Chapter 685 - My Doomsday Territory

In the 685th chapter of "My Apocalypse Territory," titled "Returning to Old Trades," we dive into a tale set three months after the ethereal ocean's disappearance, now re-emerging near the Principality of Blueswaters. Despite its reappearance, its whereabouts remain a mystery, and even if located, there's little benefit to be gained from it until its period of mutation, when the ocean begins producing its coveted crystals. Tang Yu pilots the mighty "Deep Sea Megashark" to the vicinity of Blueswaters, where Lorraine and her companions take a brief respite. Meanwhile, Tang Yu makes his way to the illustrious White City. White City stands as a massive metropolis home to multi-racial communities, sprawling over an area equivalent to several mid-sized cities combined. High above, the Sky City, composed entirely of pure white structures, serves as the residential area for the White Feathers—where buildings converge into a seamless white expanse. Below, a diverse array of architectural styles from numerous races populates the cityscape, particularly concentrated in White City's core district. Each prominent faction's store in this core district incorporates surrounding open spaces, gardens, and landscapes, much like individual exhibition gardens in a world fair. The Dachang's presence in White City is limited to a permanent, albeit non-core, shop—an arrangement Tang Yu doesn't delve into further. Adjacent to a nine-story tower are smaller structures, newly renovated to emulate the architectural grandeur of ancient Chinese designs, albeit magnified to a grander scale. This aesthetic spectacle instantly captivates the attention of any passing powerhouse. The style may be from another world, but its novelty beckons. The establishment bears a name as grand as its presence— "Treasure Pavilion." Today marks the inaugural opening of the "Treasure Pavilion" in White City, with two distinguished transcendent beings serving as ceremonial guardians by the entrance. Inside, a robust defense system stands ready, complemented by several formidable automata, each bearing the combat prowess of ordinary second-tier entities. These automatons and the ingenious defense mechanisms are products of Tang Yu's relentless market sweeps over the past two years. While they might lack the punch for top-tier engagements, as defenders of his varied ventures, they prove indispensable. To ensure everything proceeds smoothly, Tang Yu and Nancy themselves teleport to White City's "Treasure Pavilion." Yilian, having been stationed there days prior, assumes charge of operations. The "Treasure Pavilion's" plot of land, sold a month ago, has piqued the curiosity of various void-walkers frequenting White City, drawn by its distinctive architecture. "Treasure Pavilion? Claiming to gather rare treasures of the multiverse? That's quite the boast," muses one void-walker with a tinge of envy, casting a glance at the majestic tower. Their own inability to own such prime real estate only adds to their vexation, but human—or rather, interspecies—curiosity reigns supreme. Many cast curious glances at the structure from a distance, unwilling to part with coin without real cause. Meanwhile, void-walkers trickle into the "Treasure Pavilion"—lower-stage awakeners dare not enter such an exclusive venue unless bound as attendants to one of the void-walking elite. It’s not a matter of fear as much as economic pragmatism, with the "Pavilion" exuding a high-class atmosphere that implies expense. Yet still, a gathering forms outside, eagerly awaiting the return of those who ventured in to glean insight into what treasures "Treasure Pavilion" harbors within. Hours pass, and still, no word from the inside, stirring a mystified frustration among the curious crowd. It begins to test the limits of their patience, though White City’s sterling reputation for safety keeps any more outlandish speculations at bay. Meanwhile, inside the "Pavilion," a group of independent void walkers explores. None are affiliated with major powers, lacking steady means to acquire elite gear. Thus, their trips to White City—a neutral bastion—usually end in longing stares rather than purchases, constrained by empty pockets. Entering the "Treasure Pavilion," this group is struck by the grandeur of the first floor, an expansive showroom displaying various armaments, defensive wear, unique items, and rare resources. Despite the lack of any perceptible energy signature from outside—the Pavilion's protective arrays masking all traces of its contents—the immense latent power now surrounding them is palpable, leaving them momentarily awestruck. In the room's center, a transparent display case draws their eyes towards a majestic war blade, its crimson pattern seemingly ablaze, daring the onlooker to meet its fiery glare. "Divine Artifacts of the Dominion Class!" one exclaims, awestruck despite their financial standing. While uninitiated in their forging, these void-walkers have lived long enough to know their rarity and power. A Dominion-class weapon would exponentially enhance their combat prowess, yet such treasures remain elusive, whispering of a depth and power behind "Treasure Pavilion" that defies imagination. Approached by a sales attendant—merely high in awakening rank compared to the void-walkers—the group is instilled with a semblance of confidence they thought lost. "I’m looking for a void-class weapon, preferably an axe. Does the Pavilion have any?" one inquires, eyeing a broad-blade cleaver displayed among the armaments. The attendant graciously leads them, noting, "Our void-class weapons are on the third floor, though we offer only a sample here... Would you prefer a long-handled or short-handled axe? A weapon embodying sharpness, favoring gold, or perhaps the earthy weight attributed to iron?" The inquisitive void-walker is momentarily taken aback, feeling uncharacteristically naive faced with such choices. Reaching the third floor, the overwhelming presence of divine artifacts intensifies, displaying a staggering array of blades, bows, axes of varying classes, armor, and more. Led to a section dedicated to battle axes, they find fewer than the blades, yet more than sufficient—a veritable treasure trove of options gleaming before them. Each void-walker finds themselves drawn to weapons that seem to resonate personally, yet finally, one steps forward, entranced by a particular long-handled battle axe exuding an aura of steadfastness. This immense weapon appears a natural extension of the earth itself, its metaphorical weight dwarfing even the void-walker near it. Though aware of size adaptability, it's the weapon's design that appeals—a measure of forestry he never anticipated having access to. Finally, with great reluctance, the impoverished void-walker tears his gaze away, reminded of his financial reality, he tentatively asks the attendant at his side, "This battle axe... what’s its price?" "Thirty-five thousand high-purity source crystals. If you prefer to pay with ordinary source crystals, they can be converted at a rate of 150 ordinary source crystals to one high-purity source crystal, but only up to half of the total can be converted," explained the sales attendant. The impoverished void-walker pondered. The price range for Void-class divine weapons usually spanned between 3 million to 10 million source crystals, yet they were often unavailable in the market. This divine battle axe possessed abilities like "Heavy Pressure" and "Severance," alongside the combat skill "Mountain-Cleaving Strike." At thirty-five thousand high-purity source crystals, it wasn’t overpriced! It was notably cheaper than the scarce divine weapons sold at a few other shops in White City. And crucially, it seemed tailor-made for him! He couldn't deny its allure; there was no reason not to buy it. With this battle axe, his combat ability would soar, potentially granting him a significant standing among void-walkers. The issue lay in his inventory. His mental probe into his spatial ring tallied the resources accumulated over centuries, particularly since his ascension. He possessed 20,000 high-purity source crystals, satisfying the requirement for half payment. He had acquired these by stealthily mining substantial amounts from a source crystal mine in the perilous Rift Mountain Range, narrowly avoiding the clutches of beastly guardians. His collection of ordinary source crystals summed to roughly a million. Not enough. Faced with this predicament, he hesitated at first. Today marked "Treasure Pavilion’s" grand opening, and missing this opportunity might mean losing the perfect weapon forever if someone else snatched it up. Sensing his dilemma, the perceptive sales assistant offered, "Should you wish not to pay in source crystals, 'Treasure Pavilion' also offers a purchase service. We buy items, rare herbs, minerals, and materials from exotic beasts. We have expert appraisers ready to assess your items quickly and ensure you receive a fair price." Guided to the appraisal room on the third floor, he was momentarily lost in thought—his companions had already dispersed, admiring their chosen weapons in awe. His spatial ring held numerous materials, but assembling enough for a master to forge a divine weapon typically required two full sets, which he lacked. Selling them cheaply to ordinary shops had always felt wasteful. However, "Treasure Pavilion’s" prices seemed reasonable, just aligning with his expectations. With a strong desire for the divine battle axe, he agreed to the terms. "Our assessment values your materials at 6,600 high-purity source crystals and 2.8 million ordinary source crystals. In light of your interests, 'Treasure Pavilion' recommends the Hell Warhorse for you—its speed exceeds that of a void realm traveler and pairs well with long-handled battle axes. It’s also an automaton, requiring no taming and ready for the road out of the box. Rest assured, it's worth the investment," the assistant cheerfully detailed. The impoverished void-walker's eyes brightened with every word. The Hell Warhorse offered combat and escape options, low maintenance costs, and lacked the temperamental behavior typical of live creatures. It resonated deeply with him. He was sold. "Treasure Pavilion's" service was undeniably thoughtful!