Chapter 714: Universal Mining System (5)

Xie Yang took one look and saw it was a blue, glowing gemstone, smaller in size than the gems she already had in her stockpile.

Main System: 【Host, this ore is worth a fortune! Don't look at how small it is; taking it out could trade for a room... in an aerial villa in the core area of the Imperial Star.】

Xie Yang: "..."

Although it was only one room, that was still worth a fortune!

According to her rough understanding of Imperial Star property prices, that was the most important and developed planet in the Federal Star System, similar to Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou in China during the Earth era, or major metropolises in Europe and America.

And it had to be a villa in the inner ring or core area; that was indeed worth a fortune!

Xie Yang immediately tucked the ore into her cargo pants pocket, though in reality, she deposited it into the Aircraft Cargo Hold.

The Mining System could not sense the existence of the Star Dust Crystal and, assuming Xie Yang had a Space Button, thought with a heavy heart: Fortunately, she knows her stuff. If she didn't, it would be even more infuriating.

Having finished the day's Task in just one morning and met the quota, with over a dozen Silver Ore and forty to fifty Copper Ore left over, plus a Hidden Treasure Chest she had picked up, Xie Yang put down her Cross Pickaxe with satisfaction and returned to her tent to rest.

【Has everyone mined the ore required for the Task? No matter how I mine, it's all Copper Ore, sigh!】

【Copper Ore can be traded for daily necessities; I just use it to trade for food and drink.】

【But if you can't turn in the Task, you can't take a break; you have to keep mining for three full years. I don't want that! I miss home so much!】

【I miss home too. I've been on the Mining Star for less than two days, and it feels longer than two years.】

【Can any expert post a mining guide! Sob sob sob... I can't stay in this hellhole for even one more day!】

While eating the surf-and-turf feast she had stockpiled earlier, Xie Yang browsed "Miners Home." She accidentally stumbled upon this post, thought for a moment, and posted anonymously—

【Those with good stamina can try mining 100 times in a row; there's a high probability of dropping a Wish Treasure Chest. Also: if you need Silver Ore, you can trade with me. Limited quantity, first come, first served.】

Seeing this, the Main System asked in surprise: 【Host, are you trying to pull that apocalypse-disaster trading scheme again? Will that work?】

Xie Yang: "The rules didn't say trading wasn't allowed, did they?"

【...】

The Mining System was dumbfounded.

There was no rule against it. But it just hadn't thought of that!

Cunning human! She found a loophole!

You have to know, among the first batch of Star Citizens to enter the Mining Star, some left after their three-year term with surplus ore, while others were still continuing their Tasks. Those who left with surplus ore never posted on "Miners Home" to trade.

Who would have thought you could do it this way!

After all, those who mined Gold Ore, would they need to trade with those who couldn't? What could they trade? Gold Ore for Silver Ore? Silver Ore for Copper Ore? That would be stupid!

【Miner Xie Yang, you can't do this! This is wrong! This will disrupt the balance of the mining area!】

The Mining System was so angry it was bristling and jumping up and down.

Xie Yang explained unhurriedly: "I'm doing this for your sake! Look, how many people have completed today's Task so far? Not many, right? I have excess Silver Ore; trading it to those who need it to help them complete their quota—isn't that benefiting you?"

The Mining System immediately stalled: 【It is...】

Its CPU was running frantically, nearly smoking!

Xie Yang said with a smile: "That settles it! I'm helping you."

【I-is that so? But what good does this do for you?】

"Yeah, what good does it do for me?" Xie Yang rubbed her chin and countered, then continued, "Maybe I was kidnapped by a Saint System in my past life; in this life, I'm naturally kind and can't bear to see others suffer."

Mining System: 【...】

Main System: 【...】

Its host was being sarcastic again, but unfortunately, it had no evidence.

Xie Yang continued to brainwash the Mining System: "You need miners to mine to provide you with upgrades, and we need to complete our Tasks as soon as possible to return home. Our goals are actually the same, right? Since that's the case, why not work together and achieve a win-win?"

The Mining System was incredibly shocked: 【Y-you, a mere miner, how do you know that I need to upgrade?】

Xie Yang: "..."

Uh oh! Let that slip.

"That's not important." She waved her hand, "What's important is—look, I mined all morning, and after turning in today's Task, I still have so much Silver Ore left. If I don't trade with others, the surplus ore will just be taken away by me later. What good does that do you? None, right? But if I trade it with others, they get the Silver Ore to complete their Tasks, and in the end, doesn't that ore return to your hands? For you, it's all benefit and no harm!"

【...】

Is that so?

The Mining System was spun around by Xie Yang.

It felt like what she said made a lot of sense.

【O-okay then. Then I won't change the rules; I'll allow you to trade with others.】

"That's more like it!"

Xie Yang persuaded the Mining System and happily went to trade with the Star Citizens who had messaged her privately.

Calling it trading, it could actually be seen as "poverty alleviation."

She traded Silver Ore for Copper Ore or ordinary daily necessities from others; on the surface, it clearly looked like she was at a loss.

But if she could use this to let the Sub-system reach max level early and unbind from the small planet, she could have it recycled and returned to the factory, thereby completing the Task for this plane. This is what is commonly called "a loss is a blessing."

【Has anyone successfully traded? I don't believe anyone would be stupid enough to trade Silver Ore for the Copper Ore we have. It's probably another scammer!】

【I traded! It's real! Three pieces of Copper Ore can be traded for one piece of Silver Ore. If you don't have Copper Ore, Nutrient Solution or drinking water works too.】

【I also traded successfully! Family! I finally gathered enough Silver Ore and turned in today's Task! It feels wonderful! Hahaha!】

【Thanks to the expert for the help! Sob sob sob! If I happen to mine excess Gold Ore in the future, I will gift it to the expert for free!】

Quite a few people, holding a "try it and see" attitude, messaged Xie Yang privately, and all successfully traded for Silver Ore as they wished.

However, there were a few greedy individuals who, despite having mined enough Silver Ore themselves, pretended they hadn't in order to hoard more to take away later, trying to get something for nothing from Xie Yang.

Xie Yang had the Main System, a super cheat, to help with background checks, so she naturally knew these people's true colors and, without a word, posted them on the forum.

These people felt ashamed and didn't dare to show their faces again.

The atmosphere of "Miners Home" invisibly became much clearer.

Every day, aside from eating and sleeping, Xie Yang spends her time mining.

However, even without putting in her full effort, she alone can match three to five strong laborers, and the ore she mines is naturally several times that of the others.

While others are still scraping together Silver Ore to complete their Task, she has already mined so much Gold Ore that her hands are sore, and she has begun to mine Platinum Ore.

Just like that, every day she lists her surplus ore on the Miners Home for Trading, in order to help more people complete their daily Tasks.

The mining system tasted the sweetness in this, approved of this method of Xie Yang's, and in its delight, began issuing her Hidden Treasure Chests.

So much so that every time Xie Yang mines 100 times, an exquisite Blind Box Treasure Chest drops in front of her.