On the way, Lin Fan said calmly,
"You should all introduce yourselves. For example, how should I address you from now on?"
At that, the nearly three-meter-tall Baijian Race giant was the first to speak in a deep, booming voice.
"Master, I am a Baijian Race warrior at the first tier of the Universe Level. You may call me Bone Crusher."
Next, the Jihuai Race spirit reader whose face was hidden beneath a gray hood gave a slight bow, his voice ethereal.
"Master, I am a Jihuai Race spirit reader at the ninth tier of the Star Level. You may call me Phantom Ghost."
After that, the remaining three ninth-tier Star Level warriors lowered their heads in turn.
"Master, I am Iron Rampart, a ninth-tier Star Level warrior of the Xuansheng Race."
"I am Blood Blade, a ninth-tier Star Level warrior of the Qingwan Race."
"Master, I am Dark Edge, a ninth-tier Star Level warrior of the Queying Race."
After listening, Lin Fan nodded.
"Bone Crusher, Phantom Ghost, Iron Rampart, Blood Blade, Dark Edge. Not bad names. That's what I'll call you from now on."
"Yes, Master!"
The five answered in unison.
Before long, the six arrived at Listen-to-Wind Pavilion, the most famous intelligence trading center in Qiu Long City.
Unlike the bustle of the streets, Listen-to-Wind Pavilion exuded an air of solemnity and secrecy.
Massive black crystal walls divided the entire hall into independent holographic trading rooms, ensuring every guest received the highest level of privacy protection.
Lin Fan entered the hall with five slaves radiating formidable auras, immediately drawing quite a few curious looks. However, those gazes quickly withdrew.
A young man who could travel with a Universe Level slave was definitely not someone ordinary people could afford to offend.
After entering Listen-to-Wind Pavilion, Lin Fan directly purchased a map of the Black Dragon Mountain Star Sector to update 101's navigation system.
He then bought intelligence regarding high-density metal ore veins, mutated danger zones, and unique resource-producing areas on Qiu Long Planet.
The information cost him a total of 100 million Black Dragon Coins, but there was no helping it. He had to spend that money.
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?
Once the star map and data package had been transmitted into the Auxiliary Optical Computer, Lin Fan left Listen-to-Wind Pavilion with the others.
Half an hour later.
The group of six entered an equipment merchant in Qiu Long City.
When Lin Fan tossed a set of dark-gold force battle armor and a heavy great axe before Bone Crusher, the nearly three-meter-tall Universe Level giant froze. His bell-like eyes were filled with disbelief.
"Master, this equipment... is far too precious."
In a slave's mind, they were nothing more than consumables.
Yet now, their master was actually equipping them with force battle armor and weapons?
It was not just Bone Crusher. Phantom Ghost, Iron Rampart, Blood Blade, and Dark Edge all began breathing faster as they looked at the mind weapons and force battle armor before them.
Although these were only the most basic first-tier weapons and battle armor, they were still complete sets of equipment.
With weapons and battle armor, not only would their combat strength soar, but their ability to stay alive would greatly improve as well.
"Take them."
Lin Fan put on the second-tier battle armor he had bought for himself, his tone calm.
"We swear to serve Master unto death!"
The five powerful slaves dropped to one knee in unison. This time, their voices no longer held only the numbness of enslavement, but also a measure of genuine submission.
In truth, the six sets of equipment had not cost much. Together, they came to only 100 million, leaving him with roughly 1.4 billion Black Dragon Coins.
Lin Fan intended to use all the remaining money to buy metal.
After leaving the merchant, Lin Fan led the five straight toward a large metal and construction materials business that occupied an enormous area within Qiu Long City.
The merchant was spacious and brightly lit. Virtual projections of all kinds of metal materials intertwined in midair, while cargo flying saucers of various sizes moved methodically beneath the dome.
The one receiving Lin Fan was a shopkeeper with green skin and four arms.
"Customer, what materials do you need?"
The shopkeeper looked up, his tone indifferent.
Even upon seeing a Universe Level guard and four ninth-tier Star Level guards behind Lin Fan, his expression did not change in the slightest.
In a place like Qiu Long City, he had seen plenty of young masters from powerful families traveling with high-tier slaves. It was nothing unusual to him anymore.
"C9-grade pure metal blocks. Budget: 1.3 billion Black Dragon Coins. The heavier, the better."
"C9-grade pure metal blocks, budget of 1.3 billion Black Dragon Coins, the heavier, the better... Please wait while I check the inventory."
The shopkeeper extended two hands and rapidly tapped at the virtual screen before him.
"We have stock. Just pay at the front."
With that, the shopkeeper immediately went to receive another customer who had entered.
For a merchant with such staggering turnover, a transaction involving several dozen tons of C-grade metal was merely an utterly ordinary entry in its massive daily accounts. It was simply not enough to interest the shopkeeper.
Lin Fan was not offended. After completing the payment cleanly and efficiently, the receptionist led him to the warehouse behind the merchant and placed several crimson metal ingots before him.
"Customer, this is Golden Sun Sand Mother. Its market price is 10 million Black Dragon Coins per ton. There are 130 tons here, for a total of exactly 1.3 billion Black Dragon Coins."
"Good."
After storing the metal in his spatial ring, Lin Fan led the group to a shop that specialized in starships and energy supplies.
"Get me 10 million Black Dragon Coins' worth of C-grade energy crystals."
Lin Fan walked up to the counter and spoke.
"Certainly, sir."
The attendant behind the counter responded politely, then quickly operated the terminal.
"Ten million Black Dragon Coins will be exchanged at the current market rate for one ton of medium-purity C-grade energy crystals, which offers the best value."
As he spoke, the attendant took a metal box roughly one cubic meter in size from the store shelves.
When the box was opened, ten palm-sized hexagonal prism crystals could be seen neatly arranged inside.
These C-grade energy crystals were a deep, profound blue throughout. Within their translucent bodies, strands of liquid light seemed to flow slowly.
Even at only medium purity, the energy fluctuations emitted by the stacked crystals caused the air above the open box to distort slightly in a visible manner. It was like a miniature brilliant nebula had been sealed inside—gorgeous, yet brimming with oppressive force.
After confirming with 101 that the item was indeed useful, Lin Fan closed the box, stored it in his spatial ring, and left the shop with the five.
After buying metal and energy, he had less than 100 million Black Dragon Coins in cash left.
It was neither much nor little, so Lin Fan did not intend to touch it. He simply kept it as reserve funds in case of emergencies.
"The preparations are basically complete."
Lin Fan stood on the street and took a deep breath.
"Next, I'll digest this high-grade 'feed' first, then head out to explore."
Before you continue