The feeble lights of the night-enveloped docks faintly illuminated the ground.
Yang Zicang appeared at the old docks of Hydrapower City, accompanied by two girls in neat, sharp coats. Usually, people might have been roaming about on such nights, but at this moment, ravaged by the sudden terror of demonic attacks, everyone had vanished.
“Hey, where exactly are we going? ” the indignant Xue Qi finally asked after the long walk.
Yang Zicang deliberately avoided using “｛Musing Night｝ “, turning his head instead and saying, “How about we split up and search? But don’t wander too far apart. “
“Yeah? We’re splitting up? Xiao Qi, can I come with you? “
“We shouldn’t be more than ten meters apart—no, five meters. “
The two girls silently reinforced their time-based defenses within themselves, then dispersed along with Yang Zicang to search. They hadn’t taken more than a couple of steps before they heard the encouraging voice of the distributor, Di’an. This was especially true for Hua Mi, whose heart instantly brimmed with both joy and nervousness.
Meanwhile, far off on both flanks behind them, He Yishu and Leonardo maintained their vigilance.
“Bu Chen, it’s over there. ” It wasn’t long before Hua Mi and Xue Qi came jogging back quickly. As people who had both struggled within the bounds of the Old Fate Trajectory, such a short run was nothing to them.
-｛Distributor Loki Tata Mingqi has indicated, with his vast experience, that I have nurtured a glorious prelude which has given birth to a new node.｝
“Well done. ” After taking a few more steps, the three figures calmly approached an old, large brick house. From inside, faint, indiscernible voices and the sound of music drifted out.
-｛Distributor February Di’an has indicated, with his vast experience, that my glorious prelude has nurtured a new node.｝
-｛Distributor April Odyssey has indicated, with his vast experience, that I am nurturing a glorious prelude.｝
Yang Zicang felt a slight stir within. With the new distributor’s tip, it seemed he should invite Tā Tǎ Míng Qí to see if they could craft a new accessory again.
Two people walked up from the doorway to greet them.
“Who are you? Where did you come from… Holy crap! ” The young man with a crew cut, catching sight of the terrifyingly extreme face approaching from the front, was so frightened that his words came out trembling, unable to form a full sentence.
Yang Zicang glanced at the other person beside him, whose hands were shaking so much that he failed twice to pull whatever he had hidden in his pocket. It sure didn’t look like it was a “courtesy gift ” like cigarettes he was fumbling for.
Seeing their reaction, Yang Zicang finally took his own appearance seriously. Because he knew it would heal, he never really bothered… but who knew it would be this horrifying?
“Ahem. ” Under the watchful gaze of the two girls behind him, Yang Zicang, wearing leather gloves, pulled a bone token from his pocket.
“So you’re Second Brother’s people. Please, follow us. ” Spotting the bone emblem Yang Zicang revealed, the two guided him toward the stone steps not far ahead. In the murky and dim air around them, light shone from behind a half-open door on the steps, which seemed to have been cracked open at his arrival.
A head poked out from inside to take a look at the emblem that was quickly put away.
“Second Brother’s people? You know the rules? “
“Take a look, ask a question, trade’s voluntary. ” Yang Zicang repeated the secret signal Hom had told him.
“Hmm. ” The figure inside seemed to nod. “Come on in. The two of them come too? “
“My assistants, responsible for carrying things. ” Yang Zicang said without changing his expression.
The noise behind the door suddenly grew louder, and the stone steps inside were unexpectedly deeper. About five or six steps down the two-meter-wide passage lay a larger hall, with the sound of a gramophone reaching them from the far end where a stand of contempt stood.
“Hey, oh, make way, guests! ” A portly man held a tray aloft with one hand as he squeezed through the somewhat crowded throng.
“This is our material trade fair. Is this your first time here? Anything catch your interest? ” A scrawny man beside Yang Zicang spoke while rubbing his hands together, deliberately stooping slightly to show “respect ” to the guest.
The big boss and the second boss of this material trade fair almost never made an appearance in person, but tonight they had both sent people. Seemed like something was brewing.
Yang Zicang turned his head. “Do you know where the ‘Ember Ore Crystal’ is? “
Xue Qi and Hua Mi also looked over. Seeing that the three of them possessed an aura clearly different from ordinary people, the man thought for a moment and said, “Ah, over this way, follow me. “
They had barely taken two steps when someone suddenly blocked their path. “Hader, who are these people? Fancy enough to get a personal reception from you? “
This man wore a black leather vest with sleeveless cut, with two pendants hanging around his neck. Though his ears appeared slightly pointed, Yang Zicang’s sweeping glance caught from his necklace that this guy had once navigated the Mist Sea.
- ｛Distributor Loki Tata Mingqi expressed “like. “｝
The thin guide known as Hardell put on a forced look of difficulty. “Monkey Tao, this is a newcomer friend. If you have nothing to do, go play cards over there first. ” Hardell turned to Yang Zicang. “This way, sir. Let’s go over. “
He pointed to an area across the way, partially isolated by a few wooden tables.
Monkey Tao understood the thin man’s implication immediately. His expression shifted, a challenging smirk spreading across his face as he sized up Yang Zicang and the two women behind him.
“Tsk, unfamiliar faces. Hardell, what kind of gentleman is this that on his very first visit, he gets to go straight into the trading zone? Aren’t you afraid some greenhorn will rub the real VIPs the wrong way? “
Yang Zicang’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
“What did you say? ” Xue Qi stepped forward angrily. Hua Mi quickly tugged at her from the side, trying to hold her back.
Though the guy across from them was speaking to Hardell, his eyes kept landing on Yang Zicang’s somewhat scarred face, as if trying to read something from it. But inside, Yang Zicang felt only a deep, profound calm.
Was this guy trying to stir up glory light, or truly looking for trouble, probing their identities? Yang Zicang hadn’t forgotten about Kaden, the one who had pretended to be a Fogfolk member before.
“It’s fine, it’s obvious this guy is just bored out of his mind, looking for a fight, ” Xue Qi whispered from behind.
Even the two women could see it. Yang Zicang was even more certain that the man across from him harbored exactly those intentions.
So he half-heartedly responded to the provocation, playing along:
“Oh? Rules? And who made you the judge and jury around here? “
The Monkey Tao across from him instantly flashed an excited grin, his eyes sweeping over their ears.
Yang Zicang narrowed his eyes slightly.
Hah, both sides had now confirmed that the other were Fogfolk.
Monkey Tao’s gaze glistened subtly a moment, then sharpened on purpose as he bellowed:
“Rules are rules! Or what! You want the good stuff, you’ve gotta prove your eyes work first! “
“He’s after Ember Ore. ” Hadiree chimed in, never missing a beat.
“Oh? ” Monkey Tao paused, the corner of his mouth twitching before he went on. “For example, that Ember Ore you’re after. Think you know which chunk holds the purest, most lasting Fire Elemental power? And which one’s half-poisoned with Earth-Pestilence Qi, ripe only for being forged into scrap? “
He gestured proudly toward a run-down stall where a few dull, ashen ores lay scattered. “Nevermind Ember Ore, look at those. Outwardly they seem alike, but inside… night and day, kid. Could you tell the difference? Strength to wield a token means nothing without the skill to do a real job. “
Then his eyes flicked over their empty hands—apparently, they didn’t even carry instruments. Heck wondered if his word-orientated bluff was cutting away. Bah, but whether it did or didn’t, at least he’d soon tap a read ’ta.
-｛Distributor February. Di’an gave me a “Neutral Review “.｝
Yang Zicang’s nostrils flared slightly.
This was a blatant challenge to his eyesight and perception of elemental power. The trouble wasn’t too severe, though.
“Hey, how dare you speak to Mr. Er’s man like that! ” As the commotion drew the attention of nearby people inspecting goods, Hadel’s remark instantly sparked murmurs among them.
“Is that the person invited by Mr. Er? “
Some of them showed faint surprise.
“Since that’s the rule here, then of course I can. ” With that, Yang Zicang turned to head toward the stall that Monkey Tao had casually pointed to.
“Hey! That guy, you don’t even have tools, so can you really do it? “
Yang Zicang paused briefly, as if lost in thought, while Monkey Tao deliberately wore a smug, triumphant smirk.
But instead of replying to them, Yang Zicang slowly took off his ever-worn leather gloves, revealing a scarred hand with distinct, bony joints.
He walked over silently, raised his hand slightly, fingers loosely spread, aiming at the pile of ores on the stall.
“Hey, hey, you! What do you think you’re doing? “
Some people nearby, busy measuring metal content with small instruments, turned in surprise.
In an instant, Xue Qi, Hua Mi, and the sharp-sensed Monkey Tao all felt a faint yet incredibly precise wave of Wind element emanate from Yang Zicang, spreading outward.
｛I began to communicate with the Source of the Holy Spirit, the Five Elements Force Field.｝
｛I activated the Explosive Wind Fist technique.｝
A violent gale, empowered by the Five Elements Force Field, instantly expanded outward, sweeping over the pile of ore beneath his palm.
Simultaneously, in Yang Zicang’s mind, the outline of a primary-level memory magic pattern was instantly sketched.
As Yang Zicang’s power brushed past those several pieces of ore, the distinctly different and extremely subtle resonance feedback generated by the elemental forces contained within them was all committed to memory.
In the piece with refined Fire Essence, miniature stars seemed to light up within; in the piece tainted with Earth Sha, a dull, turbid halo rippled; and in one piece concealing a rare trace of Shadow Energy, unique ripples also spread…
This method of perception was infinitely superior to the cautious first attempt. Firstly, it was my impromptu experiment—originally, the Explosive Wind Fist is a secret skill belonging to one of the Five Elements. With the force field attachment, its capability naturally improved.
Secondly, the elemental energy within these ores wasn’t enormous. Compared to the Corrupted Nightmares at the Corrupt Spirit level, it didn’t require such high mental focus.
“Hey! What are you people doing?! “
Some people nearby were increasingly drawn over by this faintly dispersed wind palm.
“This gentleman was invited by Mr. Er. He seems to be helping select elemental ores, ” Hader explained to the side.
“Is this some kind of ore selection? “
“He doesn’t even have an instrument. “
These people all looked over, with some carefully scrutinizing the area around Yang Zicang’s chest where his not-too-thick clothes lay, yet no light rings were seen glowing.
Monkey Tao, watching from the side, licked his slightly dry lips.
Yang Zicang withdrew his hand, put his leather gloves back on, and said in a calm, expressionless tone:
“The fire element in the third piece from the left is relatively pure, but unfortunately, there’re some impurities deep in the core, and the energy has already slowly seeped away. As for the largest piece on the right, the earth element within is rather mottled in its condensation—but if someone refines it, it could be used to make some trinkets. However, the inconspicuous little stone in that corner there isn’t half bad. “
Yang Zicang reached out and picked up a dark-colored, rather smooth rock from the corner.
With each word he spoke, the crowd’s gazes grew more astonished. By the time he finished, the man holding the instrument nearby was already clapping excitedly, then raising both hands in a move like a virtual hug.
This was even more detailed and precise than what he had perceived himself! Especially that block with cracks and shadow energy hidden within—he hadn’t even noticed it before at all!
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