

Bai Zhi raised an eyebrow, his expression noncommittal.

"It's an Otherworld, I suppose. Anyway, it's a completely Ruined world different from the Real World we live in. According to other Players' speculation, this may be a dead world that was destroyed by Anomalies and supernatural phenomena. Who knows what this world was originally called? No one cares about that."

Astolfo shrugged indifferently.

"All right, do you have any other questions?"

"Yes. What does the Sanity Value attribute represent? What is your Sanity Value?"

Putting away the Card, Bai Zhi nodded.

"Sanity Value? Heh..."

As if he had not been surprised that Bai Zhi would ask this question, Astolfo gave a very peculiar smile.

"Sir, information of this level isn't something you can get for just fifty Game Coins..."

Sitting up straight, Astolfo's tone became solemn.

"You'll have to pay more."