God-Tier Awakening: The Dead Can Still Level Up

Chapter 17: The Black Card

Hearing her question, Shen Wuxia lowered his gaze toward the black card in Xingluo’s hand. "It is not important for now," he said calmly. "Just know that it is useful."

Xingluo clearly did not believe him, but Vice Leader Wang was already leading them toward the second floor.

Shen Wuxia looked away from the card, though his thoughts did not move away with his gaze. That card was not valuable only because of the credits stored inside it.

It was a top-grade association card given to him by Miao Tianhe, the first son of the Miao Corporation and one of his closest friends in the academy.

In terms of pure wealth, the Miao Corporation could even stand above the Qin Family, and its connections spread through almost every major business in the city.

Thinking of Tianhe made Shen Wuxia’s expression quiet for a moment.

He did not know what his old guild was doing now, or whether they even understood how strangely he had died.

Behind them, the senior employee’s panicked voice still echoed faintly from the lower hall as the guards dragged her away.

Xingluo tightened her grip around the card, but she did not ask again in front of Vice Leader Wang.

Soon, they reached the second floor, where the noise from the trading hall faded behind a row of sealed private chambers.

Vice Leader Wang stopped before one of the doors and pressed his badge against the silver plate beside it.

The door opened without a sound and as Xingluo stepped inside after him, and her eyes changed slightly when she saw the room beyond.

The room beyond was nothing like the trading hall below.

It was quiet, wide, and sealed behind a faint blue barrier that cut away every sound from outside.

Dark wooden walls surrounded the chamber, while glass cabinets filled with medicine cases, rune boxes, and sealed crystal tubes stood along both sides.

At the center rested a long black table marked with silver transaction arrays, and two guards stood near the door without speaking.

Vice Leader Wang gestured toward the sofa. "Please sit, Miss."

Xingluo sat down carefully, still holding the black card between her fingers while Xu Xue stood near the side with the tablet in hand.

Vice Leader Wang lowered his head slightly. "I apologize again for the oversight earlier; may I know your name?"

Xingluo looked at him for a moment before nodding. "Luo Xingluo, I hope something like that does not happen again."

"Of course, Miss Luo," Wang replied with a polite smile. "The Awakeners Center will not repeat such an error."

He then glanced toward Xu Xue and signaled for her to continue. Xu Xue quickly stepped forward and checked the tablet again. "Miss Luo, do you need anything else added to the order?"

Xingluo shook her head. "No. That is everything I need."

Xu Xue nodded and tapped the screen several times. "Then your total comes to twelve million credits."

Xingluo’s fingers tightened around the card, even after everything stored inside the vault, hearing that number still made her chest feel tight.

She glanced toward Shen Wuxia, who was floating near Vice Leader Wang with a calm expression. Shen Wuxia only nodded once, as if twelve million credits were not enough to make him blink.

Xingluo swallowed the strange feeling in her throat and looked back at Xu Xue. "Proceed."

Just then, Vice Leader Wang looked over the item list and spoke calmly. "It seems Miss Luo is preparing for a wilderness hunt."

Xingluo’s body tensed slightly, but she still gave a small nod. "Yes." Wang smiled faintly and placed one finger on the table. "Then I may have some useful information for you."

Xingluo did not answer immediately, and her eyes became more guarded.

Seeing her reaction, Wang continued in the same calm tone. "A new dungeon opened three days ago near the outer zone marked on your map."

He paused for a moment before adding, "No team has cleared it yet, and the reported reward grade is unusually high."

Xingluo’s gaze shifted slightly toward Shen Wuxia.

Wang noticed the hesitation and smiled again. "Do not misunderstand Miss Luo, I am only trying to correct the poor impression our trading hall gave you today."

He took the prepared storage bracelet from Xu Xue and placed it gently before Xingluo. "Also, your final bill will be adjusted to ten million credits."

Xingluo stared at him for a moment, clearly not expecting such a large reduction.

Shen Wuxia, however, only gave a faint smile from the side, so she accepted the bracelet without asking too much.

Xu Xue ran the black card through the payment plate, and the transaction cleared almost immediately.

Vice Leader Wang’s eyes moved across the card for a brief second before returning to Xingluo’s face.

Shen Wuxia noticed that glance and understood everything Wang did not care about losing two million credits today.

For someone in his position, that loss was still smaller than missing a chance to connect with the holder of a supreme association card.

If his gamble was wrong, he would only lose a little profit. If his gamble was right, it could bring him a connection he might not earn even after decades of bowing to ordinary rich clients.

Shen Wuxia looked at the old man with a quiet smile, at least this one knew how to count properly.

After the transaction cleared, Xingluo stood up and gave Vice Leader Wang a polite nod. "Thank you for your assistance. Also, Xu Xue handled my order very well before the misunderstanding."

Xu Xue froze for a moment, clearly not expecting Xingluo to mention her in front of the Vice Leader.

Vice Leader Wang glanced at the young attendant and nodded slightly. "I will remember that."

Only then did Xingluo take the storage bracelet, leave the private chamber, and return to the main trading hall.

The noise from below surrounded her again as she merged into the crowd moving through the Awakeners Center.

Shen Wuxia floated beside her and gave a faint laugh. "You are quite good at repaying small favors."

Xingluo looked away. "She helped me first. I only said the truth."

"That is usually how people describe repaying favors," Shen Wuxia replied calmly.

Xingluo clicked her tongue but did not argue as they walked toward the exit.

After they reached the main hall, Shen Wuxia glanced at the falling snow outside and spoke again. "For today, you should not leave the city. There is no point rushing out without giving notice."

Xingluo looked at him. "Then what?" "Talk to Professor Liang, take proper leave, and inform your friends enough that they do not start searching for you."

Xingluo sighed after hearing that. "I am more worried about my mom. How am I supposed to explain where all this money came from?"

Shen Wuxia thought for a moment before replying, "Tell her Professor Liang gave you support after rewarding you with the sword."

Xingluo stared at him. "That sounds fake."

"It is still more believable than telling her a ghost gave you a fortune from his secret vault."

Xingluo froze for half a breath, then burst into laughter before quickly covering her mouth in the crowded hall.

Several people nearby glanced at her strangely, but she only lowered her head and hurried toward the exit.

"Fine," she said, still smiling slightly. "Professor Liang becomes the scapegoat."

"Sponsor," Shen Wuxia corrected. "Scapegoat sounds disrespectful."

"Same thing," Xingluo replied as she stepped out of the Awakeners Center and walked toward the bus stop.

Shen Wuxia floated after her, watching as the snow fell quietly over the city streets again.