Shen Lang nodded and said calmly, "Do you think it's worth exchanging ten years of your lifespan for 300,000?"

"What?" Zhang Daxiang exclaimed upon hearing Shen Lang's words, "What do you mean?"

Shen Lang laughed and said, "You heard me right. I want to buy ten years of your life for 300,000. Will you sell it?"

Zhang Daxiang looked at Shen Lang as if he were looking at a ghost. Shen Lang's very serious tone sent chills down his spine.

The most mysterious and unpredictable thing about humankind is lifespan. Whether one has a good life or a bad one, once life ends, everything ceases to exist—even life itself is gone. No one knows how much longer they have left to live.

The young man in front of him was asking for 10 years of his life, which terrified him more than seeing a ghost.

"Young man, you're not joking with me, are you?" Zhang Daxiang said tremblingly.

Shen Lang shook his head and said, "Do I look like I'm joking with you? You can do the math. With your current income, even if your son Zhang Xiaoqian had his leg amputated, your income wouldn't increase. In fact, his disability would increase your financial burden. Once a rural person becomes disabled, it's like losing their ability to work, which means there's an extra mouth to feed in the family."

Shen Lang's words were like a dagger to Zhang Daxiang's heart. It was the truth. Zhang Xiaoqian was only ten years old this year, and his only use to the family was to lighten his father's burden with farm work. If he became disabled, Zhang Daxiang's family would lose a laborer and incur an additional expense.

"If you calculate it that way, your annual income is probably less than 10,000 yuan. It would take you more than 30 years to save up 300,000 yuan."

“I can provide you with this 300,000 right now, and let you treat your son, save his arm, and prevent him from becoming crippled. All I need is ten years of your life. Do you think it’s worth it?”

Zhang Daxiang believed every word Shen Lang said. He knew that if he agreed to Shen Lang's request, he would lose ten years of his lifespan. But even if he worked himself to death for ten years, he still wouldn't earn 300,000 yuan.

Thinking of his son lying in bed awaiting emergency treatment, Zhang Daxiang gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and said, "Okay, I agree."

“Master, you seem to have the potential to be a shrewd businessman,” the little elf said, sitting on Shen Lang’s shoulder.

"Bullshit, I'm just helping others," Shen Lang retorted, then asked, "How do we proceed with the transaction?"

The little elf said, "The system will provide the master with a contract. As long as the master makes him sign it, the system will automatically extract ten years of his lifespan and store it in the system's warehouse."

Then Shen Lang pretended to take a black parchment scroll from under the covers, unfolded it, and handed it to Zhang Daxiang, saying, "Sign this."

Zhang Daxiang took the sheepskin scroll and found mysterious runes written on it that he couldn't understand. He didn't dare to sign it for a moment and asked Shen Lang, "What does this say?"

"Little elf".

"I forgot to convert it into modern characters, hehe." The little elf smiled awkwardly, then waved its little hand, and the mysterious runes on the scroll instantly turned into simplified Chinese characters in Zhang Daxiang's eyes.

“There is a mortal named Zhang Daxiang who sells 10 years of his lifespan at the All Things Exchange for RMB 300,000. Once the transaction is completed, neither the buyer nor the seller may break the contract. This contract serves as proof, and Heaven and Earth bear witness.”

Looking at the words on the parchment scroll, Zhang Daxiang swallowed hard, a fine layer of sweat beading on his forehead. He hesitated.

He didn't know who the person in front of him was, but such unpredictable and mysterious methods made him feel uneasy.

Shen Lang noticed Zhang Daxiang's panic and said softly, "Mr. Zhang, there's no need to panic. It's just a small trick. You don't need to doubt my intentions. All I'm doing is giving you what you need and taking something of equal value from you."

"Alright." Zhang Daxiang had no other choice at this point. For his son who urgently needed surgery in the hospital, and for his son's future, he had no other option.

Zhang Daxiang bit his right index finger and pressed his fingerprint on his name.

For a moment, Zhang Daxiang felt as if something was missing from him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Only his temples were starting to turn gray.

Shen Lang waved his hand, and the scroll returned to his grasp before disappearing. He then took out his phone, opened the newly downloaded mobile banking app, and handed it to Zhang Daxiang, saying, "Mr. Zhang, please save your bank card number."

Zhang Daxiang shakily took out several payment slips and a bank card from his pocket, entered the bank card number into his phone, and then handed it to Shen Lang.

After a series of actions, Shen Lang quickly transferred the money to Zhang Daxiang.

Zhang Daxiang's phone also rang at the same time.

Seeing the notification that 300,000 yuan had been deposited into his bank account, he breathed a sigh of relief; his son's hand could finally be saved.

"Sir, I'll be going now," Zhang Daxiang said respectfully.

He had already experienced Shen Lang's methods firsthand, and in a way, Shen Lang was his family's savior.

Shen Lang nodded without saying anything.

The little sprite flew up to him and said happily, "Congratulations, Master, on successfully completing your first transaction. You have gained one experience point and one transaction coin."

Immediately afterwards, a green light suddenly emanated from the little sprite's body, and the thumb-sized sprite grew to the size of a palm.

"Congratulations on leveling up, master. The system shop is now open."

"You're so cute, little guy," Shen Lang praised the little elf.

"Haha, thank you for the compliment, Master," the little elf laughed. "Won't you check out the shop, Master?"

Shen Lang nodded, and then a projection appeared in front of him.

(Dan Medicine Area)

Disease-curing powder

Price: 1 trading coin

Efficacy: It can heal minor internal injuries after use.

Marrow Cleansing Pill

Price: 5 trading coins

Efficacy: It can cleanse the meridians and marrow, transforming the user's physique and enhancing their physical constitution and comprehension.

Xiaolonghu Dan

Price: 10 Trading Coins

Effect: Increases one's cultivation level by five years after use.

Enlightenment Pill

Price: 30 Trading Coins

Effect: Increases permanent enlightenment upon use.

Shen Lang clicked into the weapons section:

(Weapons Zone)

Steel sword

Price: 5 trading coins

Description: A longsword forged from fine steel

Steel gun

Price: 7 trading coins

Description: A long spear forged from fine steel

Shen Lang glanced at the system shop. Apart from the pills section, the rest were all the same items that could be seen or bought in real life, nothing special.

"Is this all there is to the system shop?" Shen Lang asked.

The little sprite nodded and explained, "Master is currently only level one, so these are the only things you can buy within your current level. Once you reach level two, the corresponding areas will be unlocked."

"Alright." Shen Lang nodded. After all, he already had the system, so even the best things in it would eventually be his. He wasn't in a hurry.

He purchased a healing powder from the system's shop, intending to repair the injuries in his body.

"Trying to play these old tricks with me? Just you wait." Shen Lang held a packet of medicine powder in his hand, tilted his head back, poured it into his mouth, swallowed it, and then hurriedly drank the already cold boiled water.

Shen Lang threw the wrapper on the ground and complained, "Why is this stuff so bitter?"

The little elf said, "Master, the disease-curing powder is made of pure Chinese medicinal herbs, so of course it's bitter."