News of the Infinity Stones

You resisted the first curse erosion. Current status: Special Infected (1/15)

Successfully resist the erosion within 15 days to gain the trait: Bone-Piercing Chill.

Yun Wujiu sat inside an empty shop. This so-called shop was actually just a bare shell. Some kind of shaping magic had probably pulled rock directly from underground and formed it into the shape of a house.

Tables and chairs had been made from earth and stone, and even an inner room for resting had been partitioned off. Each shop was roughly sixty square meters—not particularly large, but more than enough for a Reincarnator to live and rest alone.

Yun Wujiu looked at the notification on his panel, his expression grim. After discussing it with the others at the gathering, he learned that this was likely a curse from the Sweet Home world.

The fifteen-day cycle was highly distinctive.

Moreover, he knew very well that he did have weaknesses in his heart. That was why this curse had been able to erode him.

He had lost consciousness outright the first time, putting him in a very dangerous situation. If not for Mercenary Tao’s overwhelmingly terrifying Conqueror’s Haki, regaining his senses would likely have taken some effort.

Yun Wujiu sensed through his Mental Power that Yang Yan had chosen a shop far away from his own, so he stopped paying attention to him. By now, he had acknowledged Mercenary Tao’s strength.

Mercenary Tao was indeed no longer on the same level as a Title-level Reincarnator like him. Though Yun Wujiu could not determine exactly what domain Mercenary Tao’s authority lay in, his own limited control over the elements was utterly incapable of matching the other’s lightning.

Besides, everyone knew that Mercenary Tao was a Martial Artist…

Yun Wujiu lay down and calmed his mind, waiting for the gathering’s higher-ups to arrive and discuss matters with Mercenary Tao.

He vaguely guessed that the Far East Magic Society would likely no longer be able to monopolize that mission. With Yang Yan’s profit-driven and cowardly nature, he would most likely hand that thing over to Mercenary Tao in exchange for his survival.

Yun Wujiu emptied his thoughts and used meditation to stabilize his mind, ensuring that he would not suffer erosion again.

A night passed. Before the sun had risen, Yun Wujiu was jolted awake by a piercing chill.

He walked out of the shop and saw only dark clouds filling the sky. The temperature had plummeted, as though autumn and winter had arrived in an instant.

There was no doubt that this weather was caused by the Snow Witch’s arrival.

The Snow Witch was one of the most renowned figures of the Third Tier, even better known than the Tree Herder. She was almost universally acknowledged as the gathering’s third most important figure—and she was also the leader of his team.

Absolute Zero Yun Wujiu had joined the Snow Witch’s team back when she was still in the Second Tier, during his days as a newcomer. He had grown all the way under her protection.

Crackle!

Muffled thunder rolled through the sky again. Yun Wujiu felt somewhat concerned, but fortunately, the Snow Witch was a calm person. Rather than clashing with Mercenary Tao, she landed outside Paradise and walked in on foot.

"His Excellency Mercenary Tao, it has been a long time. I never expected the balance of power between us to have reversed."

The Snow Witch’s voice was crisp and her tone exceedingly calm. She seemed to have no particular feelings about being surpassed by Mercenary Tao.

The next moment, a voice sounded beside the Snow Witch’s ear.

"Come up."

The Snow Witch raised her head and glanced at the pitch-black tower, then floated upward.

She wore a long white dress, and her black hair was thick and straight. Judging by her appearance alone, she looked exceptionally serene.

Snow Witch Fu Qinghuan landed on the top floor of the tower. The blue-white currents were incredibly active. Merely approaching this place made crackling sounds continuously ring in her ears, while her hair became slightly disheveled.

Fu Qinghuan looked into the tower. In the empty room, Mercenary Tao sat cross-legged in midair, faint currents constantly flickering across the surface of his body.

As she looked at Mercenary Tao, he happened to open his eyes as well.

Crackle!

Blue-white lightning burst forth and struck the black rock beside Fu Qinghuan.

In an instant, Fu Qinghuan felt an intense magnetic field sweep across her body. She instinctively activated defensive magic and silently confirmed the rumors that had spread through the space.

Mercenary Tao had not only obtained some combat ability above S-rank from that Supreme Expert in the West District, but had also seemingly acquired Enel’s Devil Fruit or trait from the One Piece World.

Mercenary Tao’s true strength was absolutely not limited to that of a Martial Artist whose speed and power were absurdly exceptional. At the same time, he also wielded the power of lightning.

Together with the powerful transformation that had appeared during the battle where three top Reincarnators had tried to kill Mercenary Tao, it was nearly certain.

Mercenary Tao possessed strength far beyond that of ordinary Title-level Reincarnators.

Even Third Tier Reincarnators would likely struggle to rival him, unless… they could enter the Fourth Tier!

"His Excellency Mercenary Tao, my people caused you trouble yesterday."

With lowered eyes and a docile expression, she walked into the room. A layer of ice and snow naturally formed over her body, dispersing some of the overly dense electricity.

Bai Cangshu, however, was not buying it. He still remembered how, when this woman had first appeared in the space, she had carried herself with all the bearing of a higher-up, mocking Luoxi, Rose Tiger, and the others.

Her current demeanor was not her true nature. It was merely a disguise born of circumstances being stronger than her.

The corners of his mouth curled up, revealing an unrestrained smile. A powerful aura began to spread. The Snow Witch narrowed her eyes slightly as she truly felt Mercenary Tao’s presence.

In an instant, the surroundings seemed to be filled with Mercenary Tao’s aggressively invasive aura.

This was a beast, and an incomparably greedy beast at that. If she gave him only scraps, he would never let the matter go.

"Snow Witch, two interesting fellows entered my Paradise yesterday. From one of their minds, I read some rather interesting information."

Fu Qinghuan’s heart sank. She had not expected that, despite arriving so quickly, the information Yang Yan possessed would still fall into Mercenary Tao’s hands.

She had assumed that a greedy little man like Yang Yan would only sell that information to Mercenary Tao when he had no way out. She had not expected Mercenary Tao to possess the ability to read minds!

Then she thought of how the Goryeo March Consortium and East Xia were widely promoting the existence of this Paradise, intending to draw more Reincarnators here.

The Snow Witch could only feel that Mercenary Tao’s ambitions were astonishingly vast.

If Paradise truly became a gathering place for Reincarnators in the real world, Mercenary Tao would likely gain an enormous and terrifying pool of hidden resources.

Much of the intelligence held by countless Reincarnators would unknowingly fall into his grasp.

She opened her mouth, but in the end, she only said,

"We have already completed many stages of that mission…"

Bai Cangshu’s smile deepened. He nodded and said,

"Of course, of course. A mission concerning the Infinity Stones must have quite a few prerequisite stages, and its difficulty must be rather high. You have spent quite a few resources…"

"But since I now know that mission exists, ha~ naturally, I will offer you some assistance."

The Snow Witch clicked her tongue inwardly. What assistance? He had clearly set his sights on the value of the Infinity Stones and wanted to force his way in.

The Infinity Stones were treasures of the Marvel World, possessing power that could only be described as terrifying. Often, a single Infinity Stone could create a fearsome powerhouse.

As long as they received news of such things, even Supreme Experts would find a way to get involved, let alone a greedy Fierce Beast like Mercenary Tao.

She fell silent for a long while before saying,

"This matter has too great an impact. I cannot give you an answer. I…"

Bai Cangshu shook his finger.

"No, no, no. You do not need to give me an answer. I think that if you are unwilling, then Mr. Yang Yan will probably be more than happy to let me take his place."

The Snow Witch sighed, then finally said,

"Solomon must decide this matter. I will notify him to come and discuss the details of that mission with you personally—how to… assassinate Vision and seize the Mind Stone."