“High-quality healing potions, refreshing potions, and ointments specifically for dungeon dampness—everything you need!”
Bai Xuan’s gaze quickly swept over the stall. Most of the potions had blurry labels and murky liquids, their quality highly suspect.
It wasn’t until his eyes drifted to a corner of the stall that he paused slightly.
There sat an unlabeled bottle, containing a dark blue liquid that had settled into layers. The top layer was clear, while the bottom was suspended with fine silver particles.
Bai Xuan picked up a bottle of a slightly more normal-looking light blue potion.
He shook it, noticing a small amount of flocculent sediment at the bottom, and asked, “Basic Mana Recovery Potion—how much?”
“Oh, you have a keen eye, sir! These are in high demand!”
The stall owner rubbed his hands together, his face full of smiles. “Just one gold coin a bottle. I guarantee your mana will recover quickly and steadily after drinking it!”
“One gold coin? Is this potion refined from gold coins?”
Bai Xuan set the bottle down, his expression showing displeasure. “The highest quality from the Blackcreek Town apothecary is only eighty silver coins a bottle.”
“Yours is murky with sediment; I’m afraid the effect will be greatly diminished. Fifty silver coins is more like it.”
The stall owner’s expression turned bitter as he hurriedly defended himself. “Sir, you can’t say that! We’re at the entrance of the dungeon. Transport and storage aren’t easy, and the costs themselves are high!”
“Look at the stalls around here—which one isn’t more expensive than mine? You think it’s expensive, but I think the wholesale price is expensive!”
Saying that, he picked up a bottle with even more sediment and advised, “How about you look at this one?”
“The ‘Economy’ mana potion is only thirty silver coins. Many adventurers buy this one; the cost-performance ratio is high!”
Bai Xuan didn’t take the inferior potion, but instead pointed with his chin toward the dark blue bottle in the corner and asked, “What about that one?”
“It doesn’t even have a name, and the color is strange. I’m afraid it’s a failed batch, isn’t it? You’re even putting this out for sale?”
The stall owner followed his gaze, his face showing an embarrassed and subtle expression as he lowered his voice. “That one... it’s a long story.”
“An alchemist made a mistake during refinement and produced a ‘failure that isn’t quite a failure.’ No one knows what the effect is after drinking it.”
“So it’s just been sitting here. Whoever takes a fancy to it and is willing to bear the consequences can buy it.”
Bai Xuan picked up the dark blue potion and examined it closely against the light.
The silver particles occasionally flashed with an unusual luster that was neither gold nor silver as the light shifted. He deliberately showed a hint of researcher-like curiosity on his face.
“Alchemy potions are expensive as they are; who would want to spend money on something with unknown effects?”
“Judging by its appearance, you’ve had it here for quite a while. It’s probably about to expire, isn’t it?”
Bai Xuan placed the potion back and pointed to the Basic Mana Recovery Potion from before. “For this quality, let’s not haggle further. Seventy silver coins a bottle, and I’ll buy four.”
He paused, then glanced back at the dark blue potion, adding, “As for this ‘failed product,’ you can’t sell it anyway, and it’s just taking up space. It might actually go bad one day.”
“Thirty silver coins, and I’ll take it back to study.”
Seeing that Bai Xuan insisted on buying the strange medicine, the stall owner couldn’t help but feel a bit hesitant.
Had this customer seen some hidden value in this potion?
Sensing the owner’s hesitation, Bai Xuan turned away with feigned impatience. “If not, then forget it. I heard the new merchant caravan has better goods and fair prices; I’ll go check there.”
The stall owner’s eyes darted around as he immediately began calculating in his mind.
Four bottles of basic potions at seventy silver coins each—though he’d earn a bit less than expected, it wasn’t a loss.
That strange potion was useless in his hands anyway. Being able to clear it out while securing this deal was already a good bargain.
As for whether it really had hidden value, if he couldn’t see it himself, he could only blame his own luck for letting someone else find a deal.
In business, cash in hand was always the most secure.
“Deal! You really are a straightforward man, sir! Let’s do as you said—four mana recovery potions for 2 gold and 80 silver coins, and this unknown potion for 30 silver coins!”
A fawning smile immediately returned to his face.
He nimbly wrapped the four Basic Mana Recovery Potions and the dark blue “failed product” in an old cloth, muttering as he packed them, “You must come back and patronize my business often in the future, sir!”
Saying that, he leaned in half a step closer and added in a lowered voice, “But sir, you must be careful with this medicine.”
“That alchemist back then muttered something about it being ‘unstable.’ As for what that means specifically, I don’t understand either...”
Bai Xuan didn’t waste words, paid the money immediately, and reached out to take the cloth bundle containing the potions.
“Understood,” he replied flatly, his tone devoid of any extra emotion.
He then tucked the bundle away properly and said no more, turning and walking straight away from the stall.
Bai Xuan walked to a relatively quiet corner at the edge of the market, leaning his back against a cart piled with empty wooden barrels.
He lightly weighed his coin pouch.
Compared to when he had left this morning, the weight was noticeably lighter, and a hint of pain for his wallet inevitably welled up in his heart.
Three gold coins were gone just like that.
It seemed he would have to stock up more in town in the future to avoid middlemen as much as possible and stop them from earning the price difference.
He shook his head slightly, suppressing that minor sting of financial loss.
Then, he took the dark blue potion bottle wrapped in old cloth from his robe.
The cold touch of glass met his fingertips. He focused his mind and stared intently at this unexpectedly acquired potion once more.
Detailed information about the potion immediately surfaced on the panel.
【Echoing Medium: A potion mixed with dust from ancient creations. After consumption, it will produce a weak resonance with nearby ancient creations or ruins magic for a period of time.】
The effect of this potion seemed unremarkable, with nothing particularly striking about it.
However, this dungeon was originally a remnant of the Glayde Empire, and the thing it lacked least was ancient creations.
Perhaps, relying on this potion, he could find some hidden areas, such as a forgotten storage room or a secret passage.
But this potion also carried significant risks.
If the resonance drew not treasure, but dangerous ancient traps or powerful guardian monsters, the consequences could be fatal in the depths of the peril-filled dungeon.
“I need to find the right time to use it,” he whispered to himself, carefully putting the potion back into his Space Ring.
This unexpectedly acquired potion was ultimately just the icing on the cake. For now, the most important thing was to prepare for the dungeon exploration.
Bai Xuan put aside his thoughts and began searching the market for the shops he needed.
Soon, he noticed a small shop with a narrow storefront.
A faded scroll sign hung by the door, clearly a place that sold maps and information.
Bai Xuan pushed the door open and entered. The shop was dimly lit, and the air was thick with the stale scent of paper and ink.
Behind the counter, an old man with thinning hair and thick crystal glasses was meticulously repairing a loose-leaf old book by the light of an oil lamp.
“What do you need?” the old man asked without looking up.
“I want a monster distribution map and area maps for the dungeon, the newer the better. Also, I need detailed information on Black-Armored Crawlers.”
Bai Xuan got straight to the point.
The old man slowly set down his tools and rummaged through a mountain of scrolls and booklets behind him for a moment.
Finally, he pulled out a thin booklet and a roll of yellowed parchment, placing them before Bai Xuan.
“Five silver coins for the map, five silver coins for the monster summary.”
The old man still didn’t look up, his tone flat as he added, “The map was surveyed three years ago. The main paths and major mining areas are fine, but the deep levels and remote side paths change a lot. Be careful yourself.”
Bai Xuan paid the ten silver coins.
He first unrolled the map. It clearly marked the passages of the first few levels of the dungeon, dangerous areas, and the general activity range of monsters.
Although the handwriting was a bit messy, the amount of information was substantial.
Bai Xuan browsed it quickly for a moment and soon found the market entrance where he was, as well as the main path leading to the fourth-floor Crystal Silver Mine Tunnels.
Next, he flipped open the booklet and found the section on Black-Armored Crawlers:
【Black-Armored Crawler. Challenge Level 3.】
【Size is approximately that of an ordinary wooden basin. The shell is thick and hard, ranging from dark brown to grayish-black.】
【They usually move in groups of three to six. Movement is slow, but they turn quickly.】
【Primary attack methods are pincer bites with the front mandibles and venom projection. The shell is resistant to slashing and piercing, while blunt impact works slightly better. The belly is not covered by a shell and is a weakness.】
【Suggested Tactic: Use terrain to separate them. Find a way to flip them over or restrict their movement before attacking the belly.】
【Note: Some miners have mentioned occasionally seeing individuals with dark purple shells in the deep mining areas, suspected to be mutated variants. Specific details are unknown.】
This information was very practical. Bai Xuan nodded in satisfaction and carefully stored the map and booklet.
However, at the thought of the Black-Armored Crawler’s thick shell, he frowned.
Relying solely on the bent iron rod in his hand would not only be inefficient, but it would also be troublesome if he were surrounded by a group of crawlers.
Having made up his mind, he left the item shop and headed toward the other end of the market.
A series of crisp clanging sounds from a blacksmith’s hammer came from that direction.
Inside a blacksmith shop with its doors wide open, the forge fire was burning brightly, casting a red glow throughout the shop.
A sweaty man wearing a thick leather apron was swinging a hammer, forcefully striking a glowing red iron bar, sending sparks flying everywhere.
Many finished swords and blades hung on the wall. Their styles were all very common, mostly basic weapons suitable for low-level adventurers.
Bai Xuan’s gaze swept over those blades and finally landed on a wooden rack in the corner.
A short spear lay diagonally there, its style simple. Bai Xuan walked over and reached out to pick it up.
The spear shaft was made of some kind of hard wood, seemingly wrapped around an iron core. It felt steady and solid in his hand, without any wobbling or floating sensation.
The spearhead was a simple three-sided pyramid shape, ground quite sharp without any unnecessary decoration.
Near the spearhead, a coil of coarse rope was wrapped for a better grip, which was very practical.
He weighed it and gave it a few practice swings.
This short spear was a bit longer than his previous iron rod. The center of gravity was toward the front, and the feel of swinging it was completely different from using a rod; it focused more on the power of thrusting and stabbing rather than the brute force of swinging and smashing.
Using this short spear, it would likely be easier to pry over a Black-Armored Crawler or find a gap in its shell to launch an attack.
“How much for this spear?” he asked the blacksmith.
The blacksmith stopped his hammer, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and glanced at the short spear, replying casually.
“One gold coin. High-quality hardwood wrapped around an iron core, black iron spearhead. Durable.”
“Eighty-five silver coins. I’m in a hurry.” Bai Xuan didn’t waste words, his attitude firm.
The blacksmith looked Bai Xuan up and down, then glanced at the exquisite Whispering Staff in his hand.
He immediately realized that Bai Xuan was no ordinary person. After hesitating for a moment, he compromised. “Fine, eighty-five silver it is. I’ll throw in a whetstone. Remember to come back when you’re done with it.”
Bai Xuan paid the money immediately, took the short spear tied with an old leather cord and a small, coarse whetstone, and stuffed them into his backpack.
With everything prepared, he no longer delayed and walked quickly toward the huge fissure entrance of the dungeon, which looked like a scar on the mountain.
As his footsteps went deeper, the clamor of the market was quickly left behind, replaced by the piercing cold wind surging from underground and the dead silence unique to the subterranean world.
The main passage of the first floor of the dungeon was very wide, but the branching paths were dense and numerous, like a giant labyrinth. One could easily take a wrong turn if not careful.
The rock walls were covered with traces of manual excavation, and there were many abandoned mining pits and depressions, exuding an air of desolation and danger everywhere.
Several Shadow Rats with grayish-black fur and eyes glowing with an eerie red light scurried through the shadows with a rustling sound.
Occasionally, a few bold ones would quickly dart across the passage and vanish into the shadows on the other side in an instant.
These Shadow Rats were generally Lv.1 to Lv.2, their levels not being high.
Bai Xuan gripped the short spear in his hand, his gaze scanning the surrounding shadows warily.
Suddenly, a Shadow Rat darted out from a pile of rubble on the side, shrieking as it lunged at his calf.
Bai Xuan subconsciously wanted to swing the rod, but what he held in his hand was now a short spear.
The movement was briefly awkward. The spear tip barely grazed the Shadow Rat’s fur, failing to hit a vital spot.
The Shadow Rat landed steadily and immediately turned around, lunging at him again with eyes full of ferocity.
Bai Xuan took a deep breath, quickly adjusted his breathing, and stood firmly. His gaze locked onto the lunging Shadow Rat, preparing to meet the next attack.
Just then, a second Shadow Rat darted over from the front. The two Shadow Rats attacked from the front and back, forming a pincer movement.
This time, Bai Xuan did not rush to strike but waited patiently.
The moment the Shadow Rat in front leapt, he flicked his wrist, and the short spear thrust out straight like a venomous snake emerging from its hole.
Pfft.
The spear tip accurately pierced the Shadow Rat’s chest and abdomen, pinning it in mid-air.
The rat struggled a few times before falling still.
The sensation of the spear tip piercing through flesh came clearly. Unlike the brute force of smashing bones with an iron rod, attacking with a short spear required more precision and timing.
Soon, another three or four Shadow Rats darted out from different directions, surrounding him and launching attacks with shrill shrieks.
Bai Xuan took half a step back, holding the short spear horizontally in front of him.
One Shadow Rat lunged at the spear shaft. He flicked his wrist, using the Shadow Rat’s momentum to hurl it violently against the nearby rock wall with a dull thud.
Another Shadow Rat tried to ambush his ankle from below. He reacted extremely quickly, smashing down hard with the butt of the spear.
The butt of the spear struck the Shadow Rat’s head, crushing it instantly and sending blood splattering.
Bai Xuan saw an opening, exerted force with his wrist, and the short spear lunged in a rapid thrust, quickly finishing off one Shadow Rat.
He then swept the spear shaft, using the edges of the spearhead to strike another Shadow Rat’s head, ending the battle cleanly and efficiently.
Rate on N.U.
