Chapter 68: Lei Hongguang

[Name: Xu Han]
[Race: Human]
[Class: SSS-rank Grand Gourmet]
[Level: 21]
[Strength: 1,412]
[Constitution: 1,269]
[Agility: 640]
[Spirit: 399]

Strength and constitution had both increased by 50 points. As for spirit, it had risen by 60 points. The compendium progress was now at 65 out of 75. Just ten more kinds of exotic beast meat to complete the compendium task.

Yet Xu Han was far more curious about one thing: What kind of special reward would the Gourmet Compendium grant upon reaching one hundred types?

Day four.

Xu Han organized the items in his possession. One set of Skeleton Warlord gear. Two pieces of silver equipment dropped by the Skeleton Knight: a knight’s plate armor and a knight’s lance. Three pieces of bronze equipment.

Xu Han estimated their worth. The Skeleton Warlord set alone could fetch at least three million on the market. The two pieces of silver-grade knight gear would probably bring in about a hundred thousand at most. Bronze-grade equipment was hardly worth much—if luck was on his side, maybe ten or twenty thousand; if not, perhaps only a few thousand.

Bronze and silver equipment at level ten or twenty might still go for tens of thousands, but gear at levels thirty or forty would fetch much less. After all, the higher one’s level, the greater one’s strength and the higher the grade of equipment one pursued.

Apart from these, he also had the most valuable item: a Fear skill book.

Having packed up his equipment, Xu Han boarded the sky rail back to the capital. He didn’t get off at the Dragon Country University station, but rode on for five more stops.

Here lay the southern district’s largest trading market in the capital.

Stepping off the train, he gazed down from the platform. Before him stretched a vast, seemingly boundless square. Many people sat cross-legged on the ground, displaying various items before them—equipment, materials, even exotic beast cubs locked in cages.

At the very center of the square stood a towering building dozens of stories high, emblazoned with the words South City Trading Market.

Xu Han descended the stairs. The air was alive with shouts and cries.

“Silver-grade dagger, come have a look!”

“Top-quality gold-rank staff! Fair and honest prices, no deception!”

“Seeking shield warrior gear! Gold grade or above, name your price!”

...

Xu Han’s gaze swept over the stalls. All the equipment’s attributes were available for inspection. Yet the vast majority were silver or bronze-grade—utterly unappealing to Xu Han.

He picked an empty spot at random, sat down, and arranged his equipment piece by piece. Then he set the item attributes to public view, leaned back in his folding chair, and closed his eyes for a rest.

“Hey, young man, how much for this equipment?”

He hadn’t been there long when a warrior carrying a longsword and shield approached with a question.

Xu Han opened his eyes and pointed to the price tags in front of the items.

The swordsman glanced at the Skeleton Warlord set, his eyes suddenly widening.

“One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand…”

“You’re asking five million for these three pieces of gear?”

“Are you robbing people?!”

“If you’re just making up prices, I’ll report you to the Trading Bureau!”

The marketplace not only managed transactions but also handled disputes. Any disagreement could be referred to them for resolution.

Xu Han curled his lip. “Why don’t you check the equipment’s attributes first?”

The swordsman scoffed, “These three battered pieces don’t look like much. What could they possibly be worth?”

He examined the greatsword’s attributes. When he saw the terrifying stat boosts and attached skills, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

“The Skeleton Warlord set?!”

His shout immediately attracted a crowd. They gathered around, all staring at Xu Han’s display with astonished faces.

“My god, it really is the Skeleton Warlord set—gold-grade gear!”

“This set’s quality rivals three pieces of platinum gear.”

“Five million is really not too expensive—a single platinum piece goes for at least a million, and the better ones are over two hundred thousand.”

“Brother, I’ll take the set for five million!”

“What do you mean you’ll take it? I was here first! Five million, sell it to me!”

“I’ll offer five hundred and ten thousand!”

“Damn! You people are starting a bidding war? I’ll bid five hundred and twenty thousand!”

“I’ll go up to five hundred and thirty thousand!”

...

Watching the crowd drive the price up, Xu Han allowed a faint smile to appear on his lips.

This was exactly the result he wanted.

The price climbed rapidly, soon reaching seven million. At this point, many shrank back—the sum was enormous, even for third-tier experts, who might need a year or two to earn it.

“Eight million. I’ll take it.”

A deep voice came from behind. A towering, armored man nearly two meters tall pushed through the crowd. Yet the giant didn’t speak further, but stood respectfully to the side, casting his gaze behind him.

A man in a dark purple robe, staff in hand, strode forward. A destructive aura radiated from his body.

The crowd immediately began to murmur.

“Isn’t that Lei Hongguang from Dragon Country University? I didn’t expect him here today!”

“If this rich young master is making an offer, we might as well give up—no way we can outbid him.”

“He must have some big plans to be buying like this.”

...

Lei Hongguang looked at Xu Han. “Eight million. Well?”

Xu Han met his gaze and replied calmly, “If no one else wishes to bid, then it’s yours.”

The burly man’s eyes narrowed. “Boy, do you know who this is?”

“How dare you speak to him like that?”

Xu Han glanced at him. “These are my goods. If you want to buy, you follow my rules. Otherwise, leave.”

“You—!”

The giant clenched his fists and glared, ready to strike.

Lei Hongguang, however, raised a hand to stop him, his expression darkening as he spoke quietly.

“Rock Tiger, have you forgotten my instructions?”

Rock Tiger started and replied in a low voice, “Sorry, boss.”

He threw Xu Han a vicious glare but said nothing more.

Lei Hongguang offered a small, apologetic smile. “Sorry about that, brother. Rock Tiger is a bit hot-tempered—don’t take it to heart.”

“Let me introduce myself. My name is Lei Hongguang. If you have any good equipment in the future, sell it all to me—I’ll pay generously and never let you down!”

Xu Han narrowed his eyes. Lei Hongguang? Why did that name sound familiar? Rather like Lei Hongyang.

He nodded slightly. “Eight million. The Skeleton Warlord set is yours.”

Lei Hongguang smiled in satisfaction and nodded. “A straightforward man, I like that.”

He handed over a bank card and transferred eight million on the spot.

Seeing the payment notification, Xu Han nodded, signaling for Lei Hongguang to take the Skeleton Warlord set away.