Chapter 104
Chapter 104
In Lynn’s imagination, source materials like those for constructing the Abyss Forge, a core energy sector, should have been displayed neatly on stalls, perhaps even adorned in delicate containers, showcasing their significance to onlookers.
However, upon reaching his destination, what Lynn beheld was a pile of blood-red Sunken Sand, resembling small mountains.
Essentially, these Sunken River Bloodsand were sediments that had accumulated over the years at the bottom of the Abyss Mother River. From various notes and accounts, it was evident that the Abyss Mother River wasn’t like the small streams back in his hometown where anyone with a bit of aquatic skill could take a dip. Even demons dared not venture too deep into the Abyss Mother River; sinking too far risked assimilation into the river itself, becoming part of its essence once more.
Initially, Lynn had presumed acquiring this Sunken River Bloodsand would be a daunting task. However, witnessing the scene before him now, he realized he had been mistaken. Demons likely had their own methods of procuring sand from the Abyss Mother River.
Several soul-hook demons stood beside the mound of Sunken River Bloodsand. With heads resembling wolves, adorned with two straight horns protruding from the back, humanoid fingers, and hooves as thick and robust as those of a pig, these demons stood at nearly six meters in height.
In other words, if one of them stood on a roadside, merely tilting its head would afford a glimpse through a second-floor window.
Based on the knowledge Lynn had cram-studied before setting off, he learned that in some human kingdoms of other planes, it was rumored that soul-hook demons were emissaries from Hell, sent to ensnare souls. Due to their large size and innate ability to ensnare the souls of the weak, these demons had become known as the soul-hooking emissaries of Hell in many mortal realms.
Although many humans did not understand the distinction between Hell and the Abyss, leading to the mistaken belief that demons originated from Hell, it had to be acknowledged that, in terms of reputation, the devils of Hell indeed managed their affairs better than the demons of the Abyss.
Wizards who had studied the abilities of soul-hook demons concluded that they possessed a unique talent—each of their attacks carried a soul-hooking judgment. If an opponent’s soul was significantly weaker than that of the soul-hook demon or was in an extremely vulnerable state, the attacked soul would be ensnared. However, against opponents of equal or slightly weaker caliber, this ability proved somewhat lackluster, merely causing a disruptive effect on their souls.
It was precisely due to this talent, limited to preying on the weak, that soul-hook demons were classified only as a middle-level demon race among the Abyss demons.Behind the soul-hook demons, beyond the heap of Sunken River Bloodsand, sat a monster towering over ten meters in height, its bulk resembling a small mountain—almost the same height as the brute force demon behind him.
From its outward appearance, the demon seated behind resembled a monstrous amalgamation of countless insects and beasts, with a pair of extremely large, albeit somewhat tattered, bat wings protruding from its back. Its blood-red eyes occasionally flashed with a savage, murderous intent.
This must be a slaughter demon, a high-level demon known as the battlefield slaughterer.
Slaughter demons were notorious for their capricious temperaments, relishing in the thrill of slaughtering and torturing their enemies. Moreover, they can consume powerful foes and assimilate their powerful limbs or organs into themselves. Because of this highly assimilative ability, they garnered favor from many wizards, causing a sort of “witchophobia” to develop among the slaughter demons in the Abyss. It’s said that an ancient slaughter demon once fused with a god’s body part, thus touching upon the realm of gods. Allegedly, this slaughter demon has now become a collection piece for a certain wizard.
Before the Sunken River Bloodsand, many apprentices engaged in transactions. Lynn discovered to his surprise that the demons selling the Sunken River Bloodsand accepted magic stones as payment.
After discreetly inquiring, Lynn learned that the price for the Sunken River Bloodsand was 100 magic stones per 100 kilograms.
Constructing an Abyss Forge required approximately 3,000 to 4,000 kilograms of Sunken River Bloodsand, translating to 3,000 to 4,000 magic stones.
This price offered exceptional value for money, stirring not only Lynn’s interest but that of others nearby.
Not far away, two wizard apprentices were engaged in conversation.
“So, this is the famous source material for the energy core of the Abyss Forge from your Abyss Wizard Academy? There’s so much of it.”
“You don’t know this, cousin, but these Sunken River Bloodsand are actually sediment that has accumulated at the bottom of the Abyss Mother River over many years. The Abyss Mother River runs through the entire Abyss, and the sand inside it is practically endless,” the younger male apprentice explained.
“So much! Then I’ll buy some Sunken River Bloodsand and make my own Abyss Forge.”
“Cousin, buying it won’t help you,” the male apprentice said helplessly.
“Why wouldn’t it? Doesn’t the Abyss Forge recognize its owner?”
“You’re right about that. The Abyss Forge draws energy from the Abyss, much like an elemental pool. If your identity isn’t recognized, even if you build an Abyss Forge, it won’t draw energy from the Abyss. If it were that easy, all this Sunken River Bloodsand here would’ve been snatched up long ago. There are plenty of wizards outside buying source materials,” the male apprentice explained.
There was never a shortage of second-hand dealers in the market.
The queue was long, and soon, those ahead began to purchase the Sunken River Bloodsand they desired.
“Could you please translate for me? I’m purchasing 4,000 magic stones worth of Sunken River Bloodsand,” Lynn said to the brute force demon.
The brute force demon turned to negotiate with the soul-hook demon, and the two demons quickly came to an agreement.
Lynn handed the magic stones to the brute force demon, who then grabbed a large iron shovel and forcefully dug into the Sunken River Bloodsand. Afterward, he dumped the excavated sand onto a nearby scale, measuring out the 4,000 kilograms before leaving it for Lynn to handle.
Lynn stored the Sunken River Bloodsand in his storage ring, then took out a small broom and swept all the sand and gravel around the scale into a bucket.
Witnessing this scene, the soul-hook demon couldn’t help but fall silent for a moment. Some of the wizard apprentices behind Lynn’s back brightened up; why hadn’t they thought of doing it this way before?
Lynn rose calmly, his expression unchanged. He then continued to browse the market with the brute force demon in tow.
In addition to the current stalls, demons kept arriving from afar with goods in tow.
The demons at the market seemed fairly well-behaved, contrary to the notorious arrogance and chaos rumored about demons.
It was quite a contrasting scene; some wizards stood at the stalls bargaining incessantly with demons. When the demons heard the outrageous prices quoted by the wizards, their faces turned red with anger, but they dared not resort to violence in the market. Instead, they engaged in heated disputes and exchanged insults with the wizards.
Lynn also found a spot to set up his stall.
Rather than displaying items on the stall, Lynn wrote a signboard.
“Do you know how to write demon language?” Lynn asked the brute force demon.
The brute force demon widened its eyes; it hadn’t been told it needed to know how to write before coming. It had only been asked to translate.
Rubbing its large hands awkwardly, the brute force demon shook its head in frustration. “I’ve never learned. I can only speak.”
“That’s okay,” Lynn reassured the brute force demon. It looked like the type that struggled with learning, and Lynn was just testing the waters with the question.
Then Lynn turned to the burning demon at the adjacent stall.
“Do you know how to write demon language?”
The burning demon didn’t respond; it simply spread out its hands, revealing palms made of flames, and gave Lynn an innocent look.
“Pfft!” Another demon in the next stall laughed.
“I can write demon language. What do you need me to write for you?” Sitting in the next stall was a fly demon.
The fly demon had the head of a fly, with a pair of transparent wings on its back, and many spikes protruding from its slender arms.
However, it wore a magnificent and exquisite outfit, which sharply contrasted with its brutal demeanor. On the fly demon’s stall lay many bottles and jars, unlike the rough items displayed by the other demons nearby. This fly demon seemed to possess a certain level of culture.
“That would be helpful, please help me write a section about ‘accept raw materials, craft weapons and armor for free’?” Lynn asked the fly demon.
“Not a problem at all,” the fly demon replied, taking out a charcoal pencil and writing in demon language on Lynn’s wooden signboard.
“Do you craft weapons and armor?” the fly demon inquired.
“Yes, I do.”
“What do you mean by crafting raw materials later? Do I need to provide the raw materials?” the fly demon asked strangely. It was the first time it had heard of this business model—actually offering free crafting for weapons and armor. Could this human still make a profit from it?
“That’s right, free crafting. I came to the Abyss to make friends, and there’s no loss involved. After all, my skills get honed in the process, and the scraps from crafting weapons and armor cover the crafting fees,” Lynn explained with a smile. “You seem like an intelligent and cultured demon. Would you be interested in becoming my first customer?”
Lynn, being from that era, knew one thing: to monetize, you need traffic. Business works the same way; having a stable customer base is essential for making money! Since he didn’t have any acquaintances and wanted to establish a fixed group in the unfamiliar Abyss, offering free services was the best bait. The temptation of freebies was irresistible to any race. Besides, Lynn wasn’t at a loss. The scraps from crafting weapons and armor more than covered the crafting fees, it just didn’t seem like he was making as much money upfront.
The fly demon was delighted to hear Lynn praise it as a cultured demon. “Sure, I was just about to craft a magic staff. Can you make a magic staff that’s both functional for spellcasting and can be used as a warhammer? It would be even better if the magic staff had some extra spikes at the top.”
Lynn wasn’t surprised that the fly demon needed a magic staff crafted because fly demons were one of the few spellcasting demon races. However, the idea of needing a magic staff that could double as a warhammer was somewhat peculiar.
As they discussed, suddenly, a deafening roar reverberated through the sky.
The dusk sky turned blood-red, seemingly lowering even further, filling the air with a stifling atmosphere.
“How is this possible?” The fly demon’s huge compound eyes were filled with shock.
The brute force demon sitting behind Lynn couldn’t contain its excitement either, scrambling to its feet and staring in the direction of the roar, its large hands clenched tightly.
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