Under normal circumstances, a single sip of water amounts to approximately 20 milliliters.
The 50ml of water Meng Hao listed—barely two gulps—was suddenly the catalyst for global chaos.
But desperation knew no bounds. The world was parched.
Meng Hao's price was a full 100% above the market norm—an act some would call extortion.
Yet to those dying of thirst, he appeared not as a profiteer, but a savior.
And, to be fair, the items he asked in return were mostly raw materials—wood, stone, rope—resources that required only labor, not luck.
As for glass, it was trickier. There was no known way to manufacture it yet. For now, treasure chests were the sole source.
Still, with billions of players around the globe, someone was bound to stumble upon it.
Meanwhile, the world chat flared to life.
"Anyone with wood, stone, or rope—check the trade channel now! Lord Meng Hao is selling water!"
"Why are you shouting, idiot? You trying to bring the whole world in here?"
"I'm chopping trees as we speak! Once I hit 200 units, I'm trading!"
"Too late, fool. Water entered the market seconds ago—it was gone in a blink."
"Seriously? Don't you guys explore the islands? Just camping in the trade market all day?"
"Quick hands win the prize, slow ones get nothing. Don't blame the system."
"Damn it! I should've cut those trees earlier!"
"Opportunity favors the prepared."
The channel boiled over with frenzy. Players from every corner of the world were stunned by Meng Hao's audacity.
Water was the single most valuable commodity—its scarcity was painfully felt by all.
And Meng Hao? He just… put it up for sale.
"What's wrong with him? Swapping water for basic materials? Has he lost his mind?"
"With all the resources he's hoarding, there's no way he lacks wood or rope!"
"Could it be… he's just trying to keep us all alive?"
"Maybe!"
"That must be it!"
"Thank you, Lord Meng Hao!"
"May your kindness be repaid a thousandfold!"
The narrative shifted in mere minutes—from greedy merchant to benevolent benefactor.
On his floating platform, Meng Hao watched the trade frenzy unfold, quietly amused.
Truth be told, even he hadn't expected the transaction to go so smoothly.
In mere moments, his eight 50ml water listings were gone. In exchange, he received:
600 units of wood
600 units of stone
200 ropes
20 glass panes
Now, stone, rope, and glass were accounted for. Only wood remained.
The cabin required 2000 units of wood.
Meng Hao had just 618.
He still needed around 1400 more.
"Well, water's abundant—I'll just trade more."
He remembered that building a wooden ship would also demand a large supply. Might as well stock up.
With the seawater purifier operating smoothly, the freshwater crisis was no longer his concern.
He reopened the trade interface, performed a few swift actions, and refreshed the listing:
[Seller: Meng Hao746996585]
[Item: 50ml Water — Quantity: 10]
[Wanted: 200 Wood — 1:1]
The moment it appeared, the trade channel erupted again.
"He's back! Meng Hao's trading water again—and still asking only for wood! Go, go, go!"
"See? Told you! He's trying to save us all!"
"Bless you, Lord Meng Hao! I've got 200 wood ready—trading now!"
"Yes! I got one! Thank you, Lord Meng Hao!"
"Wait—no stone this time? I just chopped 200 units!"
"Bro, that was last round—now it's wood-only!"
The frenzy intensified. Among the most common resources on the islands were wood and stone.
To many, Meng Hao's water-for-wood exchange wasn't profiteering—it was benevolence.
Yes, his pricing was steep, but fair, considering the priceless nature of his resource.
"By the way… where does he get all that water?"
"Meng Hao, care to explain? How many islands have you explored? Any tips?"
"Teach us to find water, Master! Don't just feed us—teach us to fish!"
"One sip from the Master is worth a lifetime of learning! Lord Meng Hao, your humble disciple kneels!"
"Father Meng, just one more drink, please?"
The market exploded faster than Meng Hao anticipated.
In under a minute, his 500ml of water vanished, yielding +2000 wood.
So this, he thought, is how capitalists get rich—no wonder they enjoy it so much.
Now that all materials were in hand, it was time to build his first cabin.
But before construction, a new idea surfaced.
With billions of players collecting bizarre loot, who knew what treasures lay unopened?
The water market might not remain this hot forever—timing was everything.
So, Meng Hao launched a new listing:
[Seller: Meng Hao746996585]
[Item: 400ml Water — Quantity: 5]
[Wanted: Unopened Treasure Chests — 1:1]
[Wanted: Seablue Icecore — 1:1]
[Wanted: Skywind Heartstone — 1:1]
[Note: For special items, contact privately. Final interpretation rights reserved by seller.]
The global player base erupted.
"400ml!? That's a whole bottle—enough for a full day!"
"Unopened chests only? Damn, I already opened all of mine—why did I do that?!"
"What the heck are Seablue Icecores and Skywind Heartstones? Is Meng Hao playing a different game from us?"
"Lord Meng Hao, do you need sanitary pads? I've got a pack!"
"How about glowgrass? It lights up at night—perfect for ambiance!"
"Condoms, anyone?"
"Candles? Leather whips?"
The items offered ranged from the practical to the downright absurd.
Some made no sense—but some sparked Meng Hao's curiosity.
Condoms were likely rubber-based. If he could extract rubber, he could build a ship.
Whips? Also rubber—valuable for crafting.
Candles? Invaluable in a power-starved world.
After careful consideration, he made his selections.
"Condoms, candles, and a small leather whip."