Deep within the subterranean caves, Ethan and his companions continued their descent.
As they delved deeper, numerous branching paths emerged, all shrouded in darkness and leading to unknown destinations.
Even Eluna, who had spent considerable time in these parts, was at a loss, having never ventured this deep before.
"Let's take this way," Ethan suggested, picking a direction. No one voiced any objections.
Pressing on, after several more hours of navigation, the group once again encountered others taking a rest.
This time, no conflict arose. Instead, they learned from these resting Heroes about a market established deep within the cave.
"If you have any valuable items, or if you're looking to exchange for something rare, you might want to check out the market," one of the resting figures suggested.
"But, be on your guard," another cautioned.
Ethan nodded appreciatively, conveying his thanks.
He then led Sherry and Eluna in the direction of the market.
Indeed, he had a pressing need to visit this marketplace.
The labyrinthine nature of the cave system, with its indistinguishably similar branches, made it far too easy to get lost.
A map of this subterranean maze would be invaluable.
Before long, Ethan and his party arrived at the expansive underground market.
Stepping in for the first time, the sheer scale and vitality of the place took them aback.
The space, set within a vast underground cavern, was bustling with numerous Heroes and various exotic races.
They sat on the ground, showcasing treasures they'd acquired since entering the cave, most of which were peculiarly shaped objects.
Ethan's eyes were even drawn to a statue of a gargoyle.
The gargoyle statue was labeled as a unique piece of art, with a detailed description asserting it to be the work of a master sculptor from an ancient kingdom.
Upon seeing it, Mia and the others couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Their laughter went unnoticed amid the hustle and bustle of the market.
The number of individuals here was staggering, rivaling even the most populous cities above ground.
Moreover, the ceiling of the cavern was adorned with luminous orbs, bathing the entire marketplace in a brilliant glow.
"Let's take a look around; we might find something worthwhile," Ethan suggested to the group.
Sherry nodded in agreement, adding, "Alright. I noticed someone selling maps a while ago. I'll go check that out."
With that, she headed towards a corner of the market.
The others dispersed as well, exploring the various stalls.
Ethan made his way to the stall selling the gargoyle statue.
However, he wasn't interested in the statue itself.
Instead, his attention was drawn to an ancient-looking ring on display.
ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm With a puzzled look in his eyes, he picked it up, examining its details.
"What is this?" Ethan inquired of the stall owner.
Seeing a potential customer, the vendor's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
He began to passionately describe, "Sir, you truly have an eye for the unique. This ring may appear worn and tarnished, but it is a precious divine artifact from an ancient kingdom."
"However, this artifact hasn't yet found its rightful owner and thus hasn't revealed its true potential."
"So, it's essentially useless?" Ethan remarked.
Ethan countered.
"No, no, no!" The vendor quickly waved his hands, earnestly responding, "My good sir, the moment I saw you, I sensed something extraordinary about you. Perhaps you are the true owner this ring has been waiting for."
"Tell you what, I'll take a slight loss on this and sell it to you for the price of a drop of Blood Source."
The vendor's face took on a mournful expression, as if the ring was truly an invaluable artifact.
However, upon hearing this, Ethan promptly set the ring back down.
With his exceptional spiritual perception, he had sensed that the ring was somewhat unique, but he wasn't clear about its exact purpose.
The Blood Source was an immensely precious substance, especially considering that Eluna had obtained it at the cost of bearing a curse.
There was no way Ethan would trade it for the ring.
Seeing Ethan about to leave, the vendor became desperate.
"Sir, if you're unsatisfied with the price, why not name your own?" the stall owner pleaded.
At this, a burly man with a thick beard from the neighboring stall chimed in, his voice rough and commanding, "Sovic, are you trying to swindle someone again? That's just a ring you picked up off the ground, and you dare ask for a drop of Blood Source as its price! Hmph! A drop of Blood Source is worth more than all your wares combined, even if you threw yourself into the deal."
"Why do you have to interfere, Jose?" The vendor, Sovic, responded angrily.
He had already sensed the drop of Blood Source on Ethan, and judging by Ethan's unfamiliar face, deduced he wasn't a regular of these underground caverns.
But now, his plans were foiled by Jose.
"Alright, alright. If you genuinely want this ring, I'll let it go for a piece of red jade," Sovic sighed in resignation, realizing he couldn't deceive Ethan any longer.
"A piece of red jade?" Ethan pondered briefly before deciding to make the purchase.
Most of those who set up stalls or made purchases in the cavern plaza boasted strengths of at least Rank S or higher.
Even if they didn't, they possessed a myriad of powerful skills.
Due to this, there existed an unspoken understanding within the cavern plaza: no one would act against another.
After all, any direct confrontation could likely result in mutual destruction.
Similarly, the gold coins of various kingdoms on the surface had lost their allure for these individuals, many of whom had already achieved Rank S Hero status.
Thus, bartering was the prevalent mode of transaction in this underground marketplace.
The most sought-after items here were the red jade and Blood Source.
Red jade offered a rapid enhancement of one's capabilities.
Even though its effects quickly reached a ceiling, its low usage requirements made it ideal for the average person.
If one's potential with the red jade maxed out, upon returning to the surface, it could still be exchanged for substantial wealth and resources, as evidenced by Ethan's agreement with the Lava Dark Lord.
As for the Blood Source, it was in perpetual demand.
At this moment, Ethan sensed several pairs of eyes fixated on him.
"It seems they all have means to detect the Blood Source," Ethan mused internally. He then picked up the ring and tossed a piece of red jade to the stall owner, Sovic.
"And as for the red jade... I used up too much for my Bloodline advancement. Now, I only have about a hundred pieces left. I need to be frugal," Ethan calculated in his mind as he pocketed the ring and moved on.
As he continued to wander, he encountered several individuals who expressed interest in exchanging various items for the Blood Source in his possession, but Ethan consistently declined their offers.
This heightened his curiosity even further: How exactly could these people sense the Blood Source?
Ethan's ponderings didn't last long before Sherry and the others returned to the plaza's entrance to regroup with him.
In Sherry's hand was a rolled-up map, Eluna held a collection of bottles and vials, Mia had acquired some essential medicines, and Pale Wolf, most noticeably, was adorned in a brand-new set of armor.
Naturally, that armor came at a considerable price for Pale Wolf.
"Let's find a place to rest not too far from the market. If we go too far out, we might attract unwanted attention," Ethan suggested to the group.
Soon after, Ethan and his team set up a few simple tents a short distance from the underground plaza, using them as a makeshift resting area.
"Ethan, here, this is a map of the underground caverns," Sherry handed him the map once they had a campfire burning.
He unrolled and examined it closely. The map indicated their current location within the underground plaza, situated at the bottom left corner.
The central part of the cavern, highlighted on the map, was a considerable distance away.
Moreover, the routes on the map were incredibly intricate.
Especially deeper in, where after just a few hundred meters, one might encounter a fork in the path – sometimes even a dozen forks.
One wrong turn could mean getting hopelessly lost within the caverns.
"There's also this," Sherry added, handing Ethan a scroll when he was done with the map.
She had prepared copies for Eluna, Mia, Pale Wolf, and herself as well.
"What is this?" Ethan inquired, refraining from immediately opening it.
Sherry explained, "It's a sensing scroll. According to the seller, once you use it, you can detect the presence of the Blood Source."
"Is it really that miraculous?" Ethan exclaimed, his eyes widening in astonishment.
He then turned to Eluna, "Eluna, did you know about this before?"
"I'm not sure," Eluna responded, shaking her head slightly. "I've never ventured deep into the underground caverns before. Perhaps it's a recent invention."
At that, Sherry interjected, "I don't believe so. The seller mentioned that it wasn't crafted by anyone who has ventured into the caverns."
"Instead, the scroll had always existed within the caverns. They've been found nearly everywhere, and in great abundance, which is why they aren't particularly valuable."
Ethan was taken aback by this revelation, a vague unease settling in his heart.
If everyone could sense the Blood Source, then obtaining it would be exponentially more challenging.
And even if they managed to get hold of it, ensuring its safety would be another concern altogether.
But what advantages did this present?
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