The Next World

Wu Heng memorized the information for these two stalls; both indicated they would be online at midnight, the same time most stalls operated.

He returned to the Silver Scale Armor stall. This time, the Green Scale man was online again.

"Here is the list of items I need," Wu Heng handed the stall owner a printed sheet of paper.

The paper itself came from the manual the stall owner had given him last time, but it was now reprinted with red text.

The stall owner glanced at the list. He had gotten used to being a stall owner over the past few days and had served many customers, but the items on this list were still somewhat outrageous.

"So much, you can't possibly bring it all into the story world, can you?"

The Silver Armor stall owner hesitated. If this person wanted so many things, was he planning a terrorist attack in reality?

The list included: two pairs of Eagle Claw Gauntlets and two Morning Star Maces (chain type), which were normal.

But then: 2 Thunder Gatlings with 20,000 rounds of ammunition; 2 AL19 Light Machine Guns with 6,000 rounds of ammunition; 100 grenades; 20 bulletproof vests, 50 sets of camouflage special operations uniforms, 10 drones, 100 drone drop bombs; one detachable mini-helicopter, and rocket launchers.

The list filled an entire page.

"Are you selling or not?"

Wu Heng didn't offer any further explanation, merely asking. If this stall owner didn't sell, other stalls would.

"Selling!" the stall owner replied decisively.

Reality had its own protective forces. Even if these weapons were used for a terrorist attack, it wouldn't amount to much. It was better to earn survival points first.

He also thought about the matter the organization had entrusted him with. He sized up Wu Heng, who was wearing a doctor's costume and mask. Although his features were concealed, there was a unique familiarity of a Deep Blue Star person, but it was also possible he was deliberately disguised.

This person in front of him, who could spend survival points on so many items, had definitely participated in a story.

The stall owner thought for a moment and then spoke:

"My codename is Green Scale, and I belong to the Exquisite Association. We have three Tower Masters within the association. Deep Blue Star people are welcome to join. If you are considering joining a faction, perhaps you could consider us."

"Alright, I'll consider it."

Wu Heng saw that the other party had already sensed his identity as a Deep Blue Star person and didn't refute it. Sometimes, a man's intuition was quite accurate.

"Very well, you want quite a lot of items, which will cost approximately 642 survival points. Do you really need this much?"

"Actually, you could be more frugal. Modern firepower is only useful in the early stages of some worlds. The supernatural and mysterious are the true paths. You'll understand in the future."

"There are some things I can't say too much about, but don't go down the wrong path. Only by strengthening yourself can you survive in the future."

Green Scale hesitated for a moment before offering this advice.

"Mhm, thank you for your guidance. I know what I'm doing."

Wu Heng also understood Green Scale's point. It was just that he wasn't lacking in survival points, and his Life Box space was enormous.

Although he could obtain firepower in the story worlds, it would still require teleportation fees to bring them out. Having some reserves provided a sense of security.

"Alright then, these items are quite numerous, and I'll need a lot of time to prepare them. Let's complete the transaction in my private room in half an hour. I'll grant you temporary access, which will also ensure your privacy."

Seeing Wu Heng's knowing expression, Green Scale realized the other party had his own considerations. It was best not to pry too deeply into shallow acquaintances, so he stopped persuading him.

The private room, opened with survival points, was absolutely safe. This was certified by the Lighthouse, unlike the main plaza. Wu Heng understood this and nodded in agreement.

He continued to browse for a while longer but found nothing else he needed. Wu Heng returned to his bedroom in reality to ponder his plan.

In the meantime, he went to the Lighthouse to pick up the items he had traded with Green Scale.

When midnight arrived, Wu Heng returned to the Lighthouse. The two stall owners who had left messages on the trading board came online on time, and Wu Heng purchased the two items he wanted.

One was a small glass bottle, about the length of an index finger, containing half a bottle of thick black blood.

The other was a two-inch-long, chopstick-thick, pus-yellow candle that emitted a corpse-like stench.

Wu Heng entered his private room in the Lighthouse and opened the small glass bottle. The thick black blood inside seemed disturbed by the intrusion and began to change color.

He used his Siphon ability to try and absorb it. The thick black blood disappeared, and a subtle energy flowed into the heart within his Life Box.

Witches were beings who wielded dark magic through generational power.

Wu Heng felt a slight clarity and agility in his mind. The perception he had gained from absorbing the Son of God's blood seemed to have been injected with an activator.

His perception, which could not leave his body, began to become richer and more flexible, now able to be freely manipulated within a one-foot radius around himself to observe his surroundings.

If this were a martial arts film, it would already be considered the "Mind's Eye" realm.

Wu Heng checked his inventory again, ensuring nothing was missed. With a thought, he activated his Tower Seal.

"Enter story world in advance."

[Identity information locked, Lighthouse ID: SL914]

[Anchoring world for this instance: Tomie]

[Teleportation countdown: 5 seconds.]

[4 seconds!]

[3 seconds!]

As the void shifted, Wu Heng passed through a barrier and appeared high in the sky. Below him were rows of low-rise guesthouses, and a swarm of people, like ants, scurried past each other, heads bowed.

Wu Heng felt the information transmitted by his Tower Seal.

World: Tomie

[Survival Mission: Survive for 20 days (Reward: 500 survival points upon completion.)]

[Plot Mission I: Kill Tomie (Reward: 3000 survival points upon completion)]

[Number of participants: 1]

[Arrival countdown: 10 minutes (Enter immediately)]

"Enter immediately," Wu Heng chose.

"No way, that's hilarious!"

A young man's playful, surprised voice reached Wu Heng's ears.

He opened his eyes to find himself sitting in the passenger seat of an ordinary gray sedan.

The driver was a boy with a common look, wearing a blue shirt, a black baseball cap, and sunglasses; he was the one who had just spoken.

"Yeah, that guy is exactly that kind of person!"

A girl in the backseat with a bun hairstyle, slightly chubby cheeks, and a delicate appearance replied with a smile.

"Exactly, who could say otherwise!" the boy agreed, nodding again.

Wu Heng observed his surroundings. Rows of trees lined both sides of the car windows, and the vehicle was traveling along a tree-lined path, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

The girl leaned forward and asked, "Shinsuke, aren't we there yet?"

"Almost there!"

"Hurry up, when will we arrive~!" the girl whined in a coquettish tone.

"How much longer!"

She rested her face on her hands, looking at the trees outside the window, and repeated herself.

"Shoko, are you really that impatient?"

Shinsuke chuckled lightly as the vehicle continued to move slowly. The sky gradually turned gray and grew darker; night was about to fall.

"No way~, can't you go any faster!" Shoko intertwined her fingers and pressed them against her chin, pouting playfully.

"Where is this place?"

Wu Heng felt as if the Lighthouse had shoved a pile of crap into his head this time.

The few fragmented memories of the Japanese youth he had possessed were enough to make him feel nauseated and turned off just by recalling them.

Moreover, this body had been dead drunk, and his good friend Shinsuke had dragged him into the car while he was unconscious.

Now that Wu Heng was awake, he didn't even know where they were headed.

"We're here, ta-da--!"

Before Wu Heng could ask further, the car pulled over to the side of the path.

Shinsuke spread his arms wide and pointed toward an old house outside the window, looking as if he were presenting a treasure.