Shen Feng was no longer the impulsive youth of a few months ago. After frequently hearing Professor Chu's teachings, he had learned to see the essence behind appearances. In reality, Wang Aoye's words were quite clear. On the surface, he only wanted to do business, but in fact, there was a deeper purpose hidden within.
To Lu Xian's question, Shen Feng did not hide anything. He said in a low voice, "They are talking about smuggling. The reason for the secret gathering is to avoid the attention of those above. As long as the transactions are not regulated, then underground transactions will become unsavory. This is smuggling."
Lu Xian suddenly understood. So that was it. He had thought it was just a few ordinary words, but he hadn't expected them to contain such deep meaning.
Shen Feng patted Lu Xian's shoulder and said in a low voice, "Hurry up and eat the crab meat. It's rare to have such fresh seafood. If we get entangled later, we won't have a chance."
Lu Xian quickly began to feast on the crab meat on the table. Wasn't it precisely for this meal that he hadn't eaten dinner earlier? Now that the food was in front of him, what was there to wait for?
Shen Feng also started eating seafood while carefully observing the situation of the people around him. He noticed that almost everyone agreed to the proposal, including Li Xiankang and Mu Ying, the two third-tier ability users. Clearly, they were also tempted. Who wouldn't be tempted by such huge profits?
If it were a so-called alliance of civilian forces, such a matter would not require such caution. Because so many people came from different places, their personalities and thoughts could not possibly align. Even if they were forced to unite, they would only be a scattered mess. However, doing something together for their own interests was different!
Previously, the transaction volume on underground websites was very small, mainly because everyone did not trust each other. Now, it was good that Wang Aoye had gathered so many people together. Once everyone had spoken their minds, great progress was made. It could be imagined that underground transactions would become more rampant in the future.
Afterwards, everyone successively agreed to Wang Aoye's proposal. No one present was foolish. Everyone knew very well that as long as they could conduct transactions in secret, they would gradually break free from the control of those above in the future. This was because for a long time, everyone could only follow the arrangements of those above due to issues with supplies. However, if a large number of civilian personnel united, the supply problem could be alleviated.
Lu Xian asked while eating, "City Lord, aren't you going to state your position now?"
Shen Feng cursed in a low voice, "Don't talk nonsense. Hurry up and eat the seafood. If we get entangled later, we won't have a chance to eat. Moreover, if I join forces with these people, and those above find out about it, I'll be in big trouble. I'm being watched very closely right now!"
Shen Feng had no desire to participate in the union of these people because he knew very well that Yuzhou, where he was located, was on the Yangtze River in the southwest. These people who had united were all from the southeastern region. If these people engaged in trade, it had nothing to do with him. The distance was too great, and trade was not that simple to achieve.
Especially with the existence of the Three Gorges, any kind of trade would be known to those above. In this case, it would be better to stay honestly in Yuzhou. As long as Yuzhou was obtained, being located at a transportation hub, he would definitely not lack anything in the future. Why would he get involved in these people's affairs?
Unfortunately, although Shen Feng did not want to get involved in this matter, someone deliberately found Shen Feng. Wang Aoye slowly walked down from the table and, under everyone's gaze, walked up to Shen Feng and slowly said, "What is City Lord Shen Feng's opinion? You are the first fourth-tier ability user in the world. Now, if you don't join our organization, it would be a great pity."
Shen Feng reluctantly put down the leg of the mutated crab he was holding. He had only eaten half his fill, but now he was entangled. Especially since almost everyone's attention was focused on him. It could be said that Shen Feng had become the focus of everyone's attention simply because of Wang Aoye's arrival.
Regarding Wang Aoye's question, Shen Feng smiled and said, "This, I don't plan to participate. I just came to take a look. Don't worry, I definitely won't say anything about tonight's events, so you can discuss with confidence. If you're still not at ease, I can take Lu Xian and leave."
Wang Aoye waved his hand, suddenly pulled over a chair, sat down next to Shen Feng, and asked with a smile, "You're not participating? That's fine. Please enjoy the banquet. I have a few more questions for you, and I hope you can enlighten me."
Shen Feng originally wanted to take the opportunity to leave, but now he was entangled. He could only sit down patiently and said, "What questions do you have? I dare not accept enlightenment, I can only say that I will tell you what I know."
Wang Aoye was not polite and directly said, "First of all, everyone knows that to become an evolution or to advance, evolution potions are needed. Even ability users cannot do without ability potions. However, evolution potions are controlled by the authorities, and ordinary people cannot obtain them. In this way, everyone can only use the meat of mutated beasts to evolve. However, since I became a third-tier ability user, no matter how much mutated beast meat I eat, I cannot evolve. Why is this?"
Shen Feng nodded and explained, "This is because there is an evolutionary barrier between the third and fourth tiers. Ordinary evolution potions and mutated beast meat cannot help people break through the evolutionary barrier. Therefore, at this time, only evolution bases can be used to evolve."
"So that's how it is. I thought I just wasn't eating enough. Thank you for your enlightenment, but what is an evolution base?" Wang Aoye had a new question.
"The concentration of evolution potions is insufficient, and the content of viral protein is very small. By continuously increasing the content of viral protein in the potions, the evolution potions will eventually form a colloid, which is the evolution base. To be honest, I don't know how to concentrate evolution potions either, so if you want to advance, I can't help you," Shen Feng did not hide anything and continued to explain the situation of the evolution base.
Shen Feng also knew the preciousness of evolution bases, so he had no intention of revealing that he had evolution bases. Otherwise, many people would definitely target him.
Wang Aoye looked at Shen Feng and felt that Shen Feng was hiding something. So he took out his trump card, which was exchange. "Mr. Shen Feng, I accidentally killed a Corpse King. At that time, I felt that the Corpse King's head was not simple, but I didn't have a laboratory and couldn't research it. Are you interested? If you are interested, I am prepared to give it to you."
Shen Feng was immediately moved when he heard this. The Corpse King's head could be used to make ability potions. If he could get it, wouldn't it increase the number of ability users on his side?
Wang Aoye actually wanted to rob him. Why would trade be as good as a risk-free business? However, considering that he might not be able to defeat Shen Feng, if he wanted to obtain evolution bases, he could only use the means of exchange. He was now desperately eager to become a fourth-tier ability user to face the potential dangers in the future. Therefore, even though he knew that the Corpse King's head was very precious, he had to trade for it.
Shen Feng pondered for a moment and thought, "I brought a large barrel of evolution base with me when I went out. Now, if I trade a few liters casually, it should not affect my evolution to the fifth tier."
Therefore, Shen Feng said, "Speaking of which, although I cannot produce evolution bases, fortunately, I still have some evolution bases on hand, about two liters. If Mr. Wang doesn't mind, please accept it."
Wang Aoye was overjoyed and quickly nodded, "I don't mind. I'll have someone go and get the Corpse King's head right away. It's currently frozen and can still be experimented on."
After speaking, Wang Aoye waved his hand, and Yi Xingzhong quickly walked over. It turned out that Yi Xingzhong was also Wang Aoye's subordinate, specifically responsible for gathering information. His combat power was not as strong as Shen Feng's, but his speed was his specialty. Using wind to accelerate himself, he could barely keep up with Shen Feng's pace.
Shen Feng also stood up at this time and returned to the base to get the evolution base. Lu Xian remained here as a hostage. Wang Aoye was most worried that Shen Feng would leave. If he lost the evolution base, wouldn't it be a huge loss?
In the end, Shen Feng exchanged one Corpse King's head for two liters of evolution base.
Wang Aoye obtained the evolution base and was smiling happily. He explained to Shen Feng, "Mr. Shen, I obtained this about a month ago when I was attacking zombies in a nearby city. It took me quite some effort. Fortunately, I have ability users who can heal. I charged in five times in a row before I managed to kill the Corpse King, who was protected by mutated zombies."
Shen Feng accepted the head in the refrigerated box and said to Wang Aoye, "If there are such transactions in the future, I can look for them again. Perhaps I can find some remaining evolution bases. However, I will not get involved in your joint trade matters."
"That is natural. Mr. Shen, please feel free to attend the banquet. If there is anything in the future, we will contact each other again." Wang Aoye smiled, took the evolution base, and turned to leave.
Wang Aoye walked to the backstage, and Yi Xingzhong also walked over and asked, "Boss, we lost money on this trade. We worked hard to kill the Corpse King and obtained its head, but we only exchanged it for two liters of evolution base. I'm sure Shen Feng has more evolution bases in his hands. This trade shouldn't have been made."
A cold light flashed in Wang Aoye's eyes, and he sneered, "Second brother, do you think I don't understand this principle? Didn't you notice? The trade between Shen Feng and me was conducted in full view of everyone. Therefore, others know the content of our conversation. And now, people's hearts are restless. Who doesn't want to become stronger? Yet Shen Feng has good things in his hands. Are we the only ones who are tempted? I'm sure that after the banquet ends, Shen Feng will be targeted."
"You mean, Boss, you are testing Shen Feng?" Yi Xingzhong suddenly realized.
Wang Aoye nodded and said seriously, "Shen Feng is a fourth-tier ability user, and I'm not confident I can take him down. Moreover, if we anger his subordinates, we will have trouble. But it's different for others. Ignorance breeds fear. The more ignorant people are, the bolder they are."
Yi Xingzhong also showed a smile on his face, "I see. So after the banquet ends, we will see a good show. I wonder if Shen Feng will display his might, or if others will take advantage of the situation. In short, if Shen Feng wins, we will see his strength. If Shen Feng loses, we can also be the mantis behind the cicada!"
"That's right, that's how it is. We will only know everything after their battle ends," Wang Aoye sneered. It could be said that in order to trap Shen Feng, he had meticulously planned everything, and he had even exchanged the precious Corpse King's head.
Shen Feng was not disturbed for the time being, so he ate and drank freely. However, Lu Xian could not do the same. He had been using his abilities to observe the people in the hall. Suddenly, he noticed a group of people gathered together, seemingly discussing something. He immediately felt uneasy.
"City Lord, a group of people are gathered together, possibly plotting against us. I think we should leave now," Lu Xian said nervously.
Shen Feng waved his hand, patted the refrigerated box on the table, and said leisurely, "Don't worry, no one here can catch up to me. Even if I'm surrounded and attacked, I can still escape!"
Shen Feng was very confident in his speed, but Lu Xian was different. He was not confident. "City Lord, you can escape, but I can't. Are you going to carry me on your back?"
Shen Feng glanced at Lu Xian and frowned, "Be confident. Your strength is not weak. After all, you can predict your opponent's actions, and your ability has a wide coverage range. You can foresee any changes, so self-preservation is not a problem."
Lu Xian swallowed and said with difficulty, "But City Lord, if the other side has guns, even if I predict it, I can't dodge it."
"Alright, alright. When we leave, don't leave me more than two meters away. If there's any danger, I'll use 'Wind King Barrier,' and I'll definitely keep you safe." Shen Feng shook his head and made a final compromise.
Lu Xian finally felt relieved. Getting the City Lord's assurance was enough. Although this meal was quite good, it always made people feel on edge, fearing that some danger might occur.