Chapter 2349: Beast

Five minutes later, everyone placed their written slips on the table in the center. a02 began opening them one by one and showing them to everyone.

This way, each person could see their own slip and everyone else's—no possibility of tampering.

Ye Zhongming also made a show of writing one, but he simply wrote ninety-five million Moonspan Gold plus a plant called "True Whisker Dew Grass."

True Whisker Dew Grass could increase Furelai. How much depended on the plant's age and the user's absorption—but so far, the highest recorded increase was around one thousand Furelai.

That level definitely wasn't worth five million Moonspan Gold.

So with a minimum price of one hundred million and a true value under that, it couldn't win.

After a02 displayed all the bidders' slips, he said, "Alright, I'll send the final result to everyone's terminals shortly."

This was also to ensure Ye Zhongming's identity as the maker wasn't discovered.

After this matter, a02 added, "Our task board has been updated quite a bit these days, so take a look. If you can complete any, besides the reward, you'll earn a lot of points. With enough points, you can gain corresponding privileges."

"Alright, if there's nothing else, today's gathering is over. Good luck to everyone."

………………

Back in his room, Ye Zhongming quickly informed a02 of his choice per their agreement. Soon, seventy million Moonspan Gold plus an item were delivered to his room.

Along with them came the successful bidder's requirements for the main weapon.

Ye Zhongming calmed his excitement and first reviewed the requirements.

If he could meet them, the deal would be completed. If not, the deal might fall through.

Fortunately, the bidder Ye Zhongming most valued had requirements that, while not low, weren't impossible for him.

After replying, they agreed to complete the final transaction on the next gathering day. Ye Zhongming's heart settled somewhat.

That person had bid seventy million Moonspan Gold plus a rare treasure: dried liver of a Chuanpu Beast.

The Chuanpu Beast was once a dominant-level existence on a major star. The strongest beast kings rivaled peak experts. But after that star was visited by the Slave Race, it gradually became a dead star, and the species went extinct.

Later, the cosmic races tried cloning them on survivor fortresses, and succeeded—but the Chuanpu Beast could never reach its ancestors' heights. Few even surpassed great expert level.

What made the Chuanpu Beast remembered and cloned was not just its former strength, but its liver.

Over the long years, people discovered that naturally dried Chuanpu Beast liver, when consumed, increased Furelai—and by no small amount.

The increase depended on the beast's strength. Records showed that a great-expert-level Chuanpu Beast's entire dried liver, ground to powder, could raise a non-great-expert by nearly five thousand Furelai, or a great expert by up to three thousand—but had no effect on peak experts.

A peak-level Chuanpu Beast's liver could raise a non-great-expert by over ten thousand, a great expert by up to seven thousand, and even a peak expert by two or three thousand.

Of course, these referred to "wild" Chuanpu Beasts—those born and raised on that major star—not the artificially bred ones, whose livers had inexplicably lost this ability.

Ye Zhongming hadn't expected that centuries after the last wild Chuanpu Beast went extinct, someone could still produce a peak-level wild specimen. The Cloud Peak King felt extremely fortunate.

Normally, this wild peak-level Chuanpu Beast liver could raise his Furelai by at least ten thousand—exactly what he desperately needed.

As for others, the best Furelai-boosting items they could offer only increased around five thousand.

In terms of price, even with such a large Furelai boost, saying the dried liver was worth thirty million Moonspan Gold was a slight exaggeration. But it depended on need—for the person who offered it, they might already be a peak expert who didn't care about the small increase, or even higher, where it might not matter at all.

But for Ye Zhongming, it was worth thirty million.

With Dark Direction as guarantor, he received full payment in advance and naturally got the dried liver.

But would Ye Zhongming leave it at that? No—having seen so many Furelai-boosting items, the Cloud Peak King wouldn't let them go.

a02 entered with permission and sat across from Ye Zhongming.

"You... must have planned this all along. Though it's within the rules, I think the boss won't be happy with this approach."

Everyone knew what a02 meant.

"I can contact them for you, ask what price they'd accept, but one thing—you'll have to pay extra. That's your punishment for your impure intentions."

Ye Zhongming agreed without hesitation.

Dark Direction didn't allow "entrapment," and Ye Zhongming's behavior was essentially that—so paying to smooth things over was fair.

"I can offer Moonspan Gold and equipment." Ye Zhongming stated his terms first.

a02 nodded.

"That's what I meant. Since you can produce premium Raini-grade, let's start there. I'll promote it for you."

Then a02 paused. "There's one more condition you must agree to."

Ye Zhongming looked at Founder Number Two, unsure what he would ask.

When he heard it, Ye Zhongming opened his mouth, smiled wryly, and thought the Moonspan Gold wouldn't be leaving with him.

………………

Leaving the secret base, Ye Zhongming had seven more items in hand—that was what gave him confidence. Of course, he also had a list of equipment he needed to produce before the next gathering.

Shortly after he left, a02 and a03 entered a room. If Ye Zhongming had been there, he would have been startled—because sitting inside was a01, Dark Direction's Number One Founder, who had been absent today.