Free Web NovelChapter 1286: Chapter 101: The Troubled Black Merchant
After a short rest, Su Xiao’s energy recovered somewhat. This is one of the benefits of playing in the arena; even when completely exhausted, you can recover in a short period of time. Otherwise, after dueling with Huang Yan, Su Xiao would have no energy to continue battling Crazy Fox.
Su Xiao equipped the arena title "A Good Fighter," and the effect of raising his life value and mana value by 800 points was immediately noticeable. He could clearly feel an increase in his life energy, and the perception of his mana value was even more prominent. Thanks to the Spirit Shadow Physique ability, his mana isn’t stored in his brain but distributed throughout his body.
With the boost from "A Good Fighter," Su Xiao’s mana value reached an astonishing 5426 points. Most of his abilities are high-consumption, and this 800-point boost slightly improved his endurance capacity.
"A Good Fighter" is a very special title, unique to the arena and cannot be obtained by other means.
Originally, Crazy Fox held the "A Good Fighter" title. After being defeated by Su Xiao, Crazy Fox slipped to second place. The second place also has a title, but it’s not as strong as "A Good Fighter."
"A Good Fighter" is different from "King of Arena (Mark)." King of Arena is a temporary mark, while "A Good Fighter" is a permanent title.
However, this permanence is not forever ownership but forever existence. The reason for saying this is because of the characteristics of "A Good Fighter."
"A Good Fighter" appears once every ten Derivative World cycles. During this period, the arena will only reward one "A Good Fighter" title. Only by reaching the first position in the third-tier arena can one obtain the use rights to "A Good Fighter." To permanently own this title, you need to successfully advance to the fourth tier while maintaining the first position in the arena.
No matter how competitors fight for this single "A Good Fighter" title during the span of these ten Derivative Worlds, the ultimate victor is whoever can maintain the first position and advance to the fourth tier. Other competitors are merely the Flower Protectors.
If Su Xiao advances to the fourth tier with the "A Good Fighter" title, from the world where he advances, a new "A Good Fighter" title will appear after the span of ten Derivative Worlds.
Don’t think that "A Good Fighter" will appear once every ten worlds. To obtain "A Good Fighter," two conditions must be met: first, you must reach the third position in the arena and earn the "Glory of Victory (Mark)" of the highest quality attribute; second, you must continuously challenge the second and first position, with the span between challenges not exceeding three natural days.
Crazy Fox was once the holder of the "A Good Fighter" title, but after a side kick from Su Xiao, Crazy Fox clearly had no desire to be kicked again and was compelled to give up the "A Good Fighter" title.
There are actually three types of arena titles; the strongest attribute is "A Good Fighter," followed by the "Soul of Arena," which is a reward for reaching the first position at a turtle’s pace. One is generated every five Derivative World spans. The reward for second place is "Honor of Looking Up," generated every three Derivative World spans.
Therefore, there is no mutual title brushing among competitors; within a certain period, there is only one title, it’s either yours or mine, and once missed, it’s missed forever.
Su Xiao didn’t know that "A Good Fighter" is not just a simple title; this thing can manifest during combat without any bonus attack or defensive effect. But 80% of Adventure Groups know what this thing represents – the strongest of the third tier!
If Su Xiao fights against third-tier contractors in a Derivative World, as long as the opponent knows what "A Good Fighter" represents, Su Xiao doesn’t even need to make a move; the opponent will flee as far as possible.
However, Su Xiao temporarily did not know that "A Good Fighter" has this kind of function. In his view, "A Good Fighter" is just an excellent title. Of course, it also represents the strongest of the third tier. Compared to manifesting this thing, he trusts more in the long knife in his hand to scare the enemy to death.
The Starfire Adventure Group was scared to death by Su Xiao, so the remnants of Starfire dared not come to seek revenge on Su Xiao. Few like Other Shore Flower are so headstrong.
Su Xiao left the arena, and near the arena is the trading market. He first passed through the trading market, heading straight for a shop.
At that moment, the shop front was bustling. More than a dozen men dressed in black clothes, wearing black face masks, were waiting at the entrance. If you didn’t know their identity, you would definitely mistake them for gang members or some strange organization.
Watching Su Xiao walk over from the trading market direction, these ’Men in Black’ glanced at each other, eyes filled with sorrow. A man wearing a large black robe walked out from the shop.
That’s right; Su Xiao came to Black Sail Merchant Group to collect debt. This shop is one of Black Sail’s bases, and the two sides agreed to meet there.
Qian Da Pang, Chairman of Black Sail Merchant Group, had a worried face. He was the only black merchant without a face mask. Qian Da Pang was recognized as a smiling tiger, but at this moment he turned into a ’Fat Tiger.’
If indebted to an Adventure Group, Qian Da Pang would definitely resolve through negotiation rather than paying off the debt in one go. He would pay in installments, at most adding some interest, which is the unwritten rule among forces.
Alas, this time their debtor is a Lone Ranger, making it impossible to pay off the debt in installments. When Su Xiao arrives, they must take out 880,000 Paradise Coins + 22 Soul Crystals (Large), compensating him in full with interest.
Taking out 480,000 Paradise Coins isn’t a big deal for Black Sail Merchant Group, but the 12 Soul Crystals (Large) made them somewhat embarrassed. Soul Crystals are perpetually in short supply. After acquiring Soul Crystals, Black Sail would sell them at a high price to Large Adventure Teams. These teams not only must fork out a considerable amount of Paradise Coins but also owe Black Sail a slight favor.
It can be imagined that for such scarce goods as Soul Crystals (Large), black merchants wouldn’t hoard too much. The ten Soul Crystals (Large) that Su Xiao previously took out were too tempting. If it were other Merchant Groups, they might refuse due to the high risk, but black merchants are different. They are desperado workers who rose by selling healing items in Derivative Worlds.
Desperado merchants are intimidating, but when facing ’Professional Killers,’ they are just merchants.
"A true rare guest."
Qian Da Pang greeted Su Xiao with a beaming smile, exuding enthusiasm.
"88 thousand Paradise Coins, 22 Soul Crystals (Large).
Su Xiao didn’t exchange pleasantries with Qian Da Pang; it’s not the time for politeness now.
"Mister Bai Ye, before doing business with us, those low-quality equipment were hard to sell."
Qian Da Pang wasn’t annoyed, and instead put his hand on Su Xiao’s shoulder, speaking softly, "Shall we talk inside?"
While speaking, Qian Da Pang nodded towards the shop.
"Then let’s talk inside."
Su Xiao headed into the shop. When selling equipment to black merchants before, the prices offered were fair, and they had cooperated multiple times. Except in rare instances, black merchants are not actually black-hearted.
Black merchants are not black-hearted because they changed their business strategy, but because they dare not offend Su Xiao. A Lone Ranger like Su Xiao, who is powerful, is the type black merchants least want to provoke.
Although Lone Rangers don’t have the support of forces, it also means they fear nothing and no one, and anyone who provokes them will be killed. Conversely, those who live peacefully with them can gain considerable benefits, as Lone Rangers are rarely stingy.
Just like Su Xiao, he may be ruthless, but he is not stingy. When black merchants helped him consolidate equipment before, he didn’t even haggle over the price.
