The ground was paved with neat marble bricks, and the overhead lights were bright and beautiful.
The street leading to the entrance was not long but was packed with stalls on both sides. There were fancy storefronts as well as bustling hawker stalls run by individual investors.
The crowd wasn't too dense, but at first glance, there were at least a hundred or so people.
Some were shouting to attract customers, while others were quietly reading at their stalls, only looking up when someone approached.
"How much is this?"
Lu Ping'an pointed at a long sword on display at a stall. Men always seem to have a certain interest in these kind of regulated weapons.
This particular sword had a faint blue glow around it, making it seem like a legendary divine weapon... if it weren't for the fact that there were a dozen others on the shelves behind it that were exactly the same.
"It's 2600 per piece. Even though it's a standard issue, the attached [Piercing] effect is particularly suitable for beginners with insufficient attack power. If you're not leaning towards direct combat, we also have weapons with a [Bleeding] effect. The downside is that the toll on the user is a bit heavier."
The shopkeeper sized up Lu Ping'an. Seeing the conspicuous absence of anything on his right wrist, his enthusiasm increased considerably.
"We also have protective equipment as part of a new player kit. If you buy two items at a time, it's just 4000."
Did he really look that much like a newbie? Lu Ping'an murmured to himself, politely declined, and put the long sword back down.
He didn't know how to use a sword, and he didn't want to be seen as a naive newcomer for others to take advantage of.
Even if the seller did offer a market price, there were too many items on the market that didn't give you your money's worth. His limited startup capital had to be invested wisely.
"Spend all of the 3000 in hand."
Looking at the bustling streets and hundreds of shops, Lu Ping'an was also quite surprised.
What did he expect the dangerous Secret Realm exit to look like? Would it be heavily guarded with barbed wire and black-clothed men? Or would there be posts every few steps, equipped with automatic guns and surveillance cameras?
"I didn't expect it to be like a subway market."
The entrance led to a corridor that twisted under the hospital subway.
With such a dazzling array of goods and shops, it was difficult to decide where to start.
"Over here, over here, Meow!"
Fortunately, he wasn't alone. Lei Shuiyun, who had disappeared as soon as they arrived, finally remembered her role as a guide.
The shop where she was standing was near the end of the road, and it was the reason for everything they saw.
"'Is the Secret Realm a wealth?'..."
Looking at the omnipresent "New Red Cross" logo and the familiar holy emblem of the praying lady in the woods from Lin Ci Hospital, appearing in this underground world gave Lu Ping'an a sense of temporal dislocation.
"Two bracelets, Meow, one zero-order and one first-tier."
"Little Shuiyun, you reached first-tier? Congratulations, congratulations."
Opposite the proud Meow was a girl in her late teens. Her slightly mature, naive makeup and long white robe made her look like a university research intern.
Actually, she was indeed a graduate student.
"Lu Ping'an, this is my senior sister Zhao Ying, Meow, who's in her first year of graduate study at Science and Technology University. These are Liu and Li, both seniors, here for their internships, Meow."
Seeing Meow get along so well with her "senior brothers and sisters", Lu Ping'an couldn't help but wonder, "How many seniors do you have, and why do you have good brothers and sisters wherever you go?"
But judging from their intimacy and Meow's habit of calling everyone senior brother or sister, the answer was probably a lot...
"Could it be that even a tiny creature like Little Shuiyun can become a master of socializing by taking full advantage of her attributes?"
While pondering this, Lu Ping'an replied with a warm greeting to the senior brothers and sisters.
The Ancient City University of Science and Technology was a prestigious local institution. But the existence of a specialized study of mysticism in a science-oriented school seemed paradoxical... The irony was probably only appreciated by Lu Ping'an, as everyone else took it as a matter of course.
"Here, remember to know your limits. Many newcomers who have just broken through have trouble controlling their powers."
Taking the bracelet, which came with a small manual, Lu Ping'an now understood why that shopkeeper earlier could tell he was a complete novice just by looking at him.
The warning bracelet, commonly known as a bracelet, emitted a faint white light the moment it slipped onto Lu Ping'an's right wrist.
"Good, you're in good condition. But as a newcomer, when the light turns yellow, you should get ready to leave. When it turns red, you must go. If it turns purple or black..."
The color of the light indicated the extent of "exposure to the original pollution".
Talent Abilities are your inherent pollution that will naturally grow if left unchecked.
The profession system is the pollution from the outside world. It has to reach a balance with your radiation source to prevent uncontrollable changes.
However, the profession system also has its limits. When the original pollution exceeds this limit, uncontrollable changes naturally increase substantially.
Balance and moderation are the most important guidelines for a Secret Keeper. Pushing too hard might make you stronger, but it's more likely to turn you into a monster.
"Newbies have weak pollution resistance. Unless you'd prefer sprouting extra tentacles and eyeballs, you should exit as soon as the yellow light comes on."
Despite his advice, Lu Ping'an noticed that the wristbands of his older brothers and sisters were primarily red; Miss Zhao's wristband in front of him even glowed purple.
"We've just finished a trial run and are now in a period of assimilation."
Zhao Ying pointed to the table. It was covered in thick guidebooks and study notes spread open.
At the back of the room, people were diligently flipping through books; some were mixing medicines on makeshift test tables, others were arguing about something.
This location is the property of a pharmaceutical company under the auspices of Lin Ci Church. Considering that these older students were interning at the company, most of them were in the same career path as "Healers" and "Gardeners".
Contrary to the "Physical-based" Runners, Healers and Gardeners are professions that rely on academic accumulation.
Like the frenzied Runners, they consume the dangerous raw pollution by transforming it into professional skills, integrating the forbidden knowledge into their career system.
"Knowledge is power. Would you like to buy some power?"
Finally, having exhausted all other options, the kindly elder sister began to market to Lu Ping'an.
The wristbands are free, it is one of the responsibilities taken on by the managers of the Secret Realm.
However, the "Lin Ci Secret Realm Common Demonic Plants Codex (101st Edition)" before him, encompassing most of the potential demonic plants found within the Secret Realm, was a bit pricey.
"Junior, for just a thousand points you can take this codex home. It comes with a breeding manual I compiled myself, including cultivation tips for the fifteen most common demonic plants, it's perfect for novice gardeners."
"Little Shuiyun says you're aiming to establish your official position here, right? Cultivating demonic plants takes a lot of time, and protecting them from harm is a significant responsibility. Our company has a safety garden in here, and we offer a six-month internship package for clients, guaranteeing a successful one-time job establishment for only five thousand."
"By the way, Junior, it's your first time here isn't it? You should be unfamiliar with the creatures of the Secret Realm — this survival guide is only two hundred... if you get the plant codex, consider the survival guide a free add-on! I can also provide you with some painkillers and antidotes, which are very useful inside."
Such a sequence of relentless sales pitches truly befit the team leader of a local corporation's proxy group.
However, after further hesitation, Lu Ping'an reached for his wallet, purchasing the plant codex and survival guide.
These were always on his procurement list. Knowledge-based professions like Gardener are required to have their own codices, even Taboo libraries.
As for the "half-year" job establishment package? If his guess was correct, he probably wouldn't need it.
Following his purchase, the other party's enthusiasm had increased even more, addressing him as "Junior" with an almost criminal affection.
Now, it was Lu Ping'an's turn to reveal his hidden weapon.
"Senior, you're a 2-tier Gardener, right? Actually, I have an interesting BUFF talent. I'd let you try it at half price..."
Lei Huoren and Xia Qin were both busy, with not even enough time to offer buffs, so the available quota naturally could not be left idle.
Since he was about to begin his Gardener internship, changing his dividend recipient was also an option.
Zhao Ying hesitated. Spending a few hundred wasn't much, but could she casually accept such a messy BUFF?
But when she saw Meow, the cat behind Lu Ping'an, constantly mouthing and nodding the word "agree", she agreed.
"Little Shuiyun probably wouldn't trick me."
The next moment, she froze, looking at Lu Ping'an with a more intricate expression.
"...The Sound of Rules, such a high-quality regulatory ability...How could it appear on a newbie?...Another monster newbie appears this year?"
But the very next second, shock replaced her surprise.
The red light on her wristband abruptly flashed, then switched to yellow, followed by green, turning finally into a "pollution-free" white light!
The "learning process", which was originally expected to last at least three days, has suddenly ended in advance. She can enter the Secret Realm again and begin a new round of upgrades.
Instantly realising what had happened, she quickly covered her wristband.
Looking around, she was relieved to see that no one had noticed.
When she raised her head and looked at Lu Ping'an again, her eyes showed a mix of unease and even fear.
And then, the fear turned into delight and even greed.
At this moment, Lu Ping'an, looking bemused, could not help but think back to a big cat's complaints.
"...You have no idea what valuable treasure you have taken from me..."
It seemed like he indeed had something precious, and it seemed costly too.
"Ahem, stop looking, it won't get any cheaper. The quota is limited, we'll charge the full price tomorrow, and it'll continue to rise after that."