Ch. 241Trading Spirit Realm! Talents Unlocked!
Plot points and events
- Liu Zheng boasts about manipulating local factions during their Great Ruins expedition. His companions praise him, while he reflects on the possibility of becoming a Golden Core Earthly Immortal.
- The group discusses how the Inspection Bureau uses its resources to accelerate Liu Zheng’s advancement, potentially at the expense of the Bureau’s other Tower Climbers.
- Liu Zheng reveals that River City’s leaders once planned to flee if Dusk City and River City merged, leaving ordinary residents to fend for themselves. With the Twilight Witch gone, that threat has apparently passed.
- He also announces a partnership with Deep Space Bank to establish a Tower Trading Spirit Realm. Transactions will be recorded and taxed at a low rate, though the group suspects the network’s convenience will make the fee worthwhile.
- After the group’s uneventful trip, Bai Xiaotian asks Wu Yu about trade goods, but Wu Yu has little to offer. Chen Lingling tries to tease him by asking him to guess her rating; he refuses.
- Wu Yu opens his talent tree and discovers that upgrading to a Silver Token has unlocked new options for several talents. Since he now has a Witch, he can access the Twilight Witch branch of the Forgotten God tree. He begins upgrading its basic enhancements, only to find the costs soar as high as 300,000 Great Ruins Source Points.
Character developments and interactions
- Liu Zheng presents himself as a capable leader and reveals growing ambition, while his willingness to sacrifice others for his advancement exposes the ruthless side of his authority.
- Wu Yu quietly assesses Liu Zheng’s strength and focuses on developing his own talents. His surprise at the escalating costs suggests that his growing collection of talents may become a major burden.
- Liu Yu and Bai Xiaotian encourage Liu Zheng to disclose information through calculated flattery and questions.
- Chen Lingling playfully seeks Wu Yu’s attention, but he avoids her teasing.
- The group exchanges views on the trading network, its tax, and the advantages of convenient regulated trade.
Significant themes
- Power and exploitation: Liu Zheng’s advancement depends on resources and sacrifices drawn from those under his command.
- Self-interest among institutions: River City’s leaders prepared to abandon the population to save themselves, while Deep Space Bank’s trading service still serves a commercial purpose.
- The cost of growth: Wu Yu’s talent options expand, but each upgrade demands sharply more resources.
- Ambition and unequal advancement: Cultivation paths and access to resources shape who can rise to immense power.