Chapter 81: The True Treasure (Part 1)

"Command confirmed."

Jarvis's voice echoed, instantly taking control of all mechanical units. The sheer number of mechanical troops was astonishing, and their variety was vast. Yet, broadly speaking, they fell into two categories.

Mining Units: These were upgraded models of the SCV, essentially super-powered versions capable of operating under gravity up to ten thousand times that of normal conditions, and able to extract almost all resources classified as D9 and below.

Combat Units: Not Jiang Chen's favored mecha troops, but rather small drones with a conical shape, thirteen meters long, equipped solely with a C1-class laser cannon. The length of the drone was designed precisely to house the laser cannon.

In truth, with the technology Jiang Chen possessed, he could easily build more compact, portable, and faster-charging "laser rifles." Yet, considering cost, he chose the less convenient laser cannon. Despite both being C1-class, the cost of a single laser cannon was less than one percent that of a laser rifle. The smaller size, quicker charge, and stealthier attack came at a hundredfold increase in cost. In terms of lethality, however, both weapons had identical attack power, and the laser cannon even boasted a slightly greater range.

This army of over ten thousand drones, unless a cosmic-level powerhouse intervened, could slaughter all gathered in the Interworld with ease, no matter how many there were. The minute-long charging time was irrelevant. The drones’ speed ensured no warrior below the cosmic level could catch them, and the laser cannon’s range allowed precise strikes from beyond visual distance.

Of course, such specialized weaponry only achieved maximum effect in specific environments—like the current Interworld.

Yet, Jiang Chen was still undecided about wiping out all other "competitors." Seizing all treasures of the Interworld for himself was tempting, but he doubted whether he could bear the risks that would entail. Relying solely on Ming Yu might not guarantee their safety. Indeed, if Jiang Chen monopolized the Interworld's treasures, Ming Yu might well turn against him.

Unless Jiang Chen could find a stronger "backer."

He had a vague idea in mind, but whether it would succeed was uncertain. For now, all he could do was prepare, then decide his course based on how events unfolded.

——

Outside the Interworld.

As in the original story, the various factions of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire converged on Canglan Star, but at the entrance to the "Thunder World," they were blocked by a Domain Lord from the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance.

"Chinia" was inflexible by nature, but her background was formidable. The leaders of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire’s factions had no desire to offend her over the Interworld, and so could only follow the rules of the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance.

Still, these great powers commanded astonishing resources. Orders were issued, and soon countless star-level warriors from across the Empire gathered to receive "apprentice mercenary assessment tasks," converging on Canglan Star.

Mobilizing several million star-level warriors was no challenge for these factions. Their goal was not the assessment itself, but to use it as a legitimate reason to enter the Interworld and compete for its treasures.

This method fully complied with the Alliance’s rules, and Chinia did not interfere.

Millions of star-level warriors gathered at Canglan Star, entered the "Thunder World," forming armies. The process took some time. Meanwhile, those who entered the Interworld first could reap considerable benefits—at least for star-level warriors.

——

Somewhere in the Interworld, Luo Feng had just unearthed a vein of cosmic crystals.

"Now I have a total of twelve thousand cubic cosmic crystals. This Interworld truly is a treasury!" Luo Feng tallied his haul, smiling in satisfaction.

With a probe from the Meteorite Star, Luo Feng’s efficiency in treasure hunting far surpassed others. Combined with Mo Yun Vine’s talent for excavating treasures, whenever he found a vein, Luo Feng could strip it bare in no time.

In less than a day, Luo Feng had amassed twelve thousand cubic cosmic crystals.

One cubic cosmic crystal equaled one thousand universe coins.

Twelve thousand cubes amounted to twelve million universe coins, nearly forty billion Qianwu coins—an utterly astonishing sum for a star-level warrior.

For comparison, Luo Feng’s teacher Huyanbo’s legacy, accessible at star-level, was only ten billion Qianwu coins—a quarter of this harvest. And cosmic crystals were the most common and least valuable treasure in the Interworld.

"I’ve also collected over three hundred thousand Thunder Stones. I wonder what use these have. According to Chen, these are key to the true treasures of the Interworld?" As Luo Feng flew at high speed, he conversed with Babata in his mind.

"No idea. That guy’s secretive—feels like he’s hiding something big," Babata muttered, "You’d better be careful not to get tricked. He’s clearly prepared for this, but if he wants to monopolize the Interworld’s treasures, he doesn’t have enough power. When you leave, there could be bigger trouble."

Babata knew nothing of the "Carbo Domain Lord," but with his experience adventuring in the universe, he could anticipate possible scenarios. Though only just entered the Interworld, Babata was already urging Luo Feng to prepare as much as possible.

Acquiring treasures was hard; keeping them, harder still!

"I’ve contacted Lord Ming Yu, but whether he’s reliable is another question…" Luo Feng frowned.

After a moment’s hesitation, he set the issue aside. "Chen obviously has a plan. We'll follow his lead. Our task now is to gather more cosmic crystals and Thunder Stones! Babata, scan for any nearby concentrations of cosmic crystals or Thunder Stones!"

——

Compared to Luo Feng, Hong, Thor, and Luo Feng’s two slaves were much less efficient. Their probes had shorter range and lower precision, and their excavation was slower, relying on force weapons to dig bit by bit.

Even all four together couldn’t match Luo Feng’s efficiency.

Still, their gains were enough to excite them immensely.

Yet, the outside factions moved swiftly. Although Jiang Chen and the early entrants seized the advantage, just days later, a flood of star-level warriors poured in, rapidly crowding the Interworld.

——

Interworld Core Region.

The area had long been surrounded by armies from major factions, over two million ninth-tier star-level warriors gathered. Any lone warriors venturing too close were hunted down by swarms.

In a cave over a thousand kilometers from the core, Jiang Chen, Luo Feng, and their companions gathered. Since the number of warriors inside the Interworld had surged past a certain threshold, they no longer acted separately, instead regrouping for safety amid the chaos.

"Over two million warriors, split among several factions, but any single one is beyond our ability to oppose. If tens of thousands attack, we couldn’t even survive, let alone compete for treasures," Hong had once harbored ambitions to seize the Interworld’s treasures, but the dramatic shift in circumstances had crushed his hopes. Now he only wished to escape safely with the cosmic crystals he’d gathered.

"We’ve gathered plenty of cosmic crystals; if we leave now, it’s not a bad outcome," Thor agreed. His haul was smaller, but still enough to advance to the cosmic level—a satisfying windfall.

"Lord Ming Yu says he can arrange for us to join the ‘Northern Dragon City’ team. But in that case, most treasures would have to go to him," Luo Feng looked to Jiang Chen. "Chen, what’s your plan?"

"No rush. Let’s wait for the treasures to appear," Jiang Chen replied, connecting briefly to the virtual universe before quickly logging out.

He had plans for the Interworld’s treasures before coming to Canglan Star, but whether they would succeed was uncertain. He didn’t dare act yet, only wait. When the true treasures emerged, or the list was widely disseminated, then he would have a chance.

Luo Feng was accustomed to Jiang Chen’s half-spoken manner and didn’t press, waiting patiently. Hong and Thor were confused, but since neither Jiang Chen nor Luo Feng intended to leave, they stayed as well.

Time passed.

At last, the struggle among factions in the Interworld’s core reached a temporary halt. The "Ninth Prince Brolin" of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, wielding nine "C2-class laser rifles," intimidated the others and won the right to open the "treasure."

Outside the castle at the Interworld’s core, the guards who pushed the door were instantly vaporized by surging currents from within, leaving only a glowing, red-hot suit of armor.

This sudden turn startled all the warriors nearby.

But before they could react, the electric currents outside the castle grew even more violent. In moments, the entire castle was bathed in lightning.

Suddenly, the castle doors opened.

Yet the currents ensured no warrior could approach.

"Hahahaha! Welcome, everyone, to the Interworld. I have waited for this day for over ten million years!"

The booming voice resounded not just in the core, but throughout the entire Interworld.

Over a thousand kilometers away, Jiang Chen and his companions heard the mad shouting.

"Who is that?!" Hong’s eyes widened. "A voice echoing across the Interworld—what kind of power is that?!"

"Could the creator of the Interworld, ‘Carbo Domain Lord,’ not be dead?" Thor shivered, sweat beading on his brow.

"Don’t jump to conclusions. The Thunder World emerged over ten million years ago; a Domain Lord couldn’t live that long," Babata appeared suddenly, saying, "That voice doesn’t sound like a living being, more like an AI. Probably the auxiliary intelligence left behind by the deceased ‘Carbo Domain Lord.’ After so many years, who knows if the AI has evolved into a sentient being? If so, things could get interesting. After ten million years of solitude, who knows how twisted it might be."

Ten million years of loneliness…

Just imagining it sent chills through Luo Feng and his companions.

If it were an ordinary AI without self-awareness, it would be fine. But if it had developed consciousness, after ten million years of isolation, insanity and perversion were almost inevitable.

The voice faded.

Outside the castle in the core, a virtual projection appeared, showing a white-bearded old man to all the assembled factions.

"Little ones, you’ve come here hoping to obtain the Interworld’s treasures, haven’t you?"

"Yes, my master placed his treasures here in the Interworld, and I was left to guard them."

"There are many treasures!"

"Look!"

The white-bearded old man gestured beside him.

Above the castle, endless light converged, forming a giant screen. On it, countless items were depicted, dazzling the eyes.

Some, familiar with the treasures or possessing sharp vision, recognized several highly valuable items.

"That’s a legacy crystal ball!"

"That’s the fifth-tier force weapon ‘Heavenfire Wheel,’ a treasure suitable as a Domain Lord’s main weapon!"

"That’s a ‘Life Fruit’—no matter how severe the injury, one of these will heal it completely! ‘Carbo Domain Lord’ must have died before he could eat one, leaving them in the treasure instead!"

The leaders of various factions were beside themselves.

Though they knew the most precious treasures would never fall to them, even a mere taste would be an unparalleled opportunity for these star-level "little ones."

"My master’s treasures are many; I’ve sorted them—sixty-eight types, three hundred twelve items in all."

The old man pointed, and a list appeared on the screen.

No.1: Complete set of spatial secret law legacy crystal balls, deposit bank account (triple account)
No.2: Master's deposit bank account
No.3: Domain Lord-level bloodline potion (one dose)
…
No.68: Fifth-tier force weapon Heavenfire Wheel (one piece)
…

As the list appeared, the warriors’ excitement grew. Many immediately contacted their factions via the virtual universe, spreading the news.

Though Jiang Chen and his companions were not present, they received the treasure list from Ming Yu through the virtual universe.

Seeing the list, Jiang Chen smiled and said, "Jarvis, Babata, keep watch around us. Luo Feng, you and I will enter the virtual universe. Whether we can claim a wealth of treasures depends on you!"

(End of chapter)