Chapter 195: Sell, Sell, I Really Like You So Much!

Looking at the bustling crowd around him, Ji Ming realized his conjecture was wildly wrong.

The imagined Pioneers Market:

Professional players, skilled teams, classic fantasy‑world style, and exotic NPCs wandering everywhere.

The actual Pioneers Market:

"Take a look, take a look, ancient mysticism from the distant East!"

Someone with a yellow cloth spread before them, pinching their fingers, asking everyone "What are you?"

"Brother, fresh resources, cheap!"

A person wrapped in a coat, looking mysterious, with the lining labeled with various quality categories and price tiers.

"Hey dog‑friend, try the grilled turtle‑back meat; it's fresh stuff just brought from the Iron Hoof Tribe!"

There was also a barbecue stall, gaga‑scrubbing sauce while grinding wild spices.

The only commonality was that while they hustled with their own business, they also kept a live‑stream camera pointed at them.

He casually pulled out a few exchange points, bought some newly released resources. Ji Ming strolled around the market and spotted a familiar figure.

"If you want any songs, drop a request in the live room; our Dormitory 416 combo will definitely grant it!"

Holding a guitar and chatting with the bullet comments is Ai Chang Ge De Xuebao, while the drummer beside them is Hui Tiaowu De Sheli.

These two are old beta‑test acquaintances; when they forged Gunblades they had the "Dragon‑derived Skill", making them the first player‑side "military band".

But this time, besides the two of them, two other youngsters joined the ensemble, namely…

Bu Shuo Chang De Huli and Da Lanqiu De Yanyang?

Absolutely, it's not just "cut cut", it's also "gurgle~gurgle", right.

The four of them together are a full‑blown "burned‑bag" act, clutching crudely handmade instruments, singing and shouting, perfectly embodying the current spirit of modern college students.

And when they saw Ji Ming,

"Hey, isn't that our Dog Head Advisor Wai Shu? Come over, come over!"

"No, you guys don't…"

There was no room to resist; they were snatched up and forced into interaction.

And Ji Ming just made a face, and the bullet comments in the live room erupted in a small wave.

"WTF, didn't expect to see the Shovel Murderer here!"

"Don't be awkward, Wai Shu refers to a grave mound; this guy is a Northern‑school tomb‑raiding intangible‑heritage heir, and he respects his own ancestral tomb (angry)."

"Speaking of it, they're all star players or beta‑test veterans, why is he the only one not streaming?"

"Obviously, he's probably a second‑generation rich kid, just not sure which field."

"Ha, maybe he's a cop hidden among players, spying on us daily."

Ai Ge saw the comments and laughed, holding the mic to tease.

"What jokes are you pulling? How could Brother Wai Shu be a cop, you say?"

Ji Ming: …

"Right, right, how could I possibly be a snitch who monitors players and uploads data to the authorities daily? You're all overthinking it."

The internet is just for fun; in fact, this kind of cyber‑catch‑the‑traitor act has been going on in the streaming community for several days, and no one takes it seriously, so it was quickly brushed aside.

Although Ji Ming didn't want to chat aimlessly with them, they were still acquaintances, so a few words before getting to business was fine.

"I was wondering why you were wandering around here; turns out you were curious about this."

He quickly pulled him out of the camera view, and Ai Ge lowered his voice.

"We players actually have three kinds of interaction targets."

"The first type is the audience in the live room; they may not all be wealthy, but they're numerous and can boost hype. If you treat them well, you can earn whatever you want in reality."

"The second type is fellow players. Though the thousand‑plus players are a mixed bag, those hundred invitation codes each cost three hundred. Even if you're not a rich kid, the people behind them definitely are. If you build good relations, you'll reap benefits both in‑game and in reality."

"The third type is the game's NPCs; their importance needs no explanation. If we don't coordinate with the various Tribes to open commercial channels, where would we get a market‑base? So handling this well becomes a major boost in‑game!"

In reality, those who thrive can showcase a skill, meet more rich‑kid players, and focus on off‑game profit.

Those who excel in the game can sell related items, manage NPC relations, and boost in‑game proficiency.

And like them, having a few real‑world advantages and leveraging the game's large player base and first‑mover edge, they can produce some show‑type effects…

"Hehe, interact with the audience, interact with players, and also interact with NPCs."

"When the three benefits overlap, they'll create even greater gains—how wonderful is that?"

I'm copying, one fish, three ways to eat?

Ji Ming immediately asked who came up with this idea—Hua Shu or Fan Shao—what brilliance!

But the snow‑leopard forced out a somewhat strained smile.

"It's… the President of Starry Sky, that mixed‑blood foreigner named Howard Thomas."

Does he really have such a kind heart?

No.

Of course he wants to be that kind!

Make many friends, keep few enemies—that's the foundation of competition and development.

Gunblade created the Pioneers Market so players could reap benefits; he naturally wants a slice of it to boost his reputation among idle players.

In fact, up until this afternoon, the vast majority of streaming players were doing it over at the Castle.

The environment here is great, easy to produce footage, full of otherworldly charm—perfect as a live‑stream backdrop.

But precisely because of this theory, some sharper ones chose to come to the market.

After all, even if the Castle is great, the only interaction target is the aloof snow‑leopard person in the library.

The whole building has almost no real game function; its development potential is weak, so it's better to crowd into the market and try luck.

And the result is…

The streamers over at the castle are indeed dwindling; once their gimmicks are exhausted, they're likely to be "abandoned".

Alright, they're all pretty good at pulling stunts!

Just as he was chatting with Snow Leopard, a commotion arose at the market entrance.

From a distance, it turned out to be the crew of "Crazy Alternate Dimension" that had come here.

"Ladies and gentlemen, look, this is the Pioneers Market built by our Gunblade Guild player friends.

"Indeed, everything here is lively and everyone is friendly, so let our Crazy Brotherhood guide you around."

In terms of star power, they don't even compare to the notorious fresh faces Hu Bian and Li Tiankai Lian Linxiao, let alone the veteran actor Qin Zhengguo.

But this isn't a drama shoot nor a regular variety show; it's a "gaming variety" that no one has ever attempted!

As professional gamers and top‑tier streamers, when it comes to game insight and audience interaction, no one in this crew can surpass them.

Consequently, unwittingly they both secured the positions of leader and 'vice‑leader', and their popularity surged.

But while the entrance was bustling, Ai Ge, standing beside Ji Ming, let out a cold hum.

"Xingkong, they really know how to ride the wave; why are they everywhere?"

Seeing Snow Leopard's agitation, Ji Ming offered a comforting remark.

"Now is the golden hour for a daily livestream; they've scheduled that slot at the Pioneers Market, which just proves the market's success, right?"

"If you're truly furious, you could go to Ke Ke Wang or Wo Yi Ke Wang; they can do a variety show at the market, and you could livestream at the Iron Hoof Tribe where they held yesterday's team‑building."

Unexpectedly, his off‑hand comment actually struck a chord with Ai Ge, who responded with a hum.

"Right, worthy of the Dog Head Advisor, that off‑the‑cuff suggestion is a great idea!"

Then he called his roommates to pack up, preparing to go hang out at Old Niu's place.

"That damn dog thing is really causing a stir; let's ride their hype too!"

Watching the few of them rush out of the market, Ji Ming also glanced at his friends list.

All three were clearly online—one in a Forge Workshop, one in a Combat Training Camp, one at a Southern Creek—but each status read 'Do Not Disturb'.

—Damn it, they're isolating me, right!?

While debating whether to head to the corpse‑room to grind monsters or take a break until the dungeon opens, his gaze unintentionally fell on a stall selling handcrafted wooden masks.

Right, since the players have already built their own newbie village, then…

Just like traditional architecture, the market's center naturally forms a small plaza, with stalls lining up and crowds bustling.

Suddenly, a figure cloaked in a black robe appeared here.

And the moment he touched the ground, everything around was displaced several meters, creating a radius‑centered no‑man's zone.

Haha, your dad's here!

Ji Ming originally thought of putting on a big show, debuting in a brand‑new flashy way.

But the players didn't even notice him; instead…

"What the heck? Did the game finally glitch?"

"Game over! I knew such a realistic VR game would have issues!"

"Ah! The exit button turned gray… ah, it hasn't yet, so it's fine."

Amid the clamor and chaos, they panicked for ages before finally noticing the Mysterious Merchant left aside.

Although nine out of ten players never took part in the closed beta, everyone had definitely watched the beta footage, so someone immediately recognized him.

"Huh? Isn't that the so‑called newbie‑village boss, the Mysterious Merchant?"

"I thought he'd been removed as a beta experiment, never expecting he'd get a chance to appear!"

"Quick, quick, post this screenshot on the public screen!"

Before the words finished, beams of light materialized, and player after player teleported here, many of them familiar faces.

No, do you really need to be this excited?

With hundreds of people watching him intently, Ji Ming's masked expression became somewhat strained.

Moreover, the crowd kept pushing and shouting.

"Jian… Mai Mai Ge! Where's my Mai Mai Ge!?"

He's the tough guy who set countless traps and planned endless ambushes on him during the beta.

All those vicious schemes had been employed, and now meeting him still feels as enthusiastic as seeing a brother.

Ji Ming broke into a sweat at the remark; you're disgusting, Mai Mai—why not just call him a swindler!

Relying on his high level, Qiangzi forged a blood‑streaked path through the crowd to the front row.

He said nothing and did nothing, just stared quietly at Ji Ming.

???

What's this now, trying to jump out just to grab my attention and then ambush me?

Ji Ming shifted his gaze and quietly looked around.

The closed beta's server has only been up three days; even if there's a Tony Stark among the players, they probably can't craft a reverse‑engineered sniper rifle… right?

No, can't give this BYD any chance!

Just as he was about to strike boldly and claim the first kill of the beta phase, Qiangzi suddenly spoke.

"Mai Mai Ge, where's your stall? I want to buy something."

My stall…

Uh.

"Hmph, the goods will of course be displayed only after the first Pioneers asks for a price."

Ji Ming could only stiffly spread a cloth on the ground and pile a heap of bottles and jars onto it.

"You scared me to death; I thought your Production Team was actually going to schedule some newbie village boss."

He giggled, and Qiangzi opened the Mysterious Merchant's special shop.

But after just a glance, the smile on his face vanished.

Compared with the Plus game mall during the closed beta, the internal test's Mysterious Shop has a much higher value.

From basic strength potions to named enchanted weapons, and even spices and smoked meat ribs that look very expensive…

The range of items is quite comprehensive, and almost all are sold exclusively at the Mysterious Shop.

Especially in the last category, they even stocked things like jewelry.

If this were another game, Qiangzi would already be greeting the planner's mother, questioning the purity of his lineage.

But after playing for so many days, I've also witnessed the rivalry between two major guilds over NPC relations.

These fragmented yet pricey items look like chicken ribs, but they might prove extremely useful at a critical moment!

For example, the Scale Armor Tribe's lizardfolk, who revere the dragon race, can sell a sparkling piece of jewelry for an absurdly high price.

And the Magic Spirit Tribe's little… big princess—if you can win her favor, perhaps you could gain some assistance from the strongest tribe on the Underground Plain?

So he took screenshots while typing for familiar closed‑beta players, and soon attracted more players.

Ji Ming dares to say this is the episode with the largest player gathering since the server opened the day before yesterday.

Countless cameras linked to countless live rooms, naturally covering this area, also included the variety show crew's long guns and short cannons.

If I count myself as a streamer, I could probably set the world record for the highest simultaneous connections…

After fiddling with the shop for a while, the relatively well‑off Qiangzi bought a few bottles of enhancement potions.

But after checking out, he didn't rush to leave; instead, he suddenly raised his voice.

"OK brothers, everyone look at me, look at me, I have an announcement!"

All this time, he has grown and changed a lot, but this social‑anxiety terrorist's social stamina hasn't changed at all.

Facing the gaze of so many, even Ji Ming, the thick‑skinned one, feels a bit restrained, yet he can still raise his arms and speak loudly.

"Mai Mai, you might not know, but we all actually like you, right?"

Regardless of the playstyle or mindset, the essence of players as fun‑seekers never changes.

This is the only game official who can keep "appearing" continuously, so they all started to cause a ruckus with Qiangzi.

"Right! I've been solo‑pushing Mai Mai since 2008!"

"Actually, I also follow a ton of Mai Mai fan‑works on Xīwēi, charging every day!"

"Huh? Maybe it's the one I drew…"

You bastard, what did you draw!?

Ji Ming is drowned in the barrage of opinions, at a loss, pondering how to get out, when he suddenly hears Qiangzi emit a roar.

"Mai Mai, I really like you so much, for you, I must…"

Saying that, he suddenly lunged forward and tightly embraced Ji Ming.

???

Ji Ming: Ahhh! (a scream just like Lao Yang Tou's)

Yet the next moment, clenching his teeth, Qiangzi's voice even carried a hint of sorrow.

"Brothers, throw your projectiles at me!"

!!!

Looking at the crowd, suddenly leaping out were a giant mushroom wielding several Heaven‑shaking Thunder, a gourmand, a fishing deity…

Also a Death God brandishing a torch, his whole body bound with powder, already launching a savage charge; Ji Ming suddenly understood everything.

—Dogcoin, you plotted against me again!

But before countless powder cans hit the ground and exploded, he promptly rolled up the stall and teleported back behind the curtain.

And the next moment at the market center…

【Level 11 Player·Striving Qiangzi: Deceased】

【Level 1 Player·Danqiu Yisi: Deceased】

The scene on site was grim; the whole clearing was blown to pieces, exuding smoke.

And it wasn't just those who died on the spot; the cast‑iron fragments from the Heaven‑shaking Thunder also unintentionally injured several projectile throwers, its power astonishing.

"Challenger Guild, huh? I remember you!"

Collapsed on the sofa, Ji Ming still feels a lingering shock.

This was my first comeback, almost getting bombed to death by them.

If later players get more powerful modern weapons, wouldn't I have to sell things daily while lugging Kaifula material?

No, I must send a timed message to Weiermo; we can't let them keep unlimitedly helping players forge all kinds of ironware!

But Ji Ming had just started typing when a message from Aurora arrived.

【Screenshot】 Son, how would you evaluate the first‑battle power of your father's new weapon?

…

Aurora! Dance! You! Should! Die! Ah!

I say, where did they get so many cast‑iron eggs, arms dealers? They attacked my weapon because you gave it!

Calming his urge to chop, cut, and smash her, Ji Ming teleported to the training ground where she was.

It seems Aurora had already guessed he'd come, so she smugly rubbed her hands and conjured a Heaven‑shaking Thunder.

"Here, take a look at this, a fine thing of the firearms era."

The so‑called Heaven‑shaking Thunder is actually an upgraded version of the closed‑beta gunpowder can, turning the fragile ceramic can into a cast‑iron one, boosting its power a bit.

Because its shell is iron, holding a Heaven‑shaking Thunder feels quite heavy, but for Ji Ming with fifteen HP, it's not much of a burden.

「Make way, I also want to test its power. 」

After a moment's thought, he quietly used 【Ignition Technique】 to ignite the fuse and threw it deep into the warehouse.

Drawing a beautiful arc, the pig iron egg landed precisely among several goblins on standby, then exploded in mid‑air at just the right moment, and the flying shards shredded everything around.

Goblin: You'd better have something.

「Yo, you throw pretty well, did you practice by peeing when you were little? 」

Ignoring Aurora's praise, Ji Ming pinched his fingers.

One can use 【Enchantment Technique】 and 【Ignition Technique】 to precisely control the fuse's burn time……

One can also use 【Precision Throwing】 to perfectly determine the landing point of the Thunderclap Bomb……

How does this thing seem to suit me?