Chapter 257 Exchange

Finally, the day arrived for the Yuanchu Research Institute to open for exchanges. Inside the virtual world network, Xu Jingming, Jian, and Yijiu gathered.

"There are three minutes left before the exchange begins." Jian looked at the two beside him. "I'll have to trouble Junior Brother Wuming and Senior Brother Yijiu to help with the exchange. I'll owe you merits, which I estimate will take a few years to repay."

"It's a small matter." Xu Jingming nodded.

"As long as you repay the merits you owe me before my lifespan ends," Yijiu said with a smile.

Jian himself had accumulated quite a bit of merit, but on one hand, he wanted to exchange for the "Starry Sky Mirror," and on the other hand, he planned to concurrently cultivate the dark chapter of the *Yuanchu Star Conjecture*, so he naturally needed to collect some treasures beneficial to the dark chapter. That's why he needed the help of Xu Jingming and Yijiu.

Xu Jingming was just helping him exchange for a "Dark God Crystal."

"Senior brothers, at the last moment, remember to remind me, Xu Jingming."

"No one is going to fight you for it. There are 100 copies of the Evolution Guider; I estimate at least half will be left," Yijiu said, drinking his wine.

"There are always plenty of Evolution Guiders left over each time," Senior Brother Jian also said with a smile. "Families that want to exchange for them did so long ago."

Xu Jingming smiled. "I don't have a single one, so I naturally have to prepare a few more."

As they talked, the three of them suddenly perked up. *Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!*

A light screen appeared in front of the three of them, but they could only see their own.

The merit exchange officially began!

Regardless of which cosmic domain they were in, the vast majority of formal members of the Yuanchu Research Institute were watching the exchange page. Even some ninth-level source lifeforms who were reluctant to exchange found it interesting to watch.

"Merit exchange, round one. Please submit your choice." Xu Jingming looked at the dazzling list of items. Only the top five in merit points participated in the first round of selection. Xu Jingming immediately submitted his choice.

In the first round, Xu Jingming chose the most valuable "Yuan Fire Pearl"!

After all, there was only one, and if he let someone else choose it, he would regret it.

"Submission time is over. Round one selection is complete. Congratulations, you have obtained the high-dimensional weapon 'Yuan Fire Pearl.'"

At the same time, Xu Jingming's personal account was deducted 500 million merit points.

"In this first round of merit exchange, four of the top five chose the Abyss Fire Lotus Seed," Yijiu said, looking at the light screen in front of him. "And one person chose the Yuan Fire Pearl."

"To be willing to buy the Yuan Fire Pearl, that's truly extravagant," Senior Brother Jian exclaimed.

From the list, it was clear that there were now 0 Yuan Fire Pearls left.

The number of Abyss Fire Lotus Seeds instantly dropped from 5 to 1. "Round two is starting," Jian said, paying close attention. His and Yijiu's merits weren't high enough to be in the top ten, so the first two rounds had nothing to do with them.

"Merit exchange, round two. Please submit your choice." Xu Jingming continued to participate. Without a doubt, he chose the "Abyss Fire Lotus Seed," taking away the last one.

In the third round, everyone in the top 100 in merit points participated in the selection.

Jian, Yijiu, and Xu Jingming all participated in the selection. "Three strands of Yuanchu Star Flame!" Xu Jingming submitted his choice, because each person could only choose a maximum of three strands, that's all he chose.

The Yuanchu Research Institute always had Yuanchu Star Flame available for exchange, so the competition wasn't fierce.

"Starry Sky Mirror!" Senior Brother Jian also submitted his choice.

In the Yuanchu Research Institute, the Yuanchu Star lineage was the most central, and the mirror domain lineage was very, very small. Even though Senior Brother Jian only made his move in the third round, he still successfully obtained the Starry Sky Mirror.

Among the top dozens of source lifeforms in the Yuanchu Research Institute, Jian was the only one willing to spend 150 million merits to buy the Starry Sky Mirror.

"Skyfire Needle!" Yijiu chose the Skyfire Needle.

As a one-time use high-dimensional weapon, Yijiu knew very well how powerful the Skyfire Needle was. If used well, it could have miraculous effects.

In the fourth round, Xu Jingming exchanged for a "Dark God Crystal" for Senior Brother Jian, worth 30 million merits. This was what Senior Brother Jian temporarily owed Xu Jingming.

In the fifth round, Xu Jingming also exchanged for a "Skyfire Needle." The Skyfire Needle was extremely powerful, but it was ultimately a one-time use item. Among tenth-level source lifeforms, very few were willing to be so extravagant.

Round after round.

Xu Jingming picked and chose according to his needs. There was no way around it, he was too wealthy. Selling cosmic fruits had earned him over 1.2 billion merits. Taking advantage of the merit exchange, he naturally exchanged for things that were useful to him.

The entire merit exchange lasted for most of the day before it ended. "I told you, there were still 51 Evolution Guiders left unexchanged at the end," Yijiu said with a smile. "Junior Brother Wuming, you got three all by yourself."

"Many families already have them, but I don't have a single one, so I naturally have to take a few more," Xu Jingming said. "Senior Brother Jian, where should I send your Dark God Crystal?"

"No need, I'll go to headquarters to pick it up myself," Senior Brother Jian said.

"I'll also go to headquarters to pick up the Evolution Guider," Xu Jingming said. He also wanted to take the Abyss Fire Lotus Seed, so it was safest to take it at headquarters.

"Alright, let's go pick up our treasures." Xu Jingming stood up.

Yijiu and Senior Brother Jian stood up as well, and the three of them dispersed.

The exchange had just ended, and Xu Jingming immediately headed to the Yuanchu Research Institute headquarters.

With his ability to "time-space travel," he arrived at the Yuanchu Research Institute headquarters after only a few time-space jumps and entered a quiet room.

"Your treasures."

Inside the quiet room, Secretary-General Heitian arrived in person and placed the treasures aside. The Dark God Crystal, which Xu Jingming had already designated as belonging to "Jian," was not brought over. "For these three strands of Yuanchu Star Flame, I suggest you carry one with you at all times. Store the other two at the research institute temporarily," Secretary-General Heitian said. "Take another one when you use one up. There's no point in carrying too many."

"Alright," Xu Jingming nodded.

Secretary-General Heitian stretched out his hand, and a flame appeared in his palm, with an invisible time-space seal isolating it.

Xu Jingming looked at the Yuanchu Star Flame. At first glance, it was golden, but the outer flame faintly flickered with black. When Xu Jingming saw it, he instinctively felt that it could burn anything. Even cosmic legends would be incinerated if they came into contact with it.

"It can burn anything. Terrifying," Xu Jingming said in a low voice.

"So be careful when you use it," Secretary-General Heitian said.

"I heard that it's just the flame that has dissipated from the outermost edges of the Yuanchu Star, and it's already so terrifying," Xu Jingming said softly. "I have a slight understanding of the real Yuanchu Star now."

By observing a small part, you can know the whole. By observing a trace of flame that has dissipated from the outermost edges, you can more reasonably infer the true Yuanchu Star.

"Hoo." Receiving the Yuanchu Star Flame, Xu Jingming wasn't worried about hurting himself because the Dean had personally left a time-space seal. With a thought, he stored it in the attached space of the Yuanchu Battle Armor.

"This is the Abyss Fire Lotus Seed. You can consume it directly," Secretary-General Heitian said, flipping his hand, a peculiar lotus seed appeared in his palm.

The lotus seed was completely crimson, with some peculiar patterns.

Xu Jingming took it and swallowed it in one gulp. This lotus seed, which grew in the abyss, could even repel the dark power of the abyss itself, which showed how magical it was. After Xu Jingming swallowed it, he felt a warmth melt into his body, and then spread throughout his body.

After spreading throughout his body, every unit of his life structure was affected by the power of the lotus seed, and Xu Jingming's mental power underwent a transformation as a result.

"This feeling?" Xu Jingming felt better than ever before. Thinking about problems was several times faster than in the past. His comprehension ability and resistance to mental intrusion had also clearly improved.

"Rumble~~~"

Xu Jingming tried to control the No. 9 Yuanchu Battle Armor. Previously, he could only control about 60% of the battle armor's power, but now, under the influence of the Abyss Fire Lotus Seed, Xu Jingming's mental power had completely transformed, and he was able to completely mobilize the entire Yuanchu Battle Armor's power. He had 100% control!

"There are many treasures that can help with mental power," Secretary-General Heitian said. "The reason why the Dean chose the Abyss Fire Lotus Seed is because it is very suitable for the Yuanchu Star lineage. It is a rare treasure nurtured by the power of flames in the abyss. The flame treasure in the darkest place will also greatly help you understand 'flame'."

Xu Jingming nodded.

"Of course, the most important thing is this." Secretary-General Heitian flipped his hand, and a black sphere floated in the air. "Yuan Fire Pearl. The Dean has already ordered it to be kept in a very small state." "You can try to control it. Remember, don't let it get too big. Because if it gets too big… you probably won't be able to shrink it," Secretary-General Heitian said with a smile.

Xu Jingming nodded.

He reached out and took it. The black sphere floated in the air, without any weight. Xu Jingming immediately penetrated the Yuan Fire Pearl with cosmic origin power.

"Buzz"

The surface of the Yuan Fire Pearl gradually lit up.

The surface of the Yuan Fire Pearl gradually lit up, and dense patterns appeared.

At this moment, Xu Jingming was struggling to penetrate with cosmic origin power, needing to advance along the well-constructed patterns of the "Yuan Fire Pearl"! With every moment of advancement, he needed to understand all kinds of Yuanchu Star knowledge.

"I can't penetrate any further," Xu Jingming continued for more than half an hour, and many patterns on the outermost surface of the Yuan Fire Pearl lit up.

"You can only drive 12% of the outermost layer," Secretary-General Heitian shook his head. "Not to mention the inner and core layers. Alright, now put the Yuan Fire Pearl into your body, and just store it in your heart."

"Integrate your own blood into the Yuan Fire Pearl at all times, and then return from the Yuan Fire Pearl," Secretary-General Heitian said. "Treat it as another 'heart'."

Xu Jingming nodded, held the Yuan Fire Pearl, and pressed it directly against his chest.

As a source lifeform, his body naturally "swallowed" it.

He transferred the Yuan Fire Pearl to the heart position! The tenth-level source lifeform's "heart" was already powerful, but when the Yuan Fire Pearl was integrated, the blood became scorching hot.

As the blood flowed, the heat spread throughout his body.

Xu Jingming's hair instantly turned crimson, his eyes also turned red, and his skin began to emit heat waves, and flames rose.

It was normal for high-dimensional weapons to be stored in the body. This was different from the Prison race's fusion of high-dimensional objects. The Prison race was a true fusion! The two were fused into one, and even assimilated in the later stages! As for high-dimensional weapons in the body… the weapon was still a weapon, and the body was still a body, just with some auxiliary effects.

"Having a miniature Yuanchu Star in your body feels different, right?" Secretary-General Heitian said with a smile. "It allows you to get closer to the 'Yuanchu Star'."

"The closer you get, the greater the Yuanchu Star's changes to you."

"Detailed usage instructions have already been sent to you. Study them slowly yourself." Secretary-General Heitian smiled and stood up.

"Your treasures are all put away."

Pointing to the other treasures, Secretary-General Heitian then left.

Xu Jingming sat cross-legged, completely immersed in the taste of having an extra "miniature Yuanchu Star" heart. He was familiarizing himself with this terrifying power, and slowly controlling it.

(Take a day off tomorrow, resume updating the day after tomorrow)