Numb Already-Breaking Through Was Like Drinking Water?

Outside the Dark River Black Market.

Ya Jiu stood at the end of the broken bridge, unmoving for a long time.

Below the bridge, the soundless black Dark River still flowed along the cracks in the True God Cortex.

Gray-white mist drifted across the river's surface.

Occasionally, half a rotten cosmic brick surfaced from the fog before being swiftly swallowed by the undercurrent.

Ya Jiu held an Old Bone Coin in his hand.

The coin was small, only as wide as a knuckle. Its surface was heavily worn, and a ring of tiny tooth marks chewed by World-Devouring Beetles remained along its edge.

But in the past, this thing had been immensely valuable.

It came from the Shepherd's outer network.

In a place like the Wound Zone, it could be traded for a life or used to buy a way through.

Sometimes, it could even earn a dying Wanderer a chance to enter the Bone Ranch Refuge Zone.

But now.

The prompt from the Abyss Hongmeng Exchange contained only one line.

[Proof of stolen goods. Submission recommended.]

Ya Jiu stared at that line for a long time.

The light in his Gray Fire eye sockets flickered faintly.

In the past, he would never have handed over this Bone Coin.

Because it was more than money.

It was also a connection.

It was a thin thread the Bone Ranch's peripheral forces had left for the Black Market's managers.

Only by holding it could Ya Jiu establish a foothold in the Dark River Black Market.

But now.

That thread had suddenly become a noose.

Ya Jiu remained silent for more than a dozen breaths. At last, he raised his hand and tossed the Bone Coin into the Gray Gold Light Gate before him.

The light gate swallowed it gently.

The next instant.