Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 225

Chapter 225: Black Market I
As Aiden roamed around the Underground City, he continued to discreetly gather the lingering Death Energy. Despite his thorough search, he couldn’t find anything of value at the various stalls. Most of the items were either fake or useless to him, far from the hidden treasures or cheats he had hoped to discover.

After several hours of fruitless searching, and with no more Death Energy left in the air, Aiden decided it was time to leave. He made his way to a corner where people were exiting the Underground City. Approaching the man overseeing the exit, Aiden made a request.

“I want to go to the Black Market,” Aiden said.

The man examined Aiden’s ring with a keen eye before swapping it for another. This new ring bore an emblem of a cart piled high with goods. He then directed Aiden toward a different section of the wall, away from the main exit. Pressing the ring against the wall, a shimmering portal appeared, revealing a passageway leading deeper into the underground.

Before Aiden could step through, the man turned back and handed him a black mask and gloves, along with a voice-altering spirit artifact. Aiden accepted the items, slipping on the mask and gloves as he tested the artifact. His voice, once youthful and clear, now resonated with the deep, vigorous tone of an ancient elder. It added a layer of mystique to his presence, perfectly suited for the dealings ahead in this secretive market.

Aiden stepped through the portal, taking back the ring as he did so. On the other side, he found himself in another underground city, but this one had a different atmosphere. Unlike the previous city, there was no arena in sight.

The Black Market Aiden stepped into was unlike any place he had seen before. The atmosphere was thick with secrecy and tension, a stark contrast to the bustling energy of the previous underground city. Dimly lit by lanterns hanging from the cavernous ceiling, the place had a shadowy, almost eerie vibe. The walls were made of rough-hewn stone, and the ground was uneven, giving the entire market a hidden, ancient feel.

Stalls lined the narrow, winding pathways, each one cloaked in heavy fabric to conceal the dealings within. The vendors here were a different breed—cloaked figures with obscured faces, their eyes glinting with a mix of suspicion and greed. Some wore masks, while others had hoods pulled low over their faces. They whispered in hushed tones, discussing deals and haggling over prices in a language of secrecy that only the initiated seemed to understand.

The wares on display were far more intriguing and dangerous than in the previous market. Strange artifacts, glowing with an unnatural light, sat next to vials of mysterious liquids and powders. Weapons with dark auras, seemingly forged in realms unknown, were displayed alongside ancient scrolls and tomes that promised forbidden knowledge. The smell of incense, mixed with something metallic and sharp, hung in the air, adding to the market’s enigmatic ambiance.

One stall featured what looked like preserved beast parts, still exuding a faint aura of power. Another displayed rare herbs and plants, some of which Aiden recognized as highly toxic or potent ingredients used in alchemy. There were also cages containing creatures of unknown origin, their eyes glowing with an unsettling intelligence.

Aiden glanced around the market, particularly drawn to the creatures on display. Various spirit and immortal beasts filled the stalls, some resembling more common animals, while others had an eerie, otherworldly appearance. His attention was caught by a small, golden goblin-like creature in one of the stalls.

Curious, Aiden approached the vendor and asked, “What is it?”

The vendor, noticing Aiden’s interest, took a moment before responding, “This is a Golden Destiny Goblin.”

“They’re tricky little creatures,” the vendor continued. “They specialize in stealing things, thanks to their unique innate ability that lets them slip through even the most complex formations and arrays. They’re rare, which makes them highly sought after, especially for their talent in sensing treasures.” The vendor pointed at the small, golden goblin. “As you can see, this one is just a kid. We caught it while chasing after an adult Golden Goblin.”

The goblin looked back at Aiden with gleaming eyes, seemingly aware of the conversation about it.

The small goblin’s eyes darted to Aiden, but when Aiden turned to meet its gaze, the creature quickly averted its eyes, trying to appear disinterested.

“So, how was this one captured?” Aiden asked, knowing that Golden Destiny Goblins were typically intangible and difficult to catch.

“Good question,” the vendor replied with a smug grin. “Only the adults have the ability to become intangible. This little guy hasn’t developed that skill yet.” As he spoke, the vendor cruelly whipped the goblin, causing it to whimper and cower, covering its head in a futile attempt to protect itself.

“See? It can’t even defend itself by going intangible,” the vendor laughed, clearly enjoying the goblin’s helplessness.

“Well, then it’s of no use to me,” Aiden said dismissively, turning away from the stall.

The vendor merely nodded, understanding that not everyone saw the potential in the goblin. He knew that with the right training, the creature could become a valuable asset, but he didn’t push the matter. Instead, he returned to his seat, waiting patiently for the next customer who might see the goblin’s worth.

As the vendor sat leisurely, he didn’t notice the little goblin eyeing him with quiet determination. In an instant, the goblin turned intangible and slipped out of the cage effortlessly, as if merely exhaling. The clever creature left behind a convincing clone in its place, ensuring the shop owner remained oblivious to its escape.

Once free, the goblin began sniffing the air, picking up Aiden’s scent. It followed the trail, weaving through the market’s busy alleys, until it found Aiden standing casually in a secluded corner, arms crossed, and head tilted slightly as he looked down at the little goblin with a smirk on his face.

The goblin flinched, instinctively hiding behind a trash-can-like box. But when it peeked out, it was startled to see Aiden already crouched in front of it, staring gently at the small creature.

Raising his hand, Aiden reached toward the goblin. The little creature shut its eyes tightly, bracing itself for another blow. But instead of the expected pain, it felt a warm, gentle hand rubbing its head. The goblin opened its eyes in surprise, looking up at Aiden, who smiled warmly.

“Welcome to the team,” Aiden said softly.

Overwhelmed, the little goblin began to cry, tears streaming down its tiny face as it clung to Aiden’s leg. Aiden chuckled softly, continuing to rub the goblin’s head until the creature fell asleep, exhausted from its ordeal. With a final, tender glance, Aiden carefully sent the goblin into the Spirit Beast paradise.

Aiden remembered the time when he saw his Status screen, he knew the little cfreture is just waiting for someone before he ran away.

*****

Status Screen: Golden Destiny Goblin

Name: (Unnamed)

Species: Golden Destiny Goblin

Age: Juvenile

Cultivation Level: Spirit Lord Realm (Early)

Martial Spirit : World Stealing Bag

Skills:

Intangibility (Incomplete): Grants the ability to pass through physical objects; only fully develops in adulthood.

Treasure Sense: Innate ability to detect and locate treasures, artifacts, and valuable resources within a certain range.

Perfect Stealth: Enhanced ability to move silently and remain undetected, In any environments.

Cloning (Basic): Can create a temporary, non-combat clone to deceive enemies or escape from danger.

Item Concealment: Able to hide small items in an extra-dimensional space, making them nearly impossible to detect.

Destiny Sense : Allow it to see others Destiny, and if they have great amount of it they will instinctively follow that person.

******

Aiden, fully aware of his overwhelming destiny, knew the Golden Goblin would be drawn to him like a moth to a flame. His aura was such that even the most unfortunate events would somehow twist in his favor, almost as if the world itself conspired to keep him on top. With this confidence, he continued his exploration of the underground market, moving from one shop to another in search of anything that might pique his interest.

Eventually, he found himself in front of a ragtag stall run by an old vendor. The man had a hoarse voice and seemed to be selling items he had scavenged from various ruins. The stall was a mishmash of objects, all haphazardly displayed, with the old man spinning tales about the origins of each one. But what caught Aiden’s attention was the peculiar setup the vendor had—a gacha game of sorts, where customers could choose a box, hoping to find something valuable inside.

“Choose your box and test your luck,” the vendor croaked, a mischievous glint in his eye as he waved his hand over the dusty containers.

But Aiden wasn’t one to rely on luck. “But not for me,” he thought with a smirk, as his Akashic Eyes activated, allowing him to see the contents of each container. His gaze scanned over the boxes, and soon enough, he spotted something of interest—a faint glow emanating from one of the containers, something that hinted at a hidden treasure.

With a calm and confident stride, Aiden reached out, his hand hovering over the box that held his interest. The vendor watched with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism, unaware that Aiden had already seen through his little game.