Chapter 19

Liu Qiaofei's hand had also instinctively reached for that skill book.

"Sister Jiang..."

Liu Qiaofei spoke timidly, her large eyes holding the clear yet foolish look of a university student, her voice carrying a hint of pleading.

"You... could you let me have it? I also want... I also want to be able to help Senior Su Ze a little..."

Jiang Yuwan's extended hand paused mid-air.

Looking at Liu Qiaofei's pitiable appearance, a wave of irritation rose in her heart.

As the Counselor, aloof as she was, she found it somewhat difficult to lose face over this,

after all, when it came down to it, this was a service-oriented skill...

Before she could speak, Yao Qingya on the other side hesitantly offered over the 【Elementary Ear Cleaning】 she had just obtained.

"How about... Qiao Fei, you take this one? I..."

"It's fine."

Jiang Yuwan suddenly spoke, interrupting Yao Qingya.

She withdrew her hand, her expression returning to its usual aloofness, as if the one who had blushed earlier wasn't her.

"You take the 【Elementary Massage】 to learn."

She looked at Liu Qiaofei, her tone flat,

"After all, skill books just let you learn instantly. If I want to learn later, I can just practice with you all."

Upon hearing this, Liu Qiaofei immediately stopped her tears and smiled gratefully, nodding repeatedly: "Thank you, Sister Jiang! Thank you!"

Jiang Yuwan didn't look at her again, but her mind was rapidly calculating.

Compete with a Liu Qiaofei, who can't do anything but cry, over a service-oriented skill book?

Unnecessary.

Her true value wasn't here.

She thought silently, perhaps she could spend more time researching that so-called public channel,

gathering useful information. That would demonstrate her value far more than learning massage.

...

Elsewhere.

Su Ze maintained 【Strange Language】, easily killing zombies.

The poor zombies didn't know why their "own kind" was killing them, and they couldn't think either.

All eleven zombies fell to the ground, vanishing into thin air, leaving only a scattering of yellow copper coins on the ground.

He began collecting the copper coins.

[Ding! copper coins +2!]

[Ding! copper coins +2!]

[Ding! copper coins +2!]

...

Crisp notification sounds rang out incessantly in his mind.

In less than a minute,

two brand new system notification sounds exploded in his mind!

[Ding! Detected that personal copper coin count has reached 100]

[〖Survival Mall〗 has opened!]

[〖trade channel〗 has opened!]

It's here!

Su Ze's spirits lifted. He immediately summoned his personal virtual screen and clicked on the brand new 【Survival Mall】 icon.

A simple virtual shelf interface popped up.

It listed some items, precisely those basic supplies and materials he had scavenged before.

[500ml drinking water*1: Price 2 copper coins]

[Compressed biscuit*1: Price 2 copper coins]

[Wood material*1: Price 1 copper coin]

[Iron Material*1: Price 2 copper coins]

[Stone material*1: Price 2 copper coins]

...

The prices were slightly more expensive than he had imagined, but still within an acceptable range.

His gaze swept quickly over it, then landed on a golden-glowing area at the very top of the mall, one with a countdown.

[Novice Period · Limited Time Limited Quantity Rush Purchase (Remaining time: 6 days 22 hours)]

Su Ze's breathing hitched slightly as he clicked in.

A row of fewer items, but clearly of higher quality, appeared before his eyes.

At the very bottom, and also the most numerous, was a blue potion in a syringe.

[zombie serum (Fine): Price 100 copper coins/dose, Limited 500 doses (Remaining 500)]

Further up were five skill books shimmering with the green light of Fine quality.

[Skill Book · Primary Fist Technique (Fine): Price 300 copper coins, Limited 10 copies (Remaining 10)]

[Skill Book · Beginner Blade Technique (Fine): Price 300 copper coins, Limited 10 copies (Remaining 10)]

[Skill Book · Primary Sword Technique (Fine): Price 300 copper coins, Limited 10 copies (Remaining 10)]

[Skill Book · Primary Marksmanship (Fine): Price 300 copper coins, Limited 10 copies (Remaining 10)]

[Skill Book · Primary Grappling Technique (Fine): Price 300 copper coins, Limited 10 copies (Remaining 10)]

Su Ze's gaze lingered on 【Primary Marksmanship】 for a moment.

Further up were two weapons.

[Fine Baseball Bat (Lv.1): Price 1000 copper coins, Limited 3 (Remaining 3)]

[Fine Watermelon Knife (Lv.1): Price 1000 copper coins, Limited 3 (Remaining 3)]

And when Su Ze's gaze moved to the very top and saw that single item, he couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.

It was a blueprint shimmering with dazzling green light!

[thorn vine door · Blueprint]

[Level: 3]

[Quality: Fine]

[Defense: 40]

[Durability: 80/80 (Wood material*1 repairs 1 point, Iron Material*1 repairs 3 points;)]

[Special Effect: 『Thorn Retaliation』—When this door receives melee physical attacks, it will reflect 5% of the damage back to the attacker.]

[Deconstruction: Obtain Wood material*60, Iron Material*30]

[Upgrade Path: Consume Wood material*200, Iron Material*100 to upgrade to Level 4 Fine · Lv.2 thorn vine door / For more upgrade paths, obtain higher-level door blueprints;]

[Introduction: A door that looks unfriendly from the start. It will give a bloody lesson to anyone trying to force their way in.]

[Construction Requirement: Wood material*200, Iron Material*100, Thorny Strange Vine*1]

[Price: 3000 copper coins, Limited 1 copy (Remaining 1)]

Three thousand copper coins!

Su Ze clicked his tongue.

Three thousand copper coins meant killing a full fifteen hundred zombies!

Wouldn't that be killing until your arms go numb?

But when he carefully read the blueprint's attributes, especially the effect of 【Thorn Retaliation】, his eyes instantly lit up.

Defense 40! Durability 80!

These attributes, for the current stage, were practically an impregnable fortress!

Even more outrageous was that it actually had a damage reflection effect!

Although the 【Thorny Strange Vine】 in the construction materials was something he'd never even heard of, probably some relatively rare material.

But that wasn't a problem!

He hadn't searched the entire campus yet; maybe he could find it!

Moreover, even if he didn't find it, and someone else found it during the day,

he still controlled most of the basic supplies. At worst, he could just trade with others for it. He didn't believe anyone would hold onto a material of unknown use and refuse to trade it for survival food and water!

Thinking of this,

Su Ze's heart uncontrollably began to beat violently, a strong sense of possessiveness sweeping through his entire body.

This door, he had to have it!

Forcing down the excitement in his heart, he exited the mall and clicked on the other channel—【trade channel】.

The trade hall was completely empty, without a single item for sale.

In the corner of the channel, a line of small text was displayed: 【Jinghai University Dormitory Area · Current channel active users: 1/1】.

Sure enough, he was the only one.

Su Ze checked the other functions. He could initiate private trades.

He could also spend 100 copper coins as a handling fee to use the auction platform for public auctions.

But right now, with him being the only one in the entire Jinghai University who had opened the trade channel, these functions were practically no different from decorations.

He was just about to close the interface when a thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

Wait...

Private trade?

He thought of his backpack, which only had twelve slots and was already almost full.

He thought of the three women in the Dormitory...

If... if they also opened the trade channel...

Wouldn't the "trade" between him and them be equivalent to moving things from his left hand to his right?

He could completely "sell" the supplies he scavenged outside to them through private trades!

In that way, wouldn't their backpacks become his remote warehouses?!

Then they could take the supplies out in the Dormitory and place them there, immediately emptying their backpacks to continue "buying" his "goods"...

Thinking of this, Su Ze's eyes shone brightly!!