Xiao Yang had never wavered in his decision to refuse.
But then an unexpected turn of events occurred. Beside Xiao Yang, a burly dwarf with a long red beard spoke up disdainfully.
"Another bunch of scumbags deceiving newbies!"
"Hey, kid, what backwater did you crawl out of? You haven't even read the God Game's Five Rules for New Players?"
At those words, Xiao Yang turned to look at the Red-Bearded Dwarf beside him. Ming Xuanzi did too, but his expression was rather unpleasant now, especially after he saw the dwarf's level.
"May I ask what you mean by that? I'm a disciple of Nether Cave in the Black Abyss Plane!"
At this threat, the Red-Bearded Dwarf impatiently waved the hammer in his hand.
"Enough blabbering. If you've got the guts, leave the trading area and come find me at the Hellish High Furnace!"
For a moment, Xiao Yang glimpsed a purple gleam on the hammer in the Red-Bearded Dwarf's hand.
After they had exchanged introductions, Ming Xuanzi fell silent. His expression shifted, and in the end, he gave a snort and turned to leave!
Seeing this, Xiao Yang knew he'd run into a big shot. He started edging closer to the Red-Bearded Dwarf.
At first, the Red-Bearded Dwarf had been cold toward Xiao Yang, but soon he gradually warmed to the younger man's repeated calls of "big shot." He began waving his hammer around and bragging to his little buddy about his exploits.
By the way, the Red-Bearded Dwarf's name was Redbeard—or rather, Redbeard was just one part of his rather lengthy name.
During their conversation, Xiao Yang also learned the Five Rules for New Players from Redbeard.
First, never reveal your talent.
Second, don't betray your plane.
Third, before a Plane Lord emerges, never take the initiative to invite other players into your plane.
Fourth, don't side with evil gods.
Fifth, don't add game friends casually.
Xiao Yang wanted to ask Redbeard more about the Five Rules for New Players, but Redbeard wasn't good at explaining things. The more questions Xiao Yang asked, the more annoyed the red-bearded dwarf became. His temper flared, and he snapped at Xiao Yang.
"Questions, questions, questions! Why are you asking so much? Just do as you're told!"
After being scolded like that, Xiao Yang didn't get angry. He just grinned and continued.
"Don't be mad, Big Shot Redbeard. I just don't have as much experience as you! Oh, by the way, tell me more about how you slew that red dragon!"
At the change of subject, Redbeard stopped getting angry and happily began telling Xiao Yang the story of his dragon-slaying exploits. He was quite a character.
By the time their conversation was winding down, Xiao Yang still asked the dwarf veteran he'd just met a question.
"Will what happened today get you into trouble?"
A level-five nobody like Xiao Yang sincerely asked a level-thirty-three Dwarf Lava Blacksmith this.
Xiao Yang didn't know much about the Myriad Worlds, so it was understandable. Otherwise, he never would have asked such a question.
The gap between him and the Red-Bearded Dwarf was like that between a Golden Core Cultivator and a Second-rate Martial Artist, or a red dragon and a village knight from a village the dragon had destroyed. They weren't even in the same class. There was no reason for him to worry about Redbeard.
Redbeard was taken aback and gave Xiao Yang a strange look, but it was clear that the short-tempered dwarf appreciated the gesture.
His bushy hand landed directly on Xiao Yang's back, making him stumble. There was no doubt about it: without the protection of the God Game Rules in the Myriad Worlds Trading Area, that slap might have knocked Xiao Yang flat on the spot.
After all, this really might have been a dwarf who had slain a dragon.
"Now you're worried about me? What the hell does it have to do with you? I just can't stand those bastards!"
At that, Xiao Yang nodded. He wasn't putting on an act; he really meant it. Redbeard had seen that too, or he wouldn't have thought so highly of Xiao Yang.
"All right. If you ever want some equipment made, come find me. I like you, so I'll only charge you what it costs!"
With a hearty laugh, Xiao Yang tried sending him a friend request, but Redbeard rejected it outright.
"Idiot! Didn't I tell you to pay attention to the Five Rules for New Players?"
At the blunt rebuke, Xiao Yang just grinned shamelessly.
Soon after, he began looking over the goods at Redbeard's stall. The cheeky fellow even tried to get him to offer a discount, but Redbeard refused without hesitation.
Redbeard bluntly explained that even the landlord's family had no surplus grain. He still had a lava forge to support, so no matter how often Xiao Yang called him "big shot," there was no chance of a discount.
Faced with that, Xiao Yang could only sigh dejectedly.
Honestly, Xiao Yang really did want the things at Redbeard's stall.
Flame Longsword
Quality: Excellent
Type: Elemental Weapon
Requirement: Strength 10
Damage: 28, with an added ignition effect
Description: An excellent longsword engraved with flame runes.
It cost two hundred thousand. He couldn't afford it—not even close.
Still, after listening to stories for so long and getting a little closer to the dwarf big shot, he'd at least made a good impression. That wasn't nothing.
Seeing how broke Xiao Yang looked, Redbeard rummaged through his Personal Backpack and actually came up with a few bits of junk that Xiao Yang could use. He sold them to him at scrap prices.
One thousand Spirit Coins for three pieces of white equipment—three hundred each. It was practically a giveaway, and Xiao Yang accepted without hesitation.
They were a Leather Chestplate, a Leather Hat, and a pair of Leather Pants: the three-piece leather set.
Leather Chestplate
Quality: Common
Type: Light Armor, Chest Armor
Effect: Increases defense by one.
Description: Yes, this is a leather chestplate.
The chestplate gave him one point of defense, the hat gave him one point of defense, and the pants gave him one point of agility. The bonuses were pitiful, but they were still much better than the blackened, tattered T-shirt Xiao Yang was wearing. At least after changing into the set, he didn't look quite so much like a newbie.
Xiao Yang was quite pleased with it.
Afterward, Xiao Yang kept chatting with Redbeard as he sold his goods. Bit by bit, he sold a few more things, including several pieces of green-quality Zombie Viscera. The vendor selling undead creatures had come over to buy them, but it was obvious that selling undead creatures wasn't a good business.
The necromancer haggled with Xiao Yang over a few dozen Spirit Coins. But that wasn't surprising. It seemed most necromancer classes could raise their own minions, while necromancers who focused on building an army had their own graveyards and didn't need to buy undead creatures in bulk.
Otherwise, why would a level-thirty-something necromancer be so stingy as to haggle over a few dozen Spirit Coins?
Before you continue