The elevator doors slid open silently, and Wang Xuan stepped out.
What lay before him was not the single passageway he had expected. Identical elevators stood in neat rows to either side, while farther ahead, tracks stretched into the darkness. A strangely designed shuttle train sat quietly at the platform as several figures wrapped from head to toe hurried off, each heading toward a different elevator.
He withdrew his gaze and followed the faint signs on the wall toward the exit.
The moment he turned a corner, the sight before him made him pause. There was no ceiling overhead. In its place swirled a vast nebula, like a river of stars pouring across the sky. Specks of light drifted slowly through it, casting a soft yet somewhat dim glow.
The entire space was so vast that its edges could not be seen, so quiet that it felt strange, even faintly sinister.
Wang Xuan was not surprised. That was how the Black Market was—hidden in the shadows, it gave those who entered a greater sense of security.
Figures moved along the distant streets in an endless stream.
Most were wrapped in hooded cloaks, some even wearing masks that concealed them completely;
Others, like Wang Xuan, made only minor attempts at disguise, or did not hide themselves at all. After all, Origin Earth Star was a safe zone.
Wang Xuan did not linger and headed straight for the street.
Before he could approach, a young man suddenly emerged from the shadows beside him. An overly enthusiastic smile covered his face as he spoke rapidly. "Welcome to the third level of the Black Market, sir!
"You look unfamiliar. First time here? Need a guide? You definitely won't regret choosing me. I can even tell you a little about High Martial Arts Worlds!"
Wang