Without hesitation, Orion retrieved a B-grade crystal core and a firestone from the Bagbirdâs stomach pouch and listed them on the Survivor Platform for trade. After completing this task, he finally had time to search for the items he needed.
As Orion browsed through potential trades, a familiar name popped up in his messages.
"Hulk, howâs the effect of the Bloodline Evolution Stone?"
The message was from Arthas, a notoriously greedy individual. The moment Orion saw the name, Arthasâs reputation flashed through his mind, making him cautious.
He didnât respond immediately.
*Why is he reaching out to me?* Orion wondered. *Could he be trying to reclaim the Bloodline Evolution Stones?*
No, that didnât seem likely. The stones had already been consumed by Clymene and the two elders, and Arthasâs message didnât suggest he wanted them back.
Then whatâs his angle?
Orionâs mind raced. *Could it be because of the two items I just listed?*
That had to be it. There was no other reason for Arthas to contact him out of the blue, especially with such a casual message.
Realizing this, a sly grin spread across Orionâs face.
"The Bloodline Evolution Stone worked great, but now Iâm broke!" Orion replied, waiting to see how Arthas would react. A mischievous sense of satisfaction welled up inside him.
"You call yourself broke when youâre selling a B-grade crystal core and rare minerals?" Arthas quickly replied, his message tinged with envy.
"Yeah, broke. If I werenât, why would I be selling those things?" Orionâs response was deliberately nonchalant.
Arthas didnât reply for a while, confirming Orionâs suspicion. He was indeed after the B-grade crystal core and the firestone.
---
Necro Realm, the Mysterious Sanctuary.
Arthas, the undead lord, sat on his bone throne, his attention fully focused on the Survivor Platform.
"Judging by his response, heâs figured out my intentions," Arthas muttered to himself. "Heâs probably going to jack up the price."
He sighed. "Damn it, this Necro Realm doesnât even have a single beast to hunt. What a pain!"
Arthas was frustrated. After being reborn in the Necro Realm, it had taken him countless years to grow from a mere ghost into the undead lord he was now.
The Necro Realm was perfect for souls and undead creatures, but for someone like Arthas, who longed to reverse his undead state and regain a flesh-and-blood body to indulge in physical pleasures, it was a barren wasteland. He was now just a skeleton, without even a penis.
Crystal cores were a unique source of life energy, containing vast amounts of energy that could be converted into life force. Arthas had a huge demand for them. Unfortunately, the Necro Realm had no abyssal creatures or beasts, making crystal cores impossible to find.
The last time Orion had approached him for a trade, offering 200 C-grade crystal cores and 3 B-grade ones, Arthas had made a hefty profit. Therefore, he was very fond of doing business with Orion.
"What do you need? Maybe I have something you could use!" Arthas sent the message confidently. He knew Orionâs level wasnât beyond the hero tier, and for someone at Orionâs level, Arthas had plenty of valuable items to offer.
"If you want those two items, youâll need to give me 400 C-grade crystal cores!" Orion replied, doubling the price from their last trade.
Arthas nearly jumped out of his bone throne when he saw the message.
*This guyâs trying to rip me off!*
Arthas couldnât help but laugh bitterly. The items Orion was selling werenât worth that much, and he suspected Orion was just messing with him.
But the truth was, Arthas didnât care much about the crystal core. What he really wanted was the firestone. If refined and integrated into his weapon, it could significantly enhance its grade and effects.
So, while the B-grade crystal core was nice, the firestone was the real prize. Still, Arthas had deliberately downplayed his interest in the firestone, focusing the negotiation on the crystal core.
"Hulk, Iâm serious! Tell me what kind of items youâre looking for!" Arthas finally sent, trying to steer the conversation back to a reasonable negotiation.
---
Blackstone Tribe, Inside Orionâs Tent.
When Orion saw Arthasâs message, he immediately became more cautious.
Is he trying to play me?
Orion thought for a while before sending a vague reply.
"Weapons, armor, skill scrolls, advancement items, high-grade alchemy potionsâanything like that will do."
---
Necro Realm, Bone Throne.
When Arthas read Orionâs reply, he nearly cursed out loud.
Thatâs as good as saying nothing!
The range was too broad, and the quantity was unspecified. Arthas sat in silence for a long time, contemplating how to lock Orion into a deal without letting him raise the price further.
"Fine, Iâll let him have this one," Arthas muttered, deciding to send over the details of an item he had in his possession.
"Take a look. If youâre interested, we can talk."
Orionâs curiosity was piqued, and he opened the item description Arthas had sent.
What he saw made him suck in a breath, his heart racing with excitement.
---
[Ghostbone Armor]
- Type: Armor
- Quality: Hero (Rare, Growth-Type)
- Description: The Ghostbone Armor is crafted from the bones of the Ghostbone Clan in the Necro Realm. It is incredibly durable, and weapons below the hero tier cannot penetrate it. The armor inherits the traits of the Ghostbone Clan and can evolve by absorbing and fusing with more bones.
- Bonus Skill: Mount Assimilation
- Skill Description: When wearing the Ghostbone Armor, if you have a mount, the armor can extend to cover the mount, selectively adapting to its skeletal structure.
---
The moment Orion saw the armor, he knew it was perfect for him.
Sitting up straight on the fur rug, Orionâs eyes narrowed as he began to think seriously.
Lilith, who was organizing supplies nearby, glanced at Orion but didnât disturb him when she saw he was deep in thought.
Orion was indeed lost in thought. Arthas had clearly sent this armor to tempt him. And it was working. With Orionâs hero-level strength, the Ghostbone Armor was exactly the kind of equipment he needed.
After a long pause, Orion exhaled slowly. Your journey continues with NovelBin.CĂŽm
The Survivor Platform was great for bartering, but it also made it easy for others to manipulate you from afar.
With a sigh, Orion couldnât help but check the Ghostbone Armorâs details again. He had to admit, Arthas had hit the mark with this offer.
But Orion didnât want to pay a high price for the armor, so he decided to play dumb.
"What do you mean? Are you offering to trade this for one of my items?"
"Hulk, are you joking with me?"
"Arthas, Iâm not joking."
"Heh..."
Arthasâs reply was short, but Orion wasnât discouraged. He had expected this reaction.
After thinking for a moment, Orion sent another message.
"Or is it for both items?"
"Hulk, do you really not understand the value of this armor?"
"I understand, but you sent me the details. Doesnât that mean you want to trade?"
---
Necro Realm, Bone Throne.
Arthas stared at Orionâs message, realizing that Orion was playing dumb.
After a moment of consideration, Arthas decided to stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point.
He was confident. The Ghostbone Armor was worth a lot, and from the way Orion was acting, it was clear he wanted it.
As this thought crossed his mind, a red glow flickered in the dark sockets of Arthasâs skull.
"The Ghostbone Armor is worth far more than those two items. If you want it, youâll need to offer more!"