I'm Trapped in the Block

Chapter 386: Chapter 383: Your Delivery Has Arrived

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, Mo Ling never would have believed such a scene could be real:

A group of Abyssal Creatures, lined up to pick up their packages.

”Where’s my package?”

”Sign here.”

”Okay.”

...

These Abyssal Creatures, some ferocious, others bizarre, all abided by the Sky-Shuttle’s rules to claim their packages.

After receiving their packages, most of them couldn’t wait to open them on the mirror-like surface nearby.

Upon seeing the contents, they would all tremble with excitement.

Not all of the races picking up packages could speak human languages, but the robot was fluent in each of their native tongues.

To a machine, a new language was just another set of data.

The line was long, and the races at the back had to wait for a significant amount of time. Yet, none dared to cause trouble. They all obeyed a strange sort of etiquette, shuffling forward slowly and unhurriedly.

This was not the Sea of Creation that Mo Ling had imagined.

The scenes of inter-species conflict from the terminal’s data were nowhere to be found. Instead, this queue was remarkably orderly.

The longer Mo Ling watched, the stranger he found it.

’Are these rules set by humans?’

It was understandable, though. All the races in line wanted to obtain divine artifacts from the Sky-Shuttle. Anyone who caused a disturbance would instantly become a public enemy, and no race was that foolish.

’Once interests align, a consensus is easily formed. Following that, rules emerge to protect those shared interests.’

The Sky-Shuttle used this principle of mutual benefit to bind all the races present.

They could acquire resources from the abyss while ensuring their own safety—killing two birds with one stone.

Perhaps after humanity’s arrival in the Sea of Creation, a new rule had been added to the Sea of Creation:

”At regular intervals, a ship laden with divine artifacts will appear. No race is permitted to attack the ship; they can only trade with it...”

This rule would slowly spread throughout the entire Sea of Creation through inter-species communication, gradually becoming a universal consensus.

Thinking of this, Mo Ling couldn’t help but admire the predecessors who made the decision to ”trade in the Sea of Creation.”

Watching the Abyssal Race members dancing for joy with their human-made objects, Mo Ling once again marveled at the wisdom of the ”black-hearted race.”

And so, one by one, the packages on the Sky-Shuttle were claimed.

The ”divine artifacts” these races desired were all different and peculiar, and it was unclear what they intended to do with them.

There were also some, seemingly newcomer races who had never traded before, who had been drawn over by the Sky-Shuttle’s hum and were now staring blankly at the long line.

”Can I... trade for a divine artifact?”

A bizarre creature that looked like an upright Loach, its skin covered in constantly writhing black ink marks, had reached the front of the line and asked the robot in broken human language.

Its voice was like the croak of a bullfrog, steady and deep.

The robot, seemingly having gone through this scene many times, handed an electronic screen to the Loach.

”Face this and describe the divine artifact you want.”

The Loach’s small, chubby fins trembled, unable to grasp the screen. The robot had to use a mechanical arm to hold the screen up in front of it.

”Thank you,” the Loach said politely.

”You may begin describing now,” the robot prompted again.

”Alright.”

The Loach thought for a moment, then began its description:

”The divine artifact... it is shiny and bright...”

As soon as the words left its mouth, an orb of light appeared on the screen.

”It’s round...”

The orb of light on the screen did not change.

”It can contain all the filth in the world...”

”Flawlessly white, with divine runes inscribed upon it. It contains the scenery of the world within—the tangible mountains, the formless water, the visible rainbows, the uncatchable wind...”

”A divine palace sits within it, suppressing all evil...”

As the Loach spoke, the image on the electronic screen began to shift. The original orb of light slowly expanded, twisted, and transformed...

Finally, it turned into a common household porcelain bowl.

Under the illumination, the pristine white porcelain walls shone brightly.

In the center of the bowl was a landscape painting.

Tangible mountains, formless water, visible rainbows, uncatchable wind, a divine palace... it had everything.

”Is this what you are looking for?”

A gentle female voice emanated from the electronic screen.

The Loach stared at the beautiful porcelain bowl, stunned, its fins trembling uncontrollably.

”Can it contain all the filth in the world?” the Loach asked curiously, its eyes fixed on the bowl on the screen.

”Apologies, I do not understand your meaning at this time. What do you mean by ’filth’?” the female voice inquired.

”You know... like mud...” The Loach was a bit baffled by the screen’s question.

”Of course it can!” the female voice suddenly replied.

Then, the image on the screen changed again.

A cartoon version of the Loach was simulated on the screen. It picked up the porcelain bowl, went to the edge of a swamp, and in one scoop, instantly filled the bowl to the brim with mud.

The Loach stared at the scene on the screen, dumbfounded.

Then, it suddenly grew very excited:

”I want this one! I want this one!”

The small fins on the Loach’s sides flapped nonstop as it hurriedly looked at the robot beside it.

”Just tell her,” the robot said, pointing at the screen.

”Okay!” The Loach moved closer to the screen again and said politely, ”I want this. This is the one I want.”

”Are you sure?” the female voice asked gently.

”I’m sure, I’m sure,” the Loach replied hastily.

”Very well. Your item is now being placed for production. Thank you for your support. We hope you will visit the Yuanxin Online Mall again soon. AI Smart Match Simulation, finding the ’treasure’ that’s perfect for you. If you are unsatisfied with your shopping experience, please contact: 500...”

While the female voice from the screen was still making its announcement, the robot abruptly retracted it.

”Alright. The next time we come here, we will bring the divine artifact you want. Remember to come pick up your package in a timely manner. If you can’t make it, don’t worry, you can get it later,” the robot said to the Loach as it turned off the screen.

”Okay...” The Loach’s excitement hadn’t yet subsided, but its tone suddenly grew cautious. ”What price must I pay?”

The robot’s gaze scrutinized the Loach as a dazzling red light swept over its body.

Under this scrutiny, the Loach grew even more nervous and took a fearful step back.

”Exchanging for a divine artifact must require a great price, right?” it asked timidly, its chubby little fins pressed against its body.

The robot didn’t speak, continuing to watch it coldly as the red light swept over its body.

Seeing this, the Loach prepared to take another step back.

”Don’t move.” The robot’s cold voice froze it in place.

And so, it trembled, being scanned by the robot for a long time.

Finally, the red light disappeared.

The robot picked up the electronic screen again and displayed a strange object.

It was a white, shell-like object, but it was covered in black ink markings.

What was strange was that the black markings were constantly moving and changing, sometimes chaotically, other times forming regular patterns.

”Is this something from your race?”

”Yes.” The Loach looked at the screen and nodded.

”What race are you?”

”The Ink Loach Race.”

”Can you find this item?”

The Loach gave the robot a strange look. ”Of course. These are our shed scales.”

Hearing the Loach’s answer, the robot nodded and spoke again:

”Ten scales in exchange for the divine artifact. Bring them next time.”