It seems that the Demon Cleansing Monk has already started interfering with the world of obsessions... This is indeed a good thing. Because, in Wen Xishu’s eyes, the actions of the Demon Cleansing Monk should be aimed at making the world a better place.
However, Hujiang is indeed twisted enough.
Wen Xishu said:
"I think I understand."
Everything in front of him was really similar to the Great Devour. If the Great Devour didn’t eliminate the vortex, it would be devoured by the vortex.
If the Human Hole Village didn’t fill the human holes, it would be cursed by the vortex...
Wen Xishu had entered another Great Devour from the first.
It seems that to solve the black vortex, Hujiang’s people also established some organizations.
"What’s the deal with the Pain Auction? It sounds a bit strange. How is it related to pain?" Wen Xishu asked again.
Xu 04 said:
"It seems you are the kind of high-quality Hero who needs to understand everything before taking action. That’s great. A question-type Hero—we’re saved."
"The Pain Auction, as the name implies, is an auction related to pain. Pain, as a kind of currency, can be exchanged for many items."
"These items seem to be closely related to things inside the human holes."
Although being subtly criticized for asking too many questions, Wen Xishu couldn’t resist asking:
"How did this rule come about?"
"We don’t know. We only know that after a certain day, pain became a rare resource, and people gradually lost the ability to perceive pain."
"People need to continuously dig for various kinds of pain to exchange for survival items. This rule inexplicably appeared, enveloping half of Hujiang. Even if people leave Hujiang, as long as they feel pain, as long as they generate pain..."
"They can come to the museum to exchange their corresponding amount of pain for Pain coins and then purchase auction items."
Xu 04 was very serious at this moment:
"So, we’ve always longed for a Hero with living parents and a healthy body. Is your mother still alive?"
"Don’t you think this question is a bit presumptuous?" Wen Xishu restrained the urge to punch.
He felt like he had crossed into a very insane world.
"Sorry, I just long to save all beings. My existence is for this purpose. I don’t know who I am. I only know that my creator made me to find a Hero who can change this world," Xu 04 said.
Her expression bore a trace of apology.
Wen Xishu felt awe. Even if it’s non-human, even in such a mad world, still choosing to protect humanity? Haki Xu, you bastard!
"Alright, I roughly get it. This trip doesn’t feel like something that can be completed in a few hours. Take me to the auction first." Wen Xishu said.
Xu 04 nodded and said:
"Great, please follow me."
In an instant, Xu 04 took out a knife, and Wen Xishu instinctively took a defensive stance. But Xu 04 said:
"Your pain tolerance hasn’t been established yet, so you find this odd, but don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you. I just need to take you away from here, leave the Human Hole Village, and enter the auction. I must open the Spirit Portal."
"But I don’t have enough energy right now."
Wen Xishu seemed to have guessed what she was going to do.
He saw Xu 04 stab her own abdomen with the knife. Wen Xishu noticed... the knife had hooks. Xu 04 smiled as if feeling no pain and then twisted the knife inside her abdomen.
The tiny hooks on the blade began to tear her inner skin, tearing her intestines.
At that moment, she finally showed an expression of pain, but what followed was a kind of pleasure.
People feel happy when they see money. Once money equates to pain...
Humans would become strange too.
"Ah... so good!" Xu 04 felt the pain, as if her intestines were torn, but she also gained the power to heal herself.
"So pleasant! I’ll... I’ll take you away now. Ah... mm... so good!"
Wen Xishu stood frozen.
He had seen big scenes and many perverted little things, but he had never seen a scene like this.
Xu 04 seemed about to die, but a powerful force immediately began to heal her:
"I always hesitated to touch here... It’s my most sensitive place. Only here can I feel pain. For you, I even took out my last savings! Hero... you must help us!"
Xu 04’s determination impressed Wen Xishu, but how to say...
This Pain Auction was already making him feel a bit of pain.
What kind of bizarre acts must people perform at the auction?
Actually, Xu 04 was lying. Her most sensitive part was lower, but that part was too painful. It was her true final reserve.
After gaining strength, Xu 04’s eyes shot out blue light. Then she lightly shouted, and a water-blue portal appeared.
"Let’s go, Hero. I’ll take you to the auction! The new auction is about to start. Everyone will be excited to see you."
Wen Xishu said:
"Your superpower... is it the portal? Do all of you have superpowers?"
"Ah, you’re not done with questions yet? Well, we all have superpowers, but they all come from one system, which is pain. Superpowers are actually talents... but one must feel pain to use them." Xu 04 was in a hurry.
Wen Xishu was not in a hurry:
"So, am I the same? If I stab myself now..."
"You’ll die. Please don’t do that. You’re still a novice—don’t start with professional moves. Indeed, pain will give you superpowers, but it’s better not to endure so much pain... Your pain tolerance isn’t strong enough yet," Xu 04 said seriously.
In past records, some people had indeed died of pain, though releasing a lot of Pain coins. But those Pain coins could only be used by the owner of the pain.
"Alright... alright." Novice Wen Xishu decided to take the advice.
He found it hard to imagine how many insane areas Hujiang had.
Without further words, Wen Xishu stepped into the water-blue portal.
...
...
Dim light flickered like a dying candle. Heavy red curtains hung from the ceiling, like solidified blood waterfalls. The air was filled with a musty smell, faintly old wood scent mixing in.
The participants sat silently in the shadows, like a group of ghosts. Their faces were blurry, and their shapes were bizarre. Some, influenced by radiation, wore the Rokkasho style, appearing before Wen Xishu’s eyes.
The auction stage was tall, like an altar, and mysterious items covered in dark velvet were placed on it, exposing only a few contours.
By Wen Xishu’s side, the smile on Xu 04’s face faded a bit, looking more official.
Wen Xishu also noticed that the wounds on Xu 04 had healed.
"Pain tolerance... it seems it also makes their wounds heal quickly. Is this a good side effect?"
Wen Xishu pondered.
His appearance seemed normal, his skin fair and smooth. With no obvious wounds on him, he quickly drew a lot of attention.
One boy glaring at Wen Xishu said enviously:
"I swear, if I could seize your body! I would definitely take it! Your body is perfect, as if it has never been damaged."
"Oh! Amaterasu! This is like a brand new ATM machine stuffed with cash! I can tell without guessing, you must be the new Hero!"
"I feel like I don’t even need a beer bottle. I just need to use my fingers and do the thousand years of death move to make you poop coins from your backside!"
"Oh, don’t mind, brother, I’m actually complimenting you."
Wen Xishu had seen many big scenes, but he didn’t know how to respond now.
The man in front of him was covered in "nails." Tongue nails, nose nails, lip nails—these things were trivial on him. He was almost densely covered in nails.
Ordinary people would feel pain just by looking at it, but undeniably, this person couldn’t feel any pain anymore.
Wen Xishu inwardly ridiculed:
"Just as expected of Hujiang, Rokkasho’s radiation freaks are truly beyond your limits..."
If even such freaks couldn’t survive after entering the Human Hole...
And no one knew what was in the Human Hole...
Then Wen Xishu really had to reassess the difficulty of this mission.
"A world chasing pain, this level of perversion, maybe this time, I can truly, in a meaningful way, feel a level-seven task?"