Qi Xu took several sharp breaths, stopping only when he nearly sneezed.
This shouldn’t be happening. He’d only spent 36 Survival Coins—how could the wealthiest fox family so easily hand over their exclusive VIP card?
The fox family owned numerous businesses. The three major industries under their control were banks, auto repair shops, and monster stores. There were others too, but Qi Xu wasn’t too familiar with them. As a lone wolf, his access to information was limited.
Qi Xu didn’t have many close friends either. Ever since factions and war zones emerged, most conversations happened within those closed circles. Qi Xu only had access to the general regional chat, so he missed out on a lot of news.
He guessed it must still be due to the beginner’s protection period.
The price he saw for Survival Coins was probably different from what the purple fox saw.
From the fox’s perspective, it was likely the original price of these fuel packs.
If that was the case, then it made sense. Even the top players wouldn’t dare buy 60 packs at once—they’d only use a few at the end of the month for a final push.
As for the price difference… maybe it was subsidized by middlemen? Usually, middlemen profit from the gap, but these ones were covering it instead. How generous!
The purple fox merchant gave a slight bow. "Honored customer, please scan here to pay."
The payment screen showed a deduction of 28.8 Survival Coins—a 20% discount on the original 36. Even this time, he was getting a discount.
Qi Xu didn’t hesitate and generously scanned 30 coins. Might as well take advantage of the middlemen’s generosity while he could!
"Keep the extra as a tip. I appreciate your service."
The purple fox beamed with an almost motherly smile. "Thank you so much, honored guest. Meeting you has been my great fortune."
The moment Qi Xu turned away, a notification echoed in his mind.
[Congratulations! Player has unlocked Monster Affinity.]
He opened the affinity list.
At the top was the purple fox he’d just met.
[Gas Station Manager, Purple Fox: Affinity 29]
[Landfill Supervisor, Mr. Elephant: Affinity 17]
[One-Star Dungeon Boss, Minotaur: Affinity -8]
Qi Xu frowned. Why was Mr. Elephant’s affinity so high? Had his heroic performance at the landfill caught the supervisor’s attention?
But why was the Minotaur’s affinity negative?!
He’d even secured first place in the entire region! How was a negative score justified?
No matter how much he puzzled over it, time was of the essence. It was currently 9 AM, and nightfall would arrive at 9 PM—exactly 12 hours from now.
Just to be safe, Qi Xu decided to use a 5-hour speed boost. While the fuel pack was active, he couldn’t exit the vehicle to loot supply crates. On the flip side, it also meant no drain on his vehicle’s battery or fuel.
Better yet, it came with autopilot—no need to even touch the steering wheel. He could just lie down in the truck bed and sleep if he wanted.
He’d decide whether to use more fuel packs after arriving. Since he’d already invested, he was determined to secure the top spot on the beginner leaderboard.
Qi Xu had never bought fuel packs before—he simply couldn’t afford them.
If he ever had spare Survival Coins, he’d rather check the monster merchants for food or decent weapons.
Without hesitation, he climbed into the more comfortable truck bed and activated the premium 5-hour fuel pack.
Instantly, a strong force pressed him back into the seat. Fortunately, a protective barrier enveloped the entire vehicle.
Aside from slight dizziness, he felt no discomfort.
After a short adjustment period, he got used to it. Staring at the road made it worse, but focusing on the display screen or closing his eyes helped.
Right now, Qi Xu was too excited to sleep.
So he opened the public chat and browsed through the channels and trading hall.
The chat was buzzing about one topic: green fur.
Bubbly Girl Guo Degang: "Why are you hoarding so much green fur? What’s it even for? Don’t be selfish—share the info! If I knew something, I’d tell everyone."
Bright Light Fills Tomorrow: "I support this! Bubbly Girl’s mindset is great. Survival is hard enough—we should stick together!"
Player 1212: "I may be shameless, but you two are next-level."
Blessed by Luck: "List your supplies first. I need a bottle of water—who’s sharing? We’re all in this together—don’t be stingy!"
Player 0117: "I’m also curious about the green fur. Can I trade supplies for info? @Bubbly Girl Guo Degang"
Bright Light Fills Tomorrow: "Let’s not get heated. Maybe I wasn’t clear—sharing is appreciated, but it’s also a personal choice. No guilt-tripping!"
Bubbly Girl Guo Degang: "OMG, idiots stay away! I’m broke too, okay?
I’m just trying to invest in green fur, hoping to strike it rich. I refuse to believe the fur from those green monsters I killed in the dungeon is useless! Maybe I’ll turn my tricycle into a motorcycle!
If it works out, I’ll flaunt my lavish meals in the chat every day."
Player 0117: "Wow, I thought you were some expert. Turns out you’re just a gambler."
Bubbly Girl Guo Degang: "LOL, real experts are like Invincible Black Tornado or Warwolf 009. When do you ever see them chatting here?"
Retired Magical Boy: "What’s so great about green fur? I’ll sell you mine—who knows when it’ll be useful? I’d rather have food. My backpack’s full anyway!"
Retired Magical Boy hadn’t joined any dungeon challenges. With barely enough fuel to keep moving daily, dungeons were out of the question. He didn’t even have green fur.
He only spoke up because he’d traded with Bubbly Girl before and found her easy to talk to.
Having a plant in the chat made business smoother.
Qi Xu, amused by the lively discussion, decided to join in.
Invincible Black Tornado: "@Bubbly Girl Guo Degang I’ll trade with you. I’ve got plenty."
Bubbly Girl Guo Degang: "Aaaah! Yes, boss!"
The moment Qi Xu stepped in, the onlookers grew restless. Invincible Black Tornado was the region’s top player—how much green fur did he have?!
If they didn’t act fast, this naive girl would run out of supplies!
......
