"Lu Li to Visit the Old Sewers Soon"

Morning, in the guest room upstairs at the tavern.

Lu Li glanced over today's "Earth Dweller Business Daily," his itinerary becoming vague due to his stay in Coal Mountain Town as expected.

He was gradually getting familiar with the rules of the rituals. As long as he set off before the newspaper was issued, he could avoid too much trouble being pointed out clearly.

The unknown ritual was merely an announcement, not a prophecy.

"Where is Merchant Anthony?"

"At the edge of the hills, meeting up with the returning Tree People," the merchant with a dirty brown scarf replied.

The scarf was the easiest way to distinguish each merchant.

Merchant Anthony was quite close to Coal Mountain Town. Lu Li did not depart immediately, ignoring the moaning from next door that started in the early morning, waiting for the five Tree People escorting Merchant Anthony and one strong Tree Person to enter Coal Mountain Town.

Standing by the second-floor window, Lu Li finally saw the worshippers of Coal Mountain Town—they had six arms stretching out from under their armpits like spiders, their bodies covered in black coal dust, resembling people who had fallen into ink.

They were perhaps the most miserable group of worshippers Lu Li had ever seen.

These thin, anxious silhouettes hurried by, rushing to the appearing Merchant Anthony in Coal Mountain Town.

People on the streets whispered, puzzled by the worshippers' reactions. Soon enough, they got the information: the merchant belonging to the Exorcist appeared in Coal Mountain Town.

At the same time, the merchant brought the result of this negotiation: a trade agreement between the Land of Light and Coal Mountain Town was reached. Since the Land of Light was a relatively superior supplier, the divinities and church were friendly enough—Coal Mountain Town lacked resources more than the Land of Light needed coal.

Coal Mountain Town was willing to trade everything for all resources, including soil that was worthless to the outside world.

Because the Land of Light wished for Coal Mountain Town to become an ally in the future, the Mother of the Marsh didn't trade with them using the "one pound of soil for one pound" information Lu Li brought back, but soil was indeed part of the trade—about ten pounds of soil for one pound of coal.

Coal Mountain Town believed they profited, and so did the Land of Light.

The soil dug up from the shelter became food for the worms, but there were still the relics of the Land of Vortex. The camp could sell the soil as goods to Coal Mountain Town while cleaning up the ruins.

Though the soil transported by the merchants would carry Inner World pollution, it was still better than sitting on fuel that could burn for centuries.

"Why did He establish a Spirit Town here, with Coal Mountain Town being so barren?" Lu Li avoided mentioning His name due to the fear of being known.

Coal Mountain Town's predecessor was also called Coal Mountain Town—a small town established on an open-pit coal mine.

The merchant relayed the Mother of the Marsh's answer: "She said Coal Mountain is barren with few anomalies."

After entering the hills, the anomalies indeed disappeared along the way, and barrenness formed a natural barrier for Coal Mountain Town but also limited its development—the Mother of the Marsh said the divinity in Coal Mountain Town was as weak as a newborn Alien God, and only less than a hundred worshippers remained due to the harsh environment.

This meant that becoming an ally with Coal Mountain Town needing aid was not difficult, and both parties could get what they needed.

Lack of fuel has always limited scientific development led by steam engines, internal combustion engines, and steel smelting, obtaining high-quality coal from Coal Mountain Town would change the scientific progress curve. And trading with the Land of Light would improve Coal Mountain Town's harsh environment, gradually attracting residents to migrate—at least the whole town wouldn't consist of just one tavern and one Information Hunter.

"Haven't you gone to the Old Sewer yet?"

"I'll leave shortly."

The newspaper was published, and the trade was witnessed, Lu Li prepared to leave.

"The Earth Dwellers' Trading Company is our apparent ally; if you want them to stop publishing, they won't refuse..." the Mother of the Marsh suggested.

"Not for now."

The itinerary on the newspaper hadn't been confirmed yet; at this point, contacting the Earth Dwellers' Trading Company, whether admitting or refusing, would make them realize the itinerary was real—the Earth Dwellers' Trading Company would definitely sell this as information to interested parties.

Until the itinerary was confirmed, it was best to maintain a half-true, half-false state.

The Mother of the Marsh changed the subject, mentioning Lu Li's next destination: "Ghost Town is strong enough. If you can make them an ally, our power spreading in the Barren Lands will no longer be difficult."

The Big Sister is there, making Ghost Town an ally won't be much of a hassle, at least establishing a trade relationship can be achieved.

"Also, do you agree to my invitation in your name for the Plant Habitat to move to the Land of Light?" the Mother of the Marsh asked again.

Lu Li recalled the Plant Habitat guarding the Ancestral Spirits: "They won't leave the Tranquil Forest."

"I know, but we can invite some Tree People to visit the Land of Light. Merchant Anthony said Tree People are slightly weaker than the Banyan Tree Guardians, but they fill the whole forest."

"Alright."

The addition of the Tree People should ease the strained defenses of the Land of Light, and Tree People grow better under sunlight.

The merchant left, and Lu Li reattached the arm placed on the bedside cabinet under his armpit, put on a cloak, and opened the door.

The wooden door opposite opened simultaneously, with a lustful air, a three-handed woman with sweat sticking to her forehead appeared in the hallway.

She had just finished a transaction and tried to entice Lu Li, who ignored her, stepping down the stone stairs back to the downstairs hall.

A startled gaze fixed on Lu Li at this moment.

The black eyes under the shadow of the cloak swept across the tavern, not finding the source of the gaze, Lu Li pushed the door open and stepped onto the street.

The worshippers of Coal Mountain Town, unseen yesterday, were now frequently passing on the streets, pushing carts made by the Land of Light, transporting piles of coal mixed with coal dust to the open-air warehouse.

They were oblivious to the lord of the Land of Light brushing past them.

Poverty made Coal Mountain Town remarkably efficient.

Heading toward the old sewer passage, Lu Li suddenly walked into an alley next to the old sewer passage. Soon, a figure suddenly darted into a box, stopping at the entrance.

The gaze sensed at the tavern wasn't an illusion.

Following Lu Li, the Information Merchant wasn't surprised to be discovered, suppressing his excitement: "Are you from the Land of Light?"

"Why are you following me?"

"I am an Information Merchant, there's nothing about the western Barren Lands I don't know! You can ask me anything you want to know. If there's something you need, I can find it for you, and also..." Having gained tacit permission, the Information Merchant couldn't wait to reveal his cards just to—

"Do you want to join the Land of Light?" Lu Li interrupted the Information Merchant's endless chatter.

"Join the Land of Light? No... I hope you can allow me to work for the Land of Light!"

The Land of Light, seemingly too good to be true, wasn't very attractive, like a newspaper boy encountering a generous customer.

After a moment of thought, Lu Li gave him a Merchant's Eye.

"You have one chance to use it to prove your value, or purchase an eye from the merchants."

The eye's price is ten contribution points, equivalent to one Strange Currency. If the Information Merchant was willing to spend money, he could gain a few more chances.

Leaving behind an ecstatic Information Merchant, Lu Li exited the alley and entered the old sewer.

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