Chapter 61: The Gathering of Heroes

Qin Hao unceremoniously exposed Li Lan’s wishful thinking.

“An evolver skilled in mental power, once they master metal abilities, can achieve this.”

The probability was already quite high.

To be honest, they had established this badge thanks to a newly joined hero, Yuan Xingcan. He possessed a talent for manipulating metal, able to twist and mold it into weapons, and had become the weapon master of the base. Yet Yuan Xingcan’s abilities fell far short of Qin Hao’s; it took him two or three minutes to craft a single weapon, whereas Qin Hao could conjure one at a mere gesture.

“I’ll go find someone now to improve it and try to revise the plan.”

“Alright!” Qin Hao nodded in agreement.

Li Lan summoned people and gave instructions.

Qin Hao then heard a distant roar and asked curiously, “What’s happening outside?”

Sun Miaomiao promptly replied, “It’s the military. Although that aurora disaster destroyed technology, some things cannot be destroyed. The military may have lost their firearms, but they still have plenty of explosives.”

“Speaking of which, they learned this from you, Mr. Qin,” Li Lan returned after finishing her arrangements.

“Me?” Qin Hao was surprised.

He had never told anyone else to use explosives in such a way.

“Yes, after you set off fireworks that day, people were inspired. If fireworks could be ignited, it proved that many chemicals remained unchanged. Gunpowder is one of the Four Great Inventions of China. Although most don’t know how to make it, chemistry teachers surely do, and the field army’s technical teams quickly figured it out. They’ve been reaping great rewards lately.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Hao felt a pang of emotion.

This was the ripple of the butterfly effect.

Every move he made altered the people and the world around him.

He wondered whether anyone at the northern base still wanted snake demon meat, now that they too had the ability to defeat fang demons and snake demons.

However, the blood and flesh of the venomous spider and the level-one evolved claw insect were surely needed everywhere.

“Now that Zi Hui has revealed the method to become an evolver, what do people think of snake demon meat and other high-grade meats?” Qin Hao asked.

Li Lan immediately thought of the thousands of venomous spiders’ flesh and blood stored in Qin Hao’s space ring—such valuable goods.

“Does Mr. Qin wish to exchange it for something? For example, stellar energy crystals?”

“Yes, the flesh of venomous spiders and level-one evolved claw insects. Ten crystals for a pound of venomous spider meat, twenty for claw insect meat.”

The news of the claw insect invasion had spread to all heroes, though some were not in Yangchuan City and had never seen them.

Fortunately, the stellar energy contained in level-one flesh differed, and those with strong mental powers could sense it, saving Qin Hao much trouble.

Li Lan quickly said, “The price is very fair, even cheap. Our Sky Vault Base has a barter market right next door, on the first floor of that building.”

Qin Hao waved his hand and said, “Too slow. If I don’t sell quickly, these goods will be distributed, but others grow stronger day by day. The things I hold will eventually depreciate. Better to sell them all at once.”

Li Lan understood.

As time passed, more people could fight and grew stronger, able to defeat venomous spiders and even more formidable creatures.

Half a month ago, anyone who tasted fang demon flesh would be overwhelmingly grateful to the base.

Now, survivors would band together in groups of three or five, kill a fang demon, drag it away, and eat it, no longer needing An Ziheng to go door to door rescuing the hungry.

“I understand. I can represent Sky Vault Base and collect some for you. The rest, you’ll need to trade at the Heroes’ Guild.”

“Heroes’ Guild?” Qin Hao was puzzled.

Li Lan smiled, “It’s the grand theater where Zi Hui once held a concert. Later, the military sealed it off, but now Zi Hui uses it for top-level evolver exchanges. Sixty percent of the city’s heroes are there, along with some level-one evolvers. It’s gradually become the Heroes’ Guild, dedicated to mutual aid. Many have established survivor bases and surely need what you have.”

This was precisely what Qin Hao needed.

“Excellent. If I can sell, when does it start?”

“At noon every day, for an hour. Zi Hui should already be there.”

“Alright, I’ll take a look.”

Ten minutes later, Qin Hao arrived at the grand theater and entered.

Inside, the theater was ravaged: the stage cratered, chairs crushed, even two load-bearing pillars knocked down by snake demons. The walls and floors were riddled with single holes—evidence of fierce battle.

At that time, the disaster had not yet descended, and only two heroes had existed.

Anyone who arrived here would feel deep respect for Zi Hui.

As Qin Hao entered, someone was speaking on the battered stage.

“I’ve obtained a batch of crossbows from a high-end club. Ten stellar energy crystals each. Who wants to trade?”

“I do!”

“Alright!”

“I found a batch of bulletproof vests at the police station, twenty crystals apiece.”

“Twenty is too expensive.”

“Ten would be reasonable.”

“Twelve is my limit.”

No one was willing to offer more; after all, the city had more than one police station.

“I have a longsword, custom-made and as good as anything in stores. One hundred crystals.”

Qin Hao noticed that all items offered for trade were for combat.

It made sense. Despite the apocalypse, resources were plentiful, and unclaimed goods piled up everywhere. No one indulged in luxuries; survival was the only goal. What mattered was fighting power.

In time, when the city’s food ran out, food and water would become the most precious commodities.

Just then, a man walked onto the stage, dragging along a woman with long hair over her shoulders.

He laughed, “I’m selling a person here. Take a look—do you know who she is?”

All eyes fell upon the woman.

The man pinched her chin and lifted her face, revealing her delicate, palm-sized visage.

Only then did everyone see who she was.

“Lu Mixue!”

“My god, it really is Lu Mixue.”

“Is that the movie queen Lu Mixue?”

The crowd was astonished.

Lu Mixue’s status in the entertainment world was akin to one of the four legendary beauties of ancient times—a global superstar. At only twenty-eight, she carried the aura of a film queen; her fees for a single movie reached tens of millions. Such a celebrity, now being auctioned off?

A stir rippled through the crowd.

The man was clearly very pleased with himself.

“Starting bid: one hundred stellar energy crystals. Buy her, and let the queen serve you well. Take her out with you and you’ll command respect. What do you say?”