Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

Lin Yi did not contact Gulu immediately, but instead headed straight for the general merchandise area deeper into the black market.

About ten minutes later, he arrived at the "grocery section" that the stall owner had mentioned.

The stalls here are relatively sparse, but the goods are more bizarre, ranging from twisted biological specimens to unknown devices that flicker with unstable energy.

At the far end of this area, the so-called stall number 894 was indeed out of place with its surroundings.

It's not a randomly laid-out canvas, nor is it a simple shack; it's a converted mobile home.

The vehicle body is made of matte metal with cold, sharp lines. There are no fancy decorations or graffiti, only an extremely inconspicuous logo on the side wall—a half-open eye surrounded by simplified gears.

The vehicle was completely sealed, with no visible windows, only a heavy metal door.

Several antennas and a small signal disc protrude from the roof of the vehicle and rotate slowly.

In this chaotic black market, this RV stands out like a quiet anomaly, exuding an undeniable technological aura.

Lin Yi glanced at the small electronic screen next to the RV door, which displayed "894" and that familiar logo.

He immediately understood why this stall was so special—it was the headquarters of the "Research Society".

In the City of Sleep, the Research Society is a unique entity.

While its size and directly controlled territory may not be comparable to the four top powers—the Papacy, the Salvation Army, Hellfire, and the Survivors—no power dares to provoke them easily.

The reason is simple: the core technology that maintains the operation of the City of Sleep and allows countless dreamers to explore the Nightmare Realm—the Dream Entry Device—is based on the research society's early deciphering and development of Nightmare Realm technology.

It can be said that without the research society, the efficiency of major forces entering the inner world will be greatly reduced, and they may even regress to the difficult era of finding natural rifts.

In addition, the members of the society are all top scientists and engineers with unpredictable methods. Offending them would not only be of no benefit, but could also bring unimaginable trouble.

Therefore, even the most fanatical members of Hell will choose to avoid the Research Society's sign.

The RV door was tightly closed, seemingly not yet open for business. Lin Yi stepped forward and tapped the cold metal door three times with his knuckles, neither too hard nor too soft.

A faint sound came from inside the door, like a metal tool being knocked over and falling onto a workbench, followed by muffled muttering and slightly hurried footsteps.

A few seconds later, the door lock made a soft "click" sound, and the complex mechanical structure unlocked in sequence, allowing the heavy car door to slide inward a crack.

A man who looked to be in his forties or fifties leaned out, his hair gray and somewhat disheveled, as if he had just been startled from his focused work or rest. His face showed a clear displeasure at being disturbed, and his brows were slightly furrowed.

He was wearing a white research robe with some oil stains, but the collar of his shirt underneath was open.

A strong scent of perfume wafted from the car behind him, hinting at what had just happened there.

The old man squinted, looking Lin Yi up and down.

Lin Yi's Calabash Brothers mask was quite comical, but the finely crafted dark priest's robe he wore was by no means ordinary.

In the old man's experience, those who wear this style of robe are mostly mid- to high-ranking members of the Vatican or Hell, and these two types of people are usually not to be trifled with.

He suppressed his anger at being interrupted and asked gruffly, "What is it? We're not open for business yet."

Without wasting any words, Lin Yi directly handed over the wooden plaque he had obtained from the fisherman, which was engraved with "894" and an eyeball pattern.

"The fisherman sent me," Lin Yi's voice sounded muffled and distorted through the mask. "He said you have some good stuff here."

Bliss's gaze fell on the wooden sign, and he raised an eyebrow.

He took the wooden plaque, rubbed his fingers against the eye-shaped carving on the back, and the impatience on his face subsided, replaced by a scrutinizing and estimating expression.

He looked at Lin Yi's priest's robe and mask again carefully, then stepped aside to make way.

"Come in," he said, his tone softening considerably. "Don't touch anything."

Lin Yi crouched down and crawled into the RV. The interior space was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside, clearly indicating the use of some kind of space expansion technology.

Most of the living facilities were demolished or renovated, replaced by densely packed workbenches, hanging display screens, and various precision instruments and detection equipment that Lin Yi couldn't name.

Tools, parts, circuit boards, and semi-finished devices are scattered on the workbench. Cables of varying thicknesses meander and coil like some kind of mechanical vine, connecting to the interfaces below.

In addition to the previous smell, the air was also filled with the smell of solder, machine oil, coffee, and a faint ozone odor.

The environment is slightly messy, with various items piled up, yet it possesses a sense of efficient order based on user habits.

Just then, a heavy curtain at the back of the carriage was lifted, and two young women wearing only thin underwear walked out.

They were visibly taken aback when they saw Lin Yi, who was wearing a strange mask, in the car. A hint of surprise flashed across their faces, but they quickly regained their composure, clearly having seen all sorts of situations.

One of the red-haired women winked at Bliss and said in a sweet voice, "Lord Bliss, since you have guests, we won't disturb you any longer."

She paused, then added meaningfully, "Don't forget the little gadget you promised us next time you come."

The other blonde woman chuckled, seemingly unconcerned about Lin Yi's gaze, and calmly began to pick up her clothes scattered on the chair and put them on.

In the City of Sleep, survival is the primary rule, and shame has long been a luxury, especially in a place like the black market, where exchanging any available resources for what you need is perfectly normal.

As the two finished dressing and prepared to leave, the blonde woman paused slightly. When her gaze swept over Lin Yi's robes, a professional smile curved her lips, and she quickly slipped a small, hard card into Lin Yi's hand.

"Contact me anytime if you need anything," she said in a low voice, then she and her companion opened the car door, jumped out, and disappeared into the crowd of people in the black market.

Lin Yi glanced down at the business card. It was made of some kind of wear-resistant composite material, and it only had one name, "Lina," an encrypted communication frequency code, and a tiny organizational emblem—an all-seeing eye.

This emblem represents the survivors of one of the four major factions.

The survivors are the largest intelligence-trafficking network in the Sleeping City, with informants all over the place. They clearly believe that Lin Yi is worth investing in.

The car door closed and locked again, and the heavy metal latch fell.

Bliss walked over to a small, high-efficiency heater, poured two cups of steaming black liquid, and handed one of them to Lin Yi.

“Coffee, a great way to stay alert. Have a seat.” He pointed to a fairly clean metal folding chair next to the workbench, then leaned against the edge of the workbench, blew on it, and carefully sipped his piping hot coffee.

"So, tell me, what do you want to buy? That fisherman doesn't usually introduce people easily. The people he knows are all a bit special."

Lin Yi ignored the cup of coffee that looked too strong and cut straight to the point: "Dream device. It has to be brand new, stable, and most importantly, without any 'additional functions'."

Bliss put down his cup, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. This was a big client.

He walked to a heavy metal cabinet firmly fixed in the corner of the wall, typed a complex password on the numeric keypad, and then bent down to perform an iris scan. With a slight sigh of relief, the heavy cabinet door slid open silently.

He took out two flat, rectangular metal boxes. The boxes were unmarked, only showing the cold, metallic color. He placed the boxes on the workbench in front of Lin Yi and opened the lids.

The box is lined with black shockproof velvet, and two dream-inducing devices lie quietly inside.

They have a sleek and simple design, with a metal casing that gleams with a cool, matte finish, brand-new wiring interfaces, and the power indicator light in a calm, dormant state.

Compared to the Black Tooth Gang's half-scrap, it's practically a work of art.

Just by looking at it, you can feel its exquisite craftsmanship and stable energy fluctuations.

“The latest improved version of the ‘Quiet’ series,” Bliss said, with a hint of the subtle pride typical of a technician, “comes with three standard energy cycles, and the core stabilizer uses a redundant design, making its anti-interference capability more than 30 percent stronger than ordinary products on the market. As for ‘Clean’… it’s produced by the Academy, you know what I mean. We’re only interested in knowledge, we don’t have time for those petty tricks.”

He paused, then added, "Of course, with such excellent performance, the price is naturally high as well."

"What's the price?" Lin Yi asked.

Bliss rubbed his fingers together, his eyes gleaming with calculation. "It depends on whether you want one set or two. Generally speaking, we need supplies of equal value that can effectively alleviate mental strain. 'Mental Protection' rune plates, or stable and efficient energy cores will also work. I have a detailed price list here, outlining the exchange rates for various acceptable supplies. You can take a look yourself." As he spoke, he pulled a laminated form from a pile of documents and handed it to Lin Yi. It clearly indicated the value of various supplies.

Among them, mental protective items, high-purity energy, and rare technological components are the most valuable.

Lin Yi's gaze swept over the price list, as if he was thinking.

He had indeed prepared some high-grade medical sedatives and stimulants, which was consistent with the types of supplies his posing as a Vatican official might possess, and also met the researchers' needs for combating mental stress and fatigue.

But once inside the RV, he caught a whiff of the strong caffeine and nicotine fumes filling the cabin, and saw empty coffee cans scattered on the worktable and residue in the ashtray. He immediately changed his mind.

Instead of reaching for the potions, he casually slipped his hand into the inside pocket of his priest's robe, but actually from his personal space. When he reached out again, he gently placed two unopened cigarettes on the workbench, which was covered with tool scratches and solder splatter marks.

The cigarette packaging is a simple, plain white cardboard box without any trademarks or patterns, but the sealing is perfect and the paper is delicate and sturdy.

Bliss's eyes widened instantly. He practically pounced on it, grabbed one of the twigs, brought it to his nose, and sniffed it intensely. His face lit up with an almost obsessive gleam.

For these researchers who engage in high-intensity mental work for extended periods and constantly need to combat the mental pollution of the "slumbering city," the allure of high-quality tobacco far outweighs that of potent psychotropic drugs that often come with side effects.

It is not only a soothing remedy, but also a rare indulgence and a symbol of status.

"Cough cough..." Bliss coughed violently twice, but his face was full of uncontrollable ecstasy.

He quickly threw the price list he was about to quote back into the drawer, and with astonishing speed swept the two packs of cigarettes into the bottom of the safe where he had just retrieved the device, fearing that Lin Yi might change his mind.

"Deal!" Bliss's voice trembled with excitement. "Two 'Quiet' modified versions, plus a set of dedicated basic maintenance tools and two spare energy filters! For any performance issues not caused by human error within three months, you can come to me for repairs anytime, only once." He added, clearly believing he had gotten a great deal.

Bruce now looked at Lin Yi with immense satisfaction, and the resentment he had felt earlier from being disturbed had completely vanished.

He had even started planning in his mind how to casually pull out a pack and hand it out to his heavy smoker colleagues at the next internal technical exchange meeting, and enjoy their envious and jealous looks.

After the transaction was completed, Lin Yi closed the metal box, fastened the clasp, and put it away.

Bliss was in a great mood. He rubbed his hands together and rummaged through a pile of blueprints and parts for a while. Finally, he pulled out a thin booklet from under a stack of old data boards. The cover had no text, only some scrawled symbols.

"This is for you, consider it an extra bonus." Bliss waved his hand. "It contains some internal notes and rules about common low-level nightmare realms. It's not complete, but it will at least help you avoid some pitfalls."

Lin Yi took the booklet and flipped through it. It contained simple text and symbols recording the environmental characteristics, potential dangers, some known rules, and some survival tips for different nightmare realms.

Although the information is scattered and unsystematic, it is indeed very practical and far superior to the common, widely circulated information.

“If you need more detailed information, those two ladies are the experts. More than 90% of the dream walkers in this black market have to deal with them to get key information. The information they have is much more comprehensive than this tattered notebook of mine, and of course, their price is much higher.”

Lin Yi nodded and put the booklet away.

For now, the initial information provided in this guide is sufficient for the main questline that only requires entering and exploring three different Nightmare Realms.

If he needed more in-depth information, he would naturally consider contacting the survivors.

Without saying another word, Lin Yi picked up the metal box containing the dream-entering device, turned around, and left the RV.

The car door closed behind him, and Lin Yi sent a short message to Gulu through the temporary team communication channel: "The item has been obtained. Meet at the black market entrance."

At this moment, Gollum was aimlessly wandering around another area of ​​the black market that specialized in trading scattered intelligence and old-world junk.

She did hear some rumors about the "old smoker," but most of them were fragmented and contradictory, mainly about how dangerous the old man's stuff was, without much new, actionable information.

Upon receiving Lin Yi's message, Gulu immediately turned around and moved quickly toward the entrance of the black market.

Although Gulu was also wearing a mask, her figure and clothing still attracted the attention of some malicious eyes.

In the lawless black market, a lone and seemingly weak individual is a mobile temptation.

It wasn't until Gulu arrived at the entrance that the hidden observers spotted Lin Yi.

Lin Yi stood there quietly, his priest's robes appearing exceptionally fine even in the dim light. Those who had been secretly watching him quickly withdrew their gazes when they caught sight of Lin Yi.

In the City of Sleep, those who can afford to wear robes of this caliber often represent a powerful and unapproachable force, or possess considerable strength.

Gulu darted over to Lin Yi's side, breathed a sigh of relief, and teased in a low voice, "Tsk, your skin is quite useful."

Lin Yi didn't respond, but simply walked outside: "I'm leaving."

The two left the chaotic black market without lingering and returned to the jeep parked outside.

The Jeep had a few fresh scratches, but nothing serious.

With the engine roaring, the jeep drove into the dilapidated streets of the North District.

The two drove around the northern district several times, using their rearview mirrors and several pre-set observation points to confirm that no tails or vehicles were following them, before finally choosing a hotel that looked fairly decent.

The hotel occupies the lower part of a relatively well-preserved old building. Although the exterior walls are mottled, they are still intact. The main door is made of thick metal, and there are even two armed guards patrolling near the entrance, which is a rare level of security in this northern area.

The check-in process was simple and straightforward. The receptionist was a middle-aged man with a blank expression. After Lin Yi paid for the equivalent of five days' accommodation with a standard ration of food and a small clean water filter block, the two of them received a key to a room located in a corner on the top floor.

The room was more spacious than expected, with sharp-edged metal furniture and a faint scent of incense, indicating that the hotel must clean the room regularly.

The biggest advantage is that the windows here offer a wide view, allowing you to observe the main street below and several nearby alleys. In addition, the walls are thick and have good sound insulation, which is enough to block out most of the noise from downstairs and the commotion on the street.

As soon as Gulu entered the room, he jumped onto the huge bed and tested its elasticity: "Finally, there's a place where I can lie down straight."

Lin Yi placed the metal box on the table, opened it, and inspected the two brand-new dream-entering devices once again.

"Let's take a break, then we'll go into the Nightmare Realm to check it out." (End of Chapter)