Ash Sweep

Player Black Market.

After making a deal with Old Ma and offsetting the cost of replenishing ammunition, the trip earned over 60,000 Star Coins. Compared to the dangers along the way, this amount of money was nothing. However, if you add the Wind Chaser in your possession, the profits from this trip are simply unimaginable.

Leaving the exchange and arriving at the black market courtyard, there were about a dozen players setting up stalls. No one was hawking their wares; everything was laid out flat on the ground for other players to look at.

A few seconds later, my gaze was drawn to a pale gold Skill Tome.

[Ash Sweep] (A-Rank Skill Tome): Deals three consecutive powerful attacks to the target area, inflicting 120%/180%/240% damage respectively. Consumes 3 Essence Points. Cooldown: 15 seconds. Required Level: 40. Required Class: Super Weapon Master.

Good heavens, it's actually a level 40 skill book for Super Weapon Master!

In the setting of <Star Abyss>, after a Super Weapon Master player advances to the fourth tier, there are two universal skills: one is the Rising Dragon Slash that they have already learned, and the other is the Ash Sweep in front of them!

Judging from the skill descriptions, Ash Sweep and Bloodthirsty Assault are somewhat similar, both being three consecutive attacks. The difference is that Bloodthirsty Assault can drain life, while Ash Sweep focuses on damage. Moreover, judging from the description, this skill is an AOE damage skill, which will be very effective against densely packed targets in a small area!

Excellent, this skill should be acquired!

The stall owner was a middle-aged man with a pointed face and a shrewd look in his eyes. He seemed to have noticed me staring at the book "Ash Sweep" for a long time, so he smiled and said:

"Hey, isn't this the Shadow Chaser? What, got your eye on this Ash Sweep?"

"Yes."

I nodded and smiled, "Brother, how much are you planning to sell this 'Ash Sweep' book for?"

"That depends on your offer."

The vendor chuckled, "To be honest, sir, I didn't create this Skill Tome myself, nor do I have the skill. I bought it to resell. If there isn't enough profit, I'd rather keep it than sell it."

I was slightly taken aback. I had heard before that some so-called "merchants" had appeared in Star Abyss, making profits by buying low and selling high. They closely followed the version and the price fluctuations in the game, hoarding goods and driving up prices. As a result, some of the best merchants were even richer than the top players!

If Old Ma is a businessman employed by the GM organization, then the man in front of us is a small-time individual vendor!

"Can."

I took a deep breath. "There aren't many Tier 4 skill books available right now. On the Dark Web black market, Ash Sweep is currently priced at around 300,000. How about I reduce my profit by 20% and offer you 350,000 for this book?"

"35W..."

The other party hesitated for a moment. "Boss, how about you add a little more? I won't lie to you, I bought this book for 320,000. It's not easy for me to stand here every day in the wind and sun, and I also have to find time to level up. Do you think you can add a little more?"

"Then I'll give you 370,000, still with a profit of 50,000. What do you think?"

"OK, deal!"

The other party showed a look of joy.

I didn't care too much. Right now, I have a full 1.28 million Star Coins in my Dimensional Storage Space. Most of them were converted from items dropped by those foreign players, including "Marco Polo". I don't feel bad spending this kind of money!

So, he simply pulled out 370,000 Star Coins and Ash Sweep!

"Whoosh!"

He learned it on the spot and leveled up to lv10, instantly gaining 6 points of strength.

Watching my strength points soar by 6, I was filled with confidence. I'll slowly build up my advantage until my attributes completely outpace all the other players!

It's late at night, and I'm lying in bed.

Perhaps it was because the experience of the Dawn Fortress battle was too thrilling, coupled with the fact that the Initiator died right in front of him, that his nerves were overstimulated and he couldn't fall asleep even at midnight.

"Drop!"

Suddenly, a bell rang in my ears--

[Friend Milo has requested a voice call. Do you accept?]

What's Milo up to in the middle of the night?

The call connected instantly, and Milo's magnetic voice came from the other end. "Ding Han, you're still awake, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I'm not asleep."

I asked, "What's wrong? It's the middle of the night."

My new album has been released.

Milo laughed, "Today is the second day of release, and the popularity is absolutely phenomenal. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's 'sweeping the entire internet'!"

He seemed extremely excited. "Dude, I really succeeded this time... I'm going to the press conference for the new album tomorrow, wow... I've never experienced this feeling of success in my previous world."

Congratulations!

I exclaimed with delight, "I told you before, you looked like you had potential, and now you've really made a name for yourself!"

"Actually, it wasn't exactly instant fame. You can't imagine the hardships and struggles I've endured over the past few months."

Milo said, "But after all the hard work, everything has paid off, and it feels so good! By the way, the music video for the album's title track, 'The Ordinary Road,' has been uploaded to major music websites, and it's currently featured prominently on their homepages. Xiao Bei's portrayal in the music video has received rave reviews!"

"Really?"

I quickly picked up my phone, opened Nine Heavens Music Network, and started watching the music video for Milo's hit song.

Just as Lu Xiaobei had said before, she participated in the filming, but did not appear on screen with anyone. Half of the music video focused on Milo carrying a guitar and walking through the Northwest Plateau, while the other half focused on Lu Xiaobei Rover, creating the visual illusion that the two met along the way.

Lu Xiaobei's image is indeed good; she is pure and free, which perfectly matches the feeling of the song.

"Finished watching?"

Milo asked with a smile, "Give me your feedback?"

"There's not much to say..."

I smiled and said, "Xiao Bei really enhanced this song. Without the music video, it probably wouldn't have become this popular."

"Damn, I feel the same way..."

Milo laughed and said, "Oh, right, there's another good news. Xiao Bei came by once when I was recording a song before and did an audition. Our producer really liked Xiao Bei's voice, so he wants to sign her as well and have me write a duet song to promote her. I've already decided, the Xiao Bei will be <Plain Face>."

"Plain Face..."

I frowned, suddenly thinking of Lu Xiaobei's appearance. She seemed to never wear makeup, and when she strolled around Creek City, she always had a bare face. Even when she did wear makeup, it was only light makeup, not much different from her Plain Face.

This song really suits her.

"Plain Face is fine."

I nodded. "But have you asked Xiao Bei's opinion? Is she willing to debut? Knowing her as I do, with her personality of disliking being tied down, she definitely wouldn't want to sign with Nine Heavens Music Network."

You guessed right.

Milo laughed and said, "Xiao Bei did refuse on the spot, but she also said that there was room for negotiation. She could sign a 'hobby' contract, so she wouldn't be restricted and could walk away unscathed at any time. After all, you know, Xiao Bei isn't short of money, and she does whatever she likes."

"Um..."

I hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said, "Milo, I want to ask you a question that has been on my mind for a long time. If you know the answer, I hope you can tell me the truth."

"Oh? You go on." His attitude became serious.

"What is Xiao Bei's family background? Who is her father?"

"You don't know this?"

Milo was speechless. He said, "You've met her father? I thought you already knew. Let me put it this way, in the entire BH City circle, Xiao Bei's father's influence is top-tier. After all, the name of Lu Changzai, the water transport tycoon, is quite renowned. I met him once before; his aura was so strong that it made this little singer tremble with fear..."

"Holy crap..."

I was surprised. "Lu Changzai is a bigwig in the water transport industry?"

"Yes, he controls about 30% of the shipping and river transport business in the entire eastern coastal region. He's a true tycoon, so as long as Xiao Bei is in BH City, he doesn't have to worry about money at all."

"I see."

I took a deep breath and finally realized why Lu Xiaobei always liked to watch cargo ships by the canal when they were in Creek City. Coupled with the point where she later Lu Changzai, everything became clear.

During her childhood, Lu Xiaobei was raised by her grandmother. Her father, Lu Changzai on business trips by ship, so Lu Xiaobei would always watch the cargo ships coming and going from the shore, hoping to see her father on one of them. But she waited and waited, and when she grew up, she was met with a stepmother who had no feelings for her.

It can be said that Lu Xiaobei's slightly extreme personality is inseparable from these childhood experiences.

"Ding Han, sometimes I really wish you could be kinder to Xiao Bei. She's really, really good... If it were me, I would give up everything and love her properly."

Milo said earnestly, "As your brother, this is all I can say. I hope you'll consider it carefully."

"Knew."

I nodded, and then the two of us ended the call.