Chapter 76: The Supernatural Realm
"Is this the Void Silver?" Marcus picked it up and examined it closely.
"This is five pounds of Void Silver. I'll take the Soul Plant with me. If you have any questions, go to the Shadow Sanctuary's intelligence room for answers. I'm leaving now."
Seeing the transaction complete, Shadow got up to leave. She already had access privileges; even if Marcus revoked them, she would only be forcibly teleported out.
"Take care."
Marcus nodded, got up to see Shadow off, and returned to the couch to examine the Void Silver again.
This thing didn't give him any special feeling. The organic surface looked like it was writhing, but it felt cold and still to the touch, as if the movement was just an illusion.
The image on the badge was of a figure in the night holding an umbrella, but the umbrella was turned upside down, and needle-like rain was flowing backwards from the ground, soaking the person, while the umbrella shielded a patch of sky.
Holding an umbrella for the sky, protecting one's ground? That's quite symbolic.
Marcus glanced at it a few times and then put it into his spatial storage. What he wanted to know now was the answer to the question he had just asked.
He had expected an answer, but instead, he was even more confused.
"Return to reality,"
Marcus thought, returning to reality and re-entering the Crossroads.
This time, he was no longer standing in Crossroads Plaza, but in a spacious hall.
A huge chandelier hung from the high ceiling, emitting a soft glow, and strange paintings and tapestries adorned the walls.
The layout of the hall resembled the lobby of an old hotel.
On each side of the hall, there were two large doors filled with a gray, mysterious light, labeled Intelligence Department, Trading Department, Training Room, and Rest Room, respectively.
Ruby, who was watching a show behind the bar, saw Marcus, her eyes lighting up. She slammed her phone down on the counter and hurried over.
"Hey, Doctor, you've joined our Shadow Sanctuary too! Welcome, welcome, a warm welcome!"
Ruby clapped and cheered.
Her voice drew the attention of two members relaxing in the hall. Recognizing the new member, they raised their glasses in a toast to Marcus.
Marcus returned the gesture with a nod.
"This is Doctor, he really helped our Keeper today!"
Ruby announced loudly to the two.
"Oh!"
"Hello, brother, my name is Moonlight."
"My name is Blade, come have a drink, buddy."
The two's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and they extended another enthusiastic invitation.
They had initially thought he was some newcomer to the Crossroads, but it turned out he was an experienced participant who could help the Keeper.
Marcus sighed helplessly; in both his past and present lives, he dreaded dealing with social situations the most.
"It wasn't really helping, just a transaction. I actually got a good deal from the Keeper."
Marcus explained as he walked over. He had to be clear about this; he couldn't just benefit from someone and leave a bad impression.
"My name is Doctor. I just joined Shadow Sanctuary and I'm wondering if there's anything I should be aware of. Could you two give me some pointers?"
"It's nothing special here. It's basically the same as the plaza, except we're safer here. We won't get killed for no reason."
"And that's the trading room over there. It's a trading information board that Night Rain and a few allies jointly created. The transactions here are generally not open to the public."
"The intelligence room contains basic intelligence from the real world and the Crossroads. Many things that don't spread widely in the real world can be seen here. You know what I mean, brother."
"As for the training room and rest room, they're self-explanatory, nothing special."
Moonlight and Blade each took a sip of their drinks, explaining enthusiastically.
There was no scene of hazing, humiliation, or ostracizing newcomers.
"Brothers, I still have many questions in my mind. I'd like to go to the intelligence room first. You two, have a drink first."
Marcus took out a can of beer, opened it, and toasted the two of them.
"No problem, no problem. New brothers are all like this, I understand. Doctor, you go ahead. Come back later, let's have a proper drink. With everything going on, we should enjoy ourselves while we can."
Moonlight seemed a little tipsy and shouted.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Drink up!"
Blade quickly opened another bottle and shoved it into Moonlight's hand, redirecting him. Some people really don't like that kind of negative talk.
Marcus got up and went to the door of the intelligence room.
Seeing a card reader at the door, he took out his badge, scanned it, and heard a soft chime. The gray screen turned silver, and Marcus went inside.
The room was about ten thousand square feet in size. Three walls were covered with various movies, books, historical materials, and some documents marked "classified."
These film and book adaptations not only included those from Earth, but some also claimed to be from other dimensions and realities.
In the center were machines resembling large tablets, each with a search bar.
Marcus selected a machine and entered "Void Silver."
Over 100 results appeared, ranging from how to obtain Void Silver to its various applications and performance descriptions.
Marcus thought for a moment and entered "Supernatural Realm." This time, only three results appeared.
He clicked on the first: "The Origin of the Supernatural Realm and the Crossroads."
[In 2112, in the Cascade Valley region of Washington State, a large number of people mysteriously disappeared. The government dispatched Sarah Chen, a master of cryokinetic abilities, to investigate, but she died on the spot.
This was the world's first discovery of the intersection between reality and the Supernatural Realm.
At the point of intersection, a strange creature appeared, its body like yellowish-brown sludge, with four red eyes, distorted features, and the ability to blend into the earth and move freely.]
Those touched by it, whether human, animal, or plant, all living things, were turned into sludge.
This monster was impervious to conventional weapons; firearms were useless. Only those who had achieved the highest level of psychic power, using their own energy, could slightly slow its advance.
Seventeen of the nation's highest-level psychic masters fought against the Sludge Monster for over a month, sacrificing eleven, but they only slowed its rampage, not eradicated it.
At the same time as the fusion point appeared, a space called the Crossroads also appeared on Earth, beginning to mark and select its participants.
Among them was an ordinary young man named James Wright, whose family had all been killed by the Sludge Monster. He was the only one who escaped and was chosen by the Crossroads.
He was exceptionally talented, driven by revenge, and repeatedly survived near-death experiences. Due to his frenzied participation in story worlds, he advanced to the position of Keeper in just 50 days.
At that time, all conventional weapons were useless; the monster had swept through half the state, leaving no survivors in its wake.
The reason is that whether ordinary people or psychics, anyone attacked by it had no chance of survival.
When the remaining six psychic masters were about to give up, James Wright appeared, unleashing a storm of supernatural energy towards the Sludge Monster.
The Sludge Monster was scattered by the energy, only to reappear perfectly intact in an instant.
Human strength has its limits, and James Wright couldn't defeat the monster either. He told the six psychic masters to hold out while he followed the fusion point into the Supernatural Realm, intending to find a solution at its source.
Upon entering, he discovered the Void Silver Mine. The monsters around the mine avoided it.
These monsters near the mine were clearly stronger than the Sludge Monster in both size and appearance.
Upon noticing the commotion, the monsters began to riot. Although James was prepared to die, he understood that he had a great responsibility and couldn't die meaninglessly.
(End of Chapter)
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