https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-37-The-Ember-Seed-Recovery-Period/12833246/
Chapter 38: Black Mountain Gold Shop
Chapter 38: Black Mountain Gold Shop
After this exchange, Song Chi embarked on a new round of shopping, or more accurately, restocking.
Tungsten gold battle shields and tungsten gold spears were always in high demand, so he purchased 10,000 units of each, spending a total of 1,000 strands of zero-grade floating land essence. He didn’t need to buy another universal star sea translator, as he already had one from his previous purchase.
For the basic gene optimization serum, he took 1,000 vials, which cost another 1,000 strands of zero-grade floating land essence. Additionally, he bought 10 vials of intermediate gene optimization serum, which cost 100 strands of zero-grade floating land essence.
This time, he didn’t buy life nuclei. From his previous market experience, he found that most zero-grade alien races used life nuclei as their currency. After the market ended, most of the resources he earned were life nuclei, so there was no need to stockpile them in advance.
He also bought five basic civilian exoskeleton suits, each equipped with ten durable batteries. These could last for several months under heavy use, costing him 110 strands of zero-grade floating land essence.
The exoskeletons were primarily for testing. Given their complexity, without proper training, most alien races would find it difficult to use them effectively. Instead of enhancing their abilities, they might hinder their movements. Their popularity would depend on the actual market response.
All these purchases totaled 2,210 strands of zero-grade floating land essence. Considering the funds left from the previous market and the resources gained from this interstellar exploration, he was now broke. Even the floating land essence he earned from selling the refined gold on the black market was all spent at the Eagle Machinery Shop.
Of course, he didn’t touch the 32 strands of first-grade floating land essence he got from the life crystal of the peak first-grade Gold Devouring Vine. He planned to save it for upgrading the "Dark Matter Energy Shield Generator."
As a common resource for upgrading the first-grade Flame Spark Flyship "Phantom Flyer," first-grade floating land essence was relatively common but still far more valuable than zero-grade floating land essence.
While the official exchange rate set by the Morning Star Principality was 1:10, the market often saw much higher prices.
Only in the black markets could you find a steady supply of first-grade floating land essence, with exchange rates typically ranging from 1:14 to 1:15, and sometimes even as high as 1:20.
At the Eagle Machinery Shop, the offered rate was 1:10, so Song Chi naturally wouldn’t make a loss by selling at that rate.
While Song Chi was on a shopping spree, in the southern outskirts of River Origin City, at the East Mountain Forest Park, the River Origin black market was bustling.
The Black Mountain Gold Shop was a specialized store on the outskirts of the black market, dedicated to acquiring various metal and mineral resources. They bought these resources at 65% of the market price, which were often untradeable in the open market. Then, through their special channels, they resold them at 75% of the market price to large machinery shops, making a profit from the 10% difference.
The sheer volume of transactions was what made the Black Mountain Gold Shop profitable. With a population of over 20 million in River Origin City and tens of thousands of Flame Spark Flyships, plus the private goods smuggled by the employees of the floating land mining companies, the amount of mineral resources flowing into the black market each year was staggering.
Thus, even as a peripheral acquisition shop, the Black Mountain Gold Shop still raked in substantial profits.
Of course, the main reason for their success was their strong backing. As a business of the "Black Mountain Society," the dominant underground force in River Origin City, they were untouchable by most other factions. Those powerful enough to challenge them wouldn’t bother with such a small operation.
However, today was different. In the corner of the street, several figures were quietly monitoring everything inside and outside the Black Mountain Gold Shop.
These people had been keeping an eye on the Black Mountain Gold Shop for nearly ten days, yet neither the shop nor the Black Mountain Guild behind it had noticed a thing. This clearly demonstrated the formidable power of those who were watching.
In a secluded corner, a man wearing a black cap suddenly received a communication alert in his ear. His lazy demeanor instantly transformed, though his face remained calm, a deep sense of respect flashed in his eyes.
"Target confirmed, inside the Black Mountain Gold Shop. Move in!"
"Roger!"
Following this command, the figures scattered throughout the street sprang into action. As they released their First-Class energy auras, a faint glow flashed across their foreheads, and ten imposing battle constructs materialized around each of them.
Indeed, these four individuals were all First-Class Flameheart Captains, and their ships were all equipped with special "Construct Trees."
This sudden display of power naturally caused a commotion. Inside the Black Mountain Gold Shop, a First-Class Psionic Frigate Captain was on duty, and he immediately sensed something was amiss.
However, unlike the attackers, his ship was not equipped with a Construct Tree, and the limited space inside the shop did not allow for the direct summoning of a Psionic Frigate. His only option was to rush outside.
At that moment, his mind was focused on one thing: summoning his ship. If he could board his Psionic Frigate, even if he couldn't defeat the attackers, they wouldn't be able to capture or kill him in a short time. If he could hold out, the Black Market patrols would eventually arrive.
The Black Market, though chaotic, was a product of a mutual agreement among the various factions in Jiangyuan City, and it had its own patrol system.
However, the figures outside were well-prepared and had no intention of letting him escape. The forty First-Class battle constructs immediately surrounded the Black Mountain Gold Shop, ensuring that the First-Class Flameheart Captain would be attacked by at least three constructs no matter which direction he tried to escape.
Forty against one, and with the attackers holding the initiative, the outcome of the battle was predetermined from the start.
In less than ten seconds, the Black Mountain Guild's high-ranking member, who had undergone one life enhancement and had his Guidance Technique at Level 14, was subdued like a dead pig by several constructs.
After securing their target, the four figures quickly retreated, showing no interest in the thousands of tons of mineral resources inside the Black Mountain Gold Shop.
Two minutes later, when the attackers were long gone, the Black Market patrols finally arrived in their kinetic flyers. After a thorough search that yielded no clues, they left in frustration. The Black Mountain Guild's reaction afterward was not the Black Market's concern.
The Black Mountain Guild was not weak, but compared to the major factions in Jiangyuan City, it was far from being a top-tier force. Otherwise, its operations wouldn't be limited to the outskirts of the Black Market.
The core area of Jiangyuan Black Market was the heart of the city, where at least 90% of all resource transactions took place annually.
A basic criterion for distinguishing between first-tier and second-tier factions in Jiangyuan City was whether they had their own operations in the core area of the Black Market.
(End of Chapter)
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