CHAPTER 996: CHAPTER 189: OUTBURST

"Ophelia."

Lu Li tilted his head as a signal.

Ophelia opened the wooden box, revealing a crawling mass of ice-blue frost crystals, contrasting with the dark red of the Lava Hall.

It gathered the gaze of all present. One could seemingly hear the babbling brook of saliva, the thunderous sound of heartbeats, and the cracking of stones.

"Such an irresistible offer, I was almost tempted..."

The black-haired woman licked her red lips and shifted her enchanting black eyes: "Are there any other guests interested in the Eye of the Ancient God?"

The guests couldn’t comprehend her indifference towards the Crystal Strange Currency, yet it gave them a chance — to bid for the Eye of the Ancient God, trading in their Crystal Strange Currency with Lu Li.

"A Weird Lair that bows to you," whispered a skeletal figure.

"Sorry, I don’t lack territory."

"One-fourth of the area on the 101st floor of Midnight City," said another peculiar voice.

The smile in the black-haired woman’s eyes grew less: "I believe I already mentioned, I don’t lack territory."

"Faith of the Secret Mound Sect."

"I don’t intend to become an Evil God."

"The complete body of a small town’s Divinity."

"If I needed such materials, wouldn’t I not be selling the Eye of the Ancient God?"

Lu Li quietly watched as the black-haired woman rejected the guests’ bids.

Ever since the inverted pentagram triggered the heat, things took an eerie turn.

"Two pieces of Crystal Strange Currency."

This new bid awakened Lu Li from his contemplation, echoing in the Lava Hall with gasps like ordinary people and a profound, sinister malice.

"Looks like I can’t refuse anymore... unless someone bids more..." The black-haired woman waited for a moment, her black eyes leaving Lu Li: "Then, I must part with this Eye of the Ancient God—"

"Does the auction rule allow the auctioneer to inflate prices?"

Lu Li’s voice suddenly echoed in the hall.

The aged Tree Person, hidden since the auction’s start, quietly appeared at the edge of the center.

"It does not."

Upon receiving a definitive answer, Lu Li’s gaze fell on the Double-Horned Humanoid Lizard that bid two pieces of Crystal Strange Currency: "Both the auctioneer and the guest who bid with two crystal currencies hail from hell."

"Guests from the same place isn’t strange, is it?"

The black-haired woman responded to Lu Li’s suspicion, studying him with an almost appraising, intrigued gaze.

Perhaps because she felt she had nothing to fear.

"Their auras are from the same source, and it cannot produce two crystal currencies." Lu Li merely continued.

The aged Tree Person’s face twisted and writhed, releasing its anger.

"Chaotic one... get out."

The Lava Hall trembled, unnerving stones sprinkling down from the crystalline ceiling.

"Please forgive my rashness. As a devil, please believe in my loyalty to order. As compensation, I wish to temporarily add an auction item as a peace offering."

The black-haired woman, who called herself a devil, couldn’t comprehend why the host would dismiss her over a single sentence, so she humbly sought to make amends. Or perhaps... it was part of a conspiracy.

The halt of the tremor indicated the aged Tree Person granted her a chance. The black-haired woman’s crimson lips drew back into an arc, as she beckoned to the Double-Horned Humanoid Lizard, receiving three-sevenths of the Crystal Strange Currency into her pale hand.

She surveyed all the greedy gazes and slowly spoke: "With this three-sevenths of a Crystal Strange Currency, alongside the Eye of the Ancient God, and the right to preside over the spoils, I offer to trade for..."

Her pale, slender fingers pointed at Lu Li.

"Capture him for me."

...

The hut was devoid of light, only the pale yellow glow of the streetlight stretched into the small room through the wall cracks, along with silhouettes brushing past the window.

"The target did not hide their tracks."

The retinue who returned with information whispered.

Or rather, Lu Li was strutting around openly.

No strenuous investigation was needed; the retinue easily tracked down the now notorious Exorcist at the Midnight City Main Station.

"He went to the eighth floor to attend an auction, accompanied only by that wraith and the Heretical Bishop."

"Is the information validated?"

"Yes, he has provoked many local peculiar... perhaps he doesn’t intend to settle in the old sewers of Midnight City."

"Return to our mission, Apprentice Knight," the captain Hogte reminded.

"Yes, Captain." The retinue stamped their foot and stood upright.

"Knight Vino, the God-given Armor on the ship," Captain Hogte spoke to the figure at the table.

"Yes."

Knight Vino set down the caressed emblem and moved towards the shadowy corner.

Chhh—

Lighting the oil lamp, Knight Vino discarded the match and picked up the bloodstained book-shaped emblem he had set down, pinning it beside the captain’s emblem on his chest.

Boom—

The shed trembled as the heavy steel foot fell.

Captain Hogte and the Attendant Knight draped the God-given Armor in a black robe, gathered the equipment, and tore the doorframe as they exited the shed.

...

The outline of the aged Tree Person faded, as it permitted this atonement auction.

The Cursed Title no longer offered aid, Lu Li and the smiling devil exchanged glances; he took the wooden box from Ophelia and signaled her to put it away: "I’ll conduct an auction as well, the reward is this Crystal Strange Currency."

"The task is to protect me, and retrieve the Eye of the Ancient God."

The malevolent gaze that had been fixating on Lu Li divided, half returning to the devil.

The black-haired woman elegantly removed the white glove-like garment, leisurely saying: "He’s just a human. Incidentally, the most renowned Exorcist too."

As if responding to the devil’s seduction, a figure departed the stone pillar, drawing closer to Lu Li.

"Exorcist, coming here?"

Facing the crimson steam silhouette that sprayed blood, Lu Li remained silent.

"Hand it over."

Lu Li calmly replied: "Retrieve the Eye of the Ancient God, I’ll give you the crystal currency."

"Snatching it from you is easier."

"But it also requires facing the wrath of those needing it," Lu Li locked eyes with the silhouette behind the crimson steam.

"This eyeball is of no use—"

A shout suddenly erupted not far away. The black-haired woman, gloves removed and hair untied, leaned against a stone pillar, hands cupped around her mouth, casually shouting this way: "No big shot’s going to want this—"

"Where shall I find you?"

At this point, however, the steam silhouette spoke in a deep voice.

Lu Li tossed the wooden box holding the eyeball into the crimson steam: "Retrieve the Eye of the Ancient God, and open the box to summon the merchant for the trade."

"Wraith, take him out."

The steam silhouette shielded Lu Li from the majority of the other stone pillars and the black-haired woman, his back turned to Lu Li.

"Look closely, boy. Witness the grotesque howl of peculiar dying..."

Scorching, surging, and rage-fueled by fury erupted like a volcano in a momentary flash.

The ground crumbled amidst the tremors, revealing an abyssal chasm. Molten lava surged, engulfing all that could be seen.

The magma sea consuming the hall distorted the air, as the earth quaked, falling boulders crashed down, and the tilting cavern mirrored a sea storm, with surging waves cresting.

Only where Lu Li stood, the stone pillar riddled with cracks stood like an island, along with a cliffside corridor leading out of the Lava Hall, an edge forming a curtain of lava.