Buying Stellar Slaves

After the old man's identification, he quickly gave a price.

"We can offer forty billion Black Dragon Coins."

Hearing this price, Jiang Ming wasn't too surprised. He had given the ring to Luo Feng earlier with another intention: to have Babata help appraise the value of the items within the rings.

The three Stellar Warriors Jiang Ming had burned to death were likely frequent plunderers, possessing considerable wealth.

Furthermore, Babata discovered that these three were already on Qiu Long Star's wanted list, with substantial bounties on their heads. After uploading footage of Jiang Ming killing them through online channels, Babata quickly collected these bounties.

Jiang Ming was actually very curious how wanted individuals like them managed to evade pursuit on Qiu Long Star. After Babata's explanation, he finally understood that the so-called wanted status and bounties were not established by Qiu Long City itself.

Instead, they were rewards set up by the victims' families.

However, with these bounties, they dared not enter Dragon City, so most of the treasures they plundered remained on their persons.

Upon learning the wealth these three Stellar level Warriors possessed, Jiang Ming regretted not having kept the dozen or so soul signatures he had sensed at the time.

Plunder was indeed the fastest way to accumulate wealth. A single Stellar level Warrior could amass immense riches by plundering just a hundred Planetary level beings.

To Stellar level beings, Planetary level Warriors were mere ants, easily plundered.

Even if the wealth was less, as long as they killed enough, the accumulated sum would still be astonishing.

"This price will do."

Jiang Ming nodded, agreeing to the price.

The transaction complete, Jiang Ming's account increased by 7.8 billion Black Dragon Coins.

Exiting the treasure shop, Jiang Ming led his group towards the slave market.

In the heart of the precious and expensive Qiu Long Star, the slave market occupied a vast area of three hundred kilometers. It was teeming with people, making it the most prosperous market in the surrounding hundred star systems.

"Discount sales! Discount sales! A 'Taro Clan' member at Apprentice Ninth Order is now only 20 Black Dragon Coins. Buy ten, get one free. Buy a hundred, get fifteen free. The more you buy, the more you get!"

As soon as they entered the slave market, they saw large slave emporiums with crowds of people constantly beckoning customers and making announcements.

Hearing these announcements, Luo Feng's heart skipped a beat. Apprentice Ninth Order? Wasn't that equivalent to a High-level War God on Earth?

20 Black Dragon Coins each, with discounts for bulk purchases?

Wouldn't that mean one could buy millions of High-level War Gods for a mere hundred million?

Just then, a girl with cat ears and a beauty that could topple nations approached Jiang Ming.

"Sir, are you looking for female slaves? Our female slaves are 5,000 Black Dragon Coins each. Every one of them is a top-tier beauty, specially trained. We guarantee your satisfaction."

The Cat-eared Girl initially wanted to get closer, but the intense pressure from Jiang Ming's gaze made her hesitate. After a few steps, she no longer dared to approach and called out charmingly to Jiang Ming.

"Do you have any at the Stellar level?" Jiang Ming asked indifferently, looking at the Cat-eared Girl.

Hearing this, the Cat-eared Girl's eyes lit up. This was a big business.

"Yes, sir. Please follow me this way."

She then led the way, guiding Jiang Ming and his group in a certain direction.

Along the roads, occasionally, slaves at the eighth or ninth stage of Stellar level would display their might, attracting attention. There were also women of unparalleled beauty, dressed in flowing silk, performing graceful dances at the shop entrances.

Even Jiang Ming couldn't help but glance sideways frequently.

"Sir, those are Apprentice level. Buying them would lower your status, wouldn't it? Our goods will satisfy you."

Seeing Jiang Ming's gaze drift, the Cat-eared Girl, worried about losing the sale, quickly spoke up to regain his attention.

"Sir, if you buy Stellar level female slaves from us, we can give you a thousand Apprentice level female slaves for free. They are absolutely stunning beauties, from all sorts of races."

Hearing the Cat-eared Girl's words, Luo Feng, standing beside him, became curious.

"How did you acquire these slaves?"

Seeing Luo Feng's question, the Cat-eared Girl explained.

"Most of these slaves come from owners of slave planets. The population on these planets multiplies rapidly, and after a period, a large number of people can be produced.

They sell them in the hundreds of millions. Most of our slaves come from these planets."

The Cat-eared Girl's tone was devoid of emotion as she spoke, as if the hundreds of millions of people she mentioned were not humans but goods coming off an assembly line.

Hearing this, Luo Feng felt a chill run down his spine.

Slave planets? Selling populations generation after generation?

Just hearing the description, Luo Feng could imagine what a hellish scene that must be.

"These slave planets are home to weaker races. By the time they reach adulthood, their strength doesn't even reach the Planetary level, and it's extremely difficult for them to produce strong individuals. So, this is their fate."

As the Cat-eared Girl spoke the last few words, her tone wavered slightly, and a flicker of pain flashed in her eyes.

At this moment, Luo Feng also noticed that within the shops, there were many slaves who looked similar to the Cat-eared Girl. These slaves, the females were beautiful, the males handsome, and most of them had reached the Planetary level.

Thinking of this, Luo Feng's body turned completely cold.

The cruel side of the universe was laid bare before him.

Even humans at the Planetary or Stellar level could be bought and sold as slaves at will.

Jiang Ming felt the same, and so did Hong and Thor.

On the first day of entering space, this cruel and cold world revealed the cold, dark side beneath its prosperity.

Even though Jiang Ming already knew all of this, it was merely a story, not something he had personally experienced.

Now, standing in this slave market that spanned three hundred kilometers, Jiang Ming deeply understood that weakness was the original sin.

Thinking this, Jiang Ming's desire for strength grew even more intense.

"Sir, we've arrived."

The Cat-eared Girl led Jiang Ming and his group into a reception room, and soon a Stellar level manager appeared.

"Esteemed guest, these are the slaves in our shop."

After speaking, the manager gestured, and virtual projections appeared around Jiang Ming.

A large amount of slave information appeared, including height, appearance, strength, race, and other details.

"It seems the price difference between male and female slaves isn't that significant after reaching the Stellar level."

Jiang Ming looked at the rows of data on the screen and found that the prices of these slaves were slightly higher than the Stellar level slaves he knew of, but the difference wasn't too exaggerated.

"That's true. What can male slaves below the Planetary level do besides mining? Therefore, the price difference between male and female slaves below the Planetary level is huge, but the higher the strength, the smaller this difference becomes."