Long Ming then raised his bracelet and transferred 30,000,000 dimensional coins to Xiaopang, saying,
"Start buying with this. Come back to me when you’ve spent it all."
"Whoa, where’d you get so much money?"
It was Xiaopang’s first time seeing so many dimensional coins.
"Cut the crap. I’m leaving it to you."
"Alright, Boss."
"I’m logging off."
Long Ming said his piece and logged out of the game.
He’d been playing for long hours lately, and his body was starting to feel the strain.
....
「The next morning.」
Long Ming was fast asleep in bed when his phone suddenly started ringing.
BZZZT~
Long Ming opened his eyes, glanced at his phone, and saw it was Xiaopang. He answered the call.
"What’s up?"
"I’ve spent all the money you gave me. Got any more?"
Xiaopang said through a yawn.
"What did you say? You’ve spent it all?"
Hearing Xiaopang’s words, Long Ming shot up in bed, instantly wide awake.
"Yeah. I would’ve called you earlier if I wasn’t afraid of waking you."
"You didn’t just buy blindly, did you? Piling up a bunch of high-priced stuff."
"Are you insulting me? How could I make a moronic mistake like that? I only bought ones that were around 8,500."
Xiaopang replied with disdain.
"How are they so cheap?"
Long Ming asked in disbelief.
"Brother Long, are you not aware of the situation? The economies of Mountain City Mountain and all the other Sanctuary Cities, big and small, are on the verge of collapse. No one can find a decent job. This game is the only way to make money now, so everyone is flooding in, diving into dungeons like their lives depend on it, and collecting anything and everything they can sell for cash. With that happening, how could the prices not crash?"
"I see."
"Let me tell you, the only thing that’s gone up in price is the Level 1 Random Civilization Invitation Scroll. Everything else is plummeting."
"Alright, I’ll log on now and transfer you more money."
"Huh? You’re still buying?"
Xiaopang was taken aback.
"Buy."
Long Ming didn’t hesitate for a second. His tone was resolute.
"Alright, I’ll buy out the entire market for you."
Long Ming hung up, grabbed his helmet, and went online.
...
「Inside Starry City.」
Long Ming and Xiaopang met up again.
Xiaopang traded all the potions he had collected to Long Ming.
Long Ming cut to the chase, transferring 60,000,000 to Xiaopang and leaving only 3,000,000 for himself. He then instructed,
"Let me know when you’ve spent it."
"Got it."
Xiaopang didn’t waste any words.
After giving his instructions, Long Ming logged out and went to the bathroom to wash up.
After washing up, he went to the kitchen to fix something to eat, then returned to his bedroom and started to exercise.
...
「In the afternoon.」
「Inside Starry City.」
Long Ming was sitting on the ground, flipping through a new combat arts manual he had obtained.
Just then, Xiaopang appeared before him with a wide grin.
"Big Bro."
"Don’t tell me you’ve spent it all again?"
Long Ming looked up at Xiaopang and asked, astonished.
"That’s right. I’ll trade them to you right now."
Xiaopang traded stacks upon stacks of potions to Long Ming.
Long Ming was a bit dumbfounded as he looked at the 10,920 neatly packaged recovery potions.
"Got any more money?"
Xiaopang asked with a grin.
"Hang on."
For a moment, Long Ming’s confidence wavered.
Just then, Long Ming’s bracelet vibrated, and a message from Xiaoqi popped up.
"Long Ming, come to the Star Wish Cafe tonight. It’s guild business."
"Okay."
Long Ming sent a reply.
Xiaopang then urged with a cheeky grin.
"So, are we still buying?"
"We are. But you should get some rest first."
Long Ming told Xiaopang.
"Alright, I’ll log off then."
Hearing that, Xiaopang logged out of the game.
Long Ming let out a small sigh and logged out as well. He changed his clothes and left his rented apartment.
....
「Upper City District · Star Wish Cafe」
Long Ming walked through the main entrance. The entire first-floor hall was packed with people.
He spotted Xiaoqi and the others standing below a projection stage, watching a livestream, and walked over to them.
Just then, Xiaoqi noticed Long Ming walking up beside her and greeted him with a smile.
"Long Ming, you made it."
"Yeah. What did the guild need me for?"
Long Ming asked, looking at Xiaoqi with some confusion.
"I’m not too sure myself. I think the guild is holding an evening event."
"Oh."
"But it’s still early. Let’s watch the livestream from the Watcher’s Observatory for now."
"Alright."
Long Ming had nothing better to do, so he looked up at the livestream.
He noticed the streamer was none other than Pilates and asked curiously,
"Is this player, Pilates, famous?"
"Pretty famous. He’s the one who streamed the Red Ghost fight all the way to the end."
"Oh. He must be pretty skilled, then?"
"His skills are just okay. But normally, neither solo players nor guilds go out of their way to attack streamers. After all, streamers aren’t there to compete for quests; they’re just broadcasting. There’s no benefit to killing them, and it can easily stir up a hornet’s nest, since they have huge fanbases."
"I see. Who are the main guilds participating in this observatory event?"
"The three major guilds all sent people. And they’ve dispatched a ton of players this time, so this observatory showdown is bound to be incredible."
"Oh? And who’s leading the All Stars Guild?"
"Master Qian Hai."
Xiaoqi explained to Long Ming.
Just then, Pilates’s voice came from the stream, hushed.
"Brothers and sisters, I’ve snuck into a high vantage point. I’m about to capture the epic battle between the All Stars Guild and the Star God Guild for you."
"Hurry up, we can’t wait!"
"Streamer, stop dragging it out!"
...
A dense barrage of comments flooded the screen.
Just then, Pilates switched the camera to his own point of view.
Instantly, everyone saw a figure on a tall building in the distance.
A handsome man with a restrained aura stood against the wind, his black bangs partially obscuring his face.
"It’s Master Qian Hai!"
"Master Qian Hai is so handsome!"
...
The watching players left a flood of excited comments.
At Qian Hai’s side stood a young woman with long black hair, sapphire-blue eyes, and fair skin. Her features were delicate, and she wore a blue mechanical breastplate, holding a mechanical bow. Her entire bearing exuded a valiant air.
"Who’s that beautiful woman next to Qian Hai? She’s gorgeous."
"Yeah, and she has such a powerful presence."
"Don’t even think about it. That’s Qian Hai’s attendant, Qian Ying. I heard he adopted her when she was a child."
...
The eyes of many players were drawn to her.
Seeing that his subordinates still hadn’t taken down the group from the Star God Guild, Qian Hai spoke calmly.
"Qian Ying, go deal with them."
"Yes."
Hearing Qian Hai’s command, Qian Ying shot forward like an afterimage.
She quickly drew her mechanical bow.
SWISH!
An arrow flew out, striking a Star God Guild player square in the chest and pinning him to a wall.
"Whoa!"
The crowd of viewers gasped in amazement.
Qian Ying then began moving at high speed, loosing arrow after arrow.
AHH!
One after another, Star God Guild players were pierced through.
"Holy shit, how is she so accurate?"
"She’s not missing a single shot!"
...
Xiaoqi and the others cried out in shock.
Long Ming, standing beside them, furrowed his brow. ’That archery isn’t just fast, ruthless, and accurate. It’s something more.’
A squad leader from the Star God Guild watched in terror as his men were picked off one by one. He hurriedly shouted to a subordinate carrying a shield beside him.
"Quick, cover my retreat!"
The subordinate quickly raised his shield to cover his leader’s escape.
Seeing this, Qian Ying drew a red arrow, her cold eyes narrowing slightly.
SWISH!
The red arrow struck the metal shield dead center.
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted, engulfing them both.
’An explosive arrow?’
Long Ming sucked in a sharp breath.
’If I took a hit from one of those, I’d probably be a goner.’
Amidst the thick smoke, the Star God Guild leader scrambled to his feet and turned to flee.
SWISH!
An arrow suddenly shot through the thick smoke, piercing the back of the leader’s head and killing him instantly!
"Awesome!"
"So badass!"
...
The viewers cheered excitedly.
After finishing off the Star God Guild members, Qian Ying suddenly spun around, drew her bow, and aimed it directly at the screen—at everyone watching.
Everyone in the cafe jumped.
Pilates was shocked. ’I’ve been spotted!’
Fortunately, at that moment, Qian Hai’s voice came through the wireless earpiece in Qian Ying’s ear. She immediately lowered her mechanical bow and turned to run back toward Qian Hai.
"That scared the life out of me, brothers and sisters! I nearly met my maker! Please send some gifts to support your poor, traumatized streamer."
Pilates said, patting his chest with lingering fear.