In the Infinite Worlds, I Just Want to Be the God of Wealth – CH200

Chapter 200

Lu Chuan waited about as long as it takes to finish a hotpot meal.

He and Number 18 hadn’t even finished their divine-meat hotpot when Cang Jiu returned.

“What? The [God of Exchange] folded that easily? Not even a fight?” Lu Chuan complained, snacks still untouched

Cang Jiu glanced at him, a faint smile slipping onto his lips without him noticing. “Keep eating. I’ll talk, you just listen.”

Dealing with the Extreme Evil Loan Company wasn’t difficult. The [God of Exchange] had no desire to provoke an Executor.

First, there was no benefit in making an enemy. Second, He wasn’t sure how far Cang Jiu had recovered. What if, instead of gaining an edge, He just ended up creating another rival? Not worth it.

Of course, [Exchange] was both His authority and essence. Even for Cang Jiu, it required a trade. But the god didn’t dare ask for too much—lest his greed become his downfall.

Details of that exchange could be skipped, but the key was: Cang Jiu obtained the information Lu Chuan sought.

“The dungeon about lifespan you mentioned—its full name should be Territory. According to the [God of Exchange], that place was once the battlefield between the Main God System and the deities. The destruction there was so severe that even after it was repaired, it was unusable as a normal world. So the Main God System designated it as a special dungeon to temper the players it favored.” Cang Jiu explained as thoroughly as he could.

Because of that war, the battlefield’s rules and ecosystem were completely shattered. Even though the Main God System ultimately won, the world was only restored to a barely functional state. Clearly, it was unfit to serve as an ordinary dungeon. But over time, the Main God System discovered that the place had gradually evolved into a new form.

“Chaos?” Lu Chuan was puzzled. “What does that mean?”

“In this dungeon, all items and abilities are invalid. Only two rules apply. The first is the life-and-death rule, born from the resentment of gods who perished there. The second is the Territory Rule, forcibly imposed by the victorious Main God System. What you call the Lifespan Dungeon refers to that first rule. It arose from the gods’ desperate desire to live on after death. Inside, one day costs a player anywhere from a month to a year of lifespan. The exact ratio changes daily, depending on the balance of strength between the life-and-death rule and the territory rule.”

“Moreover, there’s one critical point about the life-and-death rule.” Cang Jiu’s voice grew serious. “The [God of Exchange] once tried to impose His own rule there, but because He isn’t a true god, He failed. Under the life-and-death rule, players’ lifespans can be stolen from each other. The exact method wasn’t something He investigated, but just that possibility alone is enough to lure countless aging players.”

The cruel game had run for centuries, producing countless powerful players. Yet in reality, only young players were active.

So what if those older players hadn’t actually died?

Where would they be?

Naturally, in dungeons where they could secretly steal more lifespan.

To the [God of Exchange], these aging but formidable players made perfect trading partners. For just a scrap of vitality or youth, He could gain endless treasures from them. But such veterans weren’t naive—unless desperate, they avoided dealings with Him. They trusted only in what they seized with their own hands.

“The second rule is the Territory Rule. Only players with the title of Lord and a personal territory can enter. The dungeon itself is empty, but players can place their territories there. The stronger one’s territory, the safer it is, and the less lifespan is drained while inside it. But because personal territories oppose the life-and-death rule, that rule generates monsters to assault them. Once a territory falls, its owner dies as well.”

Lu Chuan propped his chin on one hand. “I have faith in my Golden Tower. If even that can’t withstand the assaults, then no one else’s territory will either.”

“These two rules are straightforward—strength against weakness. Players must survive between them. The real trouble comes from other players. I recall territory wars are allowed. Once others see my Golden Tower glittering in splendor, they’ll surely try to take it. Ah, but what can I do? Envy is human nature when my tower is too magnificent.”

He showed not a trace of gloom as he said this; instead, his whole demeanor radiated smug pride.

It was, after all, his proudest creation—the crystallization of all his early struggle. How could he not be?

“The rest is just minor details. Even the [God of Exchange] doesn’t know much more,” Cang Jiu concluded. “Just be prepared.”

“Hmm. By the way, since you said Territory was born from your gods’ war with the Main God System, then surely there must be relics left there—items tied to gods?” Lu Chuan asked quickly.

“Correct.” Cang Jiu hesitated, then nodded. “But they’re scattered everywhere. And because they’re steeped in divine resentment, even divine tools may bring irreversible harm. Their side effects could outweigh their benefits. Using them is like drinking poison to quench thirst.”

“Don’t change the subject. I’m asking—did you leave anything there that I should retrieve for you?” Lu Chuan pressed. “You contributed the most in that war, didn’t you? Logically, that battlefield should hold many of your things.”

Even a true god like the [God of Desire] had been brought low. The Main God System must have spent immense effort against Him.

“The life-and-death rule itself was born from my Seed of Desire, catalyzed by divine resentment after the war.” Cang Jiu, unable to lie, admitted reluctantly. “But it’s mutated into something unrecognizable. Even if recovered, it’s no longer my Seed.”

Lu Chuan mused. “That makes sense. Fine, I’ll decide later.”

Only when he showed no interest did Cang Jiu finally breathe in relief.

After leaving, Lu Chuan gathered Shen Li and the others in the Game System’s space. Before entering Territory, he revealed everything he’d learned—lest keeping such secrets in reality cost them system points.

Since they had voluntarily chosen Territory, they had a little time left.

“In this dungeon, lifespans can be stolen,” Lu Chuan warned. “So plenty of players nearing their end—or craving immortality—will target us. Be cautious. Our territories are critical. If possible, we should place them side by side for mutual defense. And if war is declared against us, report immediately.”

The visible dangers were just the two rules. The invisible ones were far worse.

“We’ll be careful,” Shen Li and the others promised solemnly.

“Good. Then let’s begin. Remember—items and abilities don’t work here. Trust no one outside this group.”

Especially Starry Shasha—she looked like an easy mark.

“I swear I won’t fall for it,” Shasha vowed. She had fought hard for this chance and wasn’t about to blow it by being careless.

[Detected: Players ‘Arrival of the God of Wealth,’ ‘Walking Alone for Ten Thousand Miles,’ ‘Lucky Star,’ and ‘The Paladin of Discipline’ applying to enter dungeon Territory. Teleportation commencing.]

***

[Dungeon Info: Territory. Two crucial rules decide life and death. Players may either investigate themselves or sacrifice one-third of their current lifespan to obtain the rules from the system.]

[Dungeon Requirement: Survive 100 days to clear.]

[Dungeon Hint: Every gift placed before you here already carries its hidden price. Be wary.]

The more dangerous the dungeon, the fewer hints the Main God System gave.

Lu Chuan knew that well.

But once inside, he realized the [God of Exchange]’s account had been too objective, stripped of all subjective weight.

This world—if it could even be called one—was desolation itself.

The sky was a murky gray, the ground the same. Even with godlike physical strength, Lu Chuan could barely see ten meters ahead.

Wait. This looked… familiar.

He studied the haze carefully.

Of course—it resembled the white fog outside the Flesh and Blood Apartment, where no one who entered could ever return.

And when he recalled the Flesh and Blood Apartment’s rules… Well, anyone would sense a connection.

After all, only Flesh and Blood Apartment had openly devoured players’ flesh and sanity, just as only Territory devoured lifespan. Both wrapped in that same white fog.

Were these dungeons spreading outward—or was the Main God System hiding something?

Lu Chuan couldn’t say. There was too little information.

He tried contacting #888, but the signal kept cutting in and out—useless.

Then again, that was expected. Even the Main God System itself could impose only a single rule in this world. How much less could #888 do, countless times weaker?

Still, recognizing the fog eased his nerves. The unknown was terrifying, but the known—even if monstrous—offered some measure of confidence.

Lu Chuan had only taken two steps when a red frame suddenly popped up in front of him.

[Player: “Arrival of the God of Wealth” — Remaining lifespan: 132 days.]

“Huh?”

Lu Chuan froze for a moment. So now his life was counted by the day?

Then he noticed the red frame was coming from his watch.

Quickly, he slipped the watch off his wrist and tucked it into the waistband of his underwear.

He had deliberately sewn a small pocket there — that way, anyone trying to steal from him would be caught immediately.

As it turned out, Lu Chuan’s precaution was spot on.

Barely two minutes after hiding the watch, someone darted through the fog toward him, aiming straight for his wrist. The man also held a watch, seemingly intending to swap his with Lu Chuan’s.

Lu Chuan spun around, revealing his bare wrist.

The attacker hesitated, then tried to flee — but Lu Chuan lunged, giving him no chance.

He no longer had his items or abilities, but his physical prowess was more than enough to crush ninety-nine percent of players.

Pinning the man to the ground, Lu Chuan discovered he was an elderly fellow with snow-white hair and a face lined by hardship.

On the man’s watch, clear words gleamed:

[Player: “Ice Age” — Remaining lifespan: 3 days!]

Too bad. In this dungeon, Lu Chuan had no intention of “respecting the old and cherishing the young.” Anyone with that mindset wouldn’t have survived this long.

Without hesitation, he pressed the old man down, snatching the watch deftly.

“Let me guess what you were trying to do. You had a watch in your hand but weren’t wearing it, and you kept reaching for my wrist. You were lying in ambush, right? You knew I was new, so you planned to swap our watches?”

The old man said nothing, glaring at him.

“Does swapping watches swap lifespan?” Lu Chuan pressed.

Silence.

“You think staying quiet will save you? The Main God didn’t mention this, but I’m guessing the watch is important. If I destroy it, what’ll happen to you? Since I don’t know the rules yet, you’d make a good test subject.” Lu Chuan smiled wickedly — the picture of a villain.

“Wait!” the old man blurted as Lu Chuan made to smash the watch. “I’ll tell you the rules — we can talk.”

“I already know the dungeon’s rules,” Lu Chuan said mildly. “Just tell me where we are and what you’re doing. I came here on purpose — I know what I need to know. Why should I listen to half-truths?”

The old man eyed him warily.

“Don’t bother. I know about the life-and-death rules, the territory rules — all of it,” Lu Chuan said bluntly.

That convinced the old man that Lu Chuan truly knew the world’s secrets.

“This is one of the main entry points for new players,” the old man admitted. “Spawning spots vary, but there are a few common ones. I’ve been camping here for days waiting for someone like you.”

He lowered his head. Anyone who understood the dungeon’s core mechanics was not to be trifled with.

“In this place, swapping watches doesn’t fully exchange lifespans. When I trade watches with you, our personal data transfers, but one-tenth of the days left on your watch automatically shift to mine — that only happens when the initiator acts.”

“What happens if you lose your watch?” Lu Chuan asked curiously. “Instant death?”

“No, not right away.” The old man’s gaze stayed fixed on the watch Lu Chuan had taken. “If a watch is lost or broken and not recovered within a day, a new one appears the next day — but at the cost of one-third of your remaining life. I only have three days left. I can’t afford that.”

“Oh.” Lu Chuan turned the watch in his hands, crouching with a faint smile. “So, why don’t you tell me about this world? It seems more interesting than I imagined.”

Naturally, the old man couldn’t be entirely truthful.

But every time he tried to lie, Lu Chuan immediately caught the shift in his expression and made him repeat himself.

When it came to spotting lies, Lu Chuan was an expert. Fooling him wasn’t easy.

Eventually, the old man dropped the falsehoods and spoke plainly.

In this dungeon, there were many players — especially powerful ones who had mastered its rules. They often entered to harvest more lifespan.

He mentioned knowing of a player from three hundred years ago, who had used the dungeon’s mechanics to extend his life for centuries, living luxuriously within its world. Whenever that man’s time ran short, he returned to steal others’ days.

For many newcomers, this dungeon was a hellish slaughterhouse. But for veterans who knew its secrets, it could be an eternal paradise.

“By day, as long as the mist lingers, we can roam freely — no need to eat or drink. But at night, when the fog clears, we face the dungeon’s rules directly. If we don’t eat or drink then, our lifespan gets shaved away. Only inside a territory can you slow the drain. Otherwise, the rules will strip your life bit by bit.”

The old man cast Lu Chuan a sly look. “You’re new. If you want more life, it’s simple: just let others rent time inside your territory.”

“If others enter my territory, they can’t touch me as the lord — but it’d let them learn my habits and prepare for a territory war, wouldn’t it?” Lu Chuan sneered. “Maybe the more tenants I take, the heavier the rules’ toll. Otherwise, why bother stealing life at all? Renting out a territory would be safer if there wasn’t a catch. If you want to trap me, you’ll have to try harder.”

The old man gritted his teeth, realizing this “cub” was a sly fox. He felt discouraged.

“I’ve said what I needed. Let me go.” Something in his hand stirred — Lu Chuan reacted instantly, kicking him aside.

“You only have three days left. I won’t bother killing you,” Lu Chuan said, backing away into the white mist, ending the confrontation.

The old man pulled out a blood-red button, his eyes suddenly glowing crimson.

He clutched the button, steadying his breath for a long while.

“No need to use a divine relic unless it’s truly the end,” he muttered. “I still have time. If I wait for another newcomer, I can extend my life.”

Meanwhile, Lu Chuan pressed deeper into the fog, meeting more people.

He hadn’t yet found Shen Li and the others. In this haze, even faces were hard to see — let alone specific people. For now, all he could do was settle somewhere and wait for them.

Every so often, someone would be dragged into the mist, struggling. Others tried to attack Lu Chuan, but after he rolled up both sleeves to bare his wrists, would-be troublemakers backed off.

Anyone smart enough to hide their watch wasn’t a clueless newbie. It was easier to target those ignorant fledglings.

Though fewer in number, rookies had longer lifespans and were easy prey — every one caught meant profit.

The white fog gradually thinned, and once-hidden faces became clearer.

There were indeed many people in this dungeon.

Lu Chuan circled the area: about two streets in size, with perhaps a thousand people, though there might be others elsewhere.

Even so, for this instance, the population felt excessive.

And the divide was stark.

They were either all young, or elderly — scarcely any middle-aged in between.

The old ones, from their eyes to their bearing, looked far more anxious than the youths. One didn’t need to see their watches to know their time was nearly up.

As the mist fully dispersed, the streets emptied in an instant.

BOOM!

A tremendous sound shook heaven and earth.

Lu Chuan watched as the few remaining loiterers darted into various territory huts.

The next moment—

A towering, resplendent building surged from the ground!

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