I Am Unstoppable

Chapter 468 The Black Market

Jonathan continued his balancing of the other elemental energies with ease. Fire, light, earth, wood, and dark elements were all devoured one by one. Fire, light, and wood elements were scarce, especially the first two on such a dark night, so Jonathan carefully balanced his consumption.

As for the dark and earth elements, they were abundant.

Jonathan consumed ten trillion dark elements and ten trillion earth elements, which lit up his mind sphere even more. Moreover, as he closed his eyes, he felt that his connection to his surroundings had deepened. He could now perceive every movement within a kilometer's radius, harnessing the external elements as his senses.

Despite his speedy progress, Jonathan knew there was still room for growth in mastering and evolving the elements. He aspired to manipulate elements within a range of thousands of kilometers, a feat that would elevate him to Theos' level.

At that moment, the morning sun painted the sky bright, indicating that Jonathan had cultivated for the entire night.

Torrence and Yeverie too woke up and greeted the new day.

Surprised to see Jonathan still sitting upright with his legs crossed, Torrence asked, “Jonathan, did you not sleep at all?”

Opening his eyes, Jonathan realized how swiftly the night had passed. “Is it already morning?” He sighed and remarked further, “If I have a month to cultivate my skills, I might stand a chance against Theos!” The entire night of cultivating had bolstered his confidence.

In reality, Jonathan was being overly optimistic. The initial consumption process was indeed swift, akin to practicing internal-style martial arts or playing a game. The first few levels usually progressed quickly, but as one advanced further, the difficulty increased exponentially.

Torrence shared in Jonathan's enthusiasm. “Once we reach Pollerton, you'll have ample time to hone your skills,” he assured.

Jonathan merely responded with a smile.

Yeverie cheerfully went about preparing breakfast.

Lost in thought, Jonathan addressed Torrence, saying, “Our escape plan just became more challenging.”

Baffled, Torrence inquired, “What do you mean?”

Jonathan explained, “Through my night of meditation, I can now sense everything within a kilometer's radius using my mind sphere. I'm sure Theos can observe a range of hundreds or thousands of kilometers easily. Thus, if we're within her observation range, that will put us at risk of being sighted by her.”

Perplexed, Torrence probed, “What exactly is this 'mind sphere?'“

Jonathan paused for a moment as realization dawned upon him that “mind sphere” was a name he had just coined. He pointed at his head, saying, “When I close my eyes, a sphere of light forms in my mind. It acts as a conduit for harnessing external elements.”

Torrence pondered and said, “Well, magicians often refer to this as the divine spirit. They believe it to be a gift from divine spirits, so they gave this mystical object the same name, believing that their daily meditation is a form of communion with the divine spirits themselves.”

Jonathan laughed aloud. “Seriously, 'divine spirit' sounds too mundane. Let's stick with 'mind sphere' instead. From now on, that's what I'll call it.”

Torrence chuckled along. “Suit yourself.” Pausing briefly, he continued, “You mentioned you can observe things within a kilometer's radius. Considering Theos' abilities, she may be capable of observing things within hundreds of kilometers.”

Jonathan remarked, “That's the thing. We should always consider the worst-case scenario when assessing situations.” He paused for a moment and continued, “Nevertheless, even if Theos can observe such a wide range, that's an endless expanse to cover. She can't possibly observe every nook and cranny at all times.”

It was similar to the concept of surveillance cameras. If one put all the surveillance footage from a building onto one screen, it would be nearly impossible for one to spot what was happening in every small corner unless one had an idea where to look.

Torrence agreed, saying, “You make a valid point. Nonetheless, we should remain cautious.”

Jonathan nodded.

After breakfast, the group continued their journey.

The landscape remained a snowy expanse, devoid of any signs of life.

However, by five o'clock in the afternoon, Jonathan and his companions finally came across footprints in the snow. Furthermore, they saw a forest up ahead.

This area was no longer as desolate as before.

“We're still about one thousand and six hundred kilometers away from Pollerton, but it's far enough from the Demon Palace. The climate here is better than where we were before, which explains the tracks left by unsavory individuals. It's not just those who have escaped from Pollerton, but also orcs and those who've fallen on hard times in Moranta. This place is a melting pot of all kinds of folks, and there aren't many good ones around,” Torrence explained.

Jonathan chuckled and said, “Well, we're the exception, aren't we?”

Torrence smiled in agreement.

The trio continued their journey, and as night fell, they noticed a flickering light ahead, accompanied by distant voices.

Jonathan immediately tapped into his mind sphere, instantly connecting with all the elements within a kilometer's radius.

Beyond that distance, he glimpsed a sea of tents stretching as far as the eye could see. Some of the tents were connected, resembling large estates, and the streets in the middle between tents were adorned with lanterns made of fire talismans.

The place was brilliantly illuminated at night.

Jonathan also noticed walls made of frost surrounding the tents, creating a bustling settlement within.

Above the city gate also made from frost, two large and imposing words read “Norwal City.”

Jonathan quickly withdrew his consciousness, realizing that communicating with elements was quite taxing on his mind. He immediately realized that while Theos was undeniably powerful and could observe from a thousand kilometers away, she couldn't possibly keep a constant watch. It would be incredibly draining and consume a tremendous amount of spiritual energy.

Putting aside that thought, Jonathan turned to Torrence and said, “Norwal City! That's Norwal City right in front of us. Who would have thought there's such a place here?”

Torrence was taken aback for a moment, his expression turning complex. He then said, “I can't believe Norwal City actually exists.”

Jonathan and Yeverie became curious at once. Yeverie asked, “Torrence, what's the story with Norwal City?”

Torrence replied, “I've heard tales of Norwal City. It's said to be a haven for tyrants within the vast snowy tundra. Lord Norwal reigns over this place with a group of magicians' death spirits, and his subordinates are pretty fearsome. He specializes in doing business with the tyrants. It's a place where magic gems are traded, and beautiful women are sold as slaves. Norwal City is like a market specifically designed for tyrants. As long as you have money, you can get whatever you desire. However, Norwal City has its own rules. No conflicts or brawls are allowed inside the city. Any grudges must be settled outside, or else Lord Norwal will show no mercy.”

Listening intently, Jonathan couldn't suppress a chuckle. “Seems like Norwal City might be the safest place around. Let's go in and change our clothes there.”

Torrence added, “I have to say that these are mere tales I've heard. The truth may be different.”

Jonathan replied confidently, “We're closing in on Pollerton, and Theos is likely not far behind. It's imperative that we alter our appearances. Besides, since we dare enter Pollerton, surely we dare enter Norwal City as well, right?”

Torrence found that it made sense, so he didn't say anything more and the trio made their way toward the beckoning gates of Norwal City.

The city gates stood open, devoid of sentries. Without hesitation, they stepped inside.

Within Norwal City, Jonathan sensed a peculiar familiarity. The streets were unexpectedly clean, devoid of snow, and paved with smooth stone.

Despite the frigid winds, lanterns that adorned the sides of the streets bathed the place in a warm glow.

While the main street was not teeming with crowds, there was still a steady flow of people.

For Jonathan, who had endured the desolation of Moranta for so long, the sight of bustling activity and human presence felt like a warm and comforting embrace to him.

Curiosity piqued, Yeverie observed the place and said, “Why is there no snow here? Is Norwal City

shielded from the icy grip of the snowy tundra?”

Torrence pondered and replied, “I suspect powerful magicians have woven a protective enchantment that prevents heavy snowfall here.”

At that point, Jonathan spoke up. “Let's not dwell on that for now. We need to find a place to acquire new attire.”

Torrence answered, “Well, let's continue walking forward then.” NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.

As they pressed on, they realized that Norwal City's layout was straightforward with a single main street leading to its center.

Along the way, the trio marveled at the magnificently and lavishly decorated tents that didn't look like tents at all if one didn't look up.

Soon, Jonathan's gaze fell upon a stall selling magic gems. Torrence explained, “In Moranta, trading magic gems openly is a crime punishable by beheading. The sole authority to trade magic gems lies with the Magician's Council.”

Jonathan chuckled, “Sounds like your royals and the Supreme Sect want to corner the market, huh?”

Torrence asked, “What do you mean by corner the market?”

Jonathan clarified, “Well, it's like a monopoly. It's when they use their power and influence to monopolize trade, leaving no room for others to participate.”

Torrence nodded, now understanding the concept.

As they ventured forth, Jonathan's attention was drawn to an unexpected sight—a brothel! Within the premises, women exuded allure and seduction as they catered to the sexual whims of customers.

Amused, Jonathan thought to himself that no matter how tyrannical the tyrants were, they seemed to be lacking in female companionship here as well.

Perhaps the only thing they didn't lack was money, and thus Norwal City served as their entertainment center. As Jonathan passed by, he could hear the echoes of men's laughter and the muffled sounds of women's moans emanating from within the thin walls of those tents.

Torrence pointed ahead and said, “That must be the black market.”

Jonathan looked in his direction and saw a massive marketplace-like area.

The area was abuzz with activity—rows of tents made up a chaotic labyrinth, where people from all walks of life gathered amidst the cluttered and filthy surroundings.

It was a melting pot of society where individuals of different backgrounds intermingled with each other.

“What's the black market for?” Jonathan asked Torrence.

Torrence explained, “It deals in human trafficking, slavery, elves, magic scrolls, and a variety of other treasures. It's also rumored that you can purchase plenty of information there.”