160: Transaction launched

Shen Xiaochuan's finger hovered over the entrance to the Faith Mall, just a hair's breadth away from the pale golden light barrier.

He didn't click it, but instead flipped to the last page of his storage grid.

He folded the bill and tucked it into the inner pocket of his workwear.

The copper gear hanging on the outside brushed against the corner of the paper, making a faint sound.

He read down the list, item by item.

[faith points balance]: 31,000

This number made him frown.

He had originally intended to give all the money to Qiao Yao, plus a bonus as a token of gratitude.

But that was no longer possible.

Having just returned from the dungeon, he had spent a lot of money treating the wounded—thirty-seven severely injured Believers had used Advanced Healing Scrolls at three thousand points each, which alone deducted 110,000 points.

There were also supplies, equipment wear and tear, and death benefits... After the System finished the settlement, this was all that remained.

He leaned back in his chair and tapped the armrest twice.

He had genuinely wanted to treat her.

Not because he owed her a favor, but because he felt she deserved it.

Qiao Yao had guarded the city for five days without the barrier breaking once, and not a single alert had been missed.

With such dedication, a warm meal and a "thank you for your hard work" were the least he could do.

But now the meal was eaten, the words were spoken, and the bill had arrived, yet he didn't have enough money to pay it.

He looked down at the leftovers on the table.

The food had already gone cold.

The oil from the stewed tiger leg had congealed into a circle of white frost, and the bones remained on the plate.

There was no one in the square outside the window, and a kite swayed in the wind, its string tightening and loosening.

"It's not that I don't want to pay, it's just that I really don't have the money," he whispered, as if explaining to himself.

He closed his eyes and opened the transaction history of the Faith Mall.

[Millennium Dragon Blood Fruit × 1]: 5,000 gold coins

[Star-patterned Grass (mature plant) × 1]: 2,800 gold coins

[Moon Dew Lotus Seeds (pack of ten)]: 7,500 gold coins

These were the base prices for medicinal herbs.

He remembered Qiao Yao saying that the Star Spirit Forest where she lived was full of these plants.

He hadn't paid attention at the time, but looking at them now, those fruits she said she "picked casually to feed the spirit deer" could probably trade for half a sentry tower each.

He opened his eyes and stared at the "Payment Method" on the bill.

It could be paid with faith points or exchanged with equivalent resources.

"Equivalent resources..." He recited it once, then suddenly sat up straight.

The door opened, and the wind blew in a few leaves.

Qiao Yao stood at the doorway, carrying a small cloth bag, with a bit of sweat on her face.

"I thought about it on my way back," she said. "If you're really tight on funds, you don't have to force it. I can accept a delayed payment, or..."

"No need to delay," Shen Xiaochuan interrupted, standing up and walking to the long table. "I have another way."

Qiao Yao was stunned for a moment. "What way?"

"Bartering," he said. "You have plenty of resources there. I don't lack manpower; what I lack are things that can be quickly liquidated. You provide the supplies, and I'll calculate the faith points at market value and settle on the spot."

Qiao Yao frowned. "What kind of supplies are you talking about?"

Shen Xiaochuan raised his hand and swiped, and a projection appeared showing the appearance of three types of fruits.

"This red, thorny one is called red sun fruit. The mall sells them for 4,800 points each, and they only bear three fruits a year," he said, pointing to the first one. "This blue one is called moon heart berry. It grows in damp rock crevices. The mall is out of stock, but they have sold for 3,200 per unit at auctions."

Qiao Yao's eyes widened. "Wait... the red sun fruit you're talking about, is it like wild hawthorn, the kind we usually soak in water to drink?"

"Yes."

"And the moon heart berry? Is it deep blue, glows when you squeeze it, the kind we use to feed injured little birds?"

"That's the one."

She straightened up instantly. "Don't scare me. Are these things really worth that much?"

"If you don't believe me, you can check," Shen Xiaochuan pushed the mall interface toward her. "This is public data, not something I made up."

Qiao Yao leaned in to look, tapped her finger a few times, and after confirming, her breathing quickened. Her expression shifted from confusion to shock. "I always thought these were just common wild fruits, usually given to the Beast Girls and animals as snacks, or buried when they rotted... Now you're telling me one fruit can trade for a defensive tower?"

Shen Xiaochuan nodded. "More than that. If you can supply them consistently, I can buy them long-term. Once the first batch arrives, I'll pay immediately, no delays."

Qiao Yao didn't speak, paced back and forth twice, then suddenly looked up. "It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that I'm too surprised. Our Star Spirit Forest has always been poor, not because we lack things, but because we didn't know these things were valuable. Everyone is desperately taking on missions to earn money, while treasures are growing in our own backyards."

"Now you know," Shen Xiaochuan said. "The next step is how to harvest them."

"I'm afraid of damaging the environment," Qiao Yao said immediately. "Some fruit trees have only one mother tree; if we pick too many, they'll be gone."

"We can set rules," Shen Xiaochuan took out a blank contract paper. "For example, only pick ripe fruits that have fallen to the ground, don't harm the trees; for every ten harvested, replant two; rare species will be blacklisted and forbidden to pick. I'll send people to register everything to ensure nothing goes wrong."

Qiao Yao looked at the paper and was silent for a few seconds. "You think more carefully than I do."

"This isn't charity," Shen Xiaochuan looked at her. "It's a partnership. You have the goods, I have the channels; neither of us loses out."

She finally nodded. "Fine. I'll trust you this once."

The two sat down and wrote out the agreement, item by item. Shen Xiaochuan wrote quickly, and the terms were clear: the first batch of harvesting was limited to three areas, led by Qiao Yao; only ripe fruits were to be picked, no digging up roots; seeds and technology for replanting would be provided by Skydome City; payment would be made within twelve hours after each batch of goods was inspected.

"Shall we sign?" Shen Xiaochuan handed her the pen.

Qiao Yao took it, glanced at it, and signed her name directly. The pen shook a little, but she didn't change anything.

"I'll go back tomorrow to organize the team," she said. "The first batch of goods will set out within three days."

"Be careful on the road," Shen Xiaochuan put away the contract and placed it in the storage grid. "I'll have the West Gate Sentry Tower prepare a receiving area."

She stood up, shouldered her cloth bag, walked to the door, then stopped. "Shen Xiaochuan."

"Hm?"

"Thank you... for not asking me for the money directly," she smiled. "Others might think I'm taking advantage of you. But you gave me another path."

"Resources should be useful in the first place," he said. "Better to trade them for what's needed than let them rot in the ground."

She nodded and walked out.

The Main Hall fell silent. Shen Xiaochuan sat in his original place, opened the last page of his Divine Kingdom panel, and clicked on the "Transaction Module." A new record popped up:

[Pending Receipt]: Star Spirit Forest supplies (first batch)

Status: Agreement signed, awaiting delivery

Estimated arrival time: 72 hours

He closed the interface and rubbed his temples. Only then did he feel the fatigue, as if his body had been hollowed out. He didn't go to the bedroom, but leaned back directly, his head resting against the back of the chair, and closed his eyes.

His mind was still turning over thoughts.

The matter of the Level 5 fields needed to be prioritized. To upgrade the city, that land had to be taken. But money was tight, equipment for the warriors had to be replaced sparingly, and skill books couldn't be used casually. Fortunately, this transaction could provide emergency relief. Once the first batch of goods arrived, it would be worth at least 20,000 points, which, plus the daily natural growth, would barely be enough to launch the field-conquest plan.

As he thought, his breathing gradually deepened.

Outside the window, the wind blew the kite around in a circle, and the string tangled on an iron hook on the eaves, making a soft sound.

Shen Xiaochuan didn't open his eyes; his hand slid down from the armrest and rested on his knee.

The copper gear hanging from his workwear sleeve swayed slightly with his breathing.