On Guinelia’s side, as long as she wasn’t developing new potions, the ones she could make herself were more than enough to supply the entire Zone 2233.
So Bai Qiu didn’t stay to help any longer.
Instead, he went with Zhang Shiyao to other areas outside the safe zone to increase the map exploration progress.
Moreover, mental power potions were also effective for [Supporters], so Bai Qiu gave Guinelia three bottles each of twelve different quality tiers, from F- to C-.
The reason for giving three bottles of each was actually to let her adapt to the effects in a gentler way.
Someone like Zhang Shiyao, for example—if she drank one potion per day to raise her level step by step, after twelve days her mental power could probably reach the C- tier.
However, each upgrade would bring about an hour of discomfort, so she usually only drank the mental power potions after returning to her room.
Bai Qiu had tried to persuade her not to be overly impatient, but Zhang Shiyao still insisted on continuing.
Huang Qi was undoubtedly a successful example.
Not only had he obtained a mysterious sword intent skill and grown stronger with each battle, but he also possessed the powerful self-healing ability Endless Vitality.
In terms of single-target combat strength, he had taken an unconventional path and left Ning Xingxue and Zhao Daqiang far behind.
However, the price Huang Qi paid was equally severe.
Even though they envied his current strength, recalling the pain he endured that day made Ning Xingxue and Zhao Daqiang feel that being a bit weaker wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
“Regarding the production of mental power potions, come to Zone 2243 tonight after you’re done and let’s talk.” With a thud, Ning Xingxue’s private message came through.
Bai Qiu understood.
After all, she currently didn’t have the ability to produce low-quality potions herself, so these twenty thousand Dreamy Blossoms would basically need to be processed and sold through cooperation.
Naturally, Bai Qiu had prepared five sets of mental power potions for Ning Xingxue, Zhao Daqiang, and Huang Qi—from low to high tiers—so whether they wanted a gentler method of improvement or a more aggressive one, they could choose for themselves.
He also prepared three sets for Ye Lingtian, since he owed him a favor regarding the Miracle Fruit.
There was no way he could use up so many potions on his own, and that was where their commercial value came into play.
To be honest, Bai Qiu didn’t want to bother with researching how to sell them—pricing, target buyers, and so on—it all felt like a waste of time to him.
So he planned to discuss a cooperation arrangement with Ning Xingxue: she would handle pricing and sales, while Bai Qiu would be responsible for producing mental power potions from F- to D++ tiers.
As for the final C- tier potions, he would let Ning Xingxue make them herself—well, that way she’d at least feel somewhat involved.
But back to the main point—since it was currently noon, the perfect time to increase map exploration progress, Bai Qiu arranged to meet Ning Xingxue at 7:30 PM under the billboard.
…
By evening, Bai Qiu and Zhang Shiyao had each raised the exploration progress of Zones 2232 → 2231 → 2230 to 100%.
During that time, when killing lord-level monsters, they also let A Yuan come out to gain some experience.
“Alright, that’s about time. Let’s call it a day!” Bai Qiu stretched and said to Zhang Shiyao.
At this moment, they were several kilometers away from Safe Zone 2229, and the exploration progress here had already exceeded 60%.
As they passed a few relatively well-preserved old buildings, Bai Qiu frowned and looked at Zhang Shiyao.
She had almost the same expression as she looked back at him.
The two exchanged a glance, and both saw the same thought reflected in each other’s eyes.
“Whoosh! Whoosh!” Two arrows shot through the air—one aimed at Bai Qiu’s chest, the other at Zhang Shiyao’s thigh.
Bai Qiu frowned slightly and, with the gaps between his index, middle, and ring fingers on his left hand, effortlessly caught both arrows.
“Hmph! Insolent fools!” Bai Qiu snorted coldly.
This was the first time he had encountered players who dared to attack him.
Without hesitation, he infused the arrows with magic and casually threw them back.
“Boom! Boom!” Two explosions rang out.
The two players who had been hiding behind cover to ambush them were blasted into view.
They fired a few more arrows at Bai Qiu, then immediately turned and fled.
“Hm?!” This only made Bai Qiu, already in a bad mood, even more furious.
A faint killing intent began to rise within him.
Originally, he had thought that if these two sneaky attackers came out, apologized, and admitted their mistake, he might let the matter go with just a light punishment.
But not only did they refuse to back down—they even dared to keep attacking him.
“Courting death!” Bai Qiu instantly equipped the Dragon Slayer Set MAX.
With a casual wave, he knocked all incoming arrows aside and shattered them, then immediately broke into a sprint to chase after them.
Meanwhile, Zhang Shiyao took a different route, circling around from another direction.
With the effects of her gear, as long as she didn’t move directly in front of someone, her presence was extremely difficult to detect.
Bai Qiu was lured into a dim, narrow alley.
The space was so tight that at most two people could walk side by side.
Only then did the two archers stop, turning around with sinister expressions to face him.
“Not sure what method you used to hide your level and stats, but now that you’re here, I suggest you obediently hand over all your equipment!” one of them said, his eyes filled with greed as he stared at Bai Qiu.
At the same time, people began pouring out from the surrounding passages, blocking off every exit—front, back, left, and right—trapping Bai Qiu completely.
“You don’t want anything to happen to that little girl with you, do you? We’ve already sent people to capture her!” the other added.
Just as he finished speaking—
“Bang! Bang!” Two unconscious figures were thrown down from above.
Zhang Shiyao stood on the edge of a rooftop, her gaze cold and sharp as she looked down at the group.
“How is that possible?!”
“Where did that little girl come from?!”
“Where’s Brother Zhang San?!”
“Heh…” Bai Qiu let out a low chuckle.
As everyone’s attention turned toward him, his laughter grew louder—more unrestrained, more unhinged.
“Hahahaha…!” As his laughter echoed, a dark red flame began to rise from his armor, causing everyone surrounding him to feel a jolt in their hearts.
Armor that emits flames… could it really be that coincidence?
At once, some people sensed something was wrong and tried to turn and flee—but at that very moment, Bai Qiu moved!
“Crack! Crack! Crack!” A series of scalp-numbing bone-snapping sounds rang out, accompanied by cries and screams.
All of them collapsed to the ground, clutching different parts of their bodies and wailing in pain.
Some had their calves twisted backward at an unnatural angle, bent so far they could almost touch their own abdomen.
Others had their arms hanging limply at their sides in a grotesque manner.
One look at their shoulders—and damn, the entire shoulder blade had been twisted and folded, rotated completely out of place!
“B-Bai Qiu, you’re Bai Qiu! You can’t kill us! We’re all human players—leave us a way to live—” Just as the first person who recognized Bai Qiu kept rambling, trying to plead—
“Bang!” Bai Qiu smashed a fist straight into his mouth.
With that impact, his yellowed teeth mixed with saliva and blood flew out, scattering across the ground.
Bai Qiu glanced at Zhang Shiyao.
She nodded, then threw out several ropes, binding everyone present.
Bai Qiu walked into a small house.
Inside, he could sense a faint presence.
In truth, he had already scanned the area with his mental power—he knew exactly what had happened here.
But when he actually saw the scene before him, a surge of fury still rose from deep within his chest.
— The end of the Chapter–
TL note : Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 50 chapters of the release :
https://www.patreon.com/DeCakraWnloverz
