NABC Chapter 131 Turning Waste into Treasure: The Intimidating Power of the Black Gold Chamber of Commerc
Chapter 131 Turning Waste into Treasure: The Intimidating Power of the Black Gold Chamber of Commerc
The hawking noises from both sides of the street were so loud they gave me a headache.
Jiang Ming walked at the front, his silver knight armor gleaming coldly in the interplay of neon lights and torches.
Chen Qi, along with several special operations team members, followed behind in a semi-encircling formation, tightly sandwiching Ellie in the middle.
"Brother Jiang, why are the people here looking at us like we're walking vaults?" Xiao Zhang said in a low voice, clutching his rifle tightly with his finger resting on the trigger guard.
"Be confident, we're a walking gold mine in their eyes," Jiang Ming replied casually, his gaze sweeping over the stalls. "With our gear and a live Silvermoon Elf, we're enough to keep them drinking Succubus Eyeball Wine at the Blackwater Bar for three years."
Upon hearing this, Ellie shuddered and lowered her head even further, as if afraid that someone would see her distinctive pointed ears.
Jiang Ming stopped in front of a stall covered with a tattered tarpaulin.
The stall owner was a green goblin, no taller than Jiang Ming's chest, and wearing a pair of oil-stained goggles on his head.
The stall was filled with all sorts of odds and ends: rusty gears, withered plant roots, a few blackened bones, and a pile of black stones that smelled burnt.
"Look around, pick whatever you like! Old Gaz's stuff is absolutely the most authentic from Ash Fortress!" The goblin rubbed his hands together, his big eyes darting around on Jiang Ming's armor, drool practically dripping down his face. "Sir knight, what would you like? I have obsidian that I just dug out from the edge of the abyss, and fresh ghoul claws..."
Jiang Ming ignored him, squatted down, and rummaged through a pile of scrap metal.
[Ding! Found a craftable material.]
In my line of sight, several inconspicuous objects lit up with faint golden lines.
A gray stone covered in mud.
【Dried Lightning-Struck Stone (White, Common): A mineral containing trace amounts of lightning element, with 90% of its energy lost.】
A broken section of metal pipe.
[Abandoned Magic Energy Conduit (White, Common): A part from a mechanical construct; the energy conduit array engraved inside is damaged.]
These are the two things.
Jiang Ming expressionlessly pulled out the stones and metal pipes, then casually picked up a few bone pendants that looked somewhat decent and put them together in a pile.
"How much for these few junk items?"
When Old Gaz saw that Jiang Ming had picked out all sorts of unsellable junk, a sly glint flashed in his eyes, but he immediately plastered an exaggerated smile on his face, even squeezing the wrinkles on his face together.
"Oh my, Sir Knight, you have a good eye! This lightning-struck stone was brought out of Thunderstorm Canyon by my cousin at great risk, and that metal tube is a relic from the ancient Goblin Empire! If you're really interested, it's a flat price of fifty soul coins!"
Chen Qi, listening from behind, rolled his eyes.
That green-skinned dwarf is really asking for a high price. Just now on the train, fifty soul coins could have bought eight VIP tickets.
"Fifty?" Jiang Ming smiled.
He stood up, took out the beast tooth necklace he had just taken from the bald "Iron Head" from his storage card, and threw it on the stall with a thud.
"This necklace, plus two soul coins, in exchange for this pile of trash of yours."
Old Gaz picked up the necklace, smelled it, and then bit it with his teeth. His green face immediately fell.
"Sir Knight, are you making fun of me? This damned dog tooth is worth at most five soul coins, and with two more, that's only seven! But this is..."
"Eight soul coins, or I'll leave." Jiang Ming turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
"Hey, hey, hey! Deal! Deal!" Old Gaz panicked, grabbing the necklace and two soul coins and clutching them to his chest, afraid Jiang Ming would back out. "Since you're a new face, let's be friends!"
Jiang Ming turned around and swept the pile of materials into his storage card.
Chen Qi leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Mr. Jiang, why are you buying all this junk? We don't have many Soul Coins left."
The soul coins I looted from Nak and Ironhead amounted to only about sixty, and I just spent two more. I'm really broke now.
"Scrap metal?" Jiang Ming's lips curled into a slight smile. "You'll find out soon enough."
He led his team into a relatively quiet dead-end alley on the side of the street.
"Be on guard," Jiang Ming ordered.
The special operations team members immediately dispersed, completely blocking the alley entrance.
Jiang Ming leaned against the wall and took out the [Dried-up Lightning Strike Stone] and the [Abandoned Magic Energy Conduit] from his storage card.
Then, he took out something else.
That was a fully charged power bank that he casually grabbed from a KFC when he was on Earth.
[Synthesis of All Things] Talent Activated!
In Jiang Ming's line of sight, the three items were enveloped in a pale golden light.
[Dried-up lightning-struck stone] + [Fully charged power bank] + [Abandoned magic energy conduit] = ?
synthesis!
hum-
A faint crackling sound of electricity echoed through the alley. The three items in Jiang Ming's hands instantly melted and reformed.
A few seconds later, the light faded.
A palm-sized, perfectly cylindrical metal core with intricate, dark blue patterns on its surface appeared in his hand.
Inside the core, faint, fine arcs of lightning flickered and danced.
[Ding! Synthesis successful!]
[Obtained: Overloaded Thunderstorm Core (Blue, Rare)]
[Ding! Synthesis successful!]
[Obtained: Overloaded Thunderstorm Core (Blue, Rare)]
[Attribute: Contains highly unstable, violent lightning energy within. Can be used as a power source for advanced mechanical creations, or thrown directly to cause a devastating lightning explosion within a ten-meter radius, inflicting a 100% paralysis effect.]
[Note: This is a brutal combination of technology and magic, possessing astonishing power. Handle with care, or you will be blasted to ashes.]
Jiang Ming weighed the Thunderstorm Core in his hand, feeling the violent energy fluctuations within, and nodded in satisfaction.
Those two pieces of junk, plus a power bank that's only worth a few dozen yuan on Earth, have instantly transformed into a rare, blue-grade weapon of mass destruction.
This is the terrifying aspect of the [Synthesis] talent—an absolute game-changer.
Chen Qi and Xiao Zhang watched with wide eyes.
Although they knew Jiang Ming had the ability to create things out of thin air, they still felt a chill run down their spines every time they saw it.
"Brother Jiang... this thing looks like it could explode at any moment." Xiao Zhang swallowed and unconsciously took a half step back.
"It won't explode." Jiang Ming put the thunderstorm core into his storage card. "This is our first pot of gold in Ash Fortress."
Ellie leaned against the corner of the wall, watching Jiang Ming's smooth and effortless movements, her mind completely blank.
As a silver moon elf, she possesses an extremely keen perception of magical elements.
The lightning energy contained within that metal cylinder was so violent that it made her feel suffocated.
Even a high-ranking elven mage would need several days and the finest materials to create an alchemical item of this caliber.
He actually managed to create it in the blink of an eye using just a few broken stones and scrap iron?
What kind of monster is this human?
"Let's go." Jiang Ming dusted off his hands. "Let's go to the biggest and most corrupt merchant guild in the area. We'll go begging for alms."
……
Edge of the inner city of Ash Keep.
Compared to the filth and disorder of the outer city, the streets here are noticeably wider and cleaner, and the buildings have changed from dilapidated tin shacks to sturdy stone buildings.
The guards patrolling the streets wore uniform black armor, carried excellent weapons, and were generally level 15 or higher.
Jiang Ming and his group stopped in front of a three-story domed building.
The building's main gate was made of some kind of dark red wood and emitted a faint smell of blood.
A huge sign hung above the doorway, with four large characters written in Common Language—
[Black Gold Chamber of Commerce]
"Mr. Jiang, this place seems to have a high threshold." Chen Qi observed the people coming in and out of the Chamber of Commerce. They were either spellcasters wearing gorgeous robes or mercenary leaders with a large number of followers.
"High barriers to entry indicate wealth."
Jiang Ming strode up the steps.
The two guards at the entrance immediately crossed their halberds and blocked the way.
"Halt. Black Gold Merchant Guild. Unauthorized persons and low-level scavengers are not allowed to enter." The guard on the left gave Jiang Ming a cold glance, his gaze lingering for a moment on the special operations team members in camouflage uniforms in their group, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes.
A team that doesn't even have a decent suit of armor is obviously a poor bunch.
Jiang Ming didn't speak, but simply raised his right hand, holding the newly synthesized [Overloaded Thunderstorm Core] between his fingers.
Shila-
A faint blue arc of electricity emanated from the core surface and leaped onto the guard's halberd.
Metals conduct electricity.
The guard felt a numbness in his hands, and his halberd almost slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.
He stared in horror at the small cylinder in Jiang Ming's hand, feeling the destructive power within it that seemed capable of leveling the entire street. Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.
"High-level...high-level alchemical bomb?" The guard's voice trembled.
"Now, am I considered an outsider?" Jiang Ming tossed the thunderstorm core in his hand twice, his tone indifferent.
The two guards were terrified and quickly put away their weapons, bowing deeply.
"Sir, please come in! The appraiser is in the VIP room on the second floor!"
Jiang Ming put away the core and led his team swaggering into the gates of the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce.
Chen Qi walked at the back, glancing at the two guards who were still trembling, and muttered to himself.
Brother Jiang's ability to put on airs is becoming more and more refined.
The first floor of the Chamber of Commerce is a huge exhibition hall, with crystal chandeliers illuminating the hall as bright as day.
The glass display case contained various equipment, potions, and rare materials that radiated a magical aura.
Jiang Ming glanced at the price tags; even the cheapest bottle of healing potion cost thirty soul coins.
Prices are so high, you couldn't even rob someone of their money this fast.
A goblin waiter in a tailcoat came forward, his attitude much more respectful than that of old Gaz outside.
"Honorable guest, how may I help you?"
"Find the most knowledgeable appraiser around here," Jiang Ming said bluntly. "I have a big deal to make."
The waiter glanced at Jiang Ming's silver knight armor, then at the bound elf Ellie, and immediately understood.
"Please follow me to the VIP room on the second floor."
They went up the red-carpeted spiral staircase to the second floor, where a waiter led them into a lavishly decorated room.
They went up the red-carpeted spiral staircase to the second floor, where a waiter led them into a lavishly decorated room.
The walls were adorned with the heads of unknown monsters, and the floor was covered with a thick snow bear skin carpet.
Behind the large rosewood desk sat an old half-elf wearing a monocle.
"I am Marlowe, the chief appraiser of the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce." The old man did not stand up, but merely raised his chin slightly, scrutinizing Jiang Ming with a critical gaze. "Young man, I examine hundreds and thousands of pieces of junk every day. I hope what you have brought is worthy of the tea served in this VIP room."
Jiang Ming walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down with an air of authority.
"Chen Qi, keep a close eye on them. No one is allowed to approach this door without my permission."
"Understood." Chen Qi and his team members immediately spread out, surrounding Ellie in the middle, their gun bolts clicking loudly.
Marlowe frowned, somewhat displeased with this rude behavior.
Jiang Ming ignored him, flicked his wrist, and slammed the [Overloaded Thunderstorm Core] directly onto the table.
thump.
The dull metallic clanging sound was particularly clear in the quiet room.
Marlow initially glanced at it casually, but when his gaze fell upon the extremely precise energy-conducting patterns on the core surface and the faint, violent electric light emanating from within, his monocle suddenly fell off his eye socket.
"This...this is..."
The old man suddenly stood up, his hands trembling as he hovered above the core of the thunderstorm, wanting to touch it but not daring to.
"Perfect energy sealing technology! This pattern... it's not the crude craftsmanship of goblins, nor the forging methods of dwarves! This... this pure lightning element compression ratio is simply incredible!"
Marlow was so excited he was incoherent. He took out a magnifying glass and almost pressed his face against the core of the thunderstorm.
"Young man, where did you obtain this alchemical artifact? From an ancient relic? Or in the laboratory of some legendary alchemist?"
Jiang Ming leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.
"You don't need to worry about that. Name your price."
Marlowe took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
He put his monocle back on, sat back in his chair, and his eyes became shrewd.
"This item is indeed rare. Its power is enough to instantly destroy a squad of heavily armored knights, or blast through the defenses of a high-level magical beast." Marlowe interlaced his fingers and gave what he considered a fair price, "Five hundred soul coins. This is the highest price the Black Gold Merchant Guild can offer."
Five hundred soul coins?
Chen Qi, standing behind, gasped.
Jiang Ming only spent eight soul coins to buy materials, and this has already increased more than sixty times?
This profit is even more terrifying than selling gold!
Jiang Ming didn't even lift his eyelids.
"Five hundred? Master Marlowe, do you think I'm young and easy to fool?"
Jiang Ming leaned forward, placed his hands on the table, and looked directly into the eyes of the half-elf old man.
"You should be able to see the energy stability within this thing very clearly. It can not only be used as a bomb, but also as the core power source for large-scale magical cannons. In a place like Ash Fortress, where we might face sieges from abyssal monsters at any moment, you're telling me this thing's strategic value is only 500?"
Marlowe's expression changed slightly.
This young man knows his stuff!
"Then... eight hundred soul coins." Marlow gritted his teeth.
"Two thousand." Jiang Ming made an outrageous demand, directly quoting an exorbitant price.
"Impossible!" Marlowe slammed his fist on the table. "Two thousand soul coins are enough to buy an epic weapon! This is just a disposable item, a power source, not worth that price!"