To prepare for this transaction, Fang Zhou first gently caressed the ordinary Life Crystal hanging on his chest, a gift from Instructor Shen Hongyu. He then carefully took out the well-preserved Fierce Ant Queen Life Crystal from his Space Storage Capsule, rubbing it twice in his hand. This precious crystal contained immense power and was an important bargaining chip for his trade with Gu Yueyuan. A slight smile touched Fang Zhou's lips as he thought about the upcoming transaction, a gleam of anticipation in his eyes. After a moment of thought, he opened his personal terminal and sent a message to Senior Sister Liu Diewu to express his gratitude.

[Ordinary Apprentice] (Fang Zhou): "Congratulations, Senior Sister Liu Diewu, on advancing to Black Iron! From now on, the sky's the limit and your journey is boundless! Thank you as well, Senior Sister Die Wu, for taking the trouble to ask about Senior Brother Gu Yueyuan for me. I am ready to trade with him."

Senior Sister Liu Diewu quickly replied with an emoji wishing him good luck.

Soon, just as Senior Sister Liu Diewu had predicted, Gu Yueyuan sent Fang Zhou a brief and direct trade request. Though brief, the message conveyed a sense of directness and efficiency, free of any fluff.

[Just a Touch of Hardship] (Gu Yueyuan): "Junior Brother Fang Zhou, I have returned to the academy. I'm ready to trade at any time."

Seeing this message, Fang Zhou silently speculated on Gu Yueyuan's personality. Combining the descriptions he had heard from Liu Diewu, Lu Renjia, and several other second-year students, he began to build a picture of the No. 1 Seed Student's personality. Gu Yueyuan didn't seem to care for idle chatter, preferring a direct approach. This made him appear somewhat unconventional. Therefore, Fang Zhou also responded in a similarly concise and straightforward manner.

[Ordinary Apprentice] (Fang Zhou): "Senior Brother Gu, I'm currently practicing my Skills at the first-year Skill Training Ground. Where are you now? I can come to you for the trade."

Before long, Gu Yueyuan replied.

[Just a Touch of Hardship] (Gu Yueyuan): "I'm in my dorm now, about to head to the Logistics Office. The Logistics Office isn't too far from your location. Why don't we meet and trade there?"

Seeing Gu Yueyuan's proposed arrangement, Fang Zhou had no objections.

[Ordinary Apprentice] (Fang Zhou): "No problem, I'm on my way."

Fang Zhou packed up his belongings and left the Skill Training Ground, hurrying towards the Logistics Office.

As he arrived at the entrance to the Logistics Office, he spotted a figure completely wrapped in a gray robe. The person wore a hood that entirely concealed their face, making it impossible to discern their features. Fang Zhou couldn't help but pause before tentatively asking, "Excuse me, are you Senior Brother Gu Yueyuan? I'm Fang Zhou."

The gray-robed figure turned to look at Fang Zhou, seemingly confirming whether he was the person he was supposed to meet. After a moment's hesitation, he slowly removed his hood, revealing a somewhat weathered face. His skin was pale and his eyes were deep-set, as if hiding many stories. In a slightly hoarse voice, the man said, "I am Gu Yueyuan."

As Fang Zhou extended his hand, he carefully observed his senior brother's appearance. Gu Yueyuan's expression was stern. He had a high forehead and sharp, defined features, giving him the distinguished look of someone with outstanding talent. His eyes, however, carried a hint of barely perceptible numbness. As their gazes met, Fang Zhou faintly heard the continuous, soft chirping of insects in the air around them.

Gu Yueyuan stared at Fang Zhou's extended hand, and a flicker of something almost imperceptible passed through his eyes. But soon enough, he slowly extended his own hand. When their hands clasped, the contrast was stark. Fang Zhou's hand was warm and strong, full of life and vitality. Gu Yueyuan's hand, however, was as cold as frost and felt almost withered, reminiscent of a barren branch in winter.

Well aware of Gu Yueyuan's temperament, Fang Zhou skipped the pleasantries. He directly took out the Fierce Ant Queen Life Crystal from his Space Storage Capsule. The crystal emitted a dim glow, a faint pulse of life seeming to beat within, making it appear particularly mysterious in the dim light. He handed the crystal to Gu Yueyuan and said calmly, "Senior Brother Gu, I've brought the Insect Magic Crystal you wanted. Please, inspect it."

Gu Yueyuan nodded slightly and took out a delicate brocade box from his own Space Storage Capsule. He gently opened the box, inside which lay the Mirror of the Heart. It was a small mirror inlaid with complex patterns, radiating a gentle and mysterious light.

Gu Yueyuan handed the brocade box to Fang Zhou, his voice slightly low as he said, "This is the Mirror of the Heart you wanted. It can provide the Soul Nourishment effect for Apprentice-level Professionals daily. Also, based on my experience, this Mirror of the Heart was damaged by some unknown power, but it still has the potential to recover. If you can fully restore its functions, it might bring you some unexpected surprises."

Fang Zhou handed the Fierce Ant Queen Life Crystal to Gu Yueyuan. Gu Yueyuan accepted the precious item with a steady hand, examining it carefully. He then cautiously placed it into his Space Storage Capsule, ensuring it would not be damaged.

The two completed the handover, and each began to inspect their new item. For Fang Zhou, this process was almost a mere formality.

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