69: Chapter 69 The First Black Card in the Abyss, and the "Double Eleven" Disaster of the God of Envy
Abyss Level 77, Despair Plains.
The atmosphere here was once very "depressing."
What should have been a battlefield of flying flesh and earth-shattering roars was now utterly silent.
Millions of Abyssal creatures lay sprawled on the ground.
Some stared blankly at the Abyss's eternal dim sky, as if basking in a non-existent sun.
Some were picking their feet.
Some were even so bored they were tying knots with their tentacles.
The air was filled with a sweet, languid, pink mist.
This was precisely the Origin Law of the Sloth Demon God, Belphegor — the "Salted Fish Aura."
"Effort is useless..."
"Struggle is a deception by those in power..."
"Lie down, the embrace of Mother Earth is the onlyHome..."
This mental pollution was extremely corrosive.
Even the Shadow Sect assassins under Ji Wushuang, armed to the teeth with "ideology and morality," couldn't resist it now.
"Marshal... I suddenly feel like chopping people isn't very interesting."
An assassin dropped the thick dictionary in his hand and slumped to the ground, his eyes vacant.
"I also want to be a carefree Trash... I'm so tired..."
Ji Wushuang stood atop the war chariot, his tentacle cloak wildly flailing behind him in anger.
"Bastards! All of you, stand up!"
"Where is your wolf spirit? Where is your resolve to follow Mr. Li to the death?!"
Just as the battle was about to completely collapse.
Boom—!!!
Above the firmament, a rift suddenly opened!
The familiar tianhe vessel drift bottle once again made a dazzling appearance, like a star illuminating despair.
But this time, no mountain of books or sea of questions poured out of the bottle, nor did Shadow Sect assassins descend.
Only a golden rain.
More precisely, it was a magnificent blizzard composed of countless black cards.
The cards were entirely black, with an extraordinary texture. The front was outlined with hot-stamped demonic patterns, forming a line of domineering characters: "Tianhe Abyss Supreme Black Card."
On the back was a highly seductive slogan:
"Spend tomorrow's money, fulfill today's dreams."
"Unlimited credit, interest... pay as you see fit."
"What... what is this stuff?"
A one-eyed demon lying on the ground, picking its foot, idly extended a claw and hooked one over.
The moment its fingertip touched the card.
Buzz!
A dazzling light screen abruptly unfolded before its eyes.
"Welcome to Tianhe Mall (Abyss Special Edition)!"
"Big data has selected for you, today's hottest recommendations:"
"Item TOP1: Titan Vajra Arm (Demonic Modified Version)"
Description: Pure prison-style gilded craftsmanship, inlaid with 88 wailing skulls, built-in high-explosive Demonic Energy cannon. Make yourself the most dazzling gangster on the battlefield!
Price: 300 years of lifespan (installments available).
"Item TOP2: Succubus Idol Lilith - Limited Edition Collector's Photo Album"
Description: Contains 300 never-before-seen private photos of the Abyss's top idol, plus a fragment of her original battle attire!
Price: One complete Soul of a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.
"Item TOP3: One-Hit 999 - Exhilarating Experience Coupon"
Description: Temporarily modify Karma, allowing you to experience the thrill of mowing down enemies like grass, one hit per child!
Price: Your left hand (you can always buy a new one anyway).
"Do you want to buy? No money? No problem! Swipe it!"
"First month interest-free, installment plan supported. Just sacrifice a wisp of your Natal Demonic Soul, and the treasure is yours!"
The one-eyed demon's single eye instantly widened, larger than a brass bell.
Its gaze was fixed on the shimmering Titan Vajra Arm on the light screen, then it looked down at its own rusty, foul-smelling iron hook hand.
The contrast was so stark!
A flame called "vanity" instantly ignited, burning through the mist of "sloth."
"I! Want! To buy!"
The one-eyed demon roared, suddenly springing up from the ground, and fiercely pressed its handprint onto the black card.
Ding!
A golden light flashed.
Its tattered iron hook hand instantly vanished, replaced by a massive mechanical arm shining with golden light and covered in ferocious bone spurs!
"Holy crap! Old One-Eye?! Your new hand... it's so damn cool!"
"Is that Lilith's photo album?! Hurry! Let me lick it! I'll give you ten goblin Souls!"
"I want to buy too! That 'Supreme Demonic Bone' package is mine! Nobody snatch it!"
This was the first domino to fall.
The previously lifeless battlefield completely erupted in just three seconds!
All the creatures scrambled up from the ground like mad, their eyes glowing green, frantically snatching at the still-falling black cards.
"Lying flat? Lying flat my ass! I'm going to make money! I'm going to buy skins!"
"No one stop me! For my goddess Lilith! I'm going to Level 78 next door to grab Souls right now!"
The Sloth Demon God, Belphegor, was utterly dumbfounded.
Its proud "Salted Fish Aura," capable of making even Divine Beings lose their fighting spirit, was actually... overcome by the most primal desires of a group of low-level demons holding small cards?
"This... what kind of defiled power is this?!" Belphegor retreated in horror, its corpulent body trembling uncontrollably.
"This is the iron fist of consumerism."
Ji Wushuang sneered, pulled out a large loudspeaker from behind him, and turned the volume to maximum.
"Minions! See that fat guy up ahead?!"
"Whoever cuts off a piece of its flesh, this Marshal will reward them with ten thousand Tianhe Mall points! No upper limit!"
"Kill—ah—!!!"
Millions of creatures instantly turned their allegiance, their eyes red, pouncing on the "god" they once worshipped like the hungriest hyenas.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the battlefield.
The Envy Demon God, Leviathan, watched coldly, originally intending to mock Belphegor's incompetence.
Suddenly, its gaze was fixed on something in Ji Wushuang's hand.
Was it a... teaching cane?
No!
That teaching cane was entirely crafted from shattered star crystals, inlaid with nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine wailing gems. It would even glow automatically when swung, and came with its own BGM!
The BGM's name seemed to be... "Unravel"?
"I... I really want it..."
Leviathan's eyes instantly turned red.
No, it wasn't wanting it.
It was: why?! Why could a mere human's dog possess a weapon a billion times cooler than itself, the Envy Demon God?!
It could not tolerate this!
It subconsciously picked up an ignored black card at its feet.
"Ding! Detecting SSSS VIP-level distinguished customer."
"The System strongly recommends for you: [Demon God Exclusive - Staff of Creation (Official High-Quality Replica)]!"
"Price: Half of your Origin power."
"Do you choose the 36 million-period ultra-long installment plan?"
Leviathan's trembling hand fiercely jabbed "Yes" on the light screen!
No matter how great the cost, it absolutely could not tolerate its prestige being surpassed by a mere subordinate!
Half an hour later.
Abyss Level 77 was completely transformed.
The so-called "Anti-Involution Alliance" collapsed.
The Sloth Demon God was literally hacked to pieces by the creatures desperate to earn points for skins. Though not dead, it had retreated to its lair in seclusion, vowing never to leave again.
The Envy Demon God incurred a massive debt that it could never repay in this lifetime. To pay off the installments early, it became Ji Wushuang's most loyal and most 'involution-prone' top enforcer.
As for the Wrath Demon God?
It exploded itself in anger because it couldn't get its hands on the globally limited "Gorehowl" collector's edition skin.
Ji Wushuang sat on a throne made of countless discarded black cards, leisurely crossing his legs.
He looked at the creatures below, who were frantically 'involutioning' themselves to pay off their 'Huabei' bills, even voluntarily submitting "996 overtime applications," and let out a sigh from the depths of his Soul.
"Mr. Li... truly a Divine Being."
"It turns out the strongest chains in this world are not Law, not fear, and certainly not moral character."
"But... the bill."