CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57: HOW COULD ANYONE STOP RUAN RUAN FROM GOING OUT TO SHOP?

[Second Master] is extremely clever, having established a series of rules for the black market that operate within the maximum limits allowed by the Main Brain’s rules.

The Main Brain, although possessing autonomous consciousness, certainly doesn’t adapt like humans do.

Once its rules are set, they won’t change unless a major incident occurs.

Yet [Second Master] is able to rigidly manipulate the limits of the Main Brain’s rules, ensuring the smooth operation of the black market without it being shut down.

[Second Master] is also notoriously ruthless, almost no one dares to cause trouble in the black market, so for many years, no problems have arisen.

Speaking of which, Su Ruan soon arrived at the black market, which, although called a black market, is more like a small town.

Various small shops line the streets, displaying an array of goods. Some shop owners are dozing at the counters, others are enthusiastically inviting customers, and some are haggling with customers, trying to sell their goods at a good price.

If an unwitting outsider stumbled in here, they would just consider it a regular commercial street.

But those familiar with the black market know exactly what each shop hides behind its facade.

Su Ruan entered a small tavern, which seemed like a place for dining and drinking but was actually an intelligence center.

She came here to inquire about her elder brother’s whereabouts.

Ordering a pot of sake, Su Ruan found a secluded corner to sit down.

There are quite a few people drinking in this shop, and many are gossiping about so-called insider news.

This type of information heard in the shop is a mix of true and false; discerning it requires judgment.

But if one could access the second floor and enter a private room, the information obtained there would be true.

However, entering the second floor had conditions, the first being an account balance of a million virtual coins.

Hmm... she only had twenty thousand virtual coins, enough for a fraction.

Therefore, she could only try her luck on the first floor, as the Lion Star Thief Group had been trending recently, likely to be discussed here.

Soon after sitting down, Su Ruan heard the two men at the adjacent table mention the Lion Star Thief Group.

"It’s said that the leader of the Lion Star Thief Group is about to enter the Ancestral Stage."

"Where did you hear that? I think so too."

"Think about it, what is the leader’s spiritual power level? S! How many people in reality are S?"

"They drink Nutritional Supplements every day and expose themselves to the radiation in the star domain; not experiencing the Ancestral Stage would be strange. It’s just a matter of time."

"I’ve also heard that several other Star Thief groups are ready to unite and attack once the Lion Leader enters the Ancestral Stage."

"I don’t think that’s likely. How do you know entering the Ancestral Stage won’t enhance their combat power? Perhaps the Lion Leader will go mad and destroy their own group."

"You have a point."

"By the way, I also heard..."

The man lowered his voice.

Su Ruan strained her ears to continue listening.

"I also heard that the recently mined veins have impurities in the Energy Stones, not even enough to power an A-level Mecha."

"Isn’t that..."

The two exchanged a glance, seeming to be concerned about something, and dared not continue.

Su Ruan pretended not to hear anything, poured herself a cup of sake, and took a light sip.

The two exchanged a few more glances, one of them said casually, "Let’s go, I still have to complete a task."

After speaking, they left one after the other.

Su Ruan was left alone in the secluded corner.

No more people came afterwards; the information she gathered was limited. Moreover, she already knew what information she wanted, and soon left.

After logging off, Su Ruan took out a Level 2 Energy Stone and played with it in her palm.

She could clearly "perceive" the black mist within the Level 2 Energy Stone; the black mist nearly engulfed the entire stone, appearing sinister and terrifying.

Subconsciously, she used her spiritual power to guide the black mist.

The mist seemed to be drawn by something, slowly gathering towards the edge.

Su Ruan felt her spiritual power was being gradually drained, and her mind suddenly felt a sharp pain, like being pricked by a needle.

At this point, it seemed she couldn’t stop.

Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, she bit her lip, face pale, slowly using her spiritual power to disperse the gathered black mist within the Energy Stone.

Time felt stretched indefinitely, everything before her seemed to slow down.

The black mist gradually faded, and as sweat from her forehead fell onto the Energy Stone, the last trace of the mist vanished completely.

Su Ruan let out a sudden breath, the sharp pain dissipated, replaced by an indescribable comfort.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead, looked at the Level 2 Energy Stone in her palm, deep in thought.

She remembered the last time she dispersed the mist from a Level 1 Energy Stone, she passed out, and when she awoke, the stone had turned to ash.

This time, she felt the same sharp pain as last time, as if her mental power had been completely drained, but intuition told her she must persist, perhaps she could emerge stronger.

Fortunately, she endured, and she clearly felt her spiritual power had increased somewhat.

Could it be that dispersing the black mist in Energy Stones could enhance her spiritual power?

And these mists, could they be universally perceived as impurities?

To verify these two points, she needed to measure her Spiritual Power Level and test the impurities in the Energy Stone.

All these could be done at the Central Star’s testing bureau.

Su Ruan was always a proactive person; she immediately prepared to set out for her Spiritual Power Level measurement.

As she reached the doorway, the security guard stopped her.

"Apologies, Miss Su, you cannot leave alone."

Su Ruan: ...

Here we go again.

"I won’t run away," Su Ruan’s voice held a slight chill, "Lu Shinian isn’t concerned about me, why should you?"

The security guard was somewhat embarrassed, indeed Commander Lu hadn’t issued new orders, but if Su Ruan chose this moment to escape, Commander Lu might reprimand him...

"Sorry." The guard bowed respectfully, somewhat apprehensive, "Miss Su, why don’t you send a message to the Commander?"

Su Ruan rolled her eyes, understanding the guard’s thoughts.

She opened her Light Brain, quickly sending a video.

The video was soon answered, and Lu Shinian’s image appeared mid-air.

"Ruan Ruan." Lu Shinian’s lips curved slightly, his voice deep and sensual, "Did you miss me?"

Su Ruan blinked, explaining, "I want to go out to buy something, but the security won’t let me."

Only then did Lu Shinian notice the security guard beside Su Ruan.

His gaze flickered, silent for a moment, then spoke calmly, "If Ruan Ruan wants to go out shopping, how could she be stopped?"