Chapter 2021 - 2014: 5 Million Supreme Crystals
Zhang Menglong didn’t follow Ming Yang into any of those resplendent buildings where only common goods could be bought but instead led him through the bustling market into a somewhat old alley.
The residents of this alley were all inhabitants of the Great City of Aiville. Their lives were not too different from those of people on Earth, washing clothes, cooking, raising children, sunbathing, chatting.
However, Zhang Menglong noticed their expressions, and deep down in their eyes, he saw a semblance of desolation, helplessness, acceptance of fate...
As Zhang Menglong and the others passed by, everyone’s gaze gathered upon them, full of envy. Zhang Menglong wondered why their expressions were so complex.
As they entered the depths of the alley, the towering buildings were no longer visible. It was as if they had transitioned from the city straight into the countryside, leaving the urban bustle behind.
Ming Yang stopped in front of a obviously centuries-old house, made from blocks of bluestone with a roof of antique tiles stacked together, with only a large wooden door, exuding an aura of age.
"Here it is." Ming Yang stepped forward and knocked on the door, "Hey, old man, open up, I’ve brought you some business!"
"Creak!" With a grating sound, the wooden door was pushed open, "Who’s making all that noise, can’t a person nap around here?"
The door was opened by an elderly man, looking very skinny, yet dressed meticulously, wearing a hat, giving off an impression of an archaeologist.
"Ming Yang? What are you doing here?" The old man clearly knew Ming Yang, appearing very cautious. "You’re not trying some trickery on me, are you?"
"Old man, don’t spout nonsense. I’ve brought business in good faith today, and you welcome me with such an attitude. You’ll regret it if you lose the deal!" Ming Yang was speaking confidently as if backed by someone powerful.
"Oh? Business?" The old man’s gaze fell on Zhang Menglong and his companions, "You all?"
"Don’t underestimate them. This boss here is quite generous, just handed me 10 Supreme Crystals casually!"
"Ten?" In a place where Supreme Coins and Supreme Crystals are valued more than one’s own mother, someone willing to give Ming Yang 10 Supreme Crystals is either a fool or so rich they don’t care about being cheated.
"Sir, my name is Zhang Menglong, how should I address you?"
"Call me Monch," the old man said, "Are you looking to buy something here?"
"I heard from Ming Yang that you have a gene sample of the Ice Demon Race and a map of the entire world..."
Monch glared at Ming Yang, "Do you just blurt out everything? Aren’t you afraid it will bring trouble to me?"
"Haha, old man, who am I? No one can escape my eyes!" Ming Yang said with a mischievous grin, "If the other party has no background, I wouldn’t tell them these things. Every schemer can’t escape my eyes!"
"This boss is facing some trouble and needs these two items to overcome it."
"Come in and talk!" Monch moved aside to let them in.
The house was much larger inside than it appeared from outside. Though small above ground, it had a massive pit dug below, with at least three or four layers.
These three or four layers were fashioned like a library, with shelf after shelf, each holding an item protected by what seemed like a barrier.
"Wow, this place is incredible!" Lumos couldn’t help but exclaim.
They initially thought Monch was a collector with maybe a couple hundred items at most.
Now it appeared he was more than a collector; he was akin to a museum curator. The internal space was far beyond any museum Zhang Menglong had seen before, with likely tens of thousands of items.
"Truly hidden amid the bustling city!" Zhang Menglong could only marvel at the hidden talents in the city of Aiville.
"This way!" Monch led the way, with Zhang Menglong and his companions following closely behind, occasionally glancing around, each item with a name and brief description, fueling their curiosity.
"Claw of the Demon Winged Dragon, dropped after the guardian god of a certain race was slain..."
"Demon’s Embrace, an item left by an evil race, greatly enhances a martial artist’s skill and potential, but leads them astray..."
"Ultimate Bomb, a powerful technological weapon created by an extinct race, said to be potent enough to kill a group of ultimate martial artists in the Dao Realm, with its creation method lost, possibly the last of its kind..."
"Super God Cannon, said to be able to kill supreme demon beasts, authenticity unknown, as it only has the cannon without any shells..."
"Proof of the Ocean, evidence of love between two individuals from different races, unknown usefulness..."
"Fossilized dung of a supreme demon beast, can repel some weaker demon beasts..."
...
Each item had an impressive story; some sounded incredibly powerful while others seemed useless, though some might be useful in specific situations.
But Zhang Menglong believed such items wouldn’t be found anywhere else; each one could be unique.
"Here!" Monch stopped in front of a shelf and stepped aside.
It was a crystal resembling a gemstone fragment. Based on the information Zhang Menglong had previously gathered, the Ice Demon Race is essentially crystallized organisms, making this crystal a piece of fallen flesh or tissue from the Ice Demon Race.
"This is body tissue from a royal of the Ice Demon Race," Monch said.
"Ice Demon Race royal? There’s a hierarchy within the race?"
"Of course," Monch said. "Royals in the Ice Demon Race are exceedingly rare, with gifts ten times greater than ordinary Ice Demons, growing quickly, holding absolute dominance within the race."
[Dean, if you turn this into a Bloodline Elixir, you’ll also have the royal bloodline, making it much easier to navigate among the Ice Demons.]
"And this," Monch came from afar, holding a map that seemed very aged in his hand, "I acquired this by chance, once owned by a powerful figure about to leave this world. Before teleporting, they spent a long time traversing the entire world to create this map, which has changed hands several times before reaching me."
"Hmm," Zhang Menglong restrained his urge to reach out, "Mr. Monch, I need these two items. Would you be willing to part with them for a price, I assure you of a satisfying offer."
"I only want Supreme Crystals," Monch said without hesitation. "And it won’t be dismissed with just 10 Supreme Crystals; you should know their worth!"
"I certainly do, Mr. Monch. Name your price."
Monch extended a hand.
"Five million Supreme Crystals? Sure!"
"Pfft!" Monch nearly spat out his false teeth. "Five... five million?"