The Lion King and the Ogre Devourer would not respawn until tomorrow. As for leveling up, he had already advanced fast enough and there was no need to grind on regular monsters. During the remaining time, he could focus on developing some side businesses.
Looking at the equipment dropped by the Ogre Devourer, there were two items in total, both of which were quite impressive.
Bloodthirsty Crossbow (Rare): One-handed crossbow, required level 5.
Attributes: +11 to attack rolls, 10% armor penetration with piercing damage, Triple Shot.
Rate of Fire: 16, Deviation: 3%.
Restrictions: None.
Moonlit Ritual Staff (Rare): Required level 5.
Attributes: Attack 32–38, comes with level 3 Light Burst skill, 20% enhanced damage against demons.
Restrictions: Only usable by Lawful Good Cleric Mages of the Light faction.
Because Nie Yan had soloed high-tier elites and received bonus loot for defeating monsters above his level, the rewards from the game core were particularly generous. Nie Yan had already obtained four Rare-grade items in a row, each of which was extraordinary. Especially the Bloodthirsty Crossbow, which delighted him. The 10% piercing armor penetration was truly impressive.
The crossbow he currently had was nowhere near the Bloodthirsty Crossbow’s level. When comparing good and bad items, the worse one inevitably felt disposable. The crossbow he had bought from an NPC had now completed its mission and was honorably retired.
Nie Yan equipped the Bloodthirsty Crossbow and decided to send the old one to the auction house, where it should fetch a decent price. He had originally bought it for 37 coppers, and when selling, he should at least get back a dozen or so coppers.
Nie Yan returned to Carol City. At this time, most players were out leveling in the wilds, but the city was still bustling with people. On the streets, crowds moved back and forth, and at the corner shop of the high-level alchemist Kidan, the business was booming. Players who had exhausted their potions in the wilds all came here to resupply.
As for the auction house located in the city center, it was even more packed. The streets were also lined with numerous player-run stalls, occasionally offering some eye-catching items.
Nie Yan entered the auction house, sold off unnecessary equipment, and proceeded to buy up all the Blackfen Potion recipes, potions, and raw ingredients available, leaving nothing behind. When the new dungeon opened the next day and various guilds rushed to be the first to clear it, they would be shocked to find that the previously cheap and overlooked Blackfen Potions had completely disappeared. Occasionally, an alchemist would produce a few bottles of Blackfen Potion, only for them to be snatched up immediately. Meanwhile, Nie Yan’s stockpile of Blackfen Potions would become a rare commodity. He could use a scarcity-based sales strategy, gradually releasing his stock and recipes to artificially inflate the price. As progress in the new dungeon advanced, players’ demand for Blackfen Potions would grow, making it easier to manipulate the price upward. Initially, Nie Yan could sell the potions and raw materials, and only later, during the final phase, would he consider releasing the recipe. Through this method, he could accumulate a significant fortune, making a substantial profit. Afterward, he could consider other investments.
Acquiring all the Blackfen Potions cost Nie Yan a considerable amount of money. Following his usual routine, he visited several small towns to buy Bat Fangs, then resold them, earning more than 30 silvers. Nie Yan had nearly bought up all the Bat Fangs on the market. He would only return to purchase more once players resumed farming monsters and collected additional Bat Fangs.
Nie Yan felt puzzled because he had barely acquired any Bat Fangs in Link Town, which was one of the main sources for the item.
“Mr. Kadi, these are the Bat Fangs you requested.”
“Respected Lord Nie Yan, I am deeply grateful for your assistance.”
After increasing his reputation in Carol City, the NPCs began addressing Nie Yan with honorifics, clearly showing more warmth toward him.
As Nie Yan exited the workshop of the senior blacksmith Kadi, he looked up and noticed a paladin wearing silver armor and wielding a holy hammer walking toward him.
The man appeared to be in his early thirties, quite tall, slightly overweight, and quite distinctive in appearance.
The paladin eyed Nie Yan warily. As they passed each other, the paladin entered Kadi’s workshop and began conversing with the blacksmith.
Nie Yan recalled who the man was. In a previous life, this paladin had been the one who discovered the blacksmith quest and earned ten gold coins from it. Now, he had encountered the original player. It seemed that someone else had also learned about the Bat Fang acquisition quest.
With two people purchasing Bat Fangs simultaneously, the buying price would inevitably rise, and players would suspect the Bat Fangs had some special use, causing them to hoard their supplies. Previously, a thief had followed Nie Yan, and now with two players offering high prices for Bat Fangs, it would raise even more suspicion. Soon, someone would follow this paladin, and blacksmith Kadi would be exposed.
“It seems this quest won’t be profitable anymore,” Nie Yan thought.
However, for Nie Yan, the Bat Fang quest had already become optional. He had already earned enough initial capital and had many other ways to make money, so he didn’t need this one quest.
Nie Yan checked his total assets. In his backpack, he had more than 60 silvers, and in his warehouse, he had a large stock of Blackfen Potions, raw materials, and recipes that were about to increase in value.
Even if the Bat Fang quest no longer yielded profit, it was not a big deal.
Weaving through the bustling crowd, Nie Yan unconsciously reached the entrance of the Alchemist Guild. As he was lost in thought, a vendor’s call interrupted his musings.
“High-grade potion ingredients, Rogue’s Swift Retreat, an excellent skill book. Sir, won’t you take a look?” A Cleric Mage dressed in white robes was setting up a stall outside the Alchemist Guild. Seeing Nie Yan pass by, his eyes lit up, and he quickly shouted.
The Cleric Mage was a sharp businessman. At a glance, he noticed Nie Yan’s impressive gear, including several high-quality items. Swift Retreat was an excellent early skill book for rogues, but it was expensive—priced at no less than one silver coin, which he was unwilling to lower.
Finding a buyer for such an expensive item was difficult. Selling it at the auction house would only yield a small profit after paying the auction fees. The reason he was setting up a stall here was to wait for a party to form while trying to exchange these items for one or two Cleric Mage items.
Ordinary rogue players simply couldn’t afford it, so despite calling out for nearly twenty minutes, although some rogues came to inquire, they all shook their heads and walked away upon hearing the price. Seeing Nie Yan walk by, the Cleric Mage couldn’t help but call out, as Nie Yan appeared to be quite wealthy.
Nie Yan turned and looked at the Cleric Mage. The mage appeared to be in his early twenties, dressed in white robes and holding a gray-black staff. With Nie Yan’s discerning eye, he immediately recognized the robes as the Lightwalker Robes and the staff as the Wind of the Waning Moon. While not top-tier at this level, they were still quite decent.
“Lucky you, dropped Swift Retreat,” Nie Yan said with a faint smile. Swift Retreat was still very useful.
“You said it! My luck has always been good. Some of my friends have been farming in the Light Canyon for days without getting anything decent, but I only farmed for three hours and got Swift Retreat. Right now, the price of a Swift Retreat on the market is higher than that of a Silver-grade item,” the Cleric Mage said, clearly delighted that Nie Yan had responded, and began chatting enthusiastically.
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