The corner of Monkey Tao’s mouth twitched.
He had already gotten a tip from the distributor that he might be receiving a share of brilliant glory.
He hadn’t expected that simply observing a guest would indeed lead him to encounter such a situation. Still, being able to obtain another share of brilliant glory at this time—that was really too good to be true.
He turned his head and glanced at the people in the room, all dressed in various long robes and vests. Those present at this material trading fair included not only the dwindling number of Fogfolk, but also many researchers studying esoteric knowledge gathered from various sources about mystical powers, as well as merchants who specialized in providing rare materials to these very individuals.
Seeing that Yang Zicang had completely identified the Five Elements attributes of all the ores in that crate with just one hand, the surrounding crowd clamored as they pressed in around him.
“Sir, could you help me pick out some ore materials?“
“Brother, you’ve got quite the skill there. Can you identify medicinal herbs as well?“
In practically an instant, that man with the scorched and wrinkled skin ceased to be terrifying in their eyes, and instead seemed to radiate a certain kind of authority and presence.
“Ah, sir, so you possess such a talent after all. Might I ask what business you have in specially searching for the crystals of ember ore?“
Hadel, with his gaunt face, scurried over from behind Yang Zicang and spoke with an ingratiating bow and smile. Inwardly, a twinge of anxiety flickered through his mind: The Young Master, who usually seldom bothered with affairs down here, had suddenly made a point of inviting these three people tonight. Hadel’s eyes darted a glance at the two capable-looking women who had followed behind him. Heaven knows what they all intended to do.
As for this guide who had so eagerly revealed his connection with the Young Master earlier, aside from the two young women who wore looks of barely concealed disdain, Yang Zicang, who had just stepped out from the crowd, showed no particularly hostile expression.
“It was I who invited Second Young Master to join us. I need these crystals to craft some things. Rest assured, I only require a small portion.“
Monkey Tao immediately spoke up from the side: “As far as I know, there are only a few magic patterns that use Ember Ore crystals. What’s your line of work, brother?“
Yang Zicang turned his head with a dismissive smile: “Before asking about others, you might at least talk about yourself. Aside from setting gate rules here, what exactly do you do?“
“How dare you!” Monkey Tao seethed with irritation, but there was nothing he could do—he was the one who had actively stepped forward to provoke and test.
Regarding that area over there, unless it was truly necessary, he generally dared not go over to disturb those few. Just as Monkey Tao was thinking about how to sustain this newly kindled “prelude of brilliance,” Yang Zicang took the initiative to speak.
“Since you’re familiar around here, brother, how about taking me for a stroll within these grounds?“
Monkey Tao’s eyes could not conceal a flicker of delight.
Well done! This insolent bastard actually gave him an excuse to continue being part of the affair on his own terms.
“What do you want?” Monkey Tao asked with a hint of visible irritation. Everyone present had just witnessed his deliberate provocation, and that still stung a bit.
“Some portable Five Elements crystals. Oh, and thinking of it—“
Yang Zicang suddenly recalled that he also needed to collect the papers designated by the Ether Name Card.
“Do you know anyone who sells special paper or related materials? I mean… how should I put it?” Having no idea how those papers came about, Yang Zicang found himself slightly at a loss.
The delight on Monkey Tao’s face after feigning a disgruntled relocation was instantly replaced by surprise. “You can’t be talking aboutthatkind of paper, are you? ” His eyes darted towards the raucous crowd behind him, and he almost impatiently added:
“No problem, brother. Anyone can see you’re a man of real skill. I, Monkey Tao, love making friends like you! I know this market district like the back of my hand. Come with me, and I guarantee you’ll find the most suitable materials! “
Xue Qi and Hua Mi exchanged a glance, both heaving a sigh of relief. At least this man, who seemed eager to spark a radiant outburst, wasn’t going to escalate this prenatal prelude into an all-out conflict.
Monkey Tao immediately sidled up to Yang Zicang, shouldering past the sycophantic Harder. “I’ll lead the way over there. “
Xue Qi and Hua Mi glared at him angrily. This guy was clearly trying to get the guide out of the way so he could tip off his contacts over there.
Yang Zicang, who had been feeling a tad smug about how smoothly things were going, suddenly felt a knot in his throat.
“Let’s go. There’s plenty of Five Elements ore, but when it comes to portable crystals, Old Jolker’s are the only ones decently good in quality.“
Monkey Tao hastily pointed to a small area deeper in the hall, partitioned off by heavy velvet curtains. “Old Jolker’s got a bit of a temper, sure, but his goods… Well, they’re so excellent that even standard instruments can’t measure the exact values.“
As he spoke, he gave Yang Zicang’s hand a meaningful glance.
The group squeezed through the noisy crowd across half the venue, arriving before the small booth.
“Hey, make way, buddy, I’ve got a customer in a hurry. “
Seeing it was Monkey Tao, the few people chatting in front of the stall smiled and greeted him, clearing a path.
The booth was filled with all kinds of peculiar ores. An old man in a greasy leather apron was polishing a dark red crystal using a set of complex hand tools. The air was thick with a faintly strange mixed odor.
“Old Joe, look, a big spender is here! ” Monkey Tao greeted him familiarly. “You missed it earlier, but this gentleman’s elemental probing was nothing short of incredible. “
Old Joe looked up and carefully scrutinized Yang Zicang’s features, his brow wrinkling imperceptibly. “Are you a Mistperson with related abilities? “
With “Musing Night ” ever so faintly active as he perceived Hader’s movements, Yang Zicang nodded. “I need a few small crystals—one of each from the five elements. “
“Do you need the ones ‘charged with malice’? “
Having done his homework, Yang Zicang already knew why the wood-element aura he had sensed earlier felt so barren. That was because they were imbued with the “negative ” supply of “malice. “
“Hold off on the malice, just a bit. “
“Just a bit? ” The shopkeeper was instantly tickled by this thoroughly unprofessional term. Chuckling and shaking his head, he casually picked out some crystals from a nearby bin, ones clearly rather mediocre in quality.
“Hey, you’re dealing with a real pro this time! ” Houtao quickly chimed in. “Recommended by Mr. Er. He just showed his skill outside—picked out the essence from that pile of materials at the West stall with his bare hands. I brought him here specially. “
Old Joe K. paused mid-motion. “Picking ore with your bare hands? ” He lifted his eyelids to sweep across Yang Zicang and the two girls behind him once more before his gaze settled on Yang Zicang’s gloved hand. “If you’re really that good, help me take a look at something to see if it’s worth cutting open, and I’ll give you a bit of a discount. “
It was incredibly rare to meet someone who didn’t rely on those shoddy instruments. Somewhat uncertain, Old Joe K. casually picked up a fragment of crystalline rubble next to him, placing it on the table in front of Yang Zicang. “Talk to me about this—what do you think? “
The surface of the crystal fragment was dull and lackluster, with even some patches blackened, making it look like a piece of extremely poor quality. A few people nearby, also browsing the goods, secretly shook their heads, certain that Old Joe K. was deliberately trying to throw up a tough challenge.
Houtao was also watching Yang Zicang nervously. After all, an elemental crystal that had already been extracted was worlds apart from raw ore in terms of intensity and complexity.
｛I begin to communicate with the Source of the Holy Spirit, the Five Elemental Field.｝
As Yang Zicang pulled off his gloves, the air around his fingertips twisted faintly, a wisp of pale gray ethereal flame rippling toward the crystal.
Beneath that familiar sensation of primal chaos spread flickering flames, their surface brimming with a desolate and biting cold aura.
After a moment, Yang Zicang withdrew his hand.
“The shell is contaminated, and the internal fire element is clogged by dead qi. It’s probably waste material. “
Old Joker’s face revealed a barely perceptible sneer.
“However, ” Yang Zicang shifted his tone, “with such intense ‘Sha’ concentrated in this small crystal, under special circumstances, it should be able to serve a unique purpose. “
Old Joker abruptly stood up, nearly knocking over the tool basket beside him, his voice trembling with disbelief: “You… can really see it? Just by reaching out a finger? “
He hurriedly retrieved a canister sealed in a special metal case from under the counter. Opening it revealed three pebble-like stones inside.
“Excellent, please take a look at this thing for me, ” Old Joker said, his tone becoming much more serious.
“What is this? ” Yang Zicang asked, somewhat puzzled.
“This is a specially processed biological egg. Well… you don’t need to know the details. Just help me see if there are any active Five Elements elemental traces inside. “
Monkey Tao, standing aside, watched with wide eyes, his heart bursting with ecstasy.This old bastard actually brought out this thing.
｛Distributor April · Odysseus stated with extensive experience that my glorious prelude is brewing vigorously!｝
Yang Zicang listened to Odysseus’ excited remarks, a look of surprise crossing his face.
The thing before him… he instantly thought of those Blood Beasts. No way, can this stuff be circulating among civilians?
“Please be extremely careful, ” Old Joker cautioned repeatedly.
｛I began to communicate with the Source of the Holy Spirit, the realm of the Five Elements.｝
Yang Zicang’s fingers brushed over the three items one by one, selecting an egg that carried a faint trace of active elemental energy.
“The remaining two have already been filled with a faint, mixed aura of malice. “
“Ah, but having even just one is good enough. I can’t use this thing myself—I’ll sell it. If the buyer fails to hatch it, I’ll be in for big trouble. Don’t you dare try to trick me! “
As he spoke, Old Joker brought out a box studded with all sorts of shimmering, translucent crystals.
Yang Zicang glanced at the high-quality crystals and nodded. “Two pieces will suffice. “
The transaction went smoothly. Old Joker even threw in a small pouch of stabilizing companion ore powder as an extra gift.
After leaving Old Joker’s stall, Houtao’s attitude grew even warmer. He was almost willing to share everything he knew, offering introductions to other valuable items at the trading fair and the local power dynamics. Yang Zicang took this opportunity to casually probe for information about recent events in the area. Houtao eagerly poured out everything he knew like beans from a jar, hoping to further “get involved. “
Just as they were nearing the end of the fair, Yang Zicang suddenly stopped, his gaze sharp as it fixed upon a dim corner to his side and rear.
There, a figure shrouded in a hooded robe that concealed almost their entire form was handing something over to another merchant-like person.
Their movements were covert, their auras expertly restrained. But in that instant, Yang Zicang sensed an exceptionally faint and abnormal fluctuation.
That fluctuation seemed to share the same origin as the Nightmares he had encountered before, yet carried subtle differences.
“Who is that person? ” Yang Zicang asked Monkey Tao in a low voice.
Monkey Tao followed his gaze and his expression shifted slightly. “Him? No one knows his real name; everyone calls him ‘Shegui’. He comes occasionally, only to trade rare materials—especially… things peeled from Nightmares. Word has it that his connections are rough, and most people steer clear of him. “
Nightmare-associated materials?
Yang Zicang’s heart tightened slightly.
-｛Loki Tata Mingqi, with his rich experience, suggests this might be a new node.｝
A faint smile curled on Yang Zicang’s lips. He cast another glance at that cloaked figure named “Shegui. “
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