Night Sleep Gathering

Early the next morning.

They left Island 708 Town, crossed the spine-like mountains towering through the middle of the island, and headed for the other side.

A vast Giant Tree Black Forest stretched there, extending all the way to the sandy beach at the boundary.

The location of this Night Sleep Gathering was within the Giant Tree Black Forest.

"Master, how did you find out where the gathering was being held?" Wang Yu asked as he walked through the forest, voicing his doubts.

Sun Chengshan casually tossed Wang Yu a firewood knife he had bought on the spot for clearing a path through the woods.

"I'm an old member of their gathering. Look."

He took a bamboo slip from his pocket, much like the kind used when praying to gods and Buddhas. It was jade-green throughout, its texture as smooth and lustrous as jade.

"Here, this is the Message Bamboo Slip given out by Night Sleep. See the words on it?" Sun Chengshan said, pointing at the slip.

Wang Yu looked over and indeed saw a neat line of writing on the bamboo slip, glowing with a faint white radiance.

Blue Star Calendar, July 5th, Year 772. A Night Sleep Gathering will be held in the forest of Island 708. Detailed coordinates are as follows.

After Sun Chengshan explained it, Wang Yu finally understood these so-called Message Bamboo Slips.

This world had no signal communication devices such as mobile phones or telephones. Instead, it had a magical kind of bamboo called Heart Bamboo.

It could be made into bamboo slips like the one in Sun Chengshan's hand.

There was a section of bamboo pith inside. If one wrote on it with water, every bamboo slip made from the same stalk of bamboo within three hundred kilometers would display the same words at the same time.

"If you write with Glow Grass Powder, the maximum transmission range can exceed a thousand kilometers. You hadn't seen these things before, but in our Cultivation World, they're no longer anything rare," Sun Chengshan added, showing off his knowledge.

This was clearly their most commonly used means of communication. Though it was not as convenient as mobile phones or telephones, it still seemed quite magical.

"I'll introduce you this time. When we get there, pay a hundred Crystal Coins for admission and receive one of these Message Bamboo Slips. If a gathering is held near you in the future, you'll receive their message."

Wang Yu nodded.

The Night Sleep Gathering had a very limited way of taking in new customers—basically, they relied on introductions from old members.

Without an old member bringing in someone new, ordinary people could not get in even if they knew such a gathering existed.

"Also, if you need to urgently sell something valuable, you can find Night Sleep's people during the gathering. They won't ask where the goods came from. As long as they pass appraisal, they'll buy them at a suitable price."

Sun Chengshan left no stone unturned, explaining every rule and detail of the gathering to Wang Yu along the way.

The Giant Tree Black Forest on the far side of the island had been developed to only a limited extent.

When the town had been built, they had likely done no more than a preliminary sweep for dangers in this area. Now, it was rarely visited by people.

Near the beach and shoreline, an open space had been abruptly cleared in the forest, temporarily enclosed by rows of wooden stake fences.

Large torches had been planted atop the stakes, their light guiding those traveling through the forest from afar.

Many figures in black robes, hoods over their heads and black masks over their faces, drifted about nearby like ghosts. Their identities seemed particularly mysterious.

In the distance, two figures approached.

Both wore plain overcoats and masks over their faces.

"Remember, never expose your identity at the gathering, and don't try to pry into anyone else's. That's the greatest taboo there."

"Yes, Master."

The voices were familiar. The two were Sun Chengshan and Wang Yu.

Through their masks, their gazes fell upon the black-robed figures.

These people were members of Night Sleep.

The black-robed patrolmen paid little attention to Wang Yu and Sun Chengshan's arrival.

The two simply walked up to the entrance enclosed by the fence.

Several black-robed people stood guard there as well. Sun Chengshan skillfully took out his Message Bamboo Slip and handed over a Star Ticket with a face value of one hundred as the entrance fee.

One of the black-robed people accepted the Message Bamboo Slip, verified that it belonged to Night Sleep, and nodded.

"This is the newcomer I brought," Sun Chengshan said in a deep voice. His familiar voice had changed slightly, becoming hoarse and muffled, like that of an elderly old man.

When the black-robed person looked over, Wang Yu immediately took out a Star Ticket and handed it over as well.

The black-robed person said nothing. He merely took the Star Ticket, then produced a brand-new Message Bamboo Slip and gave it to Wang Yu.

After that, he stepped aside and let the two of them enter.

The open area inside held many large tents that had been temporarily erected.

There were also several massive tree stumps left behind from logging, as well as a large bonfire in the center. Its roaring flames surged fiercely, sparks spraying into the air. The bonfire was especially eye-catching.

Several large cargo trucks were parked nearby as well, guarded by Night Sleep's people.

Outside the tents, on the stumps, and around the bonfire, quite a few outsiders attending the gathering had already gathered. There were at least a hundred of them.

Some looked around in every direction, while others lowered their heads and calculated something.

There were people inside the tents as well.

The tents were the focus of the day, where goods were bought and sold.

"I've said everything I needed to say. We'll act separately now and meet here again after we've bought what we need," Sun Chengshan said.

The two quickly went their separate ways.

Wang Yu intended to look around first, so he casually entered one of the tents.

The moment he lifted the curtain, a wave of warmth washed over him.

Several fire basins had been placed inside the tent, providing the heat.

It had to be said that Night Sleep's members had created the atmosphere of the gathering quite well. They had driven away much of the chill rolling in from the sea, making the place feel comfortable.

Wooden tables stood neatly arranged inside the tent, divided into several rows.

A Night Sleep member was stationed beside each large wooden table.

All kinds of items had been displayed across the tables.

It was worth mentioning that every one of these Night Sleep members possessed a powerful aura. At close range, their oppressive presence was even more intense, making people completely afraid to cause trouble here.

There were only three or five outsiders in the tent where Wang Yu was. They wandered from table to table, examining the items on display along with the appraisal information and prices marked beside them.

"I'll take this."

Suddenly, a masked person who had lingered for a long time pointed at an antique, heavy Short-handled Sickle on the table before him.

"Eight thousand eight hundred," a Night Sleep member said indifferently. It was a man's voice.

The masked person was equally decisive. He took out a stack of Star Tickets and placed them on the table—eight thousand eight hundred, not one less.

Ever since the gathering had been established, it had explicitly stipulated that the prices of items sold here were not open to bargaining.

Only the prices set by Night Sleep were accepted. Not a single unit could be deducted.

After the Night Sleep member counted the money and nodded to confirm it was correct, the man took the Short-handled Sickle, which was packed in a long box, and turned to leave without a word or the slightest hesitation.

With the mask in the way, Wang Yu could not see the buyer's expression, but he presumed the man was quite pleased with the weapon.

It surely was no ordinary item, given its exorbitant price of eight thousand eight hundred Crystal Coins.

After scanning the items on several tables, Wang Yu found that this tent mostly displayed various cold weapons, with prices ranging high and low.

The cheapest cost only a few hundred, while the most expensive cost tens of thousands. The gap was enormous, practically beyond comparison.

Wang Yu practiced fist techniques and had little interest in these martial artists' weapons. They were not among the targets on his shopping list this time.

After giving them a cursory look, he switched to another tent.

This time, he found his target.