Chapter 40: The Big Purchase
Seeing this scene, over a dozen healers of various appearances nearby all breathed a sigh of relief at the same time. Almost in unison, they began walking toward the stall. However, upon realizing their targets were the same, their cheeks flushed, and they stopped in their tracks.
"Damn, this is a vicious cycle."
Su Xiao rarely cursed, but he understood the situation around him. Aside from one-on-one transactions, these thin-skinned healers were unlikely to step forward.
Su Xiao grabbed the [White Lady] from the stall, stood up, and walked toward a petite healer wearing a beige dress.
Watching Su Xiao approach with an imposing stride, along with the item he was carrying, the healer instinctively took two steps back.
"Um... I was just passing by."
"How much are you offering? Don't waste time."
"T-twenty thousand Paradise Coins."
Su Xiao turned and walked toward another healer over ten meters away. This healer had an even softer demeanor and looked to be only about twelve or thirteen years old.
The little healer looked up at Su Xiao, her small face inexplicably flushed.
"How much are you offering?"
"2222..."
"Two hundred twenty-two thousand?"
"No, 2... twenty-one thousand~"
After saying this, the little healer lowered her head, staring at her toes.
Su Xiao turned his head to look at the third healer present. That healer was clearly much smarter, making a gesture indicating two hundred twenty thousand.
Su Xiao's listed price was two hundred eighty thousand Paradise Coins, with a psychological expectation between two hundred forty and two hundred fifty thousand.
After a series of 'auctions,' the [White Lady] was finally sold to a tall, slender healer for two hundred sixty thousand Paradise Coins. The expression on this healer's face as she bought it was very conflicted, because after purchasing it, she would have to spend a large sum to change its shape without destroying its original attributes. She couldn't imagine using this thing to heal her own leader. It was simply...
A total of three hundred sixty thousand Paradise Coins in hand. Adding the Paradise Coins Su Xiao had obtained earlier, his assets reached: 421,600 Paradise Coins.
Holding this substantial sum, Su Xiao began strolling through the Trade Market. His Blade Mastery Lv.39 couldn't be improved temporarily due to the lack of a Soul Crystal (Large). As for buying a Soul Crystal (Large), it was simply impossible.
Not to mention Soul Crystals (Large), even Soul Crystals (Small) were rarely seen in the Trade Market. Once one appeared, as long as the price wasn't ridiculously high, it would be purchased immediately.
As for improving his Aura Release ability, Su Xiao had no such plans for now. Conventional improvements were too ineffective, and unconventional ones were too dangerous. That blood-red giant hand left a deep impression on him.
Although 420,000 Paradise Coins seemed like a lot, Su Xiao had already earmarked 130,000 Paradise Coins. Among these, 50,000 Paradise Coins were for manufacturing No. 1 Potion, and the remaining 80,000 Paradise Coins were for manufacturing Sun God Apollo.
Without materials, the cost of Apollo was 500 Mana Points + Soul Crystal (Small) × 1 + 80,000 Paradise Coins, where the Paradise Coins were used to substitute for materials.
After earmarking 130,000 Paradise Coins, Su Xiao still had 290,000 Paradise Coins available. Out of this 290,000, part was used to replenish standard supplies, such as: Special Grade Alchemy Bombs, various weapon maintenance and repairs, and various types of potions.
Three hours later, Su Xiao had only 185,300 Paradise Coins left. He had conducted a major shopping spree in the Trade Market, purchasing the following items:
[Small Underwater Oxygen Supply Device ×4 (Blue Quality), each set usable for 128 hours.]
[Antidote Potion ×2 (Purple Quality), can dispel poison effects below Lv.30.]
[Curse Detection Powder ×4 (Purple Quality), can detect curse traps below Lv.30.]
[T-35Mo Protective Suit ×2 (Blue Quality, One-Time Item), can withstand nuclear radiation, potent biochemical toxins, etc.]
[Complete Set of Blade Maintenance Supplies (Green ~ Blue Quality).]
...
After a major shopping spree, Su Xiao stopped in front of a stall. On the stall was a shortsword, about 50 centimeters long, with a relatively wide blade.
This shortsword was named [Forest Tree], Light Gold Quality, and came with two skills: Intelligence +5 and a 9% chance to generate trees on attack.
Undoubtedly, this was a very garbage shortsword. A melee weapon's positioning yet it increased the Intelligence attribute. Even more infuriating was the tree summoning—fighting and suddenly summoning a tree? What use was that?
The attributes of this weapon should have suited its original owner well, but in the hands of others, it became a tasteless, regrettable piece of junk.
Su Xiao picked up the shortsword from the stall. The stall owner's eyes lit up.
"Got your eye on this shortsword? Its ability is very special; it's a weapon with recovery capabilities."
The stall owner cleared his throat.
"Although its original attributes don't have recovery, you can find an ability that restores health by devouring trees. With rapid slashing, a 9% chance isn't low. Imagine, in the middle of a fight, you recover a chunk of health. How satisfying is that? And this stall is having a promotional welcome event. Light Gold weapons, not 298,800, not 198,800, only 98,800..."
Su Xiao quickly waved his hand to interrupt the stall owner.
"Ahem~ Sorry, occupational hazard."
The stall owner looked a bit embarrassed. Su Xiao hesitated for a moment before making an offer.
"30,000."
"..."
The two stared at each other. The stall owner snatched the shortsword back.
"50,000."
Su Xiao made a second offer.
"This..."
The stall owner was conflicted. This piece of junk had been with him for 16 derivative worlds, following him from the third rank to the fourth rank, like a stubborn patch.
"Minimum 80,000."
This stall owner was also desperate. A Light Gold shortsword for only 80,000. However, the stall owner knew very well in his heart that with this shortsword's low attack power and eye-straining attributes, selling it for 80,000 was actually already good.
Light Gold Quality didn't guarantee a high price. If this shortsword fell into the hands of the right person, it could even exceed the power of a Light Gold weapon. However, such people were too few. When appraising an item, a very important point was whether anyone needed it.
Su Xiao spent 80,000 Paradise Coins to buy the Light Gold shortsword [Forest Tree], to be used for increasing the Edge Value of Dragon-Slaying Flash.
After the Supreme Blade was upgraded by one level, the weapons that could be sacrificed were now more lenient: swords, daggers, and short blades were all acceptable. This significantly reduced the cost of upgrading Dragon-Slaying Flash's quality.
For example, this [Forest Tree], although Light Gold Quality, was unwanted by anyone and could only be sold at the ultra-low price of 80,000 Paradise Coins. Weapons like this, which were regrettable to discard yet uncomfortable to keep, could occasionally be found in the Trade Market. Others didn't need this type of weapon, but Su Xiao needed them very much.
Su Xiao wouldn't use Dragon-Slaying Flash to 'devour' [Forest Tree] immediately. He had noticed a long time ago that if Dragon-Slaying Flash devoured several weapons at once, the Edge Value increase was greater than devouring them one by one.
After wandering around the Trade Market for a long time, Su Xiao didn't find any more weapons with garbage attributes that could be used to increase Dragon-Slaying Flash's Edge Value.
He had 105,300 Paradise Coins left. After thinking for a long time, Su Xiao walked toward the Trial Grounds.
[Welcome, Hunter. Please select a mode.]
[Assistance Mode / Combat Mode]
Su Xiao selected Assistance Mode.
[Assistance Mode selected. Please select the level of the summoned projection.]
"High."
[High-level projection costs 10,000 Paradise Coins per hour. Please select summoning mode (Random / Designated Target).]
"Summon... Dracule Mihawk."
Su Xiao planned to spend the remaining Paradise Coins on summoning projections. Summoning Hawk Eyes Dracule Mihawk had many benefits. Not only could he consult him about blade techniques, but he could also ask about some knowledge regarding meditation.