Even after several deep breaths, Lier couldn't quell the turmoil within.
He never expected this intelligence to be so powerful.
The first refresh guaranteed 5-star or higher intelligence—and it delivered a full 6-star!A golden legend! He instantly grasped the intelligence's value. Unfortunately, future refreshes would be random—only one guaranteed 4-star or higher intelligence per 10 refreshes. With refreshes occurring every 5 days, 6 times a month, today being July 5th, the next guaranteed 4-star+ intelligence wouldn't appear until August 20th. If the guaranteed drop were 6-star... He dared not imagine.That Divine Fragment must be obtained! His thoughts raced. The problem now was that he was penniless and couldn't afford the goods sold by those tomb raiders. Stealing them was out of the question—he hadn't even condensed a Magic Seed yet, just an ordinary mortal. What chance did he have? He'd use this intelligence first to earn enough resources before scheming for the 6-star intel.With his decision made, his gaze swiftly locked onto the third piece of intelligence—the fastest, easiest way to verify its reliability and authenticity. Without hesitation, he rose, moved to the corner, and pried up a half-brick that fit perfectly into place. From beneath it, he retrieved three silver coins. These were the last savings the original body had accumulated in this world. One copper coin could buy a fist-sized loaf of black bread hard enough to use as a weapon.One hundred copper coins could be exchanged for one silver coin. These three silver coins would provide him with three or four months' worth of rations—the bare minimum to sustain life. Building a fortune would depend entirely on these three silver coins! He rose, closed the door, and left home, heading straight for the market in Ninth District. Though it was a slum, over a hundred thousand people needed to live, and where there was life, there was trade.After twenty minutes of winding through narrow alleys, a bustling marketplace came into view. Stalls packed tightly along both sides sold every kind of food and daily necessity. Most passersby wore coarse cloth garments, each patched more heavily than the last. Their faces were pale and haggard, lacking much vitality. Bargaining for goods was done with frenzied intensity.Saving a single copper coin could make them grin for ages. The original body frequently visited this market for food, so they knew the area well. Swiftly bypassing the hawkers' cluster, they entered the main market. Here, the crowd thinned slightly, and the patches on passersby's clothes noticeably decreased. Occasionally, they even spotted a few well-dressed commoners. Thirteenth stall. Counting silently, they quickly located their target.A larger shop sold various fruits unique to this world. A large display of saplings lined the outer edge, representing over a dozen different species. A gaunt, middle-aged man with a limp, walking with one leg higher than the other, was tending to them. Just as Lear was about to speak, his sharp eyes caught sight of something beneath the man's rolled-up sleeve—a faint, inverted triangle tattoo.It was the distinctive mark of the notorious gang from Ninth District—the Pureblood Brotherhood. Human trafficking, illegal gambling dens, smuggling, robbery... there was scarcely an illicit activity untouched by them. Many overt shops served as the tentacles of these underground forces, scouting for targets. Young, beautiful girls and wealthy patrons were all marked on their lists. He couldn't reveal the purpose of his visit.Taking a deep breath, he steadied his nerves. His gaze swept the area, locking onto the objective—a lava fruit sapling. The seedling was caked in foul-smelling mud, only a few fiery red leaves visible. From the leaves alone, the red-leaf tree and lava fruit were indistinguishable in appearance. The limping man heard footsteps and immediately turned his head.The shabby clothes on Lear made the man frown. "What do you need, sir? I have fresh fruit and various saplings here." Lear spoke softly. "Sir, I need to purchase green fruit saplings, long-leaf saplings, and red-leaf saplings." Since they were all common saplings, the lame man didn't bother with much explanation, simply pointing to a pile of mud-covered saplings."They're all over here. Just received this morning. Twenty for one silver coin. Pick what you want yourself." At five copper coins per sapling, the price was reasonable for the market.
Seeing the man had no interest in engaging him, Li'er settled his mind and began carefully selecting from the saplings without hesitation.
Starting with green fruit saplings and broadleaf trees, he finally found his target—Lava Fruit. Unfortunately, only twelve saplings of this two-star magical plant were available, so he couldn't buy more even if he wanted to. In the end, he spent two silver coins on forty saplings. Like the crowd around him, he naturally started haggling. The lame man's expression softened a bit at the sight of the silver coins.But when he heard Lear offer a single silver coin for all forty, his mouth twitched uncontrollably. After dithering for a while, he finally couldn't take it anymore and threw in five extra saplings, urging him to get lost. Watching Lear's satisfied figure walk away, he couldn't help but spit. Slum brats, all greenhorns who've never seen the world—haggling over such trifles?
Still, the two silver coins in his pocket lifted his spirits considerably. He grinned, already fantasizing about which streetwalker to visit that night.
Li'er carried the saplings through a few twists and turns, stealthily navigating the labyrinthine alleys until he emerged from Ninth District. The half-arm-long saplings—45 of them, mud and all—weren't heavy. They were practically worthless, and caked in stinking mud, passersby didn't even bother to glance their way.Lear scanned his surroundings. Obelisk-topped buildings stretched along the streets, their heights varying from three to seven stories, jutting out in a jagged, interlocking pattern. Most facades were adorned with intricate stained glass, exquisitely ornate. Occasionally, he caught glimpses of noblewomen leaning out of open windows or children perched on sills.The facades bore vast plaster reliefs—some extolling divine benevolence, others celebrating heroes, or chronicling Loran City's glorious past. These exquisite works of art stirred the soul. Such splendor stood in stark contrast to the filthy, foul Ninth District behind him, leaving Lear with a profound sense of dissonance and irony.Life is a splendid robe crawling with lice. Unable to appreciate the grandeur of this magnificent city, he silently hailed a carriage and headed toward the city center, sapling in hand. As the sun gradually sank into the earth, Lear stood before an exquisite and luxurious estate. A fountain at the center of the gate emitted a thick mist, with a rainbow arching across the sky.The walls, towering over ten meters high, were sturdier than the fortifications of many small towns. At regular intervals along the walls stood exquisite little angel statues—some gazing skyward, others grinning broadly, or scratching their heads in deep thought. Climbing roses covered the walls, their vibrant blossoms bursting forth from the foliage. In the haze of the mist, the scene seemed dreamlike and ethereal.Dewdrops glistened on petals, while bees buzzed busily. No words were needed—a single glance revealed this estate's extraordinary nature. Lier took a deep breath and strode forward under the watchful eyes of over a squadron of guards. "Halt!"This is Rose Manor!" Li'er raised the sapling in his hand. "I have found the magical plant sought by Her Highness Ferena—the Blue Crystal Grass!"