Qi Yuan and Qinglei walked to a secluded place. Qinglei went straight to the point and expressed her intentions. Just as Qi Yuan had expected, her goal this time was the Trickster in Qi Yuan's hands.
In exchange, Qinglei very sincerely took out a beast skin bag. Inside it was an Asterite the size of a skull.
If it was before, Qi Yuan might have directly agreed to this deal, but now, Qi Yuan had already absorbed an incomparably large Asterite. His need for the Asterite in Qinglei's hands was not as urgent.
Qi Yuan took off the Trickster hanging on his waist and asked:
"I want to know, what do you need it for?"
After being taught a lesson by the Talent Tree boss, Sly Doll was now so honest that it felt like it had nothing to live for. If not for Qing Lei's sudden appearance, Qi Yuan would have almost forgotten that he had such a burden on him.
Qinglei glanced at the Trickster in Qi Yuan's hands, a glint flashing in her eyes. Then, she lowered her eyelids and said:
"In order to recover from the injuries I suffered in the old city, I paid a great price. I need the Trickster to make up for it."
Qi Yuan was slightly taken aback and quickly thought of the Blazing Angel.
"Did you help her recover from her injuries?" Qi Yuan secretly asked.
The Blazing Angel nodded and said seriously: "Yes, she gave me two Asterite, and I gave her two drops of blood!"
Qi Yuan was instantly speechless. As long as there's food, you really dare to give anything!
After interacting with her for a long time, Qi Yuan became more and more suspicious. His Mechanical Commander was able to control a Rank 4 Blazing Angel not because he was strong, but because he could provide food and shelter.
Qi Yuan glanced at Qinglei. Her injuries in the underground laboratory in the old city were extremely serious. They were even more serious than Black Sand's injuries back then. If it were any other Rank 3, they would have probably died. However, Qinglei had survived safely and even advanced to Rank 4. It turned out that she had exchanged for the Blazing Angel's blood.
However, although Qinglei had recovered from her injuries, the price she had paid was definitely very heavy. This point could be guessed from Black Sand, who only had two years of lifespan left after being tormented by the Blazing Angel.
With Qinglei's injuries, she could probably die at any time now.
Thinking of this, Qi Yuan knew that he probably had no room to refuse Qinglei's deal this time. Although he did not know why Qinglei was willing to discuss the terms of the deal with him so calmly, if he rejected the deal, Qinglei, who had no way to retreat, would definitely attack in order to survive.
Qi Yuan thought for a moment and directly threw the Trickster in his hand. Although the Trickster could deter polluters, it was not very useful to him at the moment. It was better to exchange it for something useful.
Asterite was something that could never be too much.
Qinglei caught the Trickster thrown by Qi Yuan and was obviously stunned for a moment. It seemed that she did not expect Qi Yuan to give the Trickster to her so easily this time.
No matter what, having the Trickster meant that the deal had been completed. She did not have to fall out with Qi Yuan anymore.
Qinglei breathed a sigh of relief. With the Trickster, the Sword of Damocles hanging above her head could finally be moved away.
Qinglei threw the animal skin bag of Asterite in her hand and said softly, "Thank you!"
Qi Yuan opened the animal skin bag and found a trace of blood. What surprised him the most was that this animal skin bag could actually isolate the perception of area detection.
Qi Yuan was a little surprised. If he was not wrong, this animal skin bag was not an ordinary item. It was probably a spoil of war that Qinglei had obtained from killing a Class 4 Zerg.
Just this animal skin pouch alone had a very high value.
"Where did you find this thing?" Qi Yuan asked casually.
This head-sized Asterite obviously did not belong to the batch of Asterite that flowed out of the old city.
Asterite might have the word 'stone' in its name, but it was not the kind of ore that could be formed naturally. It was not easy to find such an Asterite in the wilderness.
Qinglei pondered for a while and said slowly, "In some places, there are special places where the Elemental Energy Plant is found.
"In the wastelands, there are certain special places where a plant called the psychic energy flower grows. Star energy stones are actually the product of the psychic energy flower's absorption of free energy from the void. Every mature psychic energy flower will form a star energy stone beneath its roots. The longer the psychic energy flower grows, the larger the star energy stone it will form. This star energy stone of mine was dug out from beneath a psychic energy flower."
Elemental Energy Plant?
Qi Yuan touched his chin. Asterite was actually condensed from the Elemental Energy Plant. According to common sense, this kind of plant that could condense Asterite should be very famous, but he had never heard of it before.
Qinglei also guessed Qi Yuan's doubts and explained, "Although the Elemental Energy Plant is a flower, it is also more dangerous than most Zerg. The Elemental Energy Plant feeds on flesh and blood, and can actively hunt prey. A mature Elemental Energy Plant is comparable to a Class 4 Elite Zerg. Aptitude users below Class 4 will only become food if they encounter the Elemental Energy Plant."
"Although star energy stones are precious, it's too dangerous to spend them on psychic energy. To prevent too many hunters from being blinded by star energy stones and heading to their deaths in the blue zone, the shelter has purposely sealed off all information related to this."
"Some of the old hunters at the gathering point might have heard about the Elemental Energy Plant, but because the shelter deliberately blocked it, and because no one has ever seen the Elemental Energy Plant in the gathering point, the information about the Elemental Energy Plant slowly disappeared."
So that's how it is!
Qi Yuan nodded slightly. The Elemental Energy Plant in the grey area must have been plundered a long time ago. Not many hunters at the gathering point dared to enter the blue area, let alone actively looking for the Elemental Energy Plant. This kind of dangerous plant was far away from normal aptitude users. Even if the shelter did not block the information, it would gradually be forgotten by the people at the gathering point.
As for how Qinglei knew about the Elemental Energy Plant, Qi Yuan was not interested. Since she was able to go against the trend and reach Class 4 under such circumstances, she must have her own secrets.
The two completed the trade. Qinglei got the Trickster she wanted, and Qi Yuan got an Asterite as well as information about the Elemental Energy Plant. It was a win-win deal.
Just as Qi Yuan was about to leave, Qinglei suddenly asked, "Are you going to enter the Black Steel Shelter?"
Qi Yuan nodded. This was no longer a secret. He already knew everything he needed to know. Everything was ready for him to enter the Black Steel Shelter. In a few days, the examiners of the shelter would arrive at the Iron Chariots.
Qinglei was silent for a while. She said hesitantly, "Are you going to enter the Biological and Mechanical Research Lab and have some conflicts with the Class 4 researcher, Feng Qian?"
Qi Yuan glanced at Qinglei. Although it was not a secret that he was going to enter the Black Steel Shelter, very few people knew about it. In the entire Iron Chariots, only Qu Shi knew about it. Even Ling You only knew about it. How did Qinglei know about it?
Unless there was someone behind Qinglei from the Black Steel Shelter.
He just didn't know which side Qinglei's backer was on.
"The one behind you is not simple. He even knows this information like the back of his hand!" Qi Yuan said.
"You came to find me today. Is it the intention of the person behind you, or is it your own intention?
"Don't misunderstand!" Qinglei explained in a soft voice.
"I just happened to hear some news about you. I didn't deliberately investigate you. You've helped me a few times. From the perspective of a friend, I don't want to see you have a conflict with Feng Qian at this time. You haven't stepped into the Black Steel Shelter yet, so you don't know what Feng Qian means. With Feng Qian's current status, he doesn't even need to show himself. Many people will pounce on you and tear you to pieces!"
Qi Yuan smiled and didn't care.
"Since you were able to find out about this, you should know that the conflict between me and Feng Qian is unavoidable. This time, entering the Black Steel Shelter is the first time I've fought with Feng Qian, but it definitely won't be the last."
Although Feng Qian was strong, Tan Qiu wasn't weak either. He was just a small fry. Since Feng Qian had already set his sights on him and didn't give him a chance to continue hiding, then he could only stand with Tan Qiu and go against Feng Qian.
"Have you heard of the name Ke Long?" Qinglei asked.
Qi Yuan shook his head. The shelter and the colony were two completely different worlds. He didn't even know the names of the Level 4 researchers in the Biological and Mechanical Research Laboratory. How could he know the information of others?
"Ke Long, seventeen years old. Pinnacle Level 3 Combat Domain Ability user. He has at least nine Level 3 abilities. His father, Ke Shoulin, is not only the Deputy Minister of the combat division, but also one of the most popular candidates to be the next Minister of the combat division."
"Ke Shoulin and Feng Qian have worked together many times. They are very close to each other!"
Qinglei paused for a moment before continuing, "According to the news I heard, Ke Shoulin strongly recommended the new generation of berserkers that Feng Qian introduced this time. He even recommended his only son, Ke Long, to be the user of the new generation of berserkers."
Qi Yuan frowned slightly.
If Qinglei's news was true, then it was indeed bad news for him. If he insisted on using the new generation of berserkers to fight with Feng Qian, he would definitely have to face Ke Long.
Ke Shoulin's intentions were easy to guess. With the excellent performance of the berserkers, once they were officially introduced, it would definitely become a hot commodity. By tying Ke Long, who happened to be Level 3, to the new generation of berserkers, he wouldn't even have to pay a high price. Ke Long could use the new generation of berserkers to achieve fame and fortune.
Based on the current situation, once he challenged Feng Qian's berserkers, he would definitely block Ke Long's path.
It would be fine if he lost, but if he won, Ke Shoulin, this big shot, would probably write his name down in his little notebook.
It had to be said that Feng Qian's move was indeed very tricky!
Qi Yuan rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. With his shallow foundation, he was indeed overestimating himself to go against a big shot like Feng Qian. Even with Tanqiu's help, it would still be very difficult.
However, the current situation was already like an arrow nocked on the bow. If he chose to back down, what he would have to face next would probably be Feng Qian and Tanqiu's multiple dimensionality reduction attacks.
With Tanqiu's protection, even if Feng Qian wanted to deal with him, he would only do so within the rules. At least he wouldn't have to worry about being attacked by dimensionality reduction.
As long as he could survive under Tanqiu's protection for a period of time, he would be able to use his identity as a researcher to obtain enough protective talismans. Even if he couldn't directly suppress Feng Qian, he would at least be able to protect himself.
The news brought by Qinglei reminded Qi Yuan that Tanqiu could indeed block Feng Qian's dimensionality reduction attacks. However, with Feng Qian's current status, there was no need for him to deliberately target him. After all these years of operation, he already had a huge network of connections around him. Those complicated connections were enough to crush a large portion of his enemies.
After separating from Qi Yuan, an illusory little girl flew out from Qinglei's body. She looked in the direction Qi Yuan left and said with some confusion, "Why did you give him the Asterite? Wouldn't it be easier to kill him?"
"It's not that simple." Qinglei shook her head.
"Qi Yuan's background isn't simple either. That Tanqiu isn't someone we can provoke. Moreover, Qi Yuan isn't so easy to kill."
"Isn't he a rank 2?" the little girl asked with some confusion.
"On the Zerg that Qi Yuan is riding, I can feel the aura of the monster in the old city!
The one controlling the Zerg isn't Qi Yuan. Which monster is it? "Qinglei said.
That monster!
The illusory little girl was stunned for a moment. She knew who the monster that Qinglei was talking about was, but she couldn't connect that monster with Qi Yuan at all.
One was a rank 4 monster, the other was a rank 2 ability user. When they were in the old city, that monster clearly wanted to kill Qi Yuan. How long had it been since then? How could Qi Yuan be together with that monster?
"The Trickster is already in our hands. There's no need for us to continue to cause trouble."
The illusory little girl nodded and quietly shrank back into Qi Yuan's body.
Qi Yuan rode the Ahn 'Zerg back to the Iron Chariots alone. Before he even entered the door, he saw the corpse hanging on the city wall. It had been destroyed by the energy to the point that its original appearance couldn't be seen clearly.
A remnant of the Xu family?
Qi Yuan shook his head. Although the big tree that was the Xu family had fallen, there were still many monsters left behind. Between him and the Xu family, there was still a blood feud. The more ruthless Ling You acted against the Xu family, the safer he would be.
Since Ling You acted against the Xu family, in dealing with the Xu family, he and Ling You were natural allies.
Before returning, Qi Yuan specially went to the Black Gold Merchant Guild's encampment. He discovered that the entire Black Gold Merchant Guild was already empty. There was even a faint smell of blood in the air. The process of the Black Gold Merchant Guild being uprooted was probably even more bloody than he imagined.
As for the corpses of the Black Gold Merchant Guild after they fell, they must have fallen into Ling You's stomach.
He thought about how he had feigned civility for so long and only managed to get 500 pieces of Asterite from Ye Xiao for free. Ling You had actually swallowed the entire Black Gold Merchant Guild.
The difference between them made Qi Yuan sigh. As the leader of the Iron Chariots, Ling You seemed like a salted fish that didn't care much. However, once she decided to act, her ruthless nature would be displayed incisively and vividly.
In the following period of time, the Futu Merchant Guild would take over the market that the Black Gold Merchant Guild had vacated and become the only merchant guild in the Iron Chariots.
As for the Black Gold Merchant Guild that was crushed by Ling You, it wouldn't take long for everyone to forget about it. A merchant guild that had already fallen was no longer qualified to occupy too many memories.
The fall of the Black Gold Merchant Guild didn't have much of an impact on the Hunters of the Iron Chariots. Apart from Ling You and the Futu Merchant Guild, only a few Hunters who had business dealings with the Black Gold Merchant Guild would whisper a few words.
Qi Yuan was originally worried that Ling You wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure from the Black Steel Shelter.
The Black Gold Merchant Guild was also a merchant guild with a background in the Black Steel Shelter. Ling You had used thunderous means to destroy the Black Gold Merchant Guild's stronghold in the Iron Chariots. It was very likely that the Black Gold Merchant Guild would retaliate.
However, when he thought about the Xu family's current situation, Qi Yuan realized that the Black Gold Merchant Guild's headquarters wouldn't dare to blatantly retaliate.
Since Ling You dared to act, she must have obtained conclusive evidence that the Black Gold Merchant Guild's stronghold had colluded with the Xu family. The Xu family was now a rat that everyone wanted to beat up. Once this evidence was handed over to the Black Steel Shelter, the Black Gold Merchant Guild's headquarters would inevitably be implicated.
Therefore, the one with a headache now wasn't Ling You, but the Black Gold Merchant Guild!
The Xu family was hurt by Ling You, and he could also benefit from it. He didn't have to worry about the Xu family immediately jumping out to seek revenge.