39 Getting access?

Everyone focused, awaiting for 001's explanation of the item in the hologram.

"This is a comet core, rich in earth/metal elements, as well as ice element. It weighs approximately 10 kilograms, but its radius from its core is only 20 centimeters. You can already imagine how dense and heavy this material is. I'm willing to trade this for a water-type fruit from at least a Class 6 plant. If no one has it, I'm willing to sell it for 3 pieces of water-type fruit from at least a Class 5 plant." As soon as he finished, everyone was silent for a moment, before issuing their counter offers.

"I'll exchange it for water-based metal with 90% purity with High quality." A person counter-offered, but 001 shook his head at it. After all, he needed the fruit to use it for cultivation.

When Xander heard the first item being traded, his eyes glistened. He had known about the existence of such a market in the empire. Even in Eteria, there was a market for these things.

Plant-based materials were quite common in exoplanets in the universe. However, some of the plants take too long to mature, causing a low supply but a high demand for it. Some of the plants also don't have the right conditions to develop and survive long enough to accumulate the elements around them. These plant-based materials can be used as cultivation elixirs or medicines used to heal, to boost one's cultivation, or even to kill.

The materials are usually defined by quality: Low, Mid, High, Perfect, Transcendental quality. They are also defined by age ranks, namely Classes 1-10, where class 6 and above have usually formed a plant sprite. It is very rare to see a sentient plant in space that does not have any sprite formed; they are like a hybrid of a magic beast and a sprite, to be honest. Sentient plants weren't restricted to one element only, unlike Plant/Wood sprites.

Class 1 - lower than 100 years

Class 2 - lower than 200 years

Class 3 - lower than 500 years

Class 4 - lower than 1000 years

Class 5 - lower than 10,000 years

Class 6 - lower than 100,000 years

Class 7 - lower than 1,000,000 years

Class 8 - lower than 10,000,000 years

Class 9 - lower than 100,000,000 years

Class 10 - Age cannot be determined.

Usually, these plants gaining sentience are determined by their environment; meaning if one grows in water, it's probably a water-based plant, making it high in water elements. If it grows on metal, it's a metal/earth-based plant, making it rich in metal and earth elements. What this person, 001, was looking for was a water-type fruit produced by either a water-based plant or a multi-elemental plant, with the latter more precious than the former.

He checked his pocket space garden for a moment, and took a look at the empty plots of land that had grasses, mosses growing on the ground. He placed some seeds that he bought from Eteria as well as seed pits from the Class 1 fruit trees he discovered outside the Veiled City.

He planted them evenly on the ground, with each seed having a radius of 10 meters each from one another. After burying them, he modified the rules in that area: No more plant sprites could be born in that plot of land. He also increased the amount of wood and life elements in the area. He wanted to test if he could create artificially-made plant sentient beings. He then had another idea: What about inorganic materials gaining sentience?

His eyes twinkled at the idea. He went to one of the mountains that was growing and also made the area to have no sort of sprites growing, but increased the amount of earth/metal and life elements in the area, as he did on the plot of land for the trees.

He exited the space where not even a second had passed by outside. 001 was still waiting for bids. After a minute of silence, he shook his head disappointedly, before going back to his seat.

002 took her place and presented the holograms of the two items she was trading.

"The first hologram on the left shows an Elemental crystal with a mass of 5 kilograms and size of roughly 20 centimeters, and the one on the right is a Garland Tree Seed, one of the 10,000 seeds available in the empire, which is one of the seeds produced before the original tree was destroyed."

"For the first item, the elemental crystal contains the property of Fortune and Poison elements. I do not have any need for it, so I'm willing to exchange it for an elemental crystal containing the property of Fire and Water of the same amount."

"For the second item, as you know, the Garland Tree seed can be used to plant another Garland Tree, but it takes a long time for it to even sprout, and even a longer time to produce its first flowers and fruits. As of now, it's only useful as a status symbol for your clan or group. I'm willing to trade this for galaxy coins: 5,000,000 coins or items with the same worth." As soon as she finished her words, others began to place their bids.

"I'm willing to trade an Elemental crystal of fire and water with a mass of 2 kilograms, and supplement the rest with 1.5 million galaxy coins." The first bidder shouted. He had to get this elemental crystal because it matched the primary elements he had, meaning he could directly refine it or even make a cultivation elixir out of it to enhance its effects.

"I'm willing to trade an Elemental crystal of fire and water with a mass of 3 kilograms, and supplement the rest with 5 pieces of water elemental crystal and fire elemental crystal each, with a total weight of 1 kilogram each." A feminine voice sounded out, silencing the first bidder.

002 looked at the second bidder and said, "I accept 044's offer. The trade will be done after all items have been auctioned." 044 nodded in response, agreeing to 002's stipulations.

"Any bids for the 2nd item?" 002 looked at the crowd, hoping to someone would get rid of this useless seed for her. After all, it was only a gift that she received; she didn't really need it. In truth, Xander also wanted the item. He wanted someone to bid for it and steal it later from that person.

He had already inspected the cultivation levels of these people; the strongest one of them, 003, was just a Demigod-9 cultivator. No one had reached the level of Divine class, so up to a certain extent, he could steal and escape quickly with no one the wiser. Although he couldn't beat and kill them as easy as he did with Mythic magicians, he won't get injured, at least. However, what worried him is the standard of Demigod cultivators in the Galactic empire; for all he knew, they would roughly have the same strength as a Divine-rank cultivator in Eteria.

Hopefully, it's a direct transaction, rather than through the virtual reality, since plant materials are considered biological and living organisms, so it shouldn't be able to be digitized? If it was the latter, he could just watch these items fly out of his grasp.

As he thought of these, another bid came out for the Garland Tree seed.

"I'm willing to pay 2 million galaxy coins, and 40 kilograms of Adamantium-Telarite alloy of perfect quality." A deep voice sounded, coming from a man wearing a black mask with silver engravings. 002 thought for a moment before agreeing.

"Ok, I accept 043's offer." 043 nodded in agreement, and 002 returned to her seat, with 003 heading on stage. The items presented didn't catch much of Xander's attention. After 30 minutes, it was the last person, 089, who appeared to be trading 3 items, shown in the hologram.

"The first item is a red-blood sphere. I don't know it's specific functions. I got this from the remains of my enemy when we were fighting in space and his body was crushed by a passing neutron star. Does anyone have any information about this item, I am willing to pay for it."

"The second item is a natural magic artifact from a Divine-2 stage cultivator, an Elemental Essence Stone with the element of Fire, with a comprehension level of 20%. I am willing to trade this for an Elemental Essence Stone with the element of Wood of the same comprehension level, or 2 of it at a lower comprehension level."

"The third item is an unknown stone that I have gotten from a budding exoplanet a few days ago, outside the empire's domain. The atmosphere of the area was very thin, and only two-thirds of the planet is covered with vegetation, flowing water, and animals. There were no intelligent civilizations formed at all, and it seemed like the state of the planet was artificial rather than natural, with the majority of the animals being quite antiquated when I compared their genetic material. I decided to make it my go-to vacation because of how perfect the place was.

I discovered the stone while I was swimming on a waterfall lake; it was embedded in the bottom of the lake and had a strong fluctuation of water element series. It contains all the elements under the Water element series. I'm willing to trade this for 1 unconditional favor from a Sage class cultivator, or 3 unconditional favors from a Divine-6 or higher cultivator."

089 finished, and awaited for the bids nervously. It was the first and last item that he was worried about the most. Although mystery would attract the other guests, he wasn't sure if they could pay up the requests he placed.

For a minute, it was quiet, and a few people were murmuring with one another, talking about the first item, while some were focused on their communication devices, awaiting for some sort of confirmation. After another minute of silence, 089 was about to leave when he heard a female voice sound out,

"My patriarch is asking for the 3rd item. She said: 1 unconditional favor of saving your life or eliminating a target as a promise from a Sage class cultivator, as long as the target has lower cultivation than her, as well as 1,000,000 galaxy coins. In return, she wants the 3rd item and the coordinates of the exoplanet. Do you agree with this deal?" The woman said to 089, who thought about it for a moment, and agreed.

"I accept 066's offer." 089 didn't have any reason to disagree. Not only will he gain 1 million galaxy coins for giving the coordinates of the planet, but he would also gain 1 unconditional favor from a Sage powerhouse.

Soon afterwards, another offer popped out for the second item.

"My clan is willing to trade the Elemental Essence Stone, and we offer 2 Wood-type Elemental Essence stone with 8% comprehension each." A masculine voice sounded out, and 089 saw that it was 028. He agreed with the deal.

"I accept 028's offer." Now, all 089 was waiting for was any information concerning the first item. When he was met with silence again for more than a minute, he was about to close the bidding when he heard a whisper in his mind.

"I can tell you information about that sphere. In return, I need you to do 3 things that should be within your abilities."

When 089 heard this, his body froze, and was on alert. This was mind magic, a combination of wind, lightning and wave elements to infiltrate the thoughts of the target.

"Act normal. I'll meet you once the meeting is over, Mr. Vanderbilt." the voice resounded again in his mind, causing him to feel alert and a bit of panic. Afterall, these meetings were anonymous, and no one knew who the other was, except 000, who created the trade talks.

Mr. Vanderbilt, or 089, quickly calmed himself and seeing no offers, he returned to his seat, as if nothing just happened.

001 then stood up, and declared,

"The auction process has ended, trading may now finalize." Everyone else stood up and began to talk to one another, specifically the people they were in contact with for the items they had bought or sold.

After 089 finalized his trades, he left the venue along with the others who had finished as well, including 043 who had bought the Garland Tree seed.

Upon reaching the exit, 043's face suddenly fell, and he began to check his bag, where the seed was placed as well as the other items he had bought. Surprise, surprise, the seed was gone, but the other items were intact. He roared furiously, causing the structure of the building to shake for a bit as it was infused with domain power.

"My seed! Where is it!?"

As others were gathering around 043's location to know what was happening, 089 heard another voice echo in his mind.

"Don't mind that guy. Go to the Carliste Park, wait for me on the bench by the lakeside." immediately, 089 had an idea that this mysterious being caused the situation to unfold.

089, not daring to stay any longer, left the venue. Similarly, the others didn't want to be implicated so they left as well. After a few minutes, only 001, 002, 003 and 043 was left, discussing with one another about the problem.

Xander had long left the alleyway and was patiently waiting near the lakeside where the bench was in Carliste Park. After two minutes, a blurry figure appeared. It was Mr. Vanderbilt.

"Ok, you're here. Before I give you the information you seek, I need you to do 3 things for me." Xander began speaking, his voice hoarse and deeper than usual. There was no hint of playfulness at all.

"First, I need a legitimate identification card."

"Second, I need you to open me a bank account with 1,000,000 galaxy coins in it, registered to the identity written in the identification card."

"Third, I need you to sign a binding contract that whatever you learn from the red sphere, you will tell it to me, while you would not divulge my existence to anyone or anything."

Xander flicked his wrist and a binding contract scroll appeared between the two of them, floating. Mr. Vanderbilt didn't have any qualms with the first 2 conditions that Xander had requested; it was the 3rd one that made it quite iffy for him. However, when he received the contract and began to read the contract, he realized there wasn't any restrictions, only the mention, discussion or transfer of information about Xander is blocked. He is free to do anything else with the information he had gained.

After thinking for a bit, Mr. Vanderbilt was still hesitant; seeing this, Xander placed one more bait for 089 to fall into the trap.

"I can assure you if you learned how to use this, not only will you easily reach Demigod-9 from Demigod-3 in 3 years, but you will also have a smoother journey in creating your Elemental Essence Stone seed." upon hearing this, Mr. Vanderbilt was quite tempted.

He was already 85 years old. If he couldn't even reach Demigod-9 before 100, can he be considered talented, even in Arder? Although he seemed old, he was not without ambition. If he managed to breakthrough to Divine class before the age of 100, his status in the family would quickly rise up as well.

After a moment of hesitation, he agreed and signed the binding contract. He also personally created the identification card for Xander, who was now registered with the name of Homer Simpson. The creation and registration were fairly easy; Xander had to register his life essence aura into the identification card, which then created a copy of it in the virtual world, [Second Life] for verification in the future. It was quite easy to disguise his life essence aura by using his time clone's life essence. Soon afterwards, the bank account opened by Mr. Vanderbilt was also listed under Homer Simpson's name, containing 1,000,000 galaxy coins.

Mr. Vanderbilt, doing all the things Xander asked for, eagerly asked,

"I've done my part, now tell me: What is this red sphere, and how can I use it?"

"It's easier for me to show you its capabilities than explain." Xander pointed his finger at Mr. Vanderbilt's forehead, immediately showing a series of images with no sound of what Xander had experienced and saw at the exoplanet, the very same exoplanet where Mr. Vanderbilt found his third item.

After a few minutes, his eyes cleared and he looked incredulously at Xander. Of course, he didn't seem to realize that Xander had control over space-time elements, or that he gained enlightenment of the Origin elements; he just saw the rapidly expanding red dome covering a portion of the planet, rapidly causing the elements to propagate and life to flourish, slowly filling up the dead planet, expanding to its corners. Even after the red dome shattered and disappeared, life had began to extend out of the original area, with more and more animals and plants, microorganisms extending their reach.

It seems... the planet he discovered, was caused by the man standing in front of him, no less. But, he had a problem.

"I could see how you used it, but how can I utilize it using my current abilities?" He asked Xander, confused.

"Just message me when you are going to use it. Message me through the server. I'll activate it for you in a barren planet outside the empire's control." Xander waved his hand, took the identification card and left, leaving Mr. Vanderbilt alone in the park, a bit feverish from the excitement.

Xander's goals had primarily been met; he decided to go back to Eteria and come back the next day. He would then plan to buy the virtual reality console and try to modify his smartwatch to be able to connect to the virtual reality server as well.

______________________________________

The next day, Xander ate his breakfast normally, and read the news concerning the phenomenon yesterday being broadcasted all over the continent of Ete.

His bodyguards and maids had already woken up, their cultivation several stages higher than before, and it was stable. Joseph and Bryan had already reached Legendary-6 in just a night, while Ryan had already reached Legendary-8. The twins, Rosa and Esta, reached Legendary-4 as well, managing to break through from Master class, successfully forming their vessels.

He instructed them not to disturb him in the basement today, and that they should focus on getting used to their strength. He also told them that he will hold a sparring match tomorrow against all of them, causing the guards and the maids to whiten.

Anyhow, after Xander fixed his affairs, he headed to Arder and was in the outskirts of Veiled City. He entered his portable space garden and checked the condition of the plants, especially the Garland Tree seed that he planted near the plot of land where he set up a rule of no sprites. With a time acceleration of 1 second: 180 days, roughly 21,000 years had passed by in the garden. The sprites and magic beasts were quite united and had their places to live in; a few newly-born sprites entered the library and focused on reading the books available.

When he saw the plot of land, he could see that although the plants didn't have sentience nor a sprite being formed, something was changing morphologically and physically, as well as the sense that the elements were changing something fundamental in them.

He couldn't explain it quite clearly, but there were some results. The trees he had planted had already grown to up to 25 to 40 meters in height, and each tree had its own harvestable materials present, such as their sap, their fruits, and their branches. He picked up fruit from one of the trees and took a bite out of it.

Immediately, powerful, overwhelming flavor covered his tongue and throat, as it headed down to his stomach, before becoming cool and mellow. It was very rich in wood and life elements. Upon nodding to the taste, Xander had an idea: He should get water-based plants and put it in the streams or the lake.

He exited the garden, headed to Eteria's supermarket where he could buy seeds that came from water-based plants. At the same time, he also messaged his mom concerning where he could buy the seeds for such plants. He also asked for seeds of some exotic plants, as well as plants that grow in different environments. Faria, his mother who just woken up from the treatment Xander had placed them in, was already back at the military laboratory. Upon hearing her son's request, she responded that she could ask for some of the hybridized seeds available in the agricultural lab, however, Xander couldn't plant them on the outside; Xander agreed. Seeing her son agree, she said she would send the seeds within 2 days to his villa, to the delight of Xander.

After ensuring that he would get the seeds within 2 days, he left Eteria once more and appeared in a dark corner downtown of the Veiled City. He casually looked around and then headed to the nearest electronics shop in the business district of Veiled City.