Hope City.
MCMAU logistics department.
Since obtaining the expansion approval from the university, people of MCMAU could hand over their gains directly to the university within Hope City. Unlike before, when most of them were surrendered to the Military Department to handle it. The Military Department will then associate with the pill and weapon companies and, eventually, contact the university.
Adopting a simple decor, the warehouse-like logistics department was converted from a big hall.
It was Fang Ping’s first time here. As soon as he entered, he called out, “Instructor, don’t be so stingy. It’s not like MCMAU is poor and humble. It is still necessary to fix some energy light up in the concourse.
“Also, necessary decorations are still needed for the sake of the facade. I’ll ask the Martial Arts Society guys to bring some decors to put them up later.
“The tables and chairs must be well-equipped, otherwise it’ll give the impression of a rundown place.”
He had just finished speaking when a gentle chuckle resonated throughout the whole concourse. “Fang Ping, it’s been quite some time. Right now, you’re sounding more and more like the Martial Arts Society President.”
Fang Ping raised his head to take a look. Then, looking delighted, he exclaimed, “Instructor Bai, why are you here?”
Bai Ruoxi was currently sitting behind the counter, chuckling. “My injuries are much better now. The logistics department has set up a branch, but everyone’s plate is full, so here I am.”
Last time, Bai Ruoxi was severely injured. She had taken a long time to recover.
Even now, her internal injuries were not fully recovered. It was clear how serious her wounds were back then.
The logistics department needed more manpower. Low-ranked martial artists were not qualified, whereas the university was facing a shortage of middle-ranked martial artists. Hence, Bai Ruoxi took over the responsibility, despite not having recovered from her injuries.
Back then, Bai Ruoxi lost the lower half of her left arm after she returned from a trip.
Fang Ping took a look subconsciously. Then, he frowned slightly, asking, “Instructor, is there no way to fix your left arm?”
Previously, Beijiang Martial Arts University Sun Mingyu’s left arm was sliced off by Han Xu as well, though he had fixed it back afterward.
Bai Ruoxi shook her head slightly. “It was too chaotic at that time. I couldn’t retrieve it.”
Battling in the Catacombs back then was too dangerous. There was a huge number of casualties. Who would have the time to search for a left arm that had been chopped off?
This was different from Sun Mingyu.
Fang Ping let out a soft sigh, then he beamed. “It’s alright. Aren’t Rank-8 martial artists restructuring into golden bodies? Instructor, it’ll grow back, right?”
Bai Ruoxi smiled. “Maybe.”
Rank-8 golden body powerhouses could restructure their bodies. But then again, how many people could cultivate all the way up to Rank-8?
Besides, with Rank-8 casting golden bodies, it was not like an arm would just grow out of nothing. It would also cost a tremendous amount of resources when the time came.
Of course, with this idea in mind, when one had truly achieved Rank-8, one would still have the option.
Bai Ruoxi dropped the subject. She smiled. “Both of you have gained a lot this time. Remember to buy me a meal once you’ve earned money.”
Qin Fengqing replied quickly, “Definitely...”
Fang Ping laughed instead. “Ground surface. We’ll buy you a meal when we’re back on the ground surface. The food here is terrible.”
Bai Ruoxi was wreathed in smiles. This fellow was always the same. He was most sober when talking about money.
As they were talking, the chubby old man walked in.
Taking a look at both of their packs, the chubby old man raised his brows, saying, “The energy is not weak at all. Tell me what happened, both of you. How did you provoke a high-ranked powerhouse and Jiao.”
Fang Ping laughed. “There’s no hurry, Instructor Zhang. We’ll talk about this later. Let us exchange the items first.”
The chubby old man nodded in assent, asking no more.
Actually, he was quite interested in what these kids had gained this time.
Not only him, when other people went out, their military bags would not be full. Fang Ping and Qin Fengqing returned, heaving huge packs weighing over a hundred catty. Many people were curious.
At this moment, some powerhouses had also started coming in one after another to join in the fun.
Fang Ping was slightly vigilant. Wealth should not be exposed. What were these guys doing, coming in here?
Xu Mofu had just walked in. Seeing the look on Fang Ping’s face, he was amused. He barked, “Do your thing!”
Did the kid really think that everyone had nothing better to do? The big pack that Qin Fengqing was carrying had hard edges and corners. It looked like Catacombs books. That was why he came to take a look.
Besides, who would dare cook up a scheme against the two of them?
Weaklings would be having a death wish, whereas powerhouses had no interest in these things.
Qin Fengqing did not care too much. He quickly fished out the items he had gained. Starting with the herbs, moving on to a few energy stones, then some miscellaneous items like the smashed and twisted energy lamp.
“Luosheng Fruit, Azure Flower, Orchid Sage...”
One by one, Bai Ruoxi sorted and counted, slightly surprised. She asked, “Where did both of you go?”
The Catacombs had herbs, though they would not be clustered together in the same area.
Moreover, humans had cleared off the items at the Catacombs periphery. Where did they find so many herbs?
Free and easy, Qin Fengqing replied flatly, “It’s nothing. Just a high-ranked martial artist’s herb garden...”
Beside them, everyone’s expression changed slightly. They had really raided a high-ranked martial artist’s lair?
Bai Ruoxi did not ask anymore. Calculating for a while, she said, “37 herbs, though some of them have insufficient life expectancies. Moreover, you stuffed them all together carelessly. Some of the roots and leaves have been damaged...”
“Instructor, are you going to deduct my credits?”
Qin Fengqing was rather sensitive toward this. ‘I am already so poor, yet you still wanted to deduct from me?’
Bai Ruoxi did not know whether to laugh or cry. After calculating for a moment, she announced, “Herbs 5000 credits.”
“So much... No, so little!”
Qin Fengqing was delighted at first. Then, he exclaimed, “An average of 200 credits per herb, it should be at least 700 credits or more!”
“Insufficient life expectancy. The ones that are sufficient could only be manufactured into the three lower ranks pills.” Bai Ruoxi explained, “Also, you preserved them inappropriately, the energy is flowing out...”
“There’s no way to preserve them at the time. I can’t be carrying a few hundred boxes specially made for preserving herbs, can I?”
Qin Fengqing mumbled. He did not continue.
Bai Ruoxi continued sorting and counting. After a while, she said, “The price for energy stones remains the same. The ones you have—800 credits.”
There was no objection coming from Qin Fengqing this time. Only, he looked at Fang Ping with slight irritation.
When this fellow fed Jiao, he had taken plenty of energy stones from him.
“Weapons... The majority of them are of E and D-class quality. 200 credits.”
“Other miscellaneous items. 500 credits.”
“Altogether 6500 credits.”
Qin Fengqing was joyful and sorrowful at the same time. Joyful because he had never earned so much before. Even when he was with Wang Jinyang earlier, he had only earned about 3000 credits after spending a lot of time.
He was sorrowful because this brat Fang Ping would definitely earn more than him!
However, when he recalled that he still had over a hundred books in his pack, Qin Fengqing was no longer anxious.
This plaything was really valuable too.
Even so, he was not in a hurry to take them out now. He would like to first take a look at how much Fang Ping had gained.
Bai Ruoxi asked instead, “You still have many things in your pack. Are you not exchanging them?”
“I’ll exchange them in a bit.”
Qin Fengqing looked at Fang Ping, saying, “Take yours out. Let’s see how much they’re worth.”
Wasting no time, Fang Ping took out a large bunch of herbs from his burlap sack very quickly, along with various weapons and pieces of jewelry. Then, he took out countless energy stones from his military bag, innumerable when compared to Qin Fengqing’s.
At this moment, a few Rank-5 and 6 powerhouses present looked on rather enviously.
These two kids had really acquired a lot this time.
“52 herbs...”
Fang Ping said directly, “I preserve them better than Qin Fengqing. 10 thousand credits, at least!”
Bai Ruoxi laughed airily once more. Feeling exasperated, she said, “8000 credits is the most I can give. Fang Ping, I don’t own this business.”
This was MCMAU’s reclamation point. She possessed no right to raise the price.
The chubby old man let out a hollow cough as well. “Fang Ping, don’t make things difficult for Instructor Bai.”
Fang Ping was helpless. He accepted his fate, saying, “8000 credits then.”
“Energy stones... 2000 credits.”
“Alright.”
“Weapons, metals, and miscellaneous items. 3000 credits for them.”
“Altogether 13000 credits.”
Fang Ping had not spoken a word, yet Qin Fengqing was already green with envy!
He did the exact same thing as Fang Ping, ran the same distance, yet he had only earned half of what Fang Ping had gained!
Who could he reason with!
As for Fang Ping, he was far from done, taking out a few energy hearts.
Qin Fengqing’s complexion changed again. Motherf*cker. I had already forgotten about this one.
The rest of their complexions were changing slightly too. The chubby old man looked on for a while. In a deep-throated voice, he asked, “You guys killed a Rank-5 martial artist?”
This token could not be faked.
Fang Ping nodded, not saying much. It was a crucial time to talk about money now.
“Instructor, 4 Rank-4s and 1 Rank-5. How many credits for them?”
Bai Ruoxi took a long look at them. “The Early and Middle-stage Rank-4 energy is all mixed up. The price is not high. As for Upper-stage and above, Upper-stage 500 credits while Peak 600 credits.
“As for Rank-5, Early-stage 800 credits while Middle-stage 1000 credits.
“What you have here, two Early and Middle-stage and two Upper-stage Rank-4. Even the Rank-5 one is only an Early-stage...
“It’ll be 2000 credits then.”
“Early and Middle-stage Rank-4 are only 100 credits each?”
Fang Ping darted a look at Qin Fengqing. This fellow told me that it was 300 credits last time, did he not?
Last time, the ones they had killed were all Early and Middle-stage martial artists.
Bai Ruoxi saw him staring at Qin Fengqing and explained, “Qin Fengqing sold them to the black market earlier. The black market had been cleaned up afterward. It was run by the cults. It is exceedingly difficult for the cult martial artists to acquire these items. We’re different...”
Qin Fengqing said shyly, “I didn’t know that it was operated by the cult martial artists. Besides, I basically ripped the cults off. Instructor, it’s no fun for you to rake up the past.”
Fang Ping thought it was slightly pitiful. If he had known...
Forget it. Why should he perform any business transaction with the cults? If he had known that that was the cults’ stronghold, he would have robbed it straightaway.
“Altogether 15000 credits.”
Upon hearing this figure, Fang Ping’s face lit up in pleasure. Though, he was also slightly unsatisfied, saying, “We’ve robbed a Catacombs high rank’s lair, yet we’ve only earned a little over twenty thousand credits in total? Converting them into cash would only make it six hundred million or more. Isn’t this too poor!”
This was even after the difficulty level in obtaining credits had been lowered, otherwise, it would be much less.
No one said anything.
Two Rank-4 martial artists, spending just one day, had earned so much... Could Grandmasters do it?
If Grandmasters could do it, they would have been rich a long time ago. Who would start up their own companies outside to earn money slowly?
Other people did not say anything, but Qin Fengqing gritted his teeth instead. “Give me 5000 credits!”
“Get lost!”
“You have 15000 credits, while I have only 6500. I am even the one who brought you there. Fang Ping, humans shouldn’t be ungrateful!”
“I’ve rescued you from Jiao. We’ve agreed that the items will all belong to me. Why don’t you hand them over first!”
“Fang Ping, don’t go too far...”
“Quit your bullsh*t. If you went alone, can you earn so much? Do you have the faintest idea?”
“...”
“Enough!”
The chubby old man chided, cutting off their argument. Can you not embarrass yourself? There were still many powerhouses that were not from MCMAU present here.
Qin Fengqing was down in the dumps, thinking that he had suffered a great loss.
Fang Ping was plotting against him instead. Thinking for a moment, he said to Bai Ruoxi, “Qin Fengqing owes me 50 million. Just give him 5000 credits, and give me 16500 credits...”
“I’ll fight you to death!”
Qin Fengqing did not want to live anymore, picking up his changdao and prepared to fight Fang Ping to the death.
He had gone too far!
A little over twenty thousand credits, whereby he had only gotten a few thousand, yet Fang Ping still wanted to collect money from him. Was he even a human?
Fang Ping could not care less. Taking a look at his huge pack, he raised his brows, saying, “Why not I take everything inside. You know I gave them to you on purpose at that time.”
“I brought them back!”
“It’s because I gave them to you.”
“I carried it on my back and ran a few hundreds li. You want it? Never!”
“Then give me 1500 credits, and I won’t want it anymore.”
“...”
Everyone’s head was throbbing from the banter. Xu Mofu had to intervene and say, “Guys, are those the Catacombs books in the pack?”
“Yes. Over a hundred of them!”
Everyone’s eyes lit up. So it was true. There were so many of them too!
Xu Mofu said hurriedly, “Take it out. Let’s have a look.”
Fang Ping took out five to six books from his own pack. He had only taken this much then.
Qin Fengqing, on the other hand, had heaps. After counting them, there were more than eighty books.
Seeing so many books made out of beast skin, everyone’s face lit with delight. To the individual, items like the energy stones and herbs were more precious.
For mankind though, these books carried an even greater significance.
Xu Mofu did not waste any time talking. He gave it a flip and said quickly, “Guys, the government is in urgent need of these items now. When they can finally decipher it, it’ll only benefit everyone, allowing everyone to understand the Catacombs better...”
“10000 credits. No bargain!”
Qin Fengqing stated an exorbitant amount straightaway. He refused to earn less than Fang Ping.
Xu Mofu looked like he was caught in the middle. “Qin Fengqing, the government is tight on funds nowadays too...”
Qin Fengqing argued. “We risked our lives to raid these items from a high-ranked powerhouse’s lair. We were even hunted by a high-rank. I don’t think my request is unreasonable.”
Fang Ping stuck up for him as well, saying, “Yeah, we were so close to getting killed... General Xu, give us slightly more and we’ll be even more motivated next time. We’ll raid the Sky Gate City’s lair afterward...”
Xu Mofu was slightly exhausted. After thinking for a while, the chubby old man said instead, “Fang Ping, Qin Fengqing, you’ve gained these items yourselves. Logically speaking, you should discuss this with the government and Military Department. The university has no right to intervene.
“Though, for this matter, this old man still has to let you know that the research information is not for the sake of private interest.
“These few years, the government’s spending has gone over the roof. This includes the source of MCMAU’s fund. Most of them are from the government’s allocation.
“Now, you are capable...”
Fang Ping and Qin Fengqing’s eyes met, feeling slightly helpless. They knew that dealing with the government would not gain them too many benefits.
Nevertheless, they were students nourished by MCMAU. They were indirectly nourished by the government.
Books were not cultivation resources. This plaything was useless if they kept it for themselves.
Fang Ping thought for a while and said, “5000 credits then. But, once they have been deciphered, we need to be the first to know. The research department needs to provide us with a sheet of deciphered information.”
Xu Mofu thought deeply for a moment and nodded. “Sure. As for the price...”
“Non-negotiable.”
Fang Ping shook his head immediately. This was already a rate for you as a friend.
“Alright... We’ll deal with MCMAU afterward...”
Fang Ping nodded. Looking at Qin Fengqing, he asked, “Say, how should we divide it?”
Qin Fengqing’s face was grim. “I have more than eighty books, what about you? I’ll give you 500 credits, consider this a fair deal.”
“1000 credits...”
“Forget it if you don’t want it.”
“500 credits then.”
Fang Ping was easy to talk to at this moment. Very soon, both of them were done with the division.
In total, Fang Ping earned 15500 credits while Qin Fengqing 11000 credits.
Both of them were reasonably content. Qin Fengqing was not as depressed now either.
Although he still earned slightly less than Fang Ping, the disparity was not too great.
In just one day, with both their gains combined, it had totaled up to nearly 800 million!
Even typical Grandmasters could not gain this much unless they went to dig up mines, provided they made it back alive.
...
Fang Ping had more pressing matters to think about. At this moment, Fang Ping was most concerned with the increase of his Wealth.
Wealth: 384 million
Vitality: 1080cal (2000cal)
Mentality: 525Hz (699Hz)
Bones honed: 177 bones (100%), 29 bones (30%+)
“Almost 400 million now!”
Fang Ping was wild with joy. This was also thanks to the credits at hand. If the credits were sold... Though credits were not worth selling now.
Ever since the university lowered the difficulty level of obtaining them, the credit for cash transactions had dropped tremendously.
This was also what the university had in mind, hoping that the students could be self-sufficient instead of depending on their family members.
“No matter what, the credit value is here. Once I have dealt with the credits I have, maybe my Wealth would hit 500 million.”
At this moment, Fang Ping had started to think that he was rich and overbearing now.
Coming to the Catacombs with Qin Fengqing this time was extremely worth it.
As for getting hunted by a high-rank and encountering Jiao, these were all side issues. It was fine as long as they were alive.
No martial artist had no enemies.
“Oh right, there’s still the 30 million that those guys needed to pay me...”
When Fang Ping recalled the money he had gotten from the rip-off, he was radiant with joy again.
His Wealth was about to hit 400 million.
He had earned this money fairly effortlessly.
Beside him, Qin Fengqing’s eyes were flashing unpredictably.
The money he had earned from working with Fang Ping this time had exceeded the amount he had earned the past few years. Should he work with this fellow again next time?
The key takeaway was that he had a feeling that he was suffering losses when working with this fellow.
Though, the lightning speed they earned was still the main point!
When he was with that fellow Wang Jinyang, he did not earn much even after entering the Catacombs several times, spending numerous months.
“We’ll talk about it afterward. Earning so much this time is enough for me to cultivate up to Rank-5 and 6.”
“Should I exchange an A-class changdao? I can’t. A-class is too expensive.”
“Then should I buy some leather armor like Fang Ping? The one he has is only a Rank-5. I’ll buy a Rank-6?”
“Buy a few baskets of pills to take as snacks?”
“...”
Qin Fengqing sunk into his own fantasy, fantasizing himself wielding an A-class changdao, putting on Rank-6 armor, carrying a basket in his hands, one that was filled with pills.
There was never a moment like this that made him feel like he had inexhaustible money.
Both of them were immersed in jubilation. Beside them, everyone saw this and could not help but burst out laughing. These brats had plenty of guts.