Chapter 75: The Spatial Stone in Hand

Within the heart of the Reflowing Sands Desert lives a large community of Lizardfolk—docile creatures who, so long as they are left undisturbed, never stray beyond their sandy domain. At the very center of their territory is rumored to dwell a seventh-tier Lizardfolk, a being of such formidable strength that provoking it would be unthinkable. However, hunting other monsters along the desert’s edge, even those of the Lizardfolk variety, seldom incites retaliation from the central tribe. There is, albeit rarely, a chance that one might obtain Reflowing Sand as a drop from these peripheral monsters.

The creatures inhabiting the outskirts range in strength from tier three to tier five, with the majority being tier three and only a scant few reaching tier five.

[Reflowing Sand]
Quality: Blue
Tier: Three
Function: When used at a specified location, it rewinds time within a maximum radius of ten meters, returning everything to its state an hour prior.
Bonus: Map

Bandit Stronghold of Python Mountain

This faction survives in the wilderness, led by a formidable sixth-tier leader. The mountain itself is renowned for producing Gravity Iron—an exceptionally dense material of immense weight, with a fist-sized lump tipping the scales at over a thousand catties—and is an essential component in weapon forging. The bandit stronghold has entered into an agreement with other powers possessing sixth-tier elites, restricting trade so that Gravity Iron is supplied solely to six factions: the Mystic Ice Sect, Lake Heart Island, White Ram City, Mist Veil City, Sea-Cleaver City, and the Monster Hunters. It is not available on the open market.

Of course, those with sufficient strength may simply ignore such agreements; after all, rules exist only to restrain the weak.

This was the intelligence Lu Sheng had acquired at the cost of ten tier-three source pearls, and he found it most satisfactory. The only drawback was that both items would require a foray into the wilderness, and neither would be easily obtained.

For now, the probability of acquiring Reflowing Sand seemed somewhat higher. As for Gravity Iron, without the right connections, one could only hope to seize it by force—something Lu Sheng, despite his confidence, did not believe himself capable of, not when sixth-tier opponents were involved.

The matter of Gravity Iron could be postponed; Reflowing Sand, however, was worth pursuing. For now, his priority was to purchase the Spatial Stone from the Mystic Ice Trading House.

Leaving the Dorun News Agency behind, Lu Sheng made his way to the trading house.

The establishment occupied three floors. The ground level displayed monster cards and function cards, with a wide selection of basic types, while the finer items were showcased in the center.

As Lu Sheng browsed, something unexpected caught his eye.

[Tenfold Fertility Card]

Indeed, they had the Tenfold Fertility Card here as well. Wang Xian had not yet confirmed whether he could craft one, and the materials had not been assembled. Lu Sheng decided to simply buy some here for immediate use.

First, he inquired about the price.

“Boss, how much for a Tenfold Fertility Card?”

The proprietor, a plump middle-aged man whose oily face betrayed a life of indulgence, replied, “These aren’t too rare. Just twenty tier-one source pearls each.”

What? Only twenty?

Lu Sheng had expected the price to be over a hundred. On reflection, the function cards he’d seen last time were all combat-oriented, which explained why even the cheapest had cost at least a hundred tier-one source pearls. In this post-apocalyptic world, combat prowess was everything.

“How many do you have?” Lu Sheng asked.

The fat shopkeeper squinted, “Let me check. One moment.”

In the end, Lu Sheng exchanged ten tier-three source pearls for fifty Tenfold Fertility Cards. The exchange rate between pearls was ten to one; a single tier-three source pearl equaled a hundred tier-one pearls.

“Boss, do you sell Spirit Fruits here?”

“Of course. Which tier are you looking for?”

Yuan Hui narrowed his eyes and smiled, sensing a big sale was at hand.

Lu Sheng studied him. “I need fourth-tier Spirit Fruit. How are they priced?”

Yuan Hui gave a sheepish smile. “Fourth-tier Spirit Fruits are so rare they never reach the market. There’s simply no public pricing.”

Lu Sheng was taken aback; evidently, these fruits were quite precious. He realized he had underestimated their value.

Upon learning of their rarity, Lu Sheng immediately decided not to sell his own. He still had sixteen fourth-tier source pearls, enough to last five days—ample time for his Bloodthirsty Mosquitoes to reach maturity through three cycles.

He shook his head with a sigh. “That’s a pity. I’d hoped to obtain a fourth-tier Spirit Fruit to enhance my strength.”

“Well, since you don’t have any, do you at least carry tier-three Spatial Stones?”

Yuan Hui smiled. “We do indeed. How much do you need?”

Lu Sheng held up a finger. “I want a whole piece.”

Yuan Hui beamed. “A complete tier-three Spatial Stone is worth three thousand tier-three source pearls. Are you sure, young man?”

Lu Sheng nodded. “I’m sure. By the way, do you accept tier-three Spirit Fruit as payment?”

He had no intention of selling his fourth-tier fruit, but after a moment’s thought, decided the third-tier ones could be parted with.

After all, if third-tier Spirit Fruits circulated freely on the market, trading them must be safe enough, indicating a stable market.

Of course, this was only Lu Sheng’s assumption. Even if the market was less stable, third-tier Spirit Fruits would attract, at most, those at the fourth tier. If such a person showed an interest in him, Lu Sheng would not hesitate to respond in kind.

Yuan Hui’s eyes opened a fraction wider, his demeanor growing more cautious. “Let’s discuss this inside. Too many prying eyes out here.”

He summoned an assistant to mind the counter and led Lu Sheng into a small private room.

Once inside, Yuan Hui got straight to the point. “Ordinary tier-three Spirit Fruits are worth about twelve hundred tier-three source pearls apiece. If you sell to us, the standard buy-in rate is one thousand—saving you the trouble of finding a buyer and the risk of being double-crossed.”

“You must understand, not everyone has a thousand tier-three source pearls at their disposal,” he added candidly. This was common knowledge, and he doubted anyone in possession of a tier-three Spirit Fruit would be unaware of it. Even if Lu Sheng didn’t know now, a little inquiry would yield the answer.

A trading house’s greatest asset is its reputation; no one would risk that for a single fruit.

Lu Sheng replied coolly, “And what about a blue-quality tier-three Spirit Fruit?”

The higher the quality, the richer the energy, and thus the greater the value.

Yuan Hui’s eyes opened even wider, and he answered with measured gravity, “For a blue-quality one, I can offer three thousand tier-three source pearls. That’s my absolute limit. I assure you, no one in Oxhorn City will pay more.”

Lu Sheng nodded. “Very well. Here is a blue-quality, tier-three Water Spirit Fruit. Let’s exchange it for the Spatial Stone.”

There was only one major trading house in Oxhorn City, and Lu Sheng had no reason to doubt Yuan Hui’s word.

The Water Spirit Fruit tree had borne fruit again the previous night. After Lu Sheng had supplied it with ample Windflame Twin-Headed Serpent corpses, ten tier-three Water Spirit Fruits had already ripened. The tree, greedily absorbing the serpents’ energy, was gradually progressing toward tier four.

Lu Sheng plucked one of the blue-quality fruits and handed it over.

Yuan Hui promptly examined it and, not long after, had one complete Spatial Stone brought to Lu Sheng.

“A pleasure doing business. My name is Yuan Hui. May I ask your name, young man?”

“A pleasure indeed. I am Lu Sheng.”

They shook hands, each having obtained what they desired.

Afterward, Lu Sheng took a stroll through the Mystic Ice Trading House, with Yuan Hui accompanying him throughout. During their conversation, Lu Sheng gleaned a bit more about Yuan Hui’s position—he was a manager of some significance within the organization, with a voice that carried weight.