Data Anomaly: Account Banned!

This shop won't work!

Jiang Liu glanced at the announcement that had popped up on Taobao, then shut it down without hesitation.

If he sold a low-grade magical artifact for 500 Spirit Stones, he would have to hand over 100.

That was a solid 100 Spirit Stones. In-game, that much could be spent as 10,000 Spirit Stones!

The most important thing was that handing some over to the state was one thing. It was his duty as a citizen.

After all, ever since the Cultivation Era had arrived, the state's regulations had been essential to maintaining public order in society and across the various districts.

But having to give the platform 5% was a little hard to accept.

The platform charged merchants Spirit Stones to operate, then paid its employees in paper money. They were making a killing.

Paying the platform dozens of Spirit Stones for a single Law-tier item meant thousands for a hundred. Just thinking about it hurt.

No way. I'm not paying. Taobao and I just aren't meant to be.

But if I didn't open a shop on Taobao, where else could I sell this backpack full of magical artifacts and spells?

Jiang Liu was stumped. Was he, the number-one player on the Leaderboard and the number-one player in the Arena, supposed to shout into the Chat Box and hawk his wares?

That would be so beneath him.

As he racked his brain, his gaze swept over to Li Dongze beside him. His eyes lit up, and he nudged him. "Wake up, wake up!"

"What the hell?"

Li Dongze opened his eyes, clearly annoyed. "I'm in the middle of the 1-7 stage. Spit it out if you've got something to say; otherwise, leave me alone."

He's already up against the Lingyun Sect Outer Elder?

His buddy was making pretty quick progress.

"I've got a batch of magical artifacts and spells. Does your family want them?"

Jiang Liu asked.

"A batch of magical artifacts and spells?"

Li Dongze immediately perked up. He nodded eagerly. "How many? My family will take them all!"

Magical artifacts and spells were scarce goods, and buyers were never in short supply. Besides paying a premium on e-commerce platforms, there was no way to get them in bulk.

Even he, with a wealthy family and plenty of Spirit Stones, only had four magical artifacts on him.

"Twenty-one low-grade magical artifacts, eleven mid-grade magical artifacts, seventeen low-grade spells, and seven mid-grade spells."

As he spoke, Jiang Liu sent Li Dongze the screenshots on his phone.

Li Dongze: "?????"

"How many?!"

Li Dongze's voice shot up several octaves. His shout rang through the entire classroom, drawing sidelong glances from the other students.

"Fifty-six in total."

Jiang Liu ignored Li Dongze's stunned expression and muttered to himself, "Low-grade magical artifacts and spells are 500 Spirit Stones apiece, and mid-grade ones are 1,000 apiece. That's 37,000 Spirit Stones total. I'll do you a favor and knock ten percent off. That'll be 33,300 Spirit Stones."

As he worked out the total, even he was dumbfounded.

Holy crap, over 30,000 Spirit Stones?

He'd tossed the 700 Spirit Stones his second uncle had given him into the Permanent Pool and turned them into nearly fifty times as much!

Why even cultivate anymore? He could just spend all his time pulling from the Permanent Pool. A few days and nights of draws, and he'd be a tycoon!

Li Dongze: "."

"Fifty-six magical artifacts and spells?"

Li Dongze looked dazed. He stared at Jiang Liu as if he were some kind of celestial being, then asked in utter shock, "Where did you get so many magical artifacts and spells?"

"Was short on cash, so I went to the Permanent Pool to stock up."

Jiang Liu answered casually. "These are just the ones left over after I picked through them. They're not good enough for me. You want them or not?"

Short on cash

Went to the Permanent Pool to stock up

Leftovers

Not good enough for him

Li Dongze's face twisted, and a hint of murderous intent flickered in his eyes.

You really deserve to die!

Did you build the Permanent Pool yourself? Magical artifacts and spells are pouring out of it by the batch!

So a lucky bastard really can beat a rich guy?

Back when they played games, Jiang Liu had given him all the junk gear he'd outgrown. He'd been generous about it, too.

Now Jiang Liu was selling him the magical artifacts and spells he'd picked over and deemed unworthy.

The sudden reversal in their positions left him so frustrated that he almost started missing the days before the Cultivation Era had arrived.

"I'll take them!"

After holding out for a while, Li Dongze gritted his teeth and nodded. The moment the words left his mouth, he felt his old pride slip away, replaced by a humiliation he'd never felt before.

I'm a freaking super-rich second-generation heir, my family has billions, and now I'm eating someone else's leftovers?

Ah, whatever. That's just how things are. Let him gloat for a while.

"Brother Liu, Brother Liu!"

Li Dongze swallowed his humiliation and forced a smile. In a low voice, he said, "We're good brothers, right? Isn't ten percent off a little stingy?"

It was a huge deal worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. A ten-percent discount would save him several thousand. His father had once told him that saving money was the same as making money, and there was no shame in making money.

"How much of a discount do you want?"

Jiang Liu gave him a sideways glance.

"Could you cut the price in half?"

Li Dongze grinned ingratiatingly. "You got them for free anyway. How about letting your good brother benefit a little, too?"

"Being your good brother is pretty damn expensive."

Jiang Liu rolled his eyes and said irritably, "Half off is out of the question. Twenty percent off is my limit. Take it or leave it!"

Though his tone was sharp, he felt great—absolutely delighted.

Seeing his former big brother grovel in front of him felt... man, it felt fantastic!

For that alone, twenty percent off was worth it. It was only a few thousand Spirit Stones. He'd draw them back in five minutes.

What a smug little bastard!

Li Dongze cursed him inwardly, his smile growing even wider. "Thanks, Brother Liu! You're the best, Brother Liu! I'll call my dad right now!"

Damn it, a few words and several thousand Spirit Stones were gone. Jiang Liu, Jiang Liu, this was a one-time deal. Don't expect it to happen again!

Jiang Liu silently thought to himself that he didn't mind losing a few thousand Spirit Stones. But the moment he converted that into in-game spending power, it suddenly hurt.

The Five Elements Dharma Body was already a bottomless pit. Who knew how many money-grabbing features the game would add in the future?

The price of magical artifacts and spells was bound to keep falling. He'd better save up!

After giving himself that little pep talk, Jiang Liu received a trade request from Li Dongze in-game.

He opened it, put all fifty-six magical artifacts and spells up, and completed the trade.

29,600 Spirit Stones received!

Converted into in-game spending power: 2,960,000 Spirit Stones!

A fortune had fallen right on his head, leaving Jiang Liu dizzy and seeing stars.

What kind of garbage game operators were these? They didn't even know how to push players to spend!

Get some paid content out already!

Limited-time pools, lucky wheels, treasure chests—bring them all out! Don't tell me you can't even copy the usual tricks!

In-game, Li Dongze sent him a message.

[Li Dongze]: My dad wants to treat you to a meal. When are you free?

[Jiang Liu]: How about after the next batch comes in? Say something nice, and I'll save you a top-grade magical artifact or spell for thirty percent off.

[Li Dongze]: Uncle, your brother says to come home for dinner.

"Flexible and willing to bend—Brother Ze really is made for great things."

Jiang Liu sighed, then headed back to the Permanent Pool.

Today, he was going to evolve his Five Elements Profound Body!

One thousand draws, two thousand draws, three thousand draws...

The next batch was ready.

Ten Supreme Gold Spiritual Roots achieved, ten Supreme Wood Spiritual Roots achieved, ten Supreme Fire Spiritual Roots achieved, ten Supreme Earth Spiritual Roots achieved!

Jiang Liu's eyes widened, his excitement reaching a fever pitch. As he counted out enough Spiritual Roots, he was just about to turn and evolve his Five Elements Profound Body when a flashing, deep-red announcement box suddenly appeared before his eyes.

[Warning! Warning! Warning!]

[Data anomaly! Data anomaly! Data anomaly!]

[Your account has been banned.]

Jiang Liu: "?????"