Big Purchases

On the road, Lin Fan said indifferently,

"You all should introduce yourselves, for instance, how I should address you from now on."

Hearing this, the nearly three-meter-tall giant of the Baijian Race was the first to speak in a muffled, resonant voice,

"Master, I am of the Baijian Race, a Universe-level 1 martial artist. You may call me 'Bone Crusher'."

Immediately following, the Jihuai Race spirit reader, whose face was hidden beneath a gray hood, bowed slightly, his voice ethereal.

"Master, I am of the Jihuai Race, a Star-level 9 spirit reader. You may call me 'Phantom Ghost'."

Subsequently, the remaining three Star-level 9 martial artists also lowered their heads in turn.

"Master, I am of the Xuansheng Race, a Star-level 9 martial artist, 'Iron Rampart'."

"I am of the Qingwan Race, a Star-level 9 martial artist, 'Blood Blade'."

"Master, I am of the Queying Race, a Star-level 9 martial artist, 'Dark Edge'."

After listening, Lin Fan nodded.

"Bone Crusher, Phantom Ghost, Iron Rampart, Blood Blade, Dark Edge—good names. I will call you by these from now on."

"Yes, Master!"

The five responded in unison.

Soon, the six of them arrived at the Listen-to-Wind Pavilion, the most famous intelligence trading center in Qiu Long City.

Unlike the noisy streets, the interior of the Listen-to-Wind Pavilion exuded an air of solemnity and secrecy.

Huge black crystal walls divided the entire hall into independent holographic trading rooms, ensuring that every guest's privacy received the highest level of protection.

Lin Fan walked into the hall with his five slaves, who radiated formidable auras, immediately drawing many side-glances, but those gazes were quickly withdrawn.

A young man capable of traveling with Universe-level slaves was definitely not someone an ordinary person could afford to provoke.

Upon entering the Listen-to-Wind Pavilion, Lin Fan directly purchased a map of the Black Dragon Mountain Star Sector to update 101's navigation system.

Next, he bought intelligence regarding high-density metal veins, dangerous mutated areas, and unique resource production sites on Qiu Long Planet.

This intelligence cost him a total of 100 million Black Dragon Coins, but there was no helping it; this was money he had to spend.

After all, he had to rely on himself for all his cultivation resources. Without intelligence, how was that any different from a blind man crossing a river?

As the star map and data package were transmitted to his auxiliary light computer, Lin Fan led the group out of the Listen-to-Wind Pavilion.

Half an hour later.

The group of six walked into an equipment firm within Qiu Long City.

When Lin Fan threw a set of dark gold force battle armor and a heavy giant axe in front of Bone Crusher, the nearly three-meter-tall Universe-level giant froze, his copper-bell-like eyes filled with disbelief.

"Master, this equipment... is too precious."

In the minds of slaves, they were merely consumables.

But now, the master was actually going to equip them with force battle armor and weapons?

It wasn't just Bone Crusher; Phantom Ghost, Iron Rampart, Blood Blade, and Dark Edge also found their breathing becoming rapid as they looked at the telepathic weapons and force battle armor before them.

Although these were the most common Grade 1 weapons and armor, they were still a full set of equipment.

With weapons and armor, not only would their combat power soar, but their ability to save their own lives would also be greatly enhanced.

"Take them."

Lin Fan put on the Grade 2 battle armor he had bought for himself, his tone calm.

"I swear to serve the Master to the death!"

The five powerful slaves knelt on one knee in unison. This time, their voices no longer held the numbness of being enslaved, but rather a sense of true submission.

In fact, these six sets of equipment didn't cost much—adding up to only 100 million—so he still had nearly 1.4 billion Black Dragon Coins left.

Lin Fan intended to spend all the remaining money on metal.

After leaving the firm, Lin Fan led the five straight toward a large metal building materials firm in Qiu Long City that occupied a vast area.

The firm was spacious and bright, with virtual projections of various metal materials intertwining in mid-air, while cargo saucers of all sizes shuttled back and forth methodically above the dome.

A shopkeeper with green skin and four arms received Lin Fan.

"Customer, what materials do you need?"

The shopkeeper looked up, his tone flat.

Even seeing the Universe-level and four Star-level 9 guards following behind Lin Fan, his expression remained without a ripple.

In a place like Qiu Long City, he had seen plenty of young masters from big families traveling with high-level slaves and was long since accustomed to it.

"Grade C9 pure metal blocks, budget 1.3 billion Black Dragon Coins, the heavier the better."

"Grade C9 pure metal blocks, budget 1.3 billion Black Dragon Coins, the heavier the better... wait a moment, let me check the inventory."

The shopkeeper stretched out two hands and tapped rapidly on the virtual screen in front of him.

"We have stock. Just go to the front to settle the bill."

Having said that, the shopkeeper went directly to attend to another customer who had just entered.

For a firm with such astonishing throughput, a transaction of several dozen tons of Grade C metal was just an ordinary entry in the massive daily ledger, and it really couldn't pique the shopkeeper's interest.

Lin Fan wasn't angry. After completing the payment cleanly and efficiently, the front desk receptionist led Lin Fan to the warehouse behind the firm and placed several crimson metal ingots in front of him.

"Customer, this is Golden Sun Sand Mother. The market price is 10 million Black Dragon Coins per ton. There are 130 tons here, exactly 1.3 billion Black Dragon Coins."

"Good."

After Lin Fan stored the metal into his space ring, he led the group to a shop specializing in selling spaceships and energy.

"Give me 10 million Black Dragon Coins worth of Grade C energy crystal reserves."

Lin Fan walked up to the counter and said.

"Very well, sir."

The attendant behind the counter responded politely and then quickly operated the terminal.

"10 million Black Dragon Coins. Based on the current market price, I will convert it for you into the most cost-effective medium-purity Grade C energy crystals, totaling one ton."

As he spoke, the attendant took a metal box about one cubic meter in size from the store's shelf.

After the box was opened, 10 palm-sized hexagonal prism crystals were neatly arranged inside.

These Grade C energy crystals were a deep, ghostly blue throughout. Inside the translucent crystals, wisps of liquid light seemed to be flowing slowly.

Even though they were only of medium purity, the energy fluctuations emitted by them stacked together still caused the air above the box opening to produce visible, subtle distortions, as if a miniature, brilliant nebula were sealed inside—gorgeous and full of oppressive force.

After confirming with 101 that these things were indeed useful, Lin Fan closed the box, stored it in his space ring, and led the five out of the shop.

After buying the metal and energy, he now had less than 100 million Black Dragon Coins in cash left.

This amount was neither much nor little, so Lin Fan didn't intend to touch it, deciding to keep it as a reserve fund for emergencies.

"The preparations are basically finished."

Lin Fan stood on the street and took a deep breath.

"Next, I'll digest this high-level 'fodder' first, and then I'll go exploring."