Chapter 19: Activating the Void Trading Ground

On the living room sofa, Gu Ran couldn't wait to open his self-attribute panel.

[Name: Gu Ran]

[Race: Human/Card Master]

[Age: 21]

[Level: 3 (0/60)]

[Lifeline Cardholder: 9/9]

[Miracle Cards: Red Copper (Void Trading Ground), Blue Stone (Eye of Insight, Bone Armor Shard*3, Skeleton Spear Fragment*2, Black Rock Axe Fragment*1, Basic Storage Card Fragment*1)]

[Card Points: 42]

...…

Compared to two days ago, the changes in his attributes were significant, but what made him somewhat uncomfortable was that even though his lifeline cardholder, now expanded to nine slots, was fully occupied, he only had two complete Miracle Cards: Void Trading Ground and Eye of Insight.

As for the Bone Armor, with the highest number of fragments, he had three, but the problem was that it required five fragments to merge. In contrast, the Bone Longspear, which could be merged with just three card fragments, ironically had only two, which was just frustratingly close.

The only two things that satisfied him were the accumulated 42 card points, which were completely sufficient to support the use of the two active abilities of the Void Trading Ground card, and secondly, his level had just risen to level 3, which was decent enough to be among the top survivors in Jiang City.

He looked at the Source Energy Points needed to rise from level 3 to level 4, a total of 60 points, which clearly meant he couldn't continue to level up anytime soon.

Setting his own attributes aside, Gu Ran's thoughts shifted, focusing entirely on the Void Trading Ground card, more specifically, on the card's second active ability "Rule Controller."

He reopened the Void Trading Ground card's attribute panel, and Gu Ran quickly started to think things through again.

[Active 1 (Void Trading Ground): Spend 20/50/100 card points to create a small independent trading space in the void. At the same time, living beings from the same race within a radius of 1/10/100 kilometers centered on oneself will receive an invitation to the Void Trading Ground and can enter the trading space for free trade. (Trading space exists for a natural day, cooldown time of one natural month)]

Note: Only those who have successfully awakened and obtained an official (Card Master) level can receive the invitation.]

[Active 2 (Rule Controller): Spend 5 card points to set the entry conditions for the trading space, establish the trading rules of the trading space, and have absolute control over the trading space, with the right to expel other living beings entering the trading space. However, if you kill others without authorization, you will be severely punished.]

...…

The first active ability doesn't require much consideration; with the card points he currently had, he could only activate the lowest level (20 card points) of trading space, with a coverage of only 1 kilometer radius.

As for this point, Gu Ran had certainly considered it; choosing to activate the lowest level trading space was a well-thought-out decision.

If it were not for this, he could have waited another day, as for him, who already had over 40 card points on his cardholder, accumulating 50 card points was not a difficult task.

The reason for making such a choice was actually quite simple.

Although he was the owner of the "Void Trading Ground" card, it was ultimately his first time using the card's abilities, and he had absolutely no understanding of the so-called "trading space."

With this in mind, he didn't want to, nor did he dare to summon too many people.

He was afraid, afraid that too many people would be difficult to manage, potentially causing chaos in the entire trading space.

And this was precisely what Gu Ran could not allow to happen.

Because once chaos erupted, even if it lasted only a very short time, it would cause irreparable damage to the reputation of the trading space, as "people always remember the bad aspects of things" is a common ailment of humanity.

The importance of reputation, needless to say, is self-explanatory.

...…

After much thought, Gu Ran finally activated the second active ability of the Void Trading Ground card, "Rule Controller."

With the deduction of 5 card points, a new attribute panel appeared before his eyes.

[Please choose one of the following options as the condition for living beings who receive the invitation to the trading space to enter!]

[a: No restrictions]

[b: Pay 1 card point]

[c: Pay 2 card points]

[d: Pay 3 card points]

[e: Pay 4 card points]

[f: Pay a random quality Miracle Card Fragment]

His gaze swept back and forth over the six choices before him, and after a moment of contemplation, Gu Ran settled on option c.

In his view, 2 card points were a number that the vast majority of people could accept.

Any more than that would unconsciously create a sense of "resistance."

And if it were option b, with just 1 card point, Gu Ran himself would feel uncomfortable, so 2 points was essentially the best choice.

As for options d, e, and f, let them be damned, as selecting any of these might be lucky to invite even ten people.

After the confirmation, the next step was to establish the trading rules of the trading space.

This wasn't difficult for Gu Ran; he had already listed them one by one over the past two days; now he just needed to write them down on the virtual panel before his eyes.

1: All transactions must be consensual; forced buying and selling is strictly prohibited; no coercive behavior is allowed.

2: All conflict is strictly prohibited within the trading space; violators will be expelled immediately upon discovery,

3: No random pricing is allowed; failure to produce the corresponding goods after a transaction will result in immediate expulsion.

4: The trading meeting...…

...…

Gu Ran added one rule after another, quickly listing more than a dozen, and still continuing.

After several more minutes, his gaze carefully checked the virtual panel to ensure nothing was omitted. Gu Ran then activated the "Rule Controller" active ability.

After waiting several seconds, Gu Ran felt no change in his body, which was not surprising to him.

Because the active ability "Rule Controller" had a prerequisite; it had to be activated along with the "Void Trading Ground" ability, as its powers could only be manifested within the "trading space" derived from the Void Trading Ground.

[Do you wish to spend 20 card points to activate "Void Trading Ground"? Once activated, all beings of the same race within a 1-kilometer radius will receive a trading invitation. Please choose carefully!!]

"Confirm!"

As the mechanical voice rang out in his ear, Gu Ran clicked to confirm without hesitation.

At the same time, at the instant he clicked to confirm, a flash of light passed before the eyes of every human survivor within 1 kilometer of him, followed by an identical virtual screen emerging before them.

PS: The novel will be featured on the recommended list tonight at 12, currently in the first round. Also, continuing to ask for follow-up reads, the data is still good for now, and I hope all the faithful readers continue to support, much appreciated!!!