Chapter 331: A Moment's True God

After buying the intel, Lin Qing had only eleven survival coins left.

"Can I still see you tomorrow night?" Lin Qing asked casually.

The black-cloaked figure smiled faintly and said, "That depends on your luck and your wealth. Only a very few people have that qualification."

Lin Qing's heart stirred.

It seemed whether one could encounter this Night Peddler depended not only on luck, but also on having enough coins.

He set his mind at ease and said, "Give me two portions of food and three healing potions."

The black-cloaked figure glanced at him with some surprise and said, "You're not getting a Blood-Forging Demon Box?"

"Don't need it for now," Lin Qing said.

The black-cloaked figure asked no more, then took out two small wooden buckets of food and three emerald-green healing potions and handed them to Lin Qing.

"I hope when I see you tomorrow night, you'll still bring me a pleasant surprise." The black-cloaked figure chuckled low, took a step back, and vanished without a trace.

Lin Qing immediately took these newly exchanged supplies, turned, and returned to the cabin.

It wasn't that he didn't want to exchange for a Blood-Forging Demon Box.

It was that he could only exchange for one, and he had no use for it at the moment.

His target was the bloodline of that Chaos creature, the Eternal Frozen Iceflame — he only needed to wait for a high-tier demon bearing that bloodline to appear.

Until then, it was better to keep hoarding survival coins.

As for the supplies exchanged today, the food was for himself, and the potions were for selling.

"Only three trades per night…"

Lin Qing glanced at the trade channel's rules. He wasn't in a rush to list the potions; he just browsed through the messages and trade records one by one.

A moment later, a faint smile crossed his face.

"As expected, plenty of people are wounded."

Lin Qing murmured thoughtfully, "Wait a bit longer. In a few more hours, even more people will have killed demons, and even more will be seriously injured. By then, the survivors will have more survival coins on hand…"

One had to remember that only a very small fraction of people ever ran into the Night Peddler.

It required not only wealth, but also luck.

So there had to be survivors out there who held plenty of survival coins but had never encountered the Night Peddler.

Among such survivors, the odds of being seriously wounded were very high!

He could take this chance to sell those three healing potions and that axe at a high price.

"How much should I set?"

Lin Qing thought for a moment, then listed the two healing potions separately on the trade channel, choosing public trade, setting a starting price of 8 survival coins each, a trade duration of 10 hours, highest bidder wins.

Whether anyone could afford it or not, he'd put the price up first and see.

Sure enough, the moment those two healing-potion listings went up, a flood of messages popped up beneath them.

"Healing potions? There's actually such a thing?"

"Obviously bought from the Night Peddler — and there's even something this good."

"Brother, can you come down on the price? I'm Tian Junhuan, direct line of the Tian Jun Clan of Wanheng Province. Do me a favor — once I'm out, you'll be my sworn brother through life and death!"

"Heh, that's dark enough. A healing potion only costs three survival coins at the Night Peddler."

"Way too expensive. Only a fool would buy."

"Brother, I've scraped together eight survival coins already — sell it to me? You've already made plenty."

"My lord, I'm badly wounded, about to die. If you'll sell it to me, once I'm out I'll serve you as your servant. I beg you!"

Lin Qing glanced over them casually, too lazy to bother with any of these messages.

Even without him, those who were going to die would still die. Who could he save?

Even selling at a high price still left them a sliver of hope.

Besides, among these people some had already scraped together eight survival coins — whether gathered from others or earned by killing demons — which at least proved these survivors were pretty capable.

After some thought, Lin Qing listed that axe on the trade channel as well, setting a starting price of 10 survival coins.

Compared to healing potions, a weapon with enough killing power against lesser demons was clearly more useful, so a starting price of 10 survival coins was perfectly reasonable.

Of course.

The messages under that listing were even more frenzied — either the Qin Shihuang routine, or begging, or cursing.

Lin Qing naturally treated it all as passing clouds.

Instead, it confirmed one more thing for him — the odds of these monsters dropping magical equipment were very low.

His luck had already been excellent — he could even refine a Chaos Divine Artifact Set in one go — but after killing eleven demons, only one weapon had dropped.

So he was confident this weapon would definitely sell.

He could wait for the survivors' bids on one hand, and on the other wait for this evolved Abyssal Ship to lure more demons aboard.

In the blink of an eye, the night was completely over. That near-lightless darkness ended, giving way to a comparatively dim daylight.

And in this Sea of Death region, over twenty thousand people had already died.

Among those still alive, quite a few were hiding inside their personal shelters, not daring to leave the cabin — otherwise they'd only be killed by the demons lying in wait outside.

But if this went on, they'd only starve to death.

"It's over."

Lin Qing glanced at the trade channel. By now, all three of his listings had concluded.

The axe had sold for twenty-one survival coins, and the two healing potions had each sold for sixteen survival coins.

Altogether, a full fifty-three survival coins.

He wondered whether these buyers truly had the means, or had some other way of earning coins, or perhaps had connections outside — somehow able to scrape together so many survival coins in a single night.

And besides him, there were others who'd sold healing potions trying to profit off the situation, and they'd all sold for several times the price too.

"Correct. If we encounter the Night Wandering Merchant again tomorrow night, we can buy more."

Lin Qing showed a faint smile. "We can buy both the Blood Refining Demon Box and the Blood Source Pointer, and ask about information on the Permafrost Ice Flame Bloodline; that should be enough."

He placed the fifty-three Survival Coins he had just earned through trading into the previous bag, which still contained thirty-eight Survival Coins; these were the spoils he had obtained from killing demons tonight.

Three high-grade demons, and fifteen low-grade demons.

One of the high-grade demons even dropped a Demon Nature Great Bow and one hundred arrows; it was clearly a High-Grade Demon Artifact, possessing both Extreme Speed and Penetration attributes.

If this thing were taken to trade for money, it would surely be worth a lot.

However, no one can afford the price yet.

Moreover, the bow is very heavy; even with Lin Qing's strength, drawing it open is difficult.

This thing is of no use to Lin Qing anyway; the projection of the aura of the Life-Seed Universe Treasure can easily become any weapon, and it is very convenient, with strength even higher than this so-called High-Grade Demon Artifact.

"Ninety-one Survival Coins. Besides buying the Blood Refining Demon Box and the Blood Source Pointer, the rest can be used to purchase more resources to trade, exchanging for more Survival Coins, or even later directly placing a bounty on the corpse of a demon possessing the Permafrost Ice Flame Bloodline."

Lin Qing pondered silently and confirmed his plan for the time being.

With the advantages of the Life-Seed Universe Treasure and the Illusory World Great Extinction, there is no problem with him not absorbing the chaotic creature bloodlines of these demons for now; after all, killing high-grade demons is as easy as turning over one's hand.

Before the Abyss Ship upgrades again, the Permafrost Ice Flame Bloodline cannot be found yet; absorbing other bloodlines to increase strength first is also fine.

Besides, the Blood Cleansing Potion can be used to clear the bloodlines in the body.

"This difficulty really doesn't seem like a trial..." Lin Qing shook his head slightly. Beneath the visible smoothness and advantage, he felt more and more that there must be some hidden danger waiting for him ahead.

Besides increasing strength as much as possible, there is no good method.

In the blink of an eye, five days passed.

"Ten corpses of high-grade demons have been gathered."

On the deck of the Abyss Ship in the dim light, Lin Qing looked at the sea mist gradually becoming bright. "We can upgrade the Abyss Ship again, but if the Abyss Ship upgrades again, it will probably attract stronger demons; with my current strength, I might not be able to solve them easily..."

He pondered for a moment, walked into the cabin, and took a look at the goods hoarded over the past five days—

Fifteen Blood Refining Demon Boxes, five Blood Source Pointers, three Blood Cleansing Potions, three Escape Scrolls, and other potions and food in various amounts.

These days, perhaps because his luck was good and his wealth was sufficient, he encountered the Night Wandering Merchant every night.

Utilizing this advantage, he naturally earned quite a lot.

Every night, he bought the limited Blood Refining Demon Boxes and Blood Source Pointers from the Night Wandering Merchant.

"Before the Abyss Ship upgrades, let's find the demon with the Permafrost Ice Flame Bloodline first; upgrade the Abyss Ship only when strength is sufficient."

Lin Qing narrowed his eyes, looking at the direction the Abyss Ship was sailing. "The information given by the wandering merchant, although it can only determine roughly what direction the demon containing the 'Permafrost Ice Flame' bloodline is in, is still like looking for a needle in a haystack, but..."

At this moment, a golden symbol slowly rose in the depths of his eyes. "I still have the Fate Gaze!"

This Fate Gaze belongs to a special secret technique that changes the essence of the soul; it can only see routes with better luck, so it requires no energy to activate, and even after reincarnation, this secret technique can be retained.

In fact, among these Survivors, some people cultivated this kind of secret technique that changes the essence of the soul in advance, and they will not lose this advantage after reincarnation.

And secret techniques like the Fate Gaze are naturally even more suitable for this Survival World!

"In that direction."

Lin Qing immediately followed the guidance of the Fate Gaze and steered the Abyss Ship to sail in that direction.

Perhaps the route of good luck points to a treasure chest drifting at sea, not necessarily a demon with the Permafrost Ice Flame Bloodline, but after confirming the direction through the wandering merchant, the probability of finding it is much higher.

"Confirm the direction of the Permafrost Ice Flame Bloodline with the wandering merchant every night."

Lin Qing pondered silently. "This way, the efficiency should be much higher. If I cannot find a demon with the Permafrost Ice Flame Bloodline today, I will first use other bloodlines to increase my strength and upgrade the Abyss Ship."

After the Abyss Ship upgrades, although it can attract demons over a larger range, it will also attract demons of higher levels.

Without sufficient strength, he dares not upgrade the Abyss Ship.

Another three days passed.

In these three days, relying on the Fate Gaze, Lin Qing made a surprising discovery, but it was not finding a high-grade demon possessing the Permafrost Ice Flame Bloodline.

Instead, he discovered a deep silver treasure chest drifting at sea.

Most treasure chests drifting at sea are Iron Treasure Chests; only a very few are this kind of deep silver treasure chest, among which it is possible to open special items, such as special-effect treasures or secret techniques, and so on.

"Secret technique... Extreme Luck Walking?"

On the deck, Lin Qing looked at this pyramid-shaped colored crystal in his hand, silently recalling the secret technique inheritance he had just obtained from it.

And this pyramid-shaped colored crystal is a treasure sufficient to support entering the threshold of the secret technique.

Cultivating secret techniques, the vast majority require various kinds of treasure resources.

This secret technique, 'Extreme Luck Walking', is the same.

However, this secret technique, like the Fate Gaze, is special; it does not require any energy, only consuming luck, stamina, and willpower; possessing a willpower of the True Transformation level is enough to successfully cultivate it, so it can be used even in the Survival World.

To be precise, this is a bizarre movement technique that uses luck and willpower that influences reality to dodge by borrowing the influence of space-time.

As for whether one can learn it to perfection, that depends on comprehension, luck, willpower combination, and other aspects.

"The upper limit of this secret technique is not high."

Recalling the secret technique in his mind, Lin Qing said, "Once facing high-grade chaotic beings capable of releasing world projections, this secret technique will be of no use..."

However, it is very useful in the current situation.

Before reincarnating, Lin Qing did not expect to encounter this situation, so he never thought about learning many such secret techniques.

However...

Come to think of it, if he really knew many such secret techniques, the first trial of King Wang, Your Majesty, would probably not be like this.

"Let's learn it first."

After Lin Qing carefully comprehended this secret technique once, he used this pyramid-shaped colored crystal to enter the threshold on the spot.

Afterwards, through the Antientropy Being's advance, he easily cultivated it to perfection.

Soul, will, experience, coordination, and all other aspects were elevated to the most perfect state.

"In this situation, it actually proves quite useful."

Lin Qing nodded slightly in satisfaction.

"Pity I couldn't find any monsters with the Eternal Freeze Ice-Flame bloodline..."

"I had hoped to save some Blood-Refining Demon Boxes and a dose of Blood-Cleansing Elixir, but I should absorb one bloodline to boost my strength first..."

Lin Qing didn't overthink it and immediately decided to enhance his strength first.

After all, he earned money easily and had no fear of waste.

Upgrading the Abyss earlier would also allow him to find monsters with the Eternal Freeze Ice-Flame bloodline faster.

"Hmm... I'll choose the bloodline of the 'Instant True God,' a chaotic creature. I've already obtained three corpses of monsters with this bloodline."

Immediately, Lin Qing consumed one Blood-Refining Demon Box, placed the corpse of a monster possessing the fifth-generation bloodline of the 'Instant True God' into the box, and then refined it into a thumb-sized, pale silver bloodline crystal.

"I wonder if it will be compatible..."

Looking at the bloodline crystal in his hand, Lin Qing wasn't particularly worried.

After all, absorbing bloodline energy through such a crude method was merely a preliminary fusion and lodging; the requirements weren't high, and since this bloodline energy was quite scarce, it wouldn't be difficult to absorb.

Moreover, the essence of his life soul was that of a Life-type Chaotic God, who was naturally adept in this area, so he naturally felt no great concern.

If all else failed, he could forcibly suppress it by borrowing the power of his innate universe treasure.

"One... two... three."

Not long after, Lin Qing had consecutively refined three fifth-generation bloodline crystals of the 'Instant True God.'

He also felt he could now mobilize this bloodline energy within his body, boosting his explosive power, reaction speed, and other aspects several-fold.

Actually, the bloodlines of various chaotic creatures offered similar improvements to physical attributes; at most, they differed slightly in their areas of specialization. The key lay in the innate secret techniques obtained after truly fusing the bloodline.

"Hmm, I estimate I'll need to refine about ten portions to reach the limit."

Sensing his current state, Lin Qing thought, "However, reaching thirty or forty percent is enough for now. Let's upgrade the Abyss first to find monsters with the Eternal Freeze Ice-Flame bloodline."

At present, this Survival World posed no difficulty for him at all, so he naturally wouldn't waste time.

Quickly boosting his strength and completing the Light King's trial was the real priority.

(End of this chapter)