Having only had the strength of five levels initially, he was already dissatisfied with the petty squabbles between gangs. Later, when planning to cultivate his own underground influence, he didn't even spare a glance for those below the Sixteen Families.
This seemed fine on the surface, much like a billionaire having no need to know impoverished individuals. However, the real world was complex, and he was now facing consequences for overextending himself.
If he had been more cautious, understanding the intricacies of each stratum before entering it, the current situation could likely have been avoided.
He wouldn't have discovered the existence of an organization specifically tasked with monitoring cultivators in Shangjing only after trouble had already struck.
Ultimately, this was a matter of perspective.
Initially, he believed the pinnacle of Shangjing was the four major underground gangs, and once he conquered them, his plans could proceed without a hitch.
Later, after suffering a significant setback from Lin Qianqian's senior brother and being forced to leave Shangjing, he thought the General Bureau was the ultimate power. Having already joined the Dragon Team, he felt his status was secured.
Yet, reality dealt him another blow with the emergence of the "Three Great Powers." The appearance of the Commoners' Association, in particular, wiped out the influence he had painstakingly developed, reducing it to its original state!
If he had known about the Three Great Powers from the outset, and understood the rules of the Commoners' Association, he could have executed the same development plan flawlessly!
He might have even entered the financial sector by now!
Thinking of this, Li Zhonglou clenched his fists.
What's done is done, and regret is always the most useless thing. All he could do was move forward.
"There shouldn't be any existence stronger than the Three Great Powers, right?"
Li Zhonglou secretly made a decision. This time, once he achieved the status he desired, he believed his ultimate plan would proceed smoothly!
Confidence once again bloomed within him.
"Hey, there are people waiting in line behind you. Finish up and move aside."
A discordant voice pulled Li Zhonglou back to reality. He turned to see several men standing behind him, all wanting to use this special communication device to contact the outside world.
The person who reminded him was a staff member of the camp.
Li Zhonglou was wearing a disguise and a mask, so he wasn't recognized. After being reminded, he apologized and quickly gave up his spot.
This so-called special communication device was similar to old public phone booths. For a fee, one could use this special line to contact the outside.
The difference was that in addition to the fee, there were dedicated personnel guarding the area, and they would even listen to your conversations.
Leaving the booth, Li Zhonglou cast his gaze towards the high outer wall.
With Zhou Tong handling the company's affairs, he didn't need to worry too much. He also planned to give Chen Pao and the others a few days to calm down and think.
After all, according to Long Shi, the survival rate on the front lines was a mere twenty percent. Their strength was already at the bottom, and he truly couldn't guarantee their safety.
Freedom versus the pursuit of ideals – different people made different choices at different times. Li Zhonglou didn't want them to make decisions they would later regret due to impulse.
This meant that what he needed to address most urgently now was the energy problem for Old Lin and the others, which involved hunting remnant souls.
Within the safety zone, there was virtually no place that could meet his requirements. The only place that could was the dangerous area outside the safety zone.
Now, with only three levels of strength remaining, venturing out again would increase the danger manifold compared to before.
But he had no choice.
"However, before that, I still need to prepare."
This time, Li Zhonglou didn't act on impulse as he had before. Instead, he went straight to the camp's supply point.
As places provided for humans to rest and regroup, the three camps not only offered safety but also served the crucial function of supply.
When Li Zhonglou arrived at the sole supply point, he was stunned by the scene before him.
It resembled an old marketplace outside. In an area less than the size of a basketball court, stalls were packed tightly, filling almost all the space. There were rented shops and vendors sitting on the ground.
The key point was the sheer number of people!
"Wow, isn't this a life-saving pill? There are so many!"
"Damn, the effect of this sword is amazing! Boss, how much is it?"
"Are you kidding me? You're charging ten blood crystals for a fine sword?"
First, the cacophony of voices filled the air – haggling, exclamations, and shopkeepers scolding customers for not recognizing value.
Then, the densely packed crowd, making it seem like a bustling vegetable market to any uninformed observer!
Li Zhonglou stood dumbfounded at the entrance, gazing at the scene, and once again felt his own ignorance.
Damn, why didn't Xiong Da and the others bring me to such a place to broaden my horizons earlier?
What Li Zhonglou didn't know was that among the three camps, only Camp One had a supply point of this scale. Those who obtained treasures they didn't need brought them here to exchange or sell.
In addition to the official shops of the camp, these private vendor stalls were the most favored treasure-hunting grounds for everyone.
The treasure hunting here was different from those in the outside antique markets, like the famous Panjiayuan in Shangjing. In those places, treasures awaited those with discerning eyes, but here…
…it was about meeting each other's needs.
For cultivators, no matter how precious a treasure was, it had to be useful to them. Therefore, something unnecessary to one person could very well be a critical need for another!
Listening to the surrounding clamor, Li Zhonglou's curiosity was piqued.
He walked towards the nearest stall, which, despite being only one square meter, was already surrounded by four men.
As he approached, Li Zhonglou overheard the conversations between the men and the owner.
"Can't you lower the price by one blood crystal? We really need it!"
Li Zhonglou stepped forward and saw that the four men likely belonged to a team. The item they were interested in was a small bottle containing green pills.
Judging solely by their appearance, it was impossible to determine their effects. However, the owner had thoughtfully placed a description card in front.
Green Pill: A superior-grade, optimal spiritual healing elixir, with excellent therapeutic effects for divine consciousness.
In front of the effect description, a price was clearly marked: thirty blood crystals.
Spiritual healing elixir!
Li Zhonglou was instantly drawn to these words. At that moment, the owner calmly said, "This is a Green Pill, something many people can't get even if they beg for it. You're haggling with me when I'm only selling it for thirty blood crystals?"
This clearly indicated he wouldn't lower the price.
The four men's faces immediately showed distress.
"But we only have thirty-nine pieces. How about a promissory note? We'll definitely repay you within seven days!"
One of the men spoke anxiously.