Chapter Thirty-Two: The Proper Way to Reap Benefits
Mu Chen’s lips twitched. However, the product page showed 404, meaning he could keep scrolling down to find more. After all, anyone who could unlock the exchange and sell items must have goods in stock.
...
[Frozen Mutton]
[Description: One pound of mutton cut into chunks, relatively fresh. Compared to rotten meat, this is the most precious food.]
[Type: Ingredient]
[Remaining Time: 7 days]
[Price: Source of Turbidity * 999]
[Merchant’s Note: Long-term purchase of Dark Matter Souls. If you have “Recruitment Scrolls” or other rare items, contact me privately.]
There were many products marked with such prices. It was clear the sellers had no intention of actually selling; unless someone was foolish, nobody would choose to buy, and even if they wanted to, they couldn’t afford it.
Nine hundred ninety-nine portions of Source of Turbidity required dismantling nearly five hundred juvenile aberrant creatures.
He scrolled further down, and in no time reached the last page—over four hundred pages, almost all foodstuffs.
With hundreds of millions of people, only these few items were listed. Clearly, those who had unlocked the exchange at this stage were the elite among elites, and likely all at the phase of establishing new territories. Truly valuable and useful items would never be put up for sale.
Even so, it shouldn’t all be food.
“Something’s not right…”
As Mu Chen browsed, he suddenly noticed something odd.
Once items were listed on the exchange, the [Remaining Time] in the item status seemed to freeze...
In other words...
Mu Chen stroked his chin, eyes lighting up.
Were these people using the exchange’s listing function as a refrigerator?
Time stood still—no spoilage, no rot, no change in taste. Could there be a better fridge than this?
Impossible!
“No wonder everyone is listing their ingredients...” Mu Chen was both amused and exasperated. City folk really know how to play.
Then something occurred to him...
He hurriedly opened his backpack. Yesterday’s [Fresh Aberrant Fallen Meat] had become [Aberrant Fallen Meat], and among the vegetables and meats harvested from the restaurant, some ingredients now showed signs of losing freshness!
Mu Chen’s face turned green.
Luckily, he discovered it early. If he’d waited another day, they might have turned into rotten food.
Though not inedible, the stench would make any normal person reluctant to swallow, and even the workstation probably couldn’t save spoiled goods.
Immediately, Mu Chen followed suit and listed most of his ingredients, leaving only today’s meals for his group in the backpack.
Because listed items couldn’t be withdrawn at will, and required a [Source of Turbidity] as a cancellation fee,
He divided the ingredients into seven batches, each with a different listing period—the longest seven days, the shortest one day—ensuring food would be delisted daily.
...
After finishing, Mu Chen smiled.
“In every crowd, there are always talents.”
Staring at the exchange, Mu Chen pondered.
It was still very difficult to fleece these people.
Food and water they wouldn’t lack in the short term, and those who did lack hadn’t unlocked the exchange.
Considering they were all in the construction phase, if there were no prompts, the first choice for territory would definitely be in the city...
“Why not try the newly collected ‘hemp’?”
He put up ten portions of hemp, without gouging, priced at just one Source of Turbidity.
Within minutes, the listed hemp was snatched instantly...
“Obtained [Source of Turbidity] * 1, transferred to backpack.”
This buyer was generous—no private message. Mu Chen had been prepared for someone to ask for barter, and he would have agreed.
So,
He listed another fifty portions, this time pricing them at two Sources of Turbidity per ten portions.
...
Zone 143.
Another ruined base.
“Oh, shit! That damned guy raised the price!”
A blond man in white ceremonial robes shouted in the base lounge, his male servant standing cautiously nearby.
Except, this servant wore no clothes...
“Just twenty more portions of hemp and I’ll have enough to build a Level 1 well! That Mu Chen, huh? Daring to fleece me—if I catch him, I’ll whip his ass!”
Grumbling, he bought another twenty portions of hemp from the listing.
Ignoring his servant, he turned and went out to build the Level 1 well.
...
“Obtained [Source of Turbidity] * 4, transferred to backpack.”
Listening to the notification, Mu Chen clicked his tongue.
In just a short while, five Sources of Turbidity were easily in hand.
“I’m not fleecing anyone—it’s you who are offering yourselves up.” With a smile, he decided to make a bigger move.
Though teaching someone to fish is better than giving them fish, he preferred to go against the grain.
Using himself as an example, his territory was resource-rich, yet he still worried about water. Others would certainly fare worse.
That meant “drinking water” would always be in short supply.
Moreover, people needed hemp only to build essential structures.
But even after building, not everyone could be self-sufficient in water.
Therefore,
Selling hemp wasn’t as long-term as selling “Level 1 Water.”
Mu Chen was certain that, in the near future, more people would upgrade their territories and unlock the exchange. Then the drinking water market would fully emerge.
...
Getting up from the Level 1 well, he walked straight into the base.
Seeing Mu Jiu’er sleeping soundly, he didn’t disturb her.
Just then, his private chat channel received a reply from Mu Qiu.
He opened the message box; Mu Qiu’s message was blunt.
“Regarding information on human development and potential points, if you know about it, we can trade directly.”
“......”
Goodness, they really took him for a researcher.
Such a sharp question right out of the gate—the answer was exactly what top survivors needed most.
No more hesitation; since the other party was straightforward, he wouldn’t waste time either.
Mu Chen quickly crafted a reply full of gravitas.
“Quote your price.”
...
Staring at the chat box, Mu Qiu was shocked by the simple two words.
About thirty hours in, someone already understood the system so thoroughly?
He shook his head, inwardly dismissing the idea.
“He can’t be alone—there’s likely a mysterious organization specializing in system research behind him!”
He walked around his desk, gazed through the window at soldiers and servants drilling a kilometer away, feeling comforted.
In Zone 31, most troublesome monsters had been eliminated. Only three areas remained sealed as forbidden zones, their monsters extremely strange, with no survivors ever returning.
“Whew~”
He exhaled deeply.
He was about to offer Mu Chen a price fair to both sides, without inciting resentment.
Most soldiers had reached Level 3, and they urgently needed detailed information on potential points.
Given this, he would settle on a moderate price...