During the conversation between Bai Qiu and Shao Dongyang, when it came to the group of bandits led by Zhang San, Shao Dongyang brushed it off in just a few sentences, clearly not intending to investigate the matter further.
What he discussed more with Bai Qiu was about affiliation and cooperation.
As for affiliation, there was no need to say much—Bai Qiu refused without a second thought.
As for cooperation, Shao Dongyang had already prepared a sufficient quantity of enhancement potions of different elements, enough to exchange for five C-grade pieces of equipment or skills.
Bai Qiu naturally welcomed such a trade.
He immediately took out the C-grade equipment and skills dropped from lord-level monsters from his storage card.
However, Shao Dongyang said, “What I want to exchange for is the C-grade skill book you listed on the trading market today at 10:17, and…”
Bai Qiu wasn’t surprised by this.
As he killed more and more lord-level monsters, his storage card had started to run out of space.
So whenever that happened, he would list the useless D-grade and C-grade equipment and skill books for sale as quickly as possible.
As for pricing, he kept them at their original value.
His approach had earned praise from most civilian players, because the D-grade equipment or skills he sold were mostly dropped from lord-level monsters, making them generally more useful than those dropped by elite-level monsters.
Some quick-handed T2 or T1 players, just by sniping Bai Qiu’s D-grade items and assembling a full set, could even grow strong enough to solo lord-level monsters.
Even major organizations assigned people to monitor Bai Qiu’s trading market all day.
The moment a D-grade skill or piece of equipment appeared, they would instantly buy it.
After all, a complete set of D-grade equipment and skills could quickly cultivate a player to T1-level strength—essentially adding a backbone member to their team.
Some particularly good skills and equipment, even priced at over one or two hundred thousand Sanctum Coins, were still bought by certain organizations without hesitation.
“Ah, sorry. All the skill books I listed this morning were sold—about twenty minutes ago,” Bai Qiu said.
Even he was a bit surprised that there were so many wealthy players now, casually spending hundreds of thousands of Sanctum Coins.
He took a moment to check his storage card—good grief… 2.17 million Sanctum Coins remaining…
He had been treating the trading market like an extended backpack, but hadn’t expected it to come with an “auto-clear” feature.
Shao Dongyang looked disappointed upon hearing this, but when he saw the newly dropped equipment and skills Bai Qiu had obtained today, he became delighted again.
The reason was simple—these items were no worse than the skill he had originally wanted.
After the trade was completed, Shao Dongyang requested to add Bai Qiu as a friend.
Bai Qiu agreed, but was puzzled as to how Shao Dongyang knew he would use C-grade items to exchange for things like elemental affinity enhancement potions without even being on his friend list.
Only after asking did he learn that as Bai Qiu’s level increased, the threshold for adding him as a friend had also risen.
And just yesterday, Bai Qiu had reached level 30.
This made it so that many people who wanted to trade with Bai Qiu couldn’t even meet the requirement to add him as a friend.
After all, reaching level 22 was already considered top-tier among T1 players at this stage.
As for how Shao Dongyang knew about Bai Qiu, it was simply because he and several other leaders of army-controlled safe zones were old acquaintances.
Before the apocalypse, they had been colleagues.
Even though they were now in different safe zones, they had added each other as friends, exchanging information and keeping tabs across regions.
Naturally, Bai Qiu’s information had reached him this way.
Bai Qiu nodded upon hearing this and slightly lowered his friend request threshold—from requiring players to be within 8 levels of him to within 12 levels.
In other words, players only needed to be level 18 now to add him as a friend.
After adding him, Shao Dongyang suddenly changed the topic and asked tentatively, “I heard you have potions that can increase mental power?”
Bai Qiu nodded.
There was no need to hide it.
Without waiting for further questions, he directly took out an F− grade mental power potion and handed it over.
“This potion’s original quality should be C− grade. However, C-grade mental potions come with significant side effects.
So unless a player already has high Spirit attributes, they have to start with low-grade versions like F− and gradually work their way up. After at least twelve days, their Spirit attribute can reach C-grade.”
“But as for these mental potions, I don’t plan to sell them,” Bai Qiu said bluntly.
“Why? Are you afraid someone might surpass you?” Shao Dongyang quickly asked, his enthusiasm instantly dampened.
Bai Qiu shook his head.
The crafting blueprint for the mental potions belonged to Ning Xingxue, and he would be formally discussing cooperation with her tonight.
He had no intention of selling them and damaging their trust.
“These potions will be sold by Ning Xingxue from Zone 2243. I believe she’ll offer a reasonable price. I only have partial usage rights to them.”
With the deal for mental potions falling through, Shao Dongyang felt unwilling, but there was nothing he could do.
Fortunately, Bai Qiu generously gave him ten F− grade mental potions to test their effects.
“Phew…” After settling everything, Shao Dongyang took out five cards.
They were: an E-grade personal dungeon, an E+ small three-person dungeon, an E++ medium ten-person dungeon, a D− medium ten-person dungeon, and a D-grade small five-person dungeon.
“Bai Qiu, if you’re willing to help clear these dungeons, I’m willing to give you 10% of all resources obtained and priority choice of the drops!” Shao Dongyang said seriously.
Bai Qiu glanced at the cards.
Their grades didn’t seem particularly high, which made him suspicious.
Narrowing his eyes, he checked the detailed information on the dungeon cards.
Dense Forest Fruit Tree (E-grade, personal dungeon)
Monster level: 15–25
Abandoned Temple (E+ grade, small dungeon 3/3)
Monster level: 30
After reading this, Bai Qiu finally understood why Shao Dongyang was willing to pay such a high price for help.
Even the lowest-level dungeon started at level 15, while the highest reached level 30.
It was hard to believe these were classified as E-grade dungeons at all.
The offer of 10% resources tempted Bai Qiu somewhat.
However, the time he had arranged with Ning Xingxue was approaching, so he could only refuse Shao Dongyang’s request.
…
In front of the teleportation device in Zone 2229, Bai Qiu and Zhang Shiyao, along with the two female students, were saying their goodbyes to Shao Dongyang.
During this time, Zhang Shiyao had also investigated the situation in Zone 2229.
Civilians without combat ability generally exchanged labor for food or Sanctum Coins.
Players with combat ability either joined the military or became lone wolves.
These lone wolves usually hid in certain rooms on certain floors of the unfinished buildings.
The military’s attitude toward them was to keep recruitment intentions, but deliberately separate them from the general population to prevent violent incidents.
Her evaluation was: harsh conditions, but even the weak had basic rights—those willing to work wouldn’t starve.
Of course, these were all discussed privately between them in their party chat.
“Well then, until we meet again, Comrade Bai Qiu. I hope you’ll have time in the future to help us clear those dungeons,” Shao Dongyang said, holding Bai Qiu’s hand with a reluctant expression.
“Sure,” Bai Qiu replied.
He pulled his hand free and walked toward the teleportation device.
“Wait a moment!”
— The end of the Chapter–
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