Chapter 408 Fleecing for Food and Drink (3k breakdown)
The next day, when Su Jiu woke up in her dorm, it was almost noon. The warm, slanting sunbeams pierced through the leaves on the window, casting dense patterns of light on the floor.
The dorm was a co-ed dorm, still feeling empty. Her only former roommate had disappeared somewhere.
“She’s probably gone to the Flea Market too.”
Sitting up in bed, Su Jiu looked at E Huo, who was watching anime on her phone. She got up and patted E Huo’s head. She hadn’t slept this peacefully in a long time. Yesterday, she had asked Dean Zi to organize a team to purchase these alchemical artifacts, mentioning that there would be a flea market in the afternoon.
She then got up and put on the black and blue school uniform, re-pinning the Oriental Pearl badge to her chest.
“Click!”
Just as Su Jiu finished putting on her school uniform, the dorm door was gently pushed open. A head cautiously peeked in. Upon seeing Su Jiu, the person became excited, scratching their messy hair. After a slight hesitation, they stopped at the doorway and said, “Junior Su, the school has been spreading rumors that you’ve revived. I didn’t expect it to be true.”
Hearing the familiar yet slightly strange voice, Su Jiu turned her head to look in the direction of the sound and found a long-lost acquaintance, a look of surprise on her face. “Senior Xiao Qiqi?”
She seemed to have added this senior’s QQ account, but neither of them had messaged each other, a silent understanding. It was also this senior who introduced her to Bai Zhi. “Fate” was truly indescribable.
“You can really hide!”
Xiao Qiqi peeked her head in and, finding no one else in the dorm, breathed a sigh of relief. She sized up Su Jiu, marveling inwardly, “I can sense that you’ve become much stronger. Before, I could feel the Battle General aura emanating from you, but now I can’t sense any aura at all.”
Facing Xiao Qiqi’s teasing, Su Jiu shook her head slightly and said with a wry smile, “It’s not that I wanted to hide. Last time, due to a crucial plan to dismantle the Ancient God Sect, I didn’t have the strength to face the pursuit of those Battle King level experts from the Ancient God Sect, so I had no choice but to go into hiding and fake my own death.”
“Amazing.”
Unlike other students, Xiao Qiqi understood the hidden meaning in Su Jiu’s words upon hearing them. Her pupils widened slightly as she silently gave a thumbs-up.
The other party already had the strength to face Battle Kings, and she, who rarely watched TV programs, naturally didn’t know that Su Jiu could now calmly handle Intermediate Battle Kings.
As the two of them didn’t have many friends, they chatted about everyday things for a while. Then, Xiao Qiqi became serious and asked, “Junior, are you planning to attend school again this time? In a few more days, our school will be sending some students to Mao Xiong. With your strength, it shouldn’t be a problem for you to go, right?”
Hearing Xiao Qiqi mention the expedition to the north, Su Jiu hesitated for a moment. However, remembering that she still had to act alone to find Yu Mao, she quickly shook her head and said, “I’ll pass. During that time, I need to do some personal things and won’t have time to accompany you all.”
Xiao Qiqi thought Su Jiu didn’t understand the significance of this northern expedition, so she continued to explain, “Junior, don’t think this activity is troublesome or dangerous. Although it’s said to be support for the demon invasion, it’s basically just for experience… to add a feather to our caps. My grandfather pulled some strings and got me into it.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to go, it’s just that I have other things I need to do during that period.”
Su Jiu smiled helplessly, still refusing Xiao Qiqi’s invitation. She didn’t need any resume, as she was already adorned with honor and her status was comparable to a Major General’s rank.
Elder of the Night Watcher, the ‘Half-Step Two-Tier’ Anthem, World Competition Champion…
“Alright then…”
Upon hearing Su Jiu’s repeated refusal, a hint of disappointment flickered in Xiao Qiqi’s eyes, but it quickly returned to normal. She scratched her head again and asked, “The flea market is being held at the school plaza later. Are you going to check it out? Dean Zi from the Medical School has also gathered everyone from our year to go, saying that a talented alchemist from our school is making a triumphant return and selling some low-level alchemical items at a low price, including even Battle General level accessories!”
“I’ll go, but before that, I have something for you…”
Su Jiu smiled and readily agreed. She then took out a small, black knife emitting electric arcs from her ring and handed it over. “I remember you’re also an alchemist. This is like an engraving knife, right? Take it.”
“This is… a High-ranking War General level alchemical artifact, and it’s also imbued with lightning attribute.”
Xiao Qiqi wasn’t inexperienced. When she saw the small knife, her mouth slightly opened, revealing an expression of utter disbelief. She then looked at Su Jiu, quickly took the knife, and examined it with delight, even subconsciously asking:
“This thing alone would cost at least ten Beginner Magic Crystals. Are you really giving it to me? And besides…”
“We’re friends!” Su Jiu said cheerfully. As she spoke, she picked up E Huo, who was still on the bed, preparing to head to the flea market.
As if remembering something, Xiao Qiqi suddenly looked up at Su Jiu, her face showing an expression of disbelief. “Wait, could the alchemist from our school mentioned at the flea market be you?”
“Don’t be slow to act… You’ll find out when we go to the flea market.”
Su Jiu smiled casually, patted Xiao Qiqi’s back, and then pulled E Huo’s hand, leading the way out of the room. The latter snapped back to reality, shook her head, and chuckled as she followed—
“I can’t believe that one of my teammates from when we did missions together has become an alchemist in just a few months?”
…
Upon arriving at the academy’s Green Campus Plaza, a long red banner declared—【Flea Market (First-Year Students Only)】
Rows of display cabinets were set up, but they were empty, as if nothing had been placed in them beforehand. Dense crowds of first-year students, all wearing their freshman uniforms, had almost completely surrounded the entire plaza. Their combined voices were not much less boisterous than those at the World Competition.
A Dun and a few others were gathered in a circle, also intending to buy some Battle General level alchemical items at a low price. After all, even with Xiao Yu’s family background, she would hesitate for a long time to create a Warrior Class alchemical item. As for Battle General level alchemical items, they were basically items that could be used for several years.
“These newcomers are really cute. The school is selling discarded alchemical waste, and they’re still flocking to it.”
“The major organizations have also arrived. Could it be real?”
“Impossible. I learned from the school’s online app that this is actually a farce created by a low-level alchemist. Now that the items haven’t been displayed, she has no way to back out of it…”
Some older students were also attracted to watch the spectacle. Unlike these freshmen, most of them didn’t believe that Battle General level alchemical items would appear. Even if they were really for sale, they wouldn’t be sold at a 30% discount as advertised on the market. It’s only these freshmen who would believe there were good things.
It’s probably just that the school will be clearing out experimental alchemical waste and selling them cheaply to these freshmen who have just reached the Battle General level.
“Who is this senior who has caused such a huge commotion?”
“The person hasn’t arrived yet, and the items haven’t been displayed. Could it really be fake?”
The White Water Society and many college organizations had also arrived at the venue early. Upon being informed by their teachers that it was only for freshmen, they were somewhat confused but still maintained a wait-and-see attitude, as an event facilitated by a dean had a high probability of being credible.
In the student union area, Hu Ling, dressed in the student union’s formal attire, squinted at Dean Zi, who remained silent on the stage. A trace of suspicion flashed in her eyes. She had a feeling of familiarity.
Turning her head to look at the flaming sparrow perched impressively on the shoulder of a student union cadre, she inexplicably swallowed. Could it be *that* woman?
The World Competition that has been quite popular recently, she was the one who won it, right? It shouldn’t be so urgent for her to rush here?
“Ahem… Thank you everyone for coming to the flea market I organized—The beds at school were too comfortable, and I overslept. My apologies, my apologies.”
Just as everyone was discussing amongst themselves, a figure suddenly appeared at the center podium. The petite figure caused many to slightly freeze. Seeing the first-year school uniform she was wearing, the crowd first fell silent, and then exploded like a boiling oil pan.
“Isn’t this a freshman uniform? I thought it was some senior!”
“Damn, at her age, she’s probably only just a beginner alchemist!”
…
“All you older students, please quiet down—After all, I’m only selling these alchemical items to first-year freshmen, and there’s a limit of one item per person.”
Hearing the murmurs, Su Jiu exchanged a look with Dean Zi, then smiled and raised her hand to signal them to settle down. She directly announced the sales content: “Among the items for sale are alchemical artifacts ranging from High-ranking Warrior to Initial Stage Battle King level. Mainly, this is to help freshmen who don’t have the money to buy expensive equipment to quickly improve their strength and show the spirit of our Magical Capital University in the five-school melee.”
When Su Jiu mentioned Battle King level alchemical items, Dean Zi beside her couldn’t sit still. He opened his mouth and looked over, his eyes filled with deep disbelief. No—we agreed on Battle General level alchemical items, didn’t we?
Now you want me to compete as well, right?
“Battle King level? Junior, if you can produce a Battle General level accessory, I’ll go to the restroom and do a big meal right now.”
“Count me in, I’ll wash my hair upside down!”
Those older students who were half-believing and half-doubting pure took Su Jiu’s words as entertainment. After all, Su Jiu hadn’t appeared for a long time, and it was normal for most people not to pay attention and thus fail to connect. The scene instantly became noisy, like a paradise for those seeking amusement.
However, some more discerning individuals, looking at the ring on Su Jiu’s hand, began to quietly look forward to what this strange junior might produce. A storage ring was not something an ordinary person could wear.
Seeing the skepticism in the eyes of the older students, Su Jiu was too lazy to say anything more. She went to the first display cabinet and took out a white bone accessory – an Initial Stage Battle General level white bone accessory…
The moment this white bone accessory appeared, everyone’s gaze suddenly shifted uniformly to the two “students” who had been boasting earlier. Seeing their suppressed smiles, it caused the two of them to remain silent for a moment, then shout with red necks: “It’s just one! Who doesn’t have one? You’re putting such a long cabinet and only displaying one? I mean, display a whole cabinet!”
Subsequently, Su Jiu took out a pair of Initial Stage Battle General level beast leather shoes, matching bracelets, and a hat from her ring and lightly placed them in the display cabinet. Then she repeated the white bone set, with small tags attached, bearing E Huo’s somewhat cute handwriting.
Soon, the first long glass cabinet was filled with dozens of sets.
