Extortionate Demands

Successfully crafted Fine Iron Arrow (Green) ×6.

Fine Iron Arrow (Green), Quality—Excellent, attack power 5–7, Special Effect—Armor Piercing.

Armor Piercing: When attacking enemies with high defense, has a certain chance to trigger, ignoring part of the target's defense to cause damage.

Good lord! It directly ignored defense. This Armor Piercing effect was incredibly powerful!

The excellent-quality Fine Iron Arrows provided more than 5 points of attack power, nearly catching up to the bonus attack power of the Wooden Longbow in his hand.

The Wooden Longbow was his main weapon, yet it was nearly matched by a single arrow.

Combined with the Armor Piercing effect, one could imagine just how much damage this thing would deal when it hit an enemy!

After crafting the Fine Iron Arrows, Han Xing continued browsing the Trading Channel.

His target was a Hunter weapon or blueprint. He wanted to replace the basic longbow in his hand, which would raise his attack power by several more tiers.

After looking around, he found nothing suitable.

There were Hunter weapons listed for sale, but most were basic equipment similar to Han Xing's. He even saw some survivors listing the weapons the system had given them for sale.

Just as Han Xing was about to exit the Trading Channel, he suddenly spotted a Hunter weapon blueprint.

Ebony Longbow Blueprint (White)

Although it was basic equipment, if he crafted it himself, it would receive the boost from his God-Tier Craftsman talent and be a considerable improvement over the Wooden Longbow in his hand.

Han Xing opened a private chat. The other party was named Lei Wei.

This guy had actually chosen not to chat anonymously, using his real name directly instead.

"How much for the longbow blueprint?" Han Xing asked bluntly.

Lei Wei: "20 units of food, or 10 units of water."

Now this was what you called extortionate demands!

Han Xing frowned. "Your price is too high. Lower it."

If the other party had genuinely wanted to trade, they would have followed Han Xing's lead and made some concessions.

But this was someone who chatted using his real name. He was clearly no pushover.

Lei Wei sneered. "That's the price. Non-negotiable. Buy it or don't."

"Goodbye." Han Xing did not indulge him and exited directly, preparing to close the private chat window.

However, Lei Wei suddenly sent another message. "Wait!"

"Your name is Xinghe? The one selling special-effect wooden arrows?"

Han Xing did not know what this guy was playing at, but he still replied, "That's me."

The moment Han Xing admitted it, Lei Wei's attitude instantly changed.

"You managed to make an item like that so quickly in the early stages. You've got some skill, kid. Interested in joining our Lei Conglomerate?"

"Lei Conglomerate? The one from Xinyang City?" Han Xing asked.

Lei Wei: "Looks like you've heard of us. Oh, right, I almost forgot. Most people in this channel are from Xinyang City, so it's no surprise that they know about the Lei Conglomerate."

Nearly ten hours had passed since they arrived in this world, and everyone had figured out the rules behind the regional divisions.

Based on location, ten thousand neighboring people were assigned to the same channel. In other words, many of the ten thousand people in Channel 107 came from the same place.

Lei Wei continued, "The Lei Conglomerate has some influence in Xinyang City. We also have some people in this channel. We've now set up a Discussion Group and established an elite team, so everyone can help each other and share survival experience."

"So, how about it? Do you want to join us?" Lei Wei revealed his purpose.

Han Xing refused outright. "No need."

Lei Wei fell silent for a moment, seemingly puzzled that someone would actually reject his invitation at a time like this.

Humans were social creatures. Especially in this unfamiliar world, where their lives were not even guaranteed, they desired the help of companions all the more, seeking a sliver of comfort.

Lei Wei continued, "You should know that this is a world completely different from the one we knew before. Here, human lives are as fragile as paper. I built this team to unite everyone so that we can survive better."

Lei Wei made it sound lofty and righteous. Setting everything else aside, joining them would indeed have been a good choice for most people at a time like this.

But Han Xing knew that Lei Wei was one of the Lei Conglomerate's major shareholders. At heart, this guy was simply a businessman.

Businessmen pursued profit. Several years of hardship after graduation had already allowed Han Xing to see through people like that.

So-called organizations and teams were nothing more than tools to control the right to speak and secure more benefits for themselves.

Moreover, Lei Wei's lofty, superior attitude from the very beginning had made Han Xing extremely displeased.

He rejected him directly.

After Han Xing refused a second time, Lei Wei immediately grew anxious. "You narrow-minded fool! Do you know that, in all of District 107, besides us, several other organizations are building teams?"

"It is inevitable that survivors will unite. If you don't join us, the only thing waiting for you is death!"

"Join our Lei Conglomerate and contribute the method for making those special-effect wooden arrows. I can even sell you the blueprint at a low price!"

Lei Wei began threatening and tempting him, but the conditions he offered made Han Xing feel as though the man was an idiot.

He wanted to buy him off with a basic weapon blueprint? What was he thinking?

Of course, it was also possible that Lei Wei was too used to wielding influence in Xinyang City and subconsciously regarded everyone else as idiots.

Han Xing sneered. "I already said it. I don't want to join your organization. Stop trying to fool me with your nonsense. If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."

"You little bastard! If you don't join the Lei Conglomerate, then forget about getting this weapon blueprint! By then, there won't be a place for you anywhere in Channel 107!"

Han Xing smiled disdainfully. "Keep the blueprint for yourself. It's just a basic weapon, yet you treat it like treasure. Idiot."

Lei Wei still wanted to say something, but Han Xing had already closed the private chat window.

At that moment, Shen Yun spoke in the Discussion Group.

"Xing Ge, Jianyong, have either of you received invitations from any organizations asking us to join?"

Cheng Jianyong replied, "Yeah. Some CEO from some company invited me just now, but I turned him down."

Han Xing: "Yeah, I turned one down too."

Shen Yun did not reply, seemingly pondering something. After a moment, Shen Yun asked, "Xing Ge, what do you think about joining these organizations?"

Han Xing said, "There's no need. The rules of this world were made very clear when we entered. We only need to explore other sky islands and expand our territory."

The two of them thought it over and expressed their agreement.

Just then, Cheng Jianyong suddenly said, "Looks like there's some excitement in the local network. That Lei Conglomerate seems to be looking for trouble with someone called 'Xinghe.'"

Xinghe? Wasn't that his own name?

Lei Conglomerate... could it be that Lei Wei?

Han Xing had never told them his virtual name. Cheng Jianyong and Shen Yun had added him as a friend using his real name.

He opened the Chat Channel and, sure enough, saw Lei Wei tagging him in the local network.

Lei Wei: "@Xinghe, you little bastard, you actually dared to insult me! Ungrateful scum, let me tell you this: from today onward, don't even think about trading supplies with anyone from our Lei Conglomerate!"

Zhu You Shu: "I support the boss. Our Lei Conglomerate will collectively blacklist you."

Huan Xing Yun Luo: "Support!"

Old Six: "@Xinghe, kid, come out and talk!"