I Can Upgrade Everything Infinitely

When Zhang Ling heard Xu Qing, he was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected Xu Qing to be so direct.

After all, Zhang Ling had been thinking, ’Maybe I can play both sides—complete the Wood Root Elves’ task while also getting Token Fragments from the Wood Root Mermaids.’

But in the end, Xu Qing’s move made that plan impossible.

More importantly, just as Xu Qing finished speaking, the Wood Root Mermaids before them began to transform. Wisps of black mist rose from their bodies, gradually spreading out to slowly shroud them.

"Fuck!"

Zhang Ling’s expression flickered.

CRACK! CRACK!

In the blink of an eye, the two Wood Root Mermaids, who had been heavenly beauties just a moment before, suddenly underwent a bizarre transformation. The pitch-black mist solidified into dark armor that encased their bodies. Their faces twisted into ferocious snarls, as if they were turning into some kind of fish monsters.

"Die!"

PFFT! PFFT!

Xu Qing struck instantly. He had already swung the Carefree Sword, and a powerful wave of Sword Qi swept forth, annihilating the two Wood Root Mermaids.

"You..."

Zhang Ling was stunned speechless.

Then, with a gesture of his left hand, Xu Qing destroyed the two Wood Root Mermaids’ corpses. A milky-white liquid was revealed within them.

It emanated a pure, sacred glow.

"This is ’Purifying Water’?"

Zhang Ling asked.

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded. He took out a bottle and quickly collected the Purifying Water, gathering exactly two liters.

BUZZ!

Then, Xu Qing took out the Token, intending to summon a Wood Root Elf. However, he was currently in the Sea of Life, and Wood Root Elves couldn’t enter it, so he was unable to summon one while in the water.

So, Xu Qing shot upward, breaking the surface of the water. Hovering above the sea, he activated the Token in his hand, and a Level 1 Wood Root Elf immediately appeared.

"Greetings, honored outsider."

The Level 1 Wood Root Elf bowed to Xu Qing, its tone deferential.

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded. He took out the two liters of Purifying Water and offered it to the Level 1 Wood Root Elf. "Is this what you were looking for?"

"Yes, honored outsider."

The Level 1 Wood Root Elf was overjoyed. "This is the ’Purifying Water’ we need," it said immediately. "There are two liters in total."

"Good."

Xu Qing nodded in satisfaction. "Give me the fragments."

"Of course, honored outsider."

Without hesitation, the Level 1 Wood Root Elf took the two liters of Purifying Water from Xu Qing and gave him two Wood Root Source World Token Fragments in return.

And just like that, Xu Qing had completed his first trade with the Wood Root Elf Race.

It had gone perfectly.

"So you really can trade for the fragments,"

Zhang Ling remarked.

"But..."

Zhang Ling pondered for a moment before voicing his concern. "If that’s the case, what’s going on with the Wood Root Mermaids? Does this mean the Wood Root Mermaid Race and the Wood Root Elf Race are enemies?"

"I don’t know."

Xu Qing shrugged. "But that has little to do with us. We have only one objective: collect the fragments and assemble the Token."

"That’s true."

Zhang Ling nodded.

"There is one thing I still don’t understand, though."

Zhang Ling continued, "The Wood Root Elf said that ’Purifying Water’ only forms inside corrupted Wood Root Sea Demon Beasts."

"Those two were clearly from the Wood Root Mermaid Race, so why did they have ’Purifying Water’ inside them? Or does that mean those two Wood Root Mermaids were already corrupted?"

"But if they were corrupted, how could they have been so lucid? And more importantly, they only turned dark the moment you said you’d help the Wood Root Elf Race instead of them."

"It’s all too strange."

"You’re overthinking it."

Xu Qing glanced at Zhang Ling. "Instead of standing here lost in thought, why don’t we go find the answers? Maybe as we venture deeper into the Sea of Life, the truth will reveal itself."

"That’s true."

Zhang Ling nodded. "And like you said before, our goal is to collect all the fragments and obtain the Token, not to get bogged down in these other matters."

"Exactly."

Xu Qing offered a faint smile.

"Let’s part ways here,"

At that, Xu Qing spoke again.

"Alright."

Zhang Ling paused, taken aback for a second. After a moment of thought, he nodded. "We’re both hunting Wood Root Sea Demon Beasts in the Sea of Life. Our objectives are the same."

"It’s probably best we separate to avoid any potential conflicts."

"Besides,"

"I’m too curious. I want to get to the bottom of this mystery. You, on the other hand, don’t seem to care much for it. We’re heading down different paths."

"Right."

Xu Qing nodded.

"Take care."

Finally, Zhang Ling clasped his hands in farewell to Xu Qing.

SWISH!

The moment he finished speaking, Zhang Ling’s figure shot through the air, transforming into a streak of light that quickly vanished from Xu Qing’s sight. Xu Qing was alone once more.

SPLASH!

Water flew in all directions.

Xu Qing dove back into the Sea of Life.

After that, Xu Qing didn’t encounter any more Wood Root Mermaids. Instead, he found Wood Root Sea Demon Beasts—all of them corrupted.