Both sides in this duel were filled with confidence. The side with Number Seven leaned on the immense power of the divine artifact, Black Arrow, but Aziz’s confidence rested entirely upon his own formidable strength.

"I don't need this," Aziz flatly refused the attachment of the G-point, casually patting his weapon. "Having my old companion here is more than enough."

Aziz’s confidence was indeed commendable. Strictly speaking, with his two legendary pieces of equipment, plus an Executor rank that might be a tier higher than his opponent's, he certainly stood a fighting chance against an enemy possessing a divine artifact...

However, Fang Senyan had always been prone to considering the worst possible motives of others. The fact that his opponent had shelled out such an astonishing sum of money to acquire a divine artifact suggested that the associated team must hold considerable sway in this space. Therefore, if Aziz could not start the fight on equal footing with the enemy, Fang Senyan would truly feel that the massive investment had been a significant loss.

But looking at Aziz's resolute gaze, Fang Senyan momentarily didn't know what to say. At this point, Aziz broke his usual silence to offer an explanation:

"If we follow your analysis, then the opponent must have deployed a ranged attacker. This person has just acquired the divine artifact, so they should be at the peak of their momentum. The fact that they still chose a test of skill under these circumstances shows they lack the mindset for an all-out, decisive victory. In a life-or-death moment, they will struggle to perform consistently. But this is precisely my strength, which is why I am so certain."

Fang Senyan pondered for a moment.

"How about this: I respect your choice, so you can fight in the manner you desire. However, this wager concerns the team's welfare and benefits—it is everyone's affair. So, I will add an insurance factor: let the G-point attach to your weapon, but it won't be activated. If—I mean, should the tide of battle turn against us, it can serve as a trump card."

Although Aziz was solitary and aloof by nature, he understood the need for compromise, especially when others had shown him such respect. Indeed, anyone utterly incapable of flexibility in the brutal, unforgiving environment of the Nightmare World would have long since turned to ash. So, he nodded his agreement.

The duel was set for one day later. Thus, while there was still some time, Fang Senyan and his team began examining the components of the Aladdin's Lamp they had just acquired. To be frank, the value of the Black Arrow as a divine artifact was immense. Even the wreckage of the Magic Ring was only worth about a third of that value; the majority of the residual worth was clearly embodied in the lamp itself.

When Fang Senyan connected the lamp body and the base, the two formerly unremarkable objects immediately emitted a faint luminescence. The dust, grime, and other surface filth rapidly dissolved, leaving the surfaces incredibly smooth, displaying intricate patterns heavy with ancient Egyptian motifs, even featuring a crouching Sphinx.

Even the material underwent a startling transformation. Not only was it supple and warm to the touch, but it actually radiated a vital light, almost like human skin. This peculiar sensation of metal interwoven with life caused an unusual feeling to rise in their hearts, layered with deeper mystery.

When the lamp oil was poured in, the initially clear, colorless liquid was instantly absorbed by the Aladdin's Lamp. The entire body of the lamp shifted, becoming alternately transparent and phantom-like. The only distinct feature was the network of vein-like structures flowing inside, through which the oil circulated... Moments later, a wavering glow appeared above the lamp, resembling a flame, yet Fang Senyan and the others knew this was no fire. The Aladdin's Lamp was a mysterious, living entity that had awakened from dormancy after absorbing the so-called "lamp oil," and the light was merely the strange anomaly created by this peculiar being's respiration.

The group stared, half-warily, half-expecting the legendary Genie to burst forth with a boom and boastfully offer to grant three wishes.

Regrettably, the Aladdin's Lamp remained in this "lit" state for less than twenty minutes. Then, the light began to slowly condense, eventually sputtering out black smoke. The smoke gradually coalesced until it formed a completely unremarkable small black stone, which fell onto the table with a soft clack.

At this moment, Zi let out an involuntary sound. She instantly snapped into combat readiness, her slender fingers slashing seven or eight razor-sharp trails through the air, causing the very fabric of space to groan brutally. Spatial turbulence even intruded, effortlessly disintegrating the surrounding furnishings into the finest particulates!

Despite Zi’s intense effort, she could not prevent the Aladdin's Lamp on the table from slowly fading and vanishing!! It had escaped entirely via spatial translocation!

Disappointment washed over everyone; they were on the verge of cursing. This Aladdin's Lamp, which had cost millions of Universal Points, turned out to be such a scam—it performed a miniature firework show and then slipped away, evading even Zi’s direct intervention. This was utter financial ruin! Oh, wait, strictly speaking, it had left behind a clump resembling a small black stone.

Millions of Universal Points, plus the ensuing fierce battle, all for this tiny object... If the G-point hadn't successfully leveled up, it would feel as if they had simply thrown the divine artifact Black Arrow into the water just to hear the splash! Yet, Fang Senyan frowned, turning the small stone over in his hand, deep in thought, appearing meditative.

Time passed quickly—one hour, then two—but still nothing unusual occurred. As time dragged on, the group's hope gradually waned. Even someone as sensitive as Zi began considering how to comfort Fang Senyan, knowing his usual arrogance; she worried this setback might cause him to become discouraged.

But just then, Fang Senyan's Nightmare Mark grew suddenly warm. He instantly realized someone was trying to contact him. Accepting the connection, he discovered it was the Miner he had dealt with only recently.

"Are you alone right now?" The Miner's voice, for some reason, sounded hurried and flustered, tinged with an extra layer of tension.

Fang Senyan replied calmly, "No, I’m with my teammates."

The Miner lowered his voice. "Have you stirred up some trouble again recently? Why is it causing such a huge stir?"

Fang Senyan offered a wry smile. "What trouble could I possibly stir up? Are you mistaken?"

The Miner hesitated, then ground out, "Then, why are envoys from several spaces circulating everywhere looking for your contact information?"

"What??" Fang Senyan sounded puzzled.

The Miner impatiently urged, "Just tell me quickly what you’ve done these past few days!"

Fang Senyan frowned slightly, but deciding the Miner was trustworthy, he recounted everything he had done, glossing over details like the G-point's attributes. When he reached the part about assembling the Aladdin's Lamp, the Miner's breathing suddenly became ragged. Before Fang Senyan could finish, he exclaimed:

"That's it, that's the thing! The essence of the Aladdin's Lamp is actually a peculiar organism capable of freely traversing the planes of time and space. Its origins are rumored to be connected to the mysterious force that constructed the Pyramids on Earth. There are countless powers in the universe; they absolutely cannot all be understood. You said your Aladdin's Lamp left behind a black stone, not a white one? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Fang Senyan confirmed firmly.

The Miner took a deep breath. "Then that means what the Aladdin's Lamp left this time is not the Aladdin Crystal formed from its shed matter, but its fruit—something especially precious!"

Fang Senyan shrugged. "I still don't understand."

The Miner elaborated: "Let me put it this way: anything the Aladdin's Lamp leaves behind is worthless trash to us, but it is incredibly rare and a top-tier unknown artifact to any space. It’s like the food that long-haul sailors must eat to supplement vitamins, otherwise they die of scurvy. The weight of the consumed vitamins is negligible to the human body, but it is absolutely essential; without it, normal bodily functions cannot be maintained. Do you understand now why envoys from several spaces are looking for you? Because whenever something left by the Aladdin's Lamp appears, it emits a special fluctuation that almost all spaces can sense."

Fang Senyan suddenly asked, "But why have I waited so long, and you are the first to tell me this?"

The Miner sighed. "Your Mother Space, Noah Space C, appears to be undergoing an evolution, which is why it hasn't sensed the fluctuation. Otherwise, it would have contacted you immediately to trade wishes with you! Half of the legend about the Aladdin's Lamp is true: ordinary people have coincidentally found the lamp and obtained the Aladdin Crystal! However, the so-called Genie has nothing to do with the lamp itself. The lamp leaves once it has finished molting or laying its eggs; the subsequent matters are handled by the Nightmare Space."

After listening to the Miner's extensive explanation, Fang Senyan finally understood: "So, this clump of small black stone—oh no, following what you said, the Aladdin Fruit—can make any wish to a space?"

"Correct," the Miner asserted confidently. "The temptation of the Aladdin Fruit to a space is far beyond your imagination." (To be continued.) www.RT