Heavenly Venerate Han, "You guys would never believe it, but I actually ran into a goblin tribe today! They looked exactly like they do in anime, holy crap!"
Low Head Three Inches, "Me too. I also ran into a goblin leader today. I shouted to my thugs to go up and beat it to death with clubs. It even dropped an iron treasure box for me!"
Maurio, "Lucky!"
Eric, "I have to say, these wild monsters are really weak. I feel like those little bosses are only on par with zombies."
Corpse King, "@Eric, I can confirm, it's true."
Eric, "Whoa! A big shot replied to me!"
Corpse King, "I've done experiments. A regular zombie can solo a 1st Rank boss, and with more than ten, they can easily kill 2nd Rank wild monsters."
Rat, "Don't mention it—those wild monsters really aren't in the same league as mutant creatures. I circled a 1st Rank mini-boss with my big rat and smashed it, thinking the mutant creatures were the same. Who knew they'd swipe down one by one! Good thing I ran fast."
Heavenly Venerate Han, "So you really are Rat."
Rat, "What, you look down on Rat?"
[Rank 342: Rat, Comprehensive Combat Power: 1st Rank Blue]
[Rank 343: Heavenly Venerate Han, Comprehensive Combat Power: 1st Rank Blue]
Skeleton Emperor, "@Heavenly Venerate Han, what, looking down on Rat?"
Golden Dragon Fish, "@Heavenly Venerate Han, what, looking down on Rat?"
Corpse King, "@Heavenly Venerate Han, what, looking down on Rat?"
...
Unexpectedly, Bai Yi saw some fun right as she entered the channel and almost couldn't resist putting in a "+1."
But luckily she remembered her main purpose was to sell blueprints, stopping her itchy fingers just in time...
Fan Mao, "@Heavenly Venerate Han, what, looking down on Rat?"
*Hmm, that was a slip of the finger!*
*That's right!*
*Just like that!*
But Bai Yi did not forget her original purpose.
Carefully, she took a screenshot of the blueprint, ensuring the required materials weren't visible.
*After all, it would be awkward if people stopped buying if they saw it needed Dragon Blood Grass...*
As for why she was selling it, Bai Yi made up a seemingly reasonable excuse and posted it.
Fan Mao, "Sorry to interrupt, but I opened a treasure box today and got a blue barracks blueprint. However, it requires a lot of fresh Blood Flesh, which I don't have enough of, so I'm looking to trade it for something useful."
[Four-legged Dragon Beast Lair Blueprint (1st Rank/Blue)]
When the screenshot was posted, the channel went silent for a while. Bai Yi thought her explanation wasn't enough and quickly added another note.
Fan Mao, "I can also include an item that dropped with it, which might come in handy."
[Thin Dragon Blood Crystal (1st Rank/Blue)]
The channel stayed quiet for a long time, and Bai Yi started to worry that the deal might fall through, when someone made a comment.
Maurio, "Sorry, I take back what I said. Fan Mao, you are the real Luck King!"
Light Giant, "Why is it that when I open a box, I only get food? Truly, the joys and sorrows of people are always different."
Golden Dragon Fish, "Truly, the joys and sorrows of people are always different."
...
Just when it seemed like the screen might flood with messages again, Bai Yi felt very pleased.
*This was exactly the effect she wanted.*
*As long as everyone diverted their attention from her strength, Bai Yi could accept any other outcome.*
*After all, once someone became powerful, they'd get envied, and people would try to seek alliance. She wasn't interested in dealing with these messy situations.*
*She wanted to lay low!*
But unexpectedly gaining a "Luck King" persona wasn't something Bai Yi saw coming, yet it was a good thing. At least in the future, if she brought out anything else, it would only be seen as luck.
*Not viewed as something terrifying, stirring everyone to want to get rid of her.*
After a round of screen-flooding, some leaderboard Lords started asking prices and inquiring about the specific details of the barracks.
Bai Yi was prepared, and she posted the data of the Fake Dragon.
To further cement her persona, Bai Yi crafted a story about how she went through great trouble and lost many of her unit types before finally defeating the Fake Dragon.
However, the blue blueprint and matching item effectively deterred most ordinary lords from getting involved.
Ultimately, there were just three capable and willing participants left: Corpse King, Landon I, and surprisingly, the Second Young Master Su.
As for what she wanted in exchange, Bai Yi had long had an idea.
Fan Mao, "I'm primarily looking for insect-type barracks blueprints or honey."
Corpse King, "Insect-type barracks? Talent? I don't have that, but I can offer this Transfer Certificate plus 200 units of fresh Blood Flesh."
[Mage Transfer Certificate (1st Rank/Purple)]
Second Young Master Su, "I offer 20 1st Rank Crystal Cores, plus a green Bloodthorn Vine card for exchange. This card can summon a green Bloodthorn Vine directly."
Landon I, "I have a white Corrosive Earthworm blueprint and can add 200 units of honey. It might take some time to prepare, though."
The three of them subtly gave a price and then fell silent, waiting for Bai Yi's decision.
Bai Yi looked at the three offers and indeed felt a bit torn at the moment.
*As for 'Mage' and such, it clearly enhanced Magic Power Value, and her current superpower lacked Magic Power Value.*
*But considering she still had tree fruits to increase her Magic Limit and she didn't really need Blood Flesh, Bai Yi reluctantly dropped this option.*
As for the offer from the Second Young Master Su, the 1st Rank Crystal Cores and Bloodthorn Vine were both things Bai Yi wanted.
The former was a stable source Bai Yi hadn't found yet, and the latter perfectly fit her superpower and her territory's current status.
But Landon I's offer wasn't bad either. Although it was just a white unit, to Bai Yi, rarity wasn't the only measure of value.
With good gene talent, it could still offer Bai Yi considerable value.
Besides, Landon I could continue providing honey, and with honey, Bai Yi could directly advance the swarm of bees' consciousness to stage 2!
But Bai Yi considered today's earlier unpleasantness with Second Young Master Su's company and the smooth transaction last time with Landon I and ultimately chose Landon I.
After individually sending private messages to Second Young Master Su and Corpse King indicating she had already made a choice, Bai Yi began negotiating with Landon I.
Ultimately, Bai Yi used his inability to pay all the honey at once as leverage to get an extra 50 units of the wood she currently needed badly.
Having previously established trust through a transaction, Bai Yi quickly concluded this transaction.
[You completed a transaction and acquired: Corrosive Earthworm Lair Blueprint*1, Wood*50, Honey*50]
The remaining honey was promised by Landon I to be delivered 50 units a day to Bai Yi until fully paid.
After finishing the trade, Bai Yi couldn't wait to pull out the items she had traded for.
"Now I've got all the materials needed for the swarm of bees' consciousness to reach stage 2!"
Without a second thought, Bai Yi tossed 45 units of honey into the Hive, starting to breed Giant Bees along with Blood Flesh.
Upon seeing the waiting time prompt on the panel, Bai Yi then pulled out the white blueprint and directly learned it.
The construction cost wasn't high, requiring only 20 units of stone, 10 units of wood, and 5 units of any food. The only restriction was that it had to be built on dirt ground, which wasn't a hassle for Bai Yi; she started construction right beside the Beetle Hive.
After waiting about ten minutes, a stone cave appeared before Bai Yi.
[Corrosive Earthworm Lair (1st Rank/White): Consumes meat to recruit (breed) units [Corrosive Earthworm], lair comes with three initial units, recruitment cost: food*1]
[Due to consumption... an unknown change has occurred]
After the familiar prompt, three fleshy worms crawled out of the lair.
Being just a white unit, Bai Yi originally hadn't set much hope on them, but they did surprise her.
......
"Young Master Su, you can rest assured now, that Fan Mao was indeed just someone who got incredibly lucky."
Ling lay in the arms of the Second Young Master Su, her voice seemingly lacking strength.
"Too bad we didn't make the deal; otherwise, by sending the Crystal Core to him, we could pinpoint the location of his territory.
Although the game rules don't allow attacking territories, they do leave them eventually. Once we get rid of the Lord, the territory's protection naturally disappears. Then those Second Tier Crystal Cores of his... *Sigh, too bad, such a shame.*"
Second Young Master Su shook his head and sighed, playing with a Crystal Core in his hand before turning his thoughts to something else. He spoke to Ling in his arms:
"Afterward, continue trying to make a deal with that Fan Mao. Make sure to find a way to get this Crystal Core into his hands!"
"Absolutely!"
Where Ling couldn't see, a grin subtly curled on Second Young Master Su's lips, only to be concealed again in an instant.
......
Corrosive Earthworm: A carrion-eating mutant earthworm, with its still-weak body, has gained the ability to secrete corrosive mucus, capable of corroding most structures. It is strictly forbidden for special purposes, and should be eliminated swiftly if encountered.
——"White Poplar City Mutant Creatures Compendium"