Zhou Yan chats with Child of the God of Luck - Pakistan. "All your mithril," he insists.
"My territory's brimming with it," the friend replies. "Can you handle that much?"
"As much as you've got," Zhou Yan says, thrilled.
"Fair prices," the friend offers. "One-star mithril: 50 spirit coins per unit. Two-star: 100. Three-star: 500."
Mithril's rarity justifies the cost, matching Lord Continent's market. Zhou Yan's trading hall prices double that. "Deal. Start with 10,000 units," he says.
"Lad?" The friend reels.
He lacks that much now. "Only some on hand. I'll mine more," he promises.
"Sell what you have," Zhou Yan says. "Trade again when you've got more."
Two-star mithril's unneeded now, but future-proofing matters. They trade thousands of units, the friend vowing to mine relentlessly. Both grin—commerce and Shenlong-Pakistan ties strengthened.
The dwarves, busy repairing gear, will forge Secret Power Rings later. Zhou Yan eyes the Mystery Store's next blueprint:
[Item: Storm Talisman]
[Quality: B]
[Description: Summons a five-minute storm to attack enemies.]
[Price: 200,000 spirit coins]
A one-use talisman, but B-grade—perfect for tough monsters. He buys it.
Next:
[Item: Golden Armor Blueprint]
[Quality: Gold]
[Requirements: 20 four-star gold, 5 four-star iron ore, 3 four-star beast tendon]
[Price: 1,000,000 spirit coins]
"Prime," Zhou Yan mutters, buying it despite lacking materials. Black Iron boots and bronze bow blueprints follow, all purchased.
Refreshing the store, five books appear. "Skill books!" Zhou Yan laughs.
Rare, coveted in chat rooms, they never sell. He inspects:
[Item: Gathering]
[Quality: D]
[Description: Gathers from elite-or-higher monsters/items; ordinary ones excluded.]
[Price: 50,000 spirit coins]
He buys and learns it. Non-skilled lords butcher monsters messily; Gathering streamlines it. For herbs, it prevents ruin—vital for value.
All five are life-type skills, not combat, but valuable:
[Item: Meteor Forging Technique]
[Quality: A]
[Description: Boosts forging speed by 60%.]
[Price: 500,000 spirit coins]
"Jerry's," Zhou Yan decides. Faster forging means more gear, more profit. He buys it.
[Item: Farming Technique]
[Quality: D]
[Description: Increases crop yield by 10%.]
[Price: 50,000 spirit coins]
For Spirit Fields, it's extra income. A subordinate will use it—lords don't farm. Zhou Yan buys it, musing about chatting life with Diao Chan instead.
[Item: Supreme Wonderful Pill Refining Technique]
[Quality: S]
[Description: Boosts pill quality by 10%, refining speed by 20%, cuts consumption by 20%.]
[Price: 10,000,000 spirit coins]
S-grade, but Zhou Yan balks. "Ten million?" A lord can't refine constantly, yet selling it could double the cost. He buys, grudgingly.
[Item: Thousand Silk Weaving Technique]
[Quality: B]
[Description: Boosts weaving speed by 40%, 20% chance for attribute-enhanced cloth.]
[Price: 200,000 spirit coins]
Ideal for women, it crafts cloth for clothes or gear. He buys it.
Total spent: over 11.7 million spirit coins. Earnings vanish fast on high-tier items.
At the Divine Armory, Zhou Yan calls, "Jerry, got a skill book for you."
Jerry examines Meteor Forging Technique, stunned. "For me, Lord?"
"You're my chief smith," Zhou Yan smiles. "Who else? You've earned it."
The dwarves' gear repairs net millions, yet they seek no reward. Zhou Yan feels this is too little, but lacks better for now.