Monsters Are Coming

The Sky Clan Chief approached and stood before him, raising his head, speaking to him with a complex expression:

"Our clan is under the protection of the Ice Eyes Clan and cannot provide any resources to your tribe."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yi was filled with confusion.

Clearly, there was some misunderstanding.

During the subsequent exchanges, both parties gradually understood each other’s intentions.

Zhong Yi also realized why the Sky Clan Chief would say such words initially.

In fact, there is trade between the clans in the Bright Star Sea Area, but this trade is more accurately characterized as exploitation, more like a relationship between master and subordinate.

For example, the island where the Sky Clan resides can produce a Spirit Plant called "Crunchy Fruit," and after discovering the island, the Ice Eyes Clan did not exterminate the Sky Clan.

This is because the Ice Eyes Clan knows that if they exterminated the Sky Clan, they would have to plant, care for, and harvest the "Crunchy Fruit" themselves in the future.

The Sky Clan posed no threat in their eyes, so they established a trade relationship with them.

However, this trade is one-sided.

The Sky Clan has to tribute a batch of Crunchy Fruit to the Ice Eyes Clan periodically, receiving only a verbal guarantee of protection.

But to Zhong Yi, this so-called protection is just another form of protection fee.

If something serious happens, the Ice Eyes Clan would surely not stand up for the Sky Clan.

Yet, the Sky Clan cannot refuse this trade relationship.

There is no organization like the Earth Alliance backing the Sky Clan, and not paying would mean the extermination of their race.

Therefore, when the Sky Clan Chief heard about his trading intentions, he instinctively thought another tribe came for protection fees.

Upon learning the details, Zhong Yi immediately explained his intentions and his idea of bartering goods.

To the Sky Clan Chief, this idea seemed too advanced.

It’s hard to understand that in the Monster World, there could be forces willing to trade in such a manner, truly absurd.

But after Zhong Yi explained his idea, a thought surfaced in the Sky Clan Chief’s mind:

This outsider perhaps doesn’t have any background support; otherwise, why choose bartering for trade?

The Sky Clan Chief, facing constant resource shortages, suddenly had a greedy thought.

"I want to know your origins?"

"Is it important?" Seeing the Sky Clan Chief’s tone shift from humility to calmness, a thought surfaced in Zhong Yi’s mind: The weak wield their swords against those weaker.

Facing the oppression from the Ice Eyes Clan, the Sky Clan could only humbly submit.

This isn’t kindness but a choice made out of necessity.

Yet when facing a weaker target, humility can transform into greed, and also into a butcher’s knife.

Zhong Yi didn’t hide his thoughts, looking at the Sky Clan Chief with helplessness:

"Old chief, your intentions are too obvious. I’m just here for normal trade, could you not cause trouble off the bat... Anyway, what backs me is something you can’t afford; they’d wipe out your entire clan with a wave, understood?"

The old chief felt a bit embarrassed, laughed twice in a strange tone to ease the atmosphere, then asked:

"Foreign guest, our island only has Crunchy Fruit, no other spiritual resources."

Saying this, the old chief signaled his clansmen to bring over the Crunchy Fruit.

Zhong Yi scanned and found it was a Level 2 Spirit Plant, selling at 219 sacrificial power points under the Sacrificial Emperor.

If trading at the original price, deducting a 5% fee from the Trading House, plus 12% additional profit, he could earn a 7% profit.

Of course, trading directly with other players without going through the Trading House could yield a 12% profit, though the process is more troublesome.

Before trading, Zhong Yi asked what was on his mind:

"Old chief, tell me what your Sky Clan currently lacks?"

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After a brief silence, the old chief began detailing the clan’s plight.

Zhong Yi summoned the forum screen, recorded the keywords from the old chief’s description.

Three categories of tradable goods emerged post-organization.

First category, food.

The island has enough space for more Sky Clan members, but population growth is limited by food shortages, only able to maintain current scale.

Second category, Spirit Ore.

This is also a crucial resource for the Sky Clan to enhance combat ability, without Spirit Ore, they can’t forge enough weapons, equipment, or even fishing tools.

Third category, medicine.

There are many poisonous insects on the Night Sky Island, frequently troubling the Sky Clan, shortening lifespans of clansmen constantly bitten, requiring detoxifying goods.

Having clarified the tradable goods, Zhong Yi summoned the shopping panel.

After careful thought, he spent 1 point of sacrificial power to buy a canned food item, opened it, and handed it to the old chief.

"This is food; what do you think it can trade for how many Crisp Kaga Fruit?"

The old chief received the can, sniffed it lightly, frowned, then scooped a piece of meat with his finger and put it in his mouth.

His expression suddenly changed, spitting it onto the ground, looked incredulously at Zhong Yi:

"This is food, too?"

Zhong Yi: ...

Though the canned food doesn’t taste great, it is the main food for players in the early stages.

"Eating this stuff, might as well munch on leaves." The old chief said angrily with a flushed face.

The old chief’s words made Zhong Yi immediately realize the issue at hand.

This is not Earth; the definition of food here isn’t just to fill the belly.

Upon careful thought, it’s also true; with lush vegetation on the island, how could there not be enough food?

Clearly, the old chief was referring to spiritual food.

He decisively changed the product, purchasing a piece of energy paste produced by the Reverse Tide Army, costing 11 points of sacrificial power in the mall.