Chapter Fifty-Six: Prelude to the Assessment

After returning to the main city, Sun Meng glanced at the string of urgent messages in his private inbox and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, “A serious woman is truly terrifying!” He quickly made his way to his stall and put the Minor Formless Technique up for sale. Honestly, if he’d managed to obtain the complete Heaven and Earth Everlasting Spring Art, that would have been the real treasure. Still, the greatest gain from that world this time was acquiring the special trial card, which would allow him to go back and reap even more rewards.

“I’ve already purchased the item. I’ll help promote it as much as I can.” After leaving this message, Kokolaru fell silent.

By now, the main city was bustling once again. Unlike before, everyone seemed busier, the former relaxed atmosphere replaced by a sense of urgency. Even the stall street was far more crowded. If not for the area’s automatic spatial expansion system, ensuring there’d never be shoulder-to-shoulder congestion, there probably wouldn’t be any space left to stand.

Sun Meng casually browsed the merchandise at other stalls. The stock had been updated, and the overall quality had improved. Most offerings were weapons and medicines, though there were plenty of status-related spells as well. Those from the technological side were the luckiest—various weapons and vehicles were selling like hotcakes. Although their power in other worlds might be diminished, since not a single civilization had yet achieved the perfect second tier, a slight adjustment to fit the local rules was all it took.

Unfortunately, Earth’s system for rune energy was still incomplete, so the more powerful these items, the greater the suppression they faced. Even the most formidable planetary ring laser satellite cannon on the shelves would be no stronger than a low-tier second-level weapon if brought to present-day Earth.

This train of thought reminded Sun Meng of Taoist talismans. Although a complete spiritual energy-driven system had yet to be established, Taoist magic had already been perfected to the early second tier. However, the world’s main focus was currently on military formations and coordinated assaults, so this area had been set aside for now.

Sun Meng returned to his room, where Xiao Yueying threw herself into his arms. “Master!”

He wiped her mouth. “How much did you eat?” He felt, perhaps mistakenly, that she seemed to have grown a little.

“Although the basic food provided here contains little energy, I’m still in the early growth phase, so I can channel it all into physical development. I’ve nearly reached the later stage of the first tier!” Yueying looked into his eyes. “I can help you in the upcoming assessment!”

“Good, good! You’re amazing, Yueying!” Sun Meng patted her head, and she smiled, eyes narrowing in delight.

Turning to the screen, Sun Meng asked, “How is the production process for talismans on Earth now? I need large quantities of offensive and healing talismans! If we could mass-produce some magical implements as well, that would be ideal.”

A red barrage of text appeared: “Understood, contestant. We’ll rush production and strive to deliver a batch of samples to you by tonight.”

The authorities on Earth, naturally, understood Sun Meng’s intentions. At such a time, facing an unknown assessment, two things would be in high demand. The first was offensive consumables. Though they might not do much to improve their civilization’s ranking, they were cheap and could be produced in large numbers. Not only could the civilization itself use them, but contestants needed them too. Since the assessment was synchronized, contestants would also have to face their own challenges.

The second, of course, was healing items. Contestants couldn’t purchase anything from the system or civilization store during the assessment. Moreover, the rules of the assessment world wouldn’t automatically adapt, so some civilization-specific items might be suppressed.

That night, Sun Meng received the shipment from Earth: three thousand talismans in total, ranging in power from late first tier to early second tier, covering every spell currently mastered by human civilization, including some with special effects.

Sun Meng quickly left his room for the stall street, where he labeled and displayed every talisman and potion, complete with prices. Then he contacted Kokolaru. Her civilization practiced magic, and he was eager to see what their products were like.

“Sun Meng, what made you reach out to me?” Kokolaru asked.

“My civilization just sent over a batch of goods. I’d like to make a trade with you,” Sun Meng replied, showing her the basic data of his wares.

Kokolaru blinked. “I didn’t expect your civilization to think of this too! Some people are just foolish—spending money on goods now is a waste; bartering in the assessment world is much more effective. Judging by the look of these, yours are called ‘talismans,’ right? They seem similar to our magical rune system! Isn’t your civilization a martial arts one?”

“We’re a cultivation civilization, but still at an early stage. It seems that, aside from a few, most civilizations are developing along similar lines,” said Sun Meng.

“Ah, it’s true! Like those I’ve met from bloodline-strengthening civilizations—they also have spell systems, just not like ours. And those calling themselves ‘mana civilizations’—their mana is nothing like ours! Oh well, never mind. How about we just trade directly?” Kokolaru looked at Sun Meng with a mischievous wink.

“Uh…” Sun Meng hesitated, but then a red barrage appeared:

“Contestant, be careful. The other party is using her racial traits to lower your guard!”

Only then did Sun Meng recall that, despite her appearance as a cute little girl, Kokolaru was a bona fide adult. Her childish looks were just a result of her species, not actual innocence.

“What’s the current level of your civilization?” Sun Meng suddenly asked after a pause.

“Early second tier, why?” Kokolaru’s expression was unchanged.

“A grown adult acting cutesy—is that really appropriate?” Sun Meng shot her a look, deciding not to play along.

“Oh! You actually noticed. Your civilization must have warned you, right? Anyway, it’s true—we’re only early second tier. So, in short: do we trade or not?” Kokolaru stopped hiding her intentions; what she wanted most was information on Sun Meng’s system.

“Let’s trade!” Sun Meng replied. While her magical system might not do much for Earth’s main cultivation path, it could greatly benefit their spellcasting branch! With so few mid-second-tier combatants on Earth, they’d had to focus on group attacks, and spells were undoubtedly a way to enhance collective power.

“Straightforward!” Kokolaru said, waving her hand and bringing up a list in front of Sun Meng. “Choose!”

The list displayed all kinds of spell scrolls and magical potions. Sun Meng pulled out a comprehensive manual of basic spells. “It seems your stuff doesn’t quite match what’s in here.”

Kokolaru was astonished. “Is your civilization a highly centralized, unified state? Such efficiency! Most contestant civilizations have entered a phase of relative peace with divided countries—even with global upheaval, there’s still internal friction and competition, so progress is usually slow.”

For example, in her own civilization, various magical schools competed for dominance and wanted her to focus on collecting materials from their own factions, so she’d need several days to prepare something so comprehensive. For Sun Meng to produce a basic manual outright was impressive.

“This was prepared in advance,” Sun Meng replied. “So, trade or not?”

“Of course! The talismans and pills can be considered a bonus.” Kokolaru said no more, but was clearly communicating with her civilization.

“We’ll need at least a day. See you at the usual place tomorrow!” Kokolaru said.

“See you tomorrow, then.” Sun Meng returned to his room. With only five days left until the assessment, he was already prepared.

Five days later, the system voice echoed in the mind of every contestant and every sentient being in each civilization.

The first stage of the assessment—begins!