Night Journey

Chapter 43 Relics of the Golden Age
The Centipede Merchant Guild, an extraordinary organization established by three sages during the Rejuvenation Era, boasts hundreds of powerful trade groups that travel and wander between various city-states, and even between the spirit world and the real world, engaging in numerous trade activities.

During the era of isolated city-states, the activities of the Centipede Merchant Guild were greatly restricted, but it remained active in the civilized world, becoming one of the very few entities that still actively maintained contact with city-states.

"However, rather than being a super organization, it is more like a super corporation, indirectly controlled by the power of the Three Sages."

After briefly explaining the origins of the Centipede Merchant Guild, Bruce fell silent.

Once inside the Centipede Merchant Guild, Bruce didn't want anyone to scream in terror at a talking dog.

The building's interior is spacious, with numerous goods displayed on shelves. Guests remain quiet, like efficient machines, selecting items, paying, and leaving without lingering or wandering around.

This is a commercial organization catering to superhumans. Every superhuman who comes here has a specific purpose in mind. Only a few first-timers, like Cillian, wander around aimlessly.

“Source Crystals are crystal clusters formed from the materialization of highly concentrated source energy, collected from the spirit world… 97% purity.”

Many extraordinary rituals require a large amount of source energy. When the extraordinary person's own source energy is insufficient, some source crystals are needed as a subsequent energy source.

Since the cataclysmic event of the Endless Day, chaotic power has permeated the spirit realm. The source crystals formed within the spirit realm have naturally been contaminated. After collection, they need to be purified a second time to remove the chaotic contamination, which is why they are labeled with a purity level.

“Dark Sand... Nightmare Teng…”

As Cillian wandered around, many extraordinary materials that he had only seen in books were displayed before his eyes.

Most of the extraordinary materials needed for the Torchbearer's advancement are also included. As extraordinary materials for advancing to the second rank, they are not considered precious and are plentiful.

After calculating the total price, Cillian counted the few city-state coins left in his pocket, sighed helplessly, and withdrew his pleading gaze.

Cillian needs to work at the City Guard Bureau for a while before he can save up enough money to buy extraordinary materials.

He wasn't in a hurry. The concentration of soul essence in his blood hadn't reached the standard yet, so even if he bought all the extraordinary materials, he still wouldn't be able to advance.

Upon arriving at the next area, we found that the shops sold a wide variety of weapons and equipment, from the most common firearms and swords to rare and extraordinary weaponry.

Cillian stopped in front of a display case containing a long, gray-black sword covered with dense engravings.

"Source Contract Armament..."

"Extraordinary Armaments" is a general term that has many subcategories.

Among them, the weapons crafted by spirit craftsmen, which can be enhanced by source energy and even unleash special abilities, are called source contract weapons.

After looking around, Cirien's gaze fell on the Boiling Sword at his waist.

Nunn had fought for so many years, losing many things along the way, but he always kept the Boiling Sword by his side.

Cillian felt that the Boiling Sword was also a Source Contract weapon, but even now, Cillian still didn't understand its specific effects. He asked Bruce about it, and Bruce seemed to have some impression of the Boiling Sword, but no matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn't explain it clearly.

The Centipede Merchant Guild is well-informed and should be able to figure out the origin and capabilities of the Boiling Sword. However, considering the emblem of the Yangkui Clan on the hilt of the Boiling Sword, Ciri could only abandon the idea to avoid any possibility of revealing his identity.

"Ok?"

Bruce suddenly nudged Cillian, grabbed Cillian's trouser leg, and dragged him aside.

Cillian whispered, "Did you find something good?"

Bruce wagged his tail and led the way.

Arriving at another display case, Cillian glanced at the sign in the corner, his expression somewhat awkward.

The Golden Age.

That was an era of unparalleled civilization and power, but with the outbreak of the endless cataclysm, the giants fell, and all things, glorious as they were, were submerged in the storm of chaos.

In the city-state era, countless years later, as the tides of the Sea of ​​Origin rose and fell, these weapons, born in the Golden Age and resurfacing in reality, were called Relics.

The weapons now displayed before Ciri are relics of the Holy Land.

"Forget it."

Cillian sighed repeatedly, realizing he couldn't even afford the materials needed for extraordinary items, let alone the mysterious relics.

Just as he was about to leave, Bruce bit Cillian's ankle hard, making him wince in pain.

If they weren't inside the Centipede Merchant Guild, Cillian would have almost instinctively kicked Bruce away.

"Look at the price tag!"

Bruce hurriedly started speaking in human language.

Displayed in the showcase are a series of uniquely shaped revolvers. They are all the same model, the only difference being the degree of wear and tear. Some look brand new, while others are covered with scratches and dents.

The Centipede Merchant Guild set different prices for these standard weapons from the Golden Age, based on their degree of wear and tear.

Cillian glanced at the items, from highest to lowest price, and a damaged pistol caught his eye.

As a relic, its low price tag also underscores the extent of its damage.

After calculating the value of the city-state coins in his pocket, he found that it was just within Ciri's maximum affordability range.

Cillian muttered, "You mean this one?"

Bruce grinned.

After a brief internal struggle, Cillian decided to trust Bruce again, called the staff, picked up the goods, checked them, and settled the bill in one go.

When Cillian left the Centipede Merchant Guild with his broken pistol, he had very few city-state coins left in his pocket, barely enough to buy a light rail ticket for his return trip.

"What is this thing?"

"The jet revolver is a standard weapon from the Golden Age. Due to its enormous quantity, although it is a relic, it is very cheap and can be found everywhere."

Bruce avoided the crowd and whispered, "Later, the Wanji Tonglu Academy successfully disassembled the Jetstream Pistol, optimized and modified it based on its original design blueprint, and named it the Raging Stream Revolver."

"Now this thing is more like a collectible."

Cillian said in an unfriendly tone, "So, I spent my last bit of money on a damaged collectible? Or a modified version?"

"You think you can buy a Raging Stream Revolver with the little money in your pocket? Even if you had the money, it might not even be available in Hel City." Bruce rolled his eyes at Cillian. "Besides, I'm a spirit craftsman. Even though it's broken, I can fix it."

"Did I get a bargain?"

“Barely,” Bruce shook his head again. “You’re too poor to have any other choice.”

"Ok."

Cillian sighed helplessly.

Cillian took out the jet revolver and examined it carefully.

Compared to a conventional revolver, its cylinder can only hold three bullets, the barrel is thickened and lengthened to fire special bullets, and there is a familiar wire setup at the grip that can enhance subsequent shots after inputting a certain amount of energy.

"After you start working, I'll write you a list, and you can collect the materials for me according to the list..."

Bruce suddenly stopped talking, rolled his eyes repeatedly, and his body twitched a few times.

"Bruce, what's wrong!"

Cillian crouched down nervously, thinking about how to perform CPR on the dog.

Fortunately, Bruce's abnormality only lasted for a dozen seconds before he returned to normal.

“The defect in my brain is more serious than I thought,” Bruce gasped. “I was trying to force myself to recall some design blueprints, and it felt like a dark mass was trying to swallow me up…”

After a while, Bruce acted like nothing had happened.

"Once I've gathered all the materials, I can manufacture some special warheads for you."

After a moment of silence, Cillian said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Bruce said, "Cillian, helping you is helping me. We're already in this together."

A man and a dog, each carrying their own mysteries, a strange combination that seems to appear only in a story.

……

Anya leaned against the railing on the second floor of the Centipede Merchant Guild, silently watching Cirien leave.

“Cillian…”

Anya murmured Ciri's name, never expecting to meet him again so soon, especially in this very place.

Who are you looking at?

Before Anya could turn around, the girl strode over, dressed in red with her blonde hair flowing down her back, and bumped into Anya's arms.

The girl teased, "A new target already?"

"What are you talking about?"

Anya smiled, ruffled the girl's hair, and gently pushed her away. "I just saw an acquaintance."

"Who?"

The girl leaned on the railing, looking around.

"He has left."

"Oh? Someone you know who interests you..." The girl looked at Anya with a half-smile, "Is he very handsome and charming?"

Anya recalled Cillian's appearance and commented, "Not bad."

"Wow, Dalyn will cry if she hears this."

"What does this have to do with Dailin?"

The girl countered, "Hasn't he been pursuing you all along?"

"Sigh... be quiet, Mafenny."

Anya was too lazy to explain to Mefuni, so she looked away and gazed intently in the direction Cillian had left.

Seeing Anya's expression, Meifuni whispered, "What kind of person is he?"

Anya thought for a moment and then answered.

"A weirdo who can talk to dogs."

"what?"

This answer was somewhat unexpected for Meifuni. She carefully examined Anya's expression and didn't see that she was lying.

"Are you...serious?"

Anya interrupted Meifuni, her tone serious, "Meifuni, young lady of the Centipede Merchant Guild, can I ask you for a favor?"

"Help me investigate what that person just bought?"

Mafoni blinked, and then another voice broke in.

"Oh? It seems you really care about him."

Anya and Meifuni turned their heads at the same time, and another woman walked slowly towards them.

She stared at Anya with amusement, as if she had spotted prey, while Anya spoke in an unfriendly tone.

"Valerie, what are you doing here?"

Valerie remained silent, her gaze fixed on Anya with amusement.

(End of this chapter)