I'm Trapped in the Block

Chapter 387: Chapter 384: Divine Object Transaction

The Loach left the Sky Shuttle in high spirits.

’Ten shed scales for a divine object—who wouldn’t make a trade like that?’

Mo Ling stared, dumbfounded.

The Sky Shuttle’s trades were far too reasonable for the creatures of the Sea of Creation. There was no price gouging, and the cost of a trade even varied for different races. No wonder these creatures were willing to abide by human rules.

’So, is that electronic screen just an online store?’ Mo Ling thought, recalling the Loach’s conversation with it. The exchange felt oddly familiar, just like the online shopping humans knew so well.

’It’s an online store that simulates items based on customer requests, intelligently matching the strange demands of the Abyssal Races to find the perfect products.’

’That’s why they can always find what the customer wants, no matter how abstract the request. With humanity’s production capabilities, they can manufacture anything.’

’Such is the gap in technology.’

’I just don’t understand why those creatures actually treat the items they buy as ”divine objects.”’

Besides, Mo Ling had no idea what these divine objects were even used for.

As she pondered this, the line outside the Sky Shuttle grew shorter and shorter.

The number of packages in the cargo hold was dwindling, as most had already reached their new owners.

Most of the creatures still waiting in line were there to place new orders.

A creature covered in grease, resembling a pile of trash, squirmed its way to the front of the robot. It began to writhe, its meaning impossible to discern.

The robot, however, remained perfectly calm. It scanned the garbage-like creature and quickly understood what it meant.

The robot placed the electronic screen in front of the creature, and an identical garbage-like being appeared on it and began to writhe.

’It’s some kind of gestural language,’ Mo Ling quickly realized, understanding how they were communicating.

The garbage creature writhed, conveying its request for a divine object to the robot.

The robot, in turn, relayed the request to the online store:

”Terrifying spikes capable of piercing the bubbles of thought. Infinitely hard, yet infinitely soft. A stench of ultimate putrescence, yet a flavor of ultimate delicacy. It is the trash rejected by all, yet it is life’s most precious fruit...”

While describing this divine object, the garbage creature was incredibly expressive, its entire body contorting nonstop, even shedding pieces of its trashy exterior onto the ground.

The robot unhurriedly translated for it, even picking up the fallen trash and stuffing it back onto the creature’s body.

The simulated product on the electronic screen slowly morphed until, finally, a single item took form.

—A durian.

The garbage creature looked at the durian, seemingly confused, and began to writhe at the robot again.

The robot watched it intently. Understanding what it meant, it gestured to a companion nearby.

The companion quickly returned to the ship and headed for the kitchen.

Before long, the companion hurried back, carrying a durian.

From a distance, the garbage creature watched the durian, remaining calm. But as the fruit drew closer and it caught a whiff of that unique aroma, its body snapped rigid.

It suddenly grew agitated and tried to charge toward the durian, but the robot blocked its path.

The robot pointed to a few pieces of trash on the creature’s body.

The garbage creature instantly understood. It pulled those few pieces of trash from its body and placed them neatly on the ground.

Seeing the creature was so cooperative, the robot waved its hand, signaling its companion to hand over the durian.

And just like that, the garbage creature quivered with excitement, clutched the durian, and writhed away.

The transaction was completed smoothly, and the robot quickly collected the pieces of trash.

This time, no order was placed through the online store, but the transaction was completed all the same.

’Looks like the transactions aren’t so rigid after all.’

Soon, the robot began to serve the next ”customer.”

Gradually, Mo Ling noticed that the robots would sometimes bring items directly from the ship to make on-the-spot trades.

Their only goal was to obtain resources from the Abyssal Creatures; they didn’t seem to care about the method of transaction.

The line continued to shrink, and a great deal of time passed.

By now, Li Luo was growing impatient. She pressed her face to the porthole, watching the strange creatures below.

Just then, an announcement came over the broadcast system again:

”Unloading is complete. All passengers, please wait in your rooms for a moment...”

Before long, a robot appeared outside the door and slowly opened it.

”Sorry for the wait. Please follow me to disembark.”

It was the same robot that had welcomed Li Luo aboard the ship.

For some reason, after her experience on Paradise Island, Mo Ling seemed able to distinguish between the robots.

Even though they all looked identical, their tones and personal habits had subtle differences that Mo Ling could now recognize at a glance.

”Okay.” Li Luo checked her luggage and quickly followed the robot.

”Are those races outside dangerous?” she asked curiously.

”Those that can communicate are not very dangerous, and you’re protected near the Sky Shuttle. But as you venture deeper into the Sea of Creation, you will encounter some races that are impossible to communicate with and utterly unreasonable.”

Li Luo nodded, lost in thought.

”Then after we cross the Sea of Creation, how much longer until we reach the fourth layer of the Abyss?” she continued to ask.

”You’ll still need to pass several islands,” the robot replied. ”However, there is a passage within the Sea of Creation that leads directly to the fourth layer.”

”Really?” Li Luo was surprised. ”What kind of passage?”

”The Divine Seeking Passage. When the Abyssal Races pray for divine aid, they sometimes accidentally open passages leading directly to the fourth layer. They can be extremely dangerous and are impossible to find on purpose. I would advise you to stick to the normal route,” the robot cautioned.

Li Luo nodded in agreement, but she filed the information away in her mind.

”If you plan to cross the Sea of Creation, I suggest you bypass the central region. It will be safer.”

”Okay.”

Li Luo’s electronic screen still held the map of the Sea of Creation that the terminal had provided. She had spent the last few days on board familiarizing herself with it, so as soon as the robot spoke, several alternative routes automatically came to mind.

Soon, the two of them reached the cargo hold and started down the retractable gangway.

Outside the Sky Shuttle, a few more races were still ”placing orders.”

These must have been races drawn in by the Sky Shuttle’s signal later, which was why they were at the end of the line.

The creature currently placing an order was composed entirely of colorful building blocks. It had a slender build and stood over two meters tall, like a lanky Lego Man.

Its long arm was scratching its head as it stared in confusion at the electronic screen.

”This isn’t right. I don’t want this many colors.”

Incredibly standard human speech came from the Lego Man’s mouth.

It even had a broadcaster’s diction, clearer than that of most humans.

On the electronic screen was a multi-colored cube.

Hearing the Lego Man’s words, the image on the electronic screen shifted, changing into a yellow, sponge-like block.

The Lego Man stared at the screen for a long time before shaking its head again.

”Not this color, either. It’s the color that contains everything in the world.”

The electronic screen changed again, shifting into a multi-colored pattern like television static.

”Still not right...”

The Lego Man was starting to get frustrated.

The robot beside it watched for a moment before prompting, ”You need to be more specific. If your description isn’t concrete enough, we can’t find the divine object you’re looking for.”

The Lego Man shook its head. ”I don’t know how to be more specific. I just know... that it exists.”