38: Chapter 38: 1 million to get in? That's robbery!

Lin Feng pushed open the glass doors of the Explorer Association lobby.

The moment his foot stepped inside, the entire lobby suddenly went silent for a second.

Everyone's gaze simultaneously focused on him.

To be precise, they were focused on the silver C-Rank badge shimmering on his chest.

"Is that... C-Rank?"

"So young?"

"Wait, isn't he the one who cleared the Ancient Trial Tower yesterday..."

"Lin Feng! Yes, it's him!"

Whispers spread like a rising tide.

Lin Feng remained expressionless, walking straight toward the front desk.

He could feel that within those gazes were envy, jealousy, curiosity, and... awe.

This feeling was a bit unfamiliar.

But not bad.

"Hello, may I ask..."

Just as Lin Feng spoke, a person behind the front desk stood up abruptly.

It was Liu Ruyan.

The receptionist who had previously treated him with cold mockery.

At this moment, her face was covered in a professional, sweet smile, her eyes curved into crescents, and her voice was sweet enough to drip honey.

"Mr. Lin! You've arrived!"

Liu Ruyan quickly walked around the front desk, hands folded in front of her, and bowed slightly.

"How may I help you?"

This attitude was a complete 180-degree turn.

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow: "I'm looking for Zhao Tianhai."

"Zhao Tianhai is in his office! I'll take you there!"

Liu Ruyan diligently led the way in front, her ponytail swaying back and forth.

After a few steps, she looked back, her face showing a perfectly measured look of apology.

"Mr. Lin, before... I was blind for not recognizing your greatness and said things I shouldn't have. Please don't take it to heart."

She bit her lip, her gaze looking pitiful.

Lin Feng glanced at her.

"It's fine."

He wasn't in the mood to dwell on such things.

Liu Ruyan breathed a sigh of relief, her smile becoming even more brilliant: "Thank you, Mr. Lin! This way, please!"

The two crossed the lobby.

Wherever they passed, the crowd automatically parted to create a path.

Lin Feng could hear the discussions around him.

"That snob Liu Ruyan, she used to ignore him..."

"You'd change your tune too; he's a C-Rank Explorer now, a big shot who cleared an S-Rank Dungeon."

"Tsk tsk, it's only been a few days since his Awakening..."

Lin Feng remained expressionless, but he felt like laughing inside.

This was reality.

If you have strength, the whole world treats you with kindness.

If you don't, even a dog will bark at you twice.

...

Inside Zhao Tianhai's office.

The branch supervisor was drinking tea; seeing Lin Feng enter, a smile appeared on his face.

"You're here? Sit."

Lin Feng sat on the sofa.

Liu Ruyan tactfully withdrew, gently closing the door.

"Need something from me?" Zhao Tianhai put down his teacup.

"I want to ask, how do I enter the [Desert Golden Sea] Secret Realm?" Lin Feng went straight to the point.

Zhao Tianhai was stunned.

He looked Lin Feng up and down with a strange gaze.

"Why are you asking about that?"

"I want to go take a look," Lin Feng said.

Zhao Tianhai frowned: "Lin Feng, the Desert Golden Sea is a Rank 1-15 Secret Realm. You're Rank 10 now, so you can go. But..."

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

"Are you... looking for some Heaven And Earth Treasure to prepare for your Talent skill Awakening?"

Lin Feng didn't speak.

Zhao Tianhai took his silence as confirmation and sighed.

"I need to make one thing clear to you."

"Talent skills are closely related to Talent Rank."

"Starting from Rank 11, you can comprehend one Talent skill every Rank. This is a gift from the digitized world to humanity."

"But—the quality and effect of Talent skills depend on the Talent Rank."

Zhao Tianhai leaned forward, his expression serious.

"With an S-Rank Talent, the awakened skills are world-shattering."

"With an A-Rank Talent, the awakened skills are powerful and practical."

"With a B-Rank Talent, the awakened skills are mediocre."

"C-Rank and below..."

He shook his head.

"The effects are limited, and you might even awaken a useless skill."

"And an F-Rank Talent..."

Zhao Tianhai looked at Lin Feng with sympathy in his eyes.

"In history, F-Rank Talent holders who can awaken a combat-type Talent skill are as rare as phoenix feathers."

"Most awaken useless 'chicken rib' skills like 'Item Crafting Speed +1%' or 'Walking without Fatigue'."

"Although your Physique is Prodigy-level, your Talent is a fatal flaw."

"I suggest you don't invest too many resources and energy into Talent skills."

"It's more practical to spend your time increasing your Rank and obtaining equipment."

Lin Feng listened quietly.

He naturally knew all this.

An F-Rank Talent wanting to awaken a combat skill?

Dreaming.

But his reason for going to the Desert Golden Sea wasn't for a Talent skill at all.

It was for essence blood to temper his Physique.

To take the old man as his master.

To... become stronger.

"Supervisor Zhao, thank you for your advice," Lin Feng said calmly, "but I still want to visit the Desert Golden Sea."

"Just consider it... gaining experience and farming some Materials."

Supervisor Zhao stared at him for a few seconds.

Finally, he sighed.

"Fine, since you insist."

He sat up straight and began to explain.

"Secret Realms are the greatest foundation of every Federation Organization."

"The Desert Golden Sea is one of the three low-level Secret Realms controlled by our Donghai City Explorer Association."

"The entry conditions... are quite harsh."

Lin Feng pricked up his ears.

"First, outstanding natural Talent." Zhao Tianhai held up his first finger, "At least an Elite-Rank Physique, or a B-Rank and above Talent."

"I meet that," Lin Feng said.

"Second, contribution to the Association." Zhao Tianhai held up a second finger, "Holding a C-Rank or higher Explorer badge, or having completed an A-Rank or higher mission."

"I meet that too," Lin Feng pointed to the badge on his chest.

"Third..." Zhao Tianhai held up a third finger, his expression becoming subtle.

"Money."

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat.

"How much?"

Zhao Tianhai slowly spat out a few words.

"Ten million points."

"..."

Lin Feng fell silent.

The office was so quiet that the ticking of the clock could be heard.

After a long while, Lin Feng spoke.

"How much?"

"Ten million points," Zhao Tianhai repeated, "And that's the internal price. For outsiders, the price doubles."

Lin Feng felt his temples throbbing.

Ten million?

He had risked his life to clear an S-Rank Dungeon just to get five million in rewards.

Adding his previous savings, his entire net worth was now just over four million.

And that was assuming he sold all those purple-tier equipment.

"No, isn't that too expensive?" Lin Feng couldn't help but complain, "Is this a robbery?"

Zhao Tianhai laughed.

"Too expensive? Then don't go."

He picked up his teacup and took a slow sip.

"What kind of place is a Secret Realm?"

"It's a special space independent of the real world, and the resources inside are limited."

"Every time it's opened, it also requires a large amount of Materials."

"Moreover, monsters in the Secret Realm drop special Materials, some of which can't be found outside at all."

"Is ten million points expensive?"

Zhao Tianhai put down his teacup.

"I'm telling you, every year, the people who want to enter the Desert Golden Sea could line up from the Association doors to the outskirts of the city."

"But spots are limited, so the Association can only use high prices to filter them out."

"No money? Then don't even think about it."

Lin Feng had nothing to say.

He knew Zhao Tianhai was telling the truth.

Secret Realm resources were limited; they couldn't just let anyone in.

"Well? Do you still want to go?" Zhao Tianhai asked with a half-smile.

Lin Feng gritted his teeth.

"Yes!"

"Where's the money?"

"Give me two days." Lin Feng stood up, "Once I have enough money, I'll come find you."

Zhao Tianhai raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, I'll wait for you."

He took a form out of a drawer and pushed it toward Lin Feng.

"Fill out the application form first. Once the money is in place, I'll arrange it for you immediately."

Lin Feng took the form and filled it out quickly.

Name: Lin Feng.

Age: 16.

Rank: 1.

Physique: Radiant Corona (Prodigy-level).

Talent: F-Rank Fusion.

Explorer Rank: C-Rank.

...

After filling out the form, Lin Feng handed it to Zhao Tianhai.

"Thank you, Supervisor."

"You're welcome." Zhao Tianhai put away the form, "Remember, no money, no spot."

"Understood."

Lin Feng turned and left the office.

The moment he closed the door, he heard Zhao Tianhai muttering behind him.

"F-Rank Talent... what can he do in a Secret Realm? Pick up sand?"

Lin Feng's mouth twitched.

He didn't look back.

...

Stepping out of the Association building, the sunlight was a bit dazzling.

Lin Feng stood on the steps, watching the bustling crowd on the street.

Ten million points.

He had four million now.

Still short six million.

"Two days' time... relying on Talent Fusion, earning it will be fast..."

Lin Feng rubbed his temples.

But his shop was sealed, so he couldn't do business normally.

The question was—who to sell to?

Set up a street stall? Too slow.

Find a wholesaler? Easy to get lowballed.

Lin Feng thought for a moment, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Right, the Equipment Supermarket!"

Donghai City had several large Equipment Supermarkets that specialized in recycling and selling Explorer equipment.

The price might be a bit lower than the market price, but the advantage was the volume; they could take all his goods at once.

Moreover, supermarkets had formal channels and wouldn't ask too many questions.

"That's what I'll do."

Lin Feng made up his mind and headed toward the marketplace.

First, he would organize the equipment he didn't need, then find a reputable Equipment Supermarket to sell them all at once.

As for which ones to sell...

Lin Feng calculated as he walked.

"Forget it, I'll check the street stalls first."

Lin Feng shook his head and quickened his pace.

After crossing two streets, the marketplace appeared before him.

The morning marketplace was teeming with people, a mix of shouting vendors, bargaining, and chatting.

Lin Feng wove through the crowd, his eyes scanning the stalls on both sides.

He was looking for that White-haired Old Man.

Although he had just bought everything the old man had, maybe the old man had restocked?

Buying more strange and unusual items to fuse into good things could also make money.

After walking for a few minutes, Lin Feng saw that familiar broken wooden table at the end of the street.

But the wheelchair was empty.

The stall was vacant, and a thin layer of dust had accumulated on the table.

"Not here?"

Lin Feng was a bit disappointed.

He turned to leave.

Just then, an auntie selling potions nearby leaned over and said mysteriously, "Young man, looking for that old man?"

Lin Feng turned: "Do you know where he went?"

"No idea." The auntie shook her head, "That old man is elusive. Sometimes he's here all day, sometimes he's gone for days."

She paused and lowered her voice: "But someone saw yesterday that a few people in black clothes came to find him. After a few words, the old man followed them."

Lin Feng's heart stirred.

"Black clothes? What kind of people?"

"Don't know, they didn't look like locals," the auntie recalled. "Their clothes had golden patterns, very expensive material."

Golden patterns?

Lin Feng frowned.

He hadn't heard of any organization wearing that kind of uniform.

"Thank you."

Lin Feng thanked her and turned to leave.

With the old man gone, he could only rely on himself.

Crossing the marketplace, Lin Feng headed toward the commercial district.

There were several large Equipment Supermarkets there; he needed to check the market rates.

Walking along, Lin Feng was still calculating in his head.

Ten million points...

Two days...

"I have to hurry."

The youth took a deep breath, his pace quickening.

Sunlight shone on him, his C-Rank badge reflecting silver light.

Passing Explorers glanced at him, whispering.

But Lin Feng didn't care.

His mind was filled with only one thought—

Make money.

Enter the Secret Realm.

Become stronger.

As for where the old man went and who the people in black were...

He'd deal with that after coming out of the Secret Realm.

At the corner of the street, Lin Feng's figure disappeared into the crowd.

What he didn't notice was—

On the roof of a nearby building, a Man in a black trench coat was holding binoculars, quietly watching him.

On the cuff of the trench coat, a golden family crest was embroidered.

It was the symbol of the Zhou Family.