Meng Hao's sudden emergence detonated like a bomb across the globe.
In an age where water scarcity threatened lives, he dared to trade 100ml of fresh water—for a change of clothes?
Extravagant.
Foolish.
Deranged.
Yet even as the world scolded him, countless hands scrambled to initiate trade, desperate for a deal.
"Lord Meng Hao, trade with me! My clothes are designer and I'm exactly 182cm tall!"
"My outfit's practically new—only worn once! You won't regret it!"
"Trade with me, and I'll throw in socks for free!"
"Trade with me, and I'll reveal a massive secret about this island!"
Flirtation, flattery, fake humility, mysterious airs—every persuasion under the sun flooded his feed.
Some even lied about their height—claiming to be 180cm while barely reaching 160.
It was a circus of desperation.
Meng Hao hadn't anticipated such frenzy over a single post. It seemed that in the future, even trading for clothes could shake the world.
This time, Meng Hao had one unusual condition: try before you buy.
Only after verifying the fit would he commit to the trade.
But lying half-naked in the sea, he obviously couldn't try anything on just yet.
So, he waited.
Let more offers roll in. The more, the better. He wanted only the best—fit mattered more than brand.
Though future treasure chests might yield clothes, just as gloves and socks had appeared before—transformed into acceleration gloves and agile shoes after receiving the 100x bonus—those were already gifted to his parents.
Still, waiting too long was risky. Water wasn't scarce for him; he could afford to trade now.
After all, what would the world think if the idolized Meng Hao spent his days… streaking?
[Ding! You have successfully digested the blood and flesh of the Mutated Spotted Viper. Trait acquired: Poison Immunity.]
Player: Meng Hao 746996585
Class: Tier-1 Warrior
Trait: Immune to Common Poisons
+10 Strength, +10 Agility, +10 Endurance, +10 Toxin Resistance
Weapons: 98K Sniper Rifle, Spear
Assessment: You barely qualify as a warrior. Even unarmed, you can now hold your own. Most toxins will not affect you.
Meng Hao blinked.
"Most toxins?"
Did that mean… some still could?
He had assumed poison immunity would grant complete freedom. Apparently not.
So before acting recklessly, he'd now need to classify toxins—common or uncommon.
And how was he supposed to tell the difference?
Trial and error?
If it didn't kill you, it was common. If it did… well, too late.
"Sigh… seems I still need to play it safe."
Still soaked, Meng Hao finally climbed out of the water. He tucked the plush pillow doll into his storage ring and returned to shore to begin trying on clothes.
Millions of trade requests flooded in. He was dumbfounded.
So many—ranging from traditional ethnic wear to exotic, foreign styles.
Beautiful, surely. But Meng Hao, with a Chinese aesthetic at heart, made his choice after careful consideration.
He selected a young man named Luo Chen.
100ml of water to Luo Chen. Clothes to Meng Hao.
In that instant, Luo Chen was left stark naked.
But no matter—better bare than parched.
Meng Hao donned his new outfit and exited the trade channel.
Luo Chen, meanwhile, was publicly flayed.
As the lucky recipient of the trade, he became a lightning rod for global rage. The masses unleashed their frustration on him.
Keyboard warriors descended like locusts, raining verbal fire and fury.
But to no effect.
The thirsty remained thirsty. No amount of rage could summon water.
Meng Hao ignored the chaos.
Once the frenzy died down, he would begin trading water for treasure chests—recruiting the entire world as his search party.
"Let's check the upgraded base island."
The newly expanded island gleamed with fresh purpose.
At its core remained the central drift platform, now showing 1/3—one last drift for the day.
To the north stood the upgraded farm. Clockwise from there: mine, armory, barracks.
Meng Hao chuckled bitterly—he couldn't enter any of them. They functioned passively, producing resources over time.
At least that saved him some micromanagement.
To the east: a small forest. It had appeared after absorbing the first island, initially sparse. With the second island, it had expanded considerably.
Now that he possessed iron ore, he could craft iron axes and gather wood efficiently.
But for now, he wasn't short on lumber.
"Cutting down trees on your own land? Never. If I must chop wood—I'll do it on someone else's island."
To the south lay the beach he once bathed on—shark-infested, and dangerous.
To the west: deeper waters. With development, it could become a future harbor.
2.5 square kilometers—not insignificant.
Some countries on Earth had far less.
Meng Hao smiled.
"I guess I really am a ruler of my own land now."
[Ding! Goblin Guardian training complete. Summon now?]
An hour had passed.
The barracks had completed his first Goblin Guardian.
Curious, Meng Hao replied,
"Summon!"
The barracks doors opened.
Out waddled a towering, two-meter-tall creature with green skin—like a humanoid plant. It walked awkwardly, its facial features distinct but dimwitted.
A true botanical brute.
[Goblin Guardian: Tier-1 Warrior. Loyal defender. Can execute basic tasks. Operates anywhere on the base island. Cannot leave the island.]
Meng Hao was delighted.
"At last, I'm no longer alone."
Arms crossed behind his back, radiating kingly grace, he addressed his new guardian:
"Guardian, can you speak?"