Liu Shu cooperated with her Lignified House, and in just three days, the internal structure of the Lignified House changed completely to what they agreed upon.
During these three days, the Skill Merchants traveled around the world with curiosity. They saw several dozen World Trees and Life Trees of all sizes and ages spread out, which surprised them.
They even approached them, interacting with these World Trees, wanting to know how or why they could remain alive within Liu Shu's domain. Flamar, speaking with Warlya in one restaurant, chuckled. "It is still too peculiar even after you explained it."
Warlya answered with a smile. "It is as I said. We all willingly gave our total autonomy, becoming interconnected through Liu Shu's roots. Someone as strong as you should be able to see my race, right? I wonder if you've seen it before."
Flamar shook his head, taking a sip of the Eternal Tea on his table. "I have not. If there are World Trees that ascended to your species, they should've died silently. After all, while your combat power is strong, I can tell that it is not compatible with the environment of the galaxy."
Warlya agreed. "You are right. If it weren't because I am under Liu Shu as an independent World Tree, I wouldn't have dared to choose this ascension path."
As they spoke, Flamar's communication device beeped. "Oh? The ship is set up. I should go, since I am the one responsible for completing the extraction arrays."
"Extraction… Not copying."
Flamar nodded. "Something as magical as selling or creating skill books, other than the mysterious Dungeons, is impossible to do without a slight sacrifice." He sighed. "Perhaps, if my strength were higher, I would be able to do something like creating or copying skill books. For now, though, it's more of a give-and-take business."
Warlya asked while Flamar flew away. "Are you the strongest in your group?"
"Far from it." Flamar smiled. "I am a team group that's in charge of these somewhat remote sections of the galaxy. Toward the center is where the true powerhouses of the galaxy live. I can easily tell you, the highest-level individual I've seen in my organization was over Level 400."
"Level 400…" Warlya sighed. "I wonder how long it will take for us to reach those heights."
Flamar, looking at this list of buffs, showed a peculiar look. "Perhaps, it won't be as long as you imagine. Of course, it all depends on whether Tianlian Liu Shu can deal with the foreign threats that will try to keep her from growing unimpeded."
When Flamar arrived, she saw Liu Shu's Avatar being hugged from behind by Leafara. He landed by their side and smiled. "So, it is done?"
Liu Shu hummed. "Yes. You can set up all the fields now. You can check if you need more space, or if the layout is not good enough."
Flamar nodded and walked inside, Liu Shu and Leafara following behind.
Looking at the comfortable but high-quality reception floor, Flamar nodded, satisfied. "This is good. Just seeing this floor, I can tell that the rest will be exceptional."
The tour lasted for a few hours, and after eating together, Flamar smiled. "Alright, call all our auxiliary workers out of the ship. It's time to get to work."
Leafara spoke to the air, placing two fingers on her wrist. "Everyone, come to these coordinates. We are about to settle down. Your rooms can be bought by yourselves, since this place is extremely cheap."
Speaking of this, Leafara looked at Liu Shu. "Aren't you going to increase the price of houses? Honestly, with the money I have, I can probably buy over half of the residences in Golden Sap City."
"Buy?" Liu Shu blinked and chuckled. "There is no buy in Golden Sap City, only rent."
Flamar and Leafara showed curious looks, and Liu Shu spoke. "Every structure is built and nurtured by me. They are my children, and the work needed to set them up is null, as they can change their minds with high flexibility. Therefore, a house doesn't really have a price. It is passive income, like a tax bill for water in other civilizations."
"Right, speaking of which, how does your city generate electricity?"
"Many ways." Liu Shu explained. "There are woodcraft generators that use ambient Aether Mana, transform it into Lightning Aether Mana, and then use some procedures to process it into a usable electric current. The cables are something that can seamlessly integrate with nature, something I created a while ago. Also, solar energy leaves can similarly gather and collect thermal energy, which is easy to process into electricity at a very high efficiency."
Liu Shu smiled. "After all, nature is best at collecting energy."
Flamar and Leafara nodded, their curiosity satisfied.
"Ah, right. I almost forgot." Liu Shu clapped her hands. "I will install a new technology that I've been researching together with the traditional computers. You can use my technology or the other one at will. I will later give you a small manual that objectively compares both technologies."
Leafara blinked. "Is traditional computing better?"
"Much better." Liu Shu easily admitted. "After all, traditional computer technology has been developed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. How could a new technology compare? Therefore, take it as a gimmick. Important documents and processing should still rely on the traditional computers I will install."
With everything settled, Liu Shu passed the bill for all utilities and similar services, which they easily paid off on the same day. Then, from the large ship, a total of 400 people walked out.
The 20 Liu Shu saw were the top powerhouses, and those who were in charge of the most delicate extraction process. For infusing skills, the other 400 were more than enough, as the process was as simple as accelerated teaching.
A month later, leaving enough time to set up everything comfortably, the people walking near the Explorer Association to take new missions or get their Dungeon Diving contracts, noticed a new shop opening.
The reason was that this shop had actually bought and taken an entire Lignified House for their ships! Such purchasing power was not something a normal equipment business could easily afford.
The
A tall and burly man by her side showed a similar puzzled look. "None at all, Boss."
Elowen looked at Yisea, who was part of the Verdant Envoy group that arrived several decades ago. Yisea shook her head as well. "Not a single clue, Boss. I have never heard of this group."
Everyone became curious, and the group of 40 stepped inside in an orderly manner. Flamar and the others had hired some fairies to help with the reception, and during the last month, they were taught how to guide customers to their business.
Therefore, a Rose Fairy with a very professional smile and elegant dress flew over, her ruby-like eyes gleaming softly. "Welcome to our shop, customer. Is this your first time entering our Essence Seeker shop?"
Elowen nodded at the fairy with a smile. "It is indeed so. I wonder, what do you sell here? Since you opened near the Explorer Association, I guess it should help Explorers, right?"
The Rose Fairy chuckled. "Our shop can help anyone as long as they have enough resources. One very important reminder: the coin system used in our shop is different from common currency. Please, follow me. I will guide you and have a more specialized host explain every detail."
Their group followed along, faces full of curiosity. Soon, they arrived in a rather large room that could easily accommodate all 40 of them. Inside, a human man with framed glasses smiled and stood up. "Welcome. It is a pleasure to serve Lady Elowen as my first customer. Please, if you need any personalized attendance in the future, use this card to contact me."
Elowne was not surprised that the man knew her. She was not a random Explorer, but one of the strongest and most well-known groups around the Golden Sap Empire. Therefore, she took the card with confidence and ease. Looking at the card, Elowen smiled. "So, Mister Karal, what does this ship sell?"
"Please, sit down."
Karal guided them, and while brewing some tea, he answered Elowen's words. "Our
Elowen was quite surprised. 'Only two? The fairy outside made it seem as if they had endless arrays of items.'
While she was a bit disappointed, she didn't interrupt. Karal continued. "The first wares are
Elowen, who was taking a sip, instantly choked on the tea and started coughing. "Cough, cough, cough… What did you, cough, say you sold?" Realizing her unbecoming attitude, Elowen felt a bit embarrassed and apologized. "Excuse me for that outburst. I was too surprised."
Karal reached out and gave Elowen and the others who choked a handkerchief. Then, he smiled calmly. "I, too, was surprised. However, it is indeed the truth. This place sells
Then, Karal explained the trade system, process, and a few other perks they could gain. He added at the end. "Also, it seems that the lord of the shop has taken quite a bit of liking to our Empire. Therefore, even after they leave, they will most likely come back later to stay more permanently. This is a bit of personal speculation, though. Still, I would try to take advantage and become a regular member as soon as possible."
Elowen didn't dismiss his claims. After all, she was extremely confident that anyone who got a taste of Liu Shu's buffs would become hooked in an instant. The buffs were a kind of deterrence to foreign forces that wanted to cause trouble, and Elowen had witnessed not too long ago the fall of a government family due to losing their buffs.
"I… see." Elowen looked at her System Page and the extensive list of
So, on average, a top-tier Explorer would have no less than 60
"Well, let's see how much currency I can gain after clearing out those useless skills. We can see the catalog while waiting for the service, right?"
Karal smiled. "That's indeed the case. Please, wait for a few minutes. We will soon come back to attend you. In the meantime, here."
Elowen was given a tablet, and when she clicked the icon named "Talents" an extensive list scrolled down, from most expensive to cheapest.
At the very top, Elowen saw something that made her heart skip a beat.
[Star Slicing Blade (SS- Rank). Cost: 4,000 SS Skill Shards.]
[Song Of A Thousand Angels (SS- Rank). Cost: 3,500 SS Skill Shards.]
[Death Mechanism Catastrophe (S+ Rank). Cost: 50 SS Skill Shards.]
…
'Sacred Branches Of The Heavenly Willow… SS Rank? Does that even exist?' Elowen, who had thought of A+ Tier as the very pinnacle. While S Rank was a myth, she couldn't help but feel her horizons forcefully stretching out.