Jiang Ci never expected his model to be copied so soon.
Just two days after the Herb Alliance stabilized, a new stall appeared in the central plaza of Greenvine Town. A bold white banner hung over it, reading:
[Sunlight Trading Co.]
High-price buyback of Greenstar Leaves
Free maps & gathering quests
Top 5 gatherers daily will receive real-world currency rewards(Sponsored by real-life investors)
"Real-world sponsors?" Jiang Ci narrowed his eyes.
Behind the stall stood a man clad in dazzling knight armor, every piece gleaming with premium polish—obviously a heavy spender.
His in-game name: [Lin Zhi].
Jiang Ci remembered him well from his past life.A real-life CEO who invested in Divine Realm Century during its early boom.At first, he mocked the "merchant class."Later, he founded the server's first officially recognized trading corporation.
He didn't profit from margin, but from branding through massive investment, slowly monopolizing the market.
And now—he was entering the game even earlier than before.
Lin Zhi approached Jiang Ci directly.
"You're the guy behind that Herb Alliance, right? Interesting model." He smiled and sat down. "Ever thought of joining us?"
"You mean… working for you?" Jiang Ci raised an eyebrow.
"No need to put it like that." Lin Zhi shrugged. "You'd be a regional partner. I provide the capital, you bring the network—we split profits fifty-fifty."
Jiang Ci considered the offer.
For newer players, Lin Zhi's strategy of buying high and selling high was attractive.It looked unprofitable—but it was a classic loss-leader tactic to earn reputation.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ci's alliance was efficient, but cash flow was tight and resources were limited. If nothing changed, they'd eventually be overwhelmed.
"You're using real money to burn the market. Planning to go full platform mode from day one?"
Lin Zhi smiled.
"Exactly. This is the first VR game where gold converts to real-world currency. It's going to be a playground for big investors. I'm just securing my channel early."
"Then I refuse," Jiang Ci said flatly.
"...Why?"
"You want control," Jiang Ci stood."I want order."
"You build a platform. I build a network.We're not part of the same ecosystem."
In the days that followed, Sunlight Trading Co. almost took over the town's herb trade.
Players flocked to sell to Lin Zhi—his prices were ridiculously high, far above market average.
Jiang Ci saw it clearly.
"He's flooding the market," he told his alliance at the next meeting."It's an old real-world tactic—burn cash to drive competitors out. Once the field is clear, monopolize."
"Should we lower our prices?" Mo Bai asked.
"No." Jiang Ci shook his head."If we fight on pricing, we lose. We're not venture capitalists—we're a player cooperative."
"Then how do we fight back?"
"With what we do have." Jiang Ci's tone turned firm."Data. Demand. And most importantly—trust."
Jiang Ci added a new booth beside the alliance stall, with a freshly painted sign:
Herbal Research Station
Free tutorial: How to make beginner potions
Limited daily pack: Task Potion Bundle ×10 (includes Greenstar Leaves)
Custom quest item crafting for alliance members
"We're not just selling leaves," Jiang Ci explained."We're offering solutions. Helping players progress. Selling experience."
From Sunlight Co., you got a pile of leaves.From Jiang Ci's alliance, you got a clear path through your quest bottleneck.
Soon, intermediate players returned.
[Lin Nan], who had once completed a hidden quest thanks to Jiang Ci's herbs, messaged him:
"Jiang bro, I tried that Sunlight Co. potion bundle. Trash herbs, totally useless."
"Don't worry," Jiang Ci replied. "I screen every ingredient personally."
"You… know the hidden recipe formulas, don't you?"
Jiang Ci just smiled."Maybe. Or maybe I just care more."
....
One evening, Mo Bai was sorting herbs behind the stall.
She looked up and asked quietly:
"Jiang Ci… are we really going to fight them to the end?"
Jiang Ci took a long time to answer.
"I'm not interested in fighting anyone," he said slowly."I just want to prove something—This game isn't just for the pay-to-win crowd."
"Ordinary players can win too—With strategy, grit, and unity."
"I've never won anything before. This time, I want to win."
Mo Bai didn't say anything else.
She just nodded.
And silently, she realized something:
This so-called "scheming merchant" was far kinder than most "righteous" players she'd met.He remembered every vendor's name.Set up trust funds for material suppliers.Even hand-drew maps for lost beginners.
The Herb Alliance's roster passed twenty members.
Each person had a role—Some gathered, some crafted, some ran quests, some monitored the market.
Jiang Ci had begun drafting a points-based contribution system, preparing to offer real-world prizes for top members.
Then a global system alert echoed:
[System Announcement]Second Capital City Unlocked: Duskmire Port
[Special Event: Cross-City Trade Route Initiated]
First to complete the trade route will earn:
Land usage rights
Priority listing at city trading hubs
Increased gold-to-cash conversion quota
Everyone turned to Jiang Ci.
He looked out over the fields and simply said:
"It's time we left Greenvine Town."