When Xia Qingqing saw Gu Yunshu mention opening a butcher shop, a smile flashed across her eyes.

She thought this idea was really cool. Everyone else in the apocalypse was starving and thirsty, but Sister Yunshu could open a butcher shop. She was like a female protagonist in the apocalypse.

However, I feel there is a great risk involved, and it would be very dangerous if I didn't have the ability to protect myself.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Qingqing replied to Gu Yunshu: "Sister Yunshu, would you like to open a butcher shop? If you do, I can help you with the meat issue, but you need to consider the risks. Will others be envious? Will you get into trouble because of this?"

Gu Yunshu was surprised that Xia Qingqing actually took her casual remark seriously.

But on second thought, I realized that this plan might actually be feasible.

She can sell the meat Qingqing provides for her, exchange it for crystal cores, and then trade them with Liya for potions and weapons, which can serve as her support.

However, she needs to plan all of this, and the premise is that she must ensure her own safety.

Gu Yunshu: [Qingqing, I will seriously consider your suggestion. If I really open a shop, you'll be an investor, hehe.]

Xia Qingqing burst into laughter when she saw the message. If she really invested in a small shop in another world, it would feel incredibly awesome—a cross-dimensional investor!

Xia Qingqing: [Sister Yunshu, please be careful too. It's hard to tell people from your heart, especially the people around you.]

In countless novels, many protagonists and supporting characters are betrayed by those around them, which is something we really have to be wary of.

Gu Yunshu: [Don't worry, I'm not as silly as you. I'm going to go find Lia to exchange the potion now.]

Gu Yunshu closed the chat interface with Xia Qingqing and sent a video call invitation to Liya.

These past few days, Gu Yunshu had thought that Liya would take the initiative to contact her, but there had been no news. Could it be that those crystal cores were useless to Liya?

Before long, the video call connected, and Gu Yunshu met Liya's joyful face.

“Miss Leah, you look very happy.”

Lia covered her face and smiled modestly: "With the energy stones you gave me, I finally broke through. I'm so happy!"

Lia has been stuck at the beginner level of magic for quite a while because she used to train diligently but often slacked off.

With the final exams just around the corner, and everyone around her already having broken through to the intermediate level while she was left behind, Lia panicked and decided to use the energy stone to break through.

Energy stones are very rare items in the magical world because all the energy in the magical world dissipates into the air. Fortunately, Leah has an interdimensional trading system, which is why she was able to successfully find energy stones.

As for why Lia was able to directly locate the post-apocalyptic world where Gu Yunshu was, there are two ways: one is to work hard to increase her level and unlock the corresponding permissions, and the other is to spend money. Lia obviously chose the latter.

This was something Gu Yunshu learned from the system assistant after discovering that Lia could choose her own match plane. The system assistant even asked Gu Yunshu if she needed the service, but Gu Yunshu immediately refused after hearing the requirement to spend money. She absolutely did not want to be taken advantage of by the system.

When Gu Yunshu heard that Liya had been in seclusion to level up these past few days, she nodded in understanding before revealing her purpose: "I've found some more energy stones, and I'd like to trade some more items with you, is that alright?"

Lia had the same idea and immediately nodded in agreement: "Of course, Miss Gu, what items would you like to trade this time? The same ones as last time?"

Gu Yunshu mentioned several things she wanted, especially the treatment potion that Xia Qingqing had mentioned, and asked for 10 bottles at once.

Because she had just broken through to a higher level and was in a good mood, Lia introduced Gu Yunshu to a shelf of even more advanced items: "Look, this is a magic protection ball, this is a magic scroll... and this is..."

As Leah introduced each item on the shelf, which was significantly better than the last one, Gu Yunshu's eyes lit up instantly: "Miss Leah, can that magic protection ball you just introduced also be traded?"

This magical protective orb is a defensive weapon. According to Leah, it can withstand a fatal attack from a mage. Its prototype is a small, round ball. When the wearer is attacked, the defense will be activated instantly, protecting a 3-meter radius around the wearer from any harm.

Gu Yunshu knew without guessing that such a life-saving item wouldn't be sold at a bargain price like the previous items.

Sure enough, Lia's eyes flickered, and she looked at Gu Yunshu apologetically, saying, "Miss Gu, I don't have many of these Magic Protection Orbs, so it might be inconvenient for me."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yunshu immediately took out a level 2 energy stone: "What about this? Can I use this to trade with you?"

In the apocalypse, different levels of crystal cores contain different amounts of energy; the energy in a level 2 crystal core is roughly equivalent to that in ten level 1 crystal cores.

Lia was instantly tempted when she saw the level 2 crystal cores, but remembering the trading skills her brother had taught her, she began to haggle: "One isn't enough, at least five."

The items that Lia had previously traded to Gu Yunshu were just trinkets used by magic apprentices and novice magicians, but this magic protection orb could withstand a fatal blow from a mage. Anyone with eyes could see its value, and Lia wasn't worried that the other party wouldn't be tempted.

Gu Yunshu was stunned when she heard the price. Although it was normal for life-saving items to be a little expensive, this price was too high: "Five is too much, can three be okay? I'll exchange for a few more, can you give me a discount?"

"Alright then, three it is," Leah said, pretending to be a little reluctant, but she was secretly overjoyed. Her brother had given her a whole box of these magic protective orbs, which could be exchanged for lots and lots of energy stones!

As the transaction progressed, Gu Yunshu considered this and that, and the good items became more and more expensive.

She acquired a large amount of items, but the amount of crystal cores in her system's inventory was also running out.

He couldn't help but sigh: It seems I really need to plan my shop opening properly; I only realize how few crystal cores I have when I need them.

When Gu Yunshu went on missions before, she was sometimes too lazy to stop and dig out crystal cores after killing level 1 or 2 zombies, since digging out crystal cores from the disgusting brains of zombies was not a pleasant experience.

If she had known back then that level 1 and level 2 crystal cores could be exchanged for so many good things, she definitely wouldn't have let a single one go.

Gu Yunshu picked out 5 bottles of healing potions, 3 bottles of beauty potions, a magic protection orb, and a teleportation scroll from the pile of things on the table and sent them to Xia Qingqing.