Survival Game: Call Me an Honest Businessman

Li Zhi was unaware of the massive discussion that would erupt after her "30 million" video was maliciously edited.

After Lingqiu infused the ring with power, several dialogue boxes popped up in front of Li Zhi:

[Heart Ring - Seat No. 7 is now activated]

[Seat No. 2 holder, Lingqiu, will infuse you with energy for "healing"]

[Rank: S]

[Quality: Pure]

[Save duration: 180 Apocalypse Days]

【Cost of use: None】

[Gather the energy of all 12 seats and reach the S3 level of your race to unlock the "Awakener" trial]

Current progress: 1/12; C2/S3

[Note: The Heart Ring is a special piece of equipment that occupies one equipment slot. Once equipped, it cannot be removed and will never be dropped.]

The dialog box popped up and then slowly faded away.

Li Zhi looked at Lingqiu in surprise.

Lingqiu pointed to the gold ring on his right dragon horn, which was barely noticeable unless you looked closely: "I am number 2."

Li Zhi: "You also have this... special equipment needed for missions?"

Lingqiu nodded: "As far as I know, there are four seats in the Heart Ring: Time, myself, Fushan, and Tianmu. With you, that makes five."

Li Zhi remembered his innate skill.

Her "powerful network" included the other two-thirds that Lingqiu knew: Fushan and Tianmu.

"But it requires 12 bits."

"It takes 12 Heart Rings to unlock the Trial of the Awakener. Only by passing the Trial of the Awakener can one be promoted from S-rank to SS-rank."

Li Zhi quickly received the information and rapidly thought about and recalled it.

Shadow had told her before that SS-level was an unattainable realm.

Apart from the Apocalypse Race and its descendants, the Starborn and the Creators, no other race can advance from S to SS.

However, she also mentioned that, according to legend, someone once entered the ancient trial grounds on the edge layer, passed the trial, and broke through from S-rank to SS-rank, but the specific race and name of that person were unknown.

Could she interpret this to mean that the person who entered the ancient trial grounds at the edge layer was actually one of the people who once possessed the Heart Ring?

But what does the "Trial of the Awakened" represent?

Is it just a breakthrough from S-rank to SS-rank?

What are the criteria for being a holder of a Ring of Hearts seat?

Does obtaining this ring mean you've secured a seat?

As if sensing Li Zhi's question, Ling Qiu carefully placed the golden strawberry on the leaf she had prepared and explained:

"In theory, everyone who comprehends the heart of a strong person can obtain a seat in the Heart Ring, but not everyone can start the 'Awakener' trial. We have studied the evaluation criteria together, and the final conclusion is that the higher the race level, the more likely one is to reach S3, and the more hopeful one is of starting the 'Awakener' trial."

Li Zhi's eyebrows twitched, and he couldn't help but twirl the ring on his thumb: "Doesn't that mean I'm one of them...?"

"The most talented person."

Lingqiu wagged its tail and gave Li Zhi a sly smile.

Lee Ji: "Did I say that in the future?"

Ling Qiu emphasized: "Many times."

Li Zhi coughed and asked, "Have we figured out what the 'Awakener' trial actually is? Passing it means you're SS-rank?"

Lingqiu shook his head: "Aside from Starborn and Qiyuan, there will be no third SS-rank on the Tianqi Continent."

"The highest level on the Tianqi Continent has always been S-level. It was the predecessors who broke the racial limit and created a new path that led to SSS-level. Therefore, apart from the Qiyuan created by the predecessors and the Star Descendants who have the bloodline of two powerful predecessors, other races cannot break through the limitations of three-dimensional attributes from a genetic point of view and can only stop at S-level."

Li Zhi was taken aback: "You mean... the Apocalypse Clan isn't a single race, but rather a group of people from different races who have broken through the limits of racial diversity?"

Lingqiu nodded: "The Apocalypse Clan is not a single race, but a collective term for all the strong individuals who have passed the Apocalypse Trial."

"Where did those predecessors who broke the racial limits go?"

The question had barely left his mouth when Li Zhi immediately realized, "If this will affect the future, then don't tell me."

Lingqiu nodded and took out a huge Lingqiu leaf from his spatial storage: "This is for putting on the bed."

Then he took out the Lingqiu leaf slices, which had been cut into small pieces.

"Yi's exchange gave away gifts when it opened; your exchange can give away Spirit Hill Leaves when it opens."

Li Zhi was taken aback: "When did you cut it? It wasn't after I went back to my room to sleep last night, was it?"

Lingqiu: "No, I started making them after I sensed that the time to meet you was getting closer. There's not much to do in Nanqi, so I can cut a lot every day. You can give them away to others in the future."

For some reason, Li suddenly felt a little dislike for her future self.

Did she give you money?

Lingqiu: "They offered me a share of the profits, but I didn't accept it. We're friends, and it was just a small favor for me. Besides, I don't have many other uses for the money."

Li Zhi frowned: "You think you can just take what I give you? What do you mean by 'it's a small favor'? You've done a favor, whether you raise your hand or not, you still have to get paid. This is called earned income. And while it's a small favor for you, who knows how much I'll earn in the future? She's very rich, so why not take it?"

Lingqiu asked, puzzled, "Isn't your future money your own money?"

Li Zhi: "She only swindled me out of over 30 yuan! How could it possibly be my money! She's probably happily counting my money right now!"

Lingqiu understood: "I've seen it in the river of time. Sometimes you would suddenly become very happy, sit on the ground and start counting gold coins, and say that the happiest and most stress-relieving thing is to have a windfall. You called this money 'early savings'."

Li Zhi: "..."

Li Zhi: "...I must give you a share of these leaves. You must take them, because I'm different from her. I'm kind, generous, and honest. What I give you is yours. How much will I give you in the future?"

Lingqiu: "8%."

Li Zhi: "I'll give you 8, you'll give me 2, right? Then I'll give it to you—"

Lingqiu: "I'll take 8%."

Li Zhi: "...You, you take 8%? Hahaha, so that's how it is... So how much will I sell a single leaf for in the future?"

Lingqiu: "It seems like it's 1 gold coin per slice?"

Li Zhi: "Hmm, the price is reasonable, but the beast tide is coming soon, so the price will change. Right now, Lingqiu leaves are in short supply. I think 3 gold coins for a slice is appropriate. By the way, your slices are a bit too big. They can be smaller. For the sake of our customers, a palm-sized slice is just right for carrying around."