First Transaction

The abandoned inn outside the North Peak Mine: five ox-drawn covered wagons stopped on the weed-choked dirt road.

Several fierce-looking men got out of the wagons and carried boxes of goods into the stable in the inn's backyard, then dragged out several sacks of money from the haystacks.

Beside the wagons, Jack was waiting anxiously. Seeing his subordinate approaching, he immediately asked,

"How much did they pay?"

"Just finished counting... a total of 50,000 Os Silver Coins," the subordinate said, covered in sweat.

He didn't know if that Necromancer had some kind of quirk, but he paid entirely in coins, and loose ones at that.

The Os Empire issued dozens of versions of silver coins, each with different sizes and silver content.

And copper coins were even worse. Due to the large amount used by the public, the Os Empire had long ago ceded the right to mint Os Copper Coins to local authorities. As a result, not only the Os Empire was minting them, but the Ryan Kingdom was also minting them, and even Grand Duke Campbell was minting them.

While counting the money, he actually found a 6th edition silver coin minted in the early First Era in the sack! That thing was almost an antique, wasn't it?!

Jack didn't care whether the money was in paper or coins, anyway, he would either deposit it in the bank or exchange it for gold bars in the end.

Hearing this expected number, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the weight in his heart lifted.

On one hand, he was glad that the esteemed Necromancer really wanted to do business with him, and wasn't just extorting him.

On the other hand, he was also glad that he had suppressed that fleeting greed and hadn't skimped on the quality of the equipment for that lord.

50,000 Os Silver Coins was exactly 5% higher than the market price.

Clearly, this Necromancer lord had some understanding of the prices in Thunder City! After deducting the cost of goods and transportation, he could earn about 25% profit, which was a fair return for the risk he was taking.

If no other accidents happened, he could continue this business for a long time!

Just as Jack was thinking this, he suddenly saw a man with a large sword on his back standing under a crooked-neck tree in the distance.

Although the man was wearing a cloak, and the brim of the hood almost covered his entire face, he could still tell that it was Bond.

At least half of him was.

After meeting his gaze, Bond turned around and walked towards the mine.

Knowing that the Necromancer was summoning him, Jack smiled wryly.

Although he was reluctant, he still instructed his subordinates to take care of things here, and followed alone with a stiff upper lip.

At the entrance of the mine, Bond stopped.

Before the Necromancer could speak, Jack respectfully bowed his head, like a truly devout believer.

"Mr. Leon, what are your orders?"

Like last time, the mysterious Necromancer still didn't reveal his true face, but chose to speak through a zombie.

"Was that money enough?"

"Enough, enough," Jack nodded repeatedly, and continued, "When would you like the next batch of goods?"

"Three days from now," Bond said in a hoarse voice, then suddenly changed the subject, "Speaking of which, you are a Bronze-level warrior?"

Jack was taken aback, unsure why the Necromancer would suddenly ask about this, but he nodded anyway.

"Yes... what's wrong?"

Bond continued to ask.

"Do you know any combat skills?"

Jack nodded nervously.

"I know, I know a few... but I only know the most basic ones."

Since becoming the head of the Viper Gang, he hadn't been fighting outside for a long time. The few moves he knew were learned when he was an adventurer.

In the underground streets, the effect of extraordinary power is limited.

After all, those with real skills are either guests of the lord or have gone to Saint Siss's Knights, and they would never mix with insignificant guys like them.

Jack didn't know why this Lord was suddenly asking him this.

Just as he was wondering, he heard something that made his heart jump into his throat.

"Cut me with your sword."

The moment he heard these words, Jack felt his legs go weak, and the expression on his face was more unsightly than crying.

"Respected Necromancer... have I offended you in any way?"

Bond stared at him, frowning slightly.

"Offended? You're overthinking it. I just want to see your fighting style... draw your sword, and don't dawdle."

Watching the zombie in front of him draw his greatsword, Jack bitterly prayed to the Demon God in his heart while suppressing the fear in his heart and drawing the one-handed sword hanging at his waist.

Bond held the greatsword horizontally in front of him, repeating Lord Demon Lord's order in a hoarse voice.

"Good, strike with your strongest attack... hurry up, if you don't make a move, I'll make a move first."

"I'll move! I'll move!"

Jack hurriedly adopted an offensive stance, took a deep breath, concentrated his mind, circulated the extraordinary power throughout his body, gathered it at the tip of the sword, and racked his brains to recall the combat skills he had almost forgotten.

On the other side, in the shadows of the North Peak Mine.

Holding the Recording Crystal in his right hand, Leon recorded while observing the flow of Jack's "extraordinary power" with the Eye of Truth.

In this world, warriors are mainly divided into two categories.

One category is the Temple Faction, and the other is the Dragon God Faction.

The former mainly consists of Holy Knights, Templar Knights, and Inquisitors who are loyal to the Temple. They mainly rely on the power bestowed by Saint Siss and fight under the illumination of the Holy Light.

As for the latter, they use combat techniques said to be inherited from the Mythological Era—that is, the First Era—imitating the Dragon race to control a power called "Qi" to fight!

As for magic swordsmen, magic archers, magic spearmen, and the like, they are considered unconventional.

Before understanding the other side of the world, Leon had always regarded "Qi" as a special energy existing in the human body.

However, after listening to You You's explanation, he had a new understanding of this power that he had never mastered.

Whether it's "Qi," elemental power, or other extraordinary powers... they are essentially the same thing! It has no specific shape, and in most cases, it cannot be observed. However, it does exist on this planet and even in this universe! Not just exists.

It can also sense and respond to the mental energy emitted by "conscious individuals" and manifest it into observable "objects."

Initially, people simply used it to start a fire, pray for a drop of sweet rain, or pick an apple from a tree.

Later, people craved more, so they gradually tried to gather everyone's "spiritual power" to create gods, and then use the hands of the gods to restrain and concentrate the use of extraordinary power.

Rather than each person imagining raindrops of different shapes, it is better to gather everyone's strength to create a hearty rain.

After gathering everyone's strength, people gradually began to discover that this great power could do more than just make it rain or burn down a city.

As long as they were willing, they could, in the name of God, bring the sun to the earth, make the moon never rise, allow good people to be reincarnated into good families in their next lives, turn people into beasts, or gain eternal life—

Even, to continue the unfinished laws of the Creator! "Ahhhhh!"

Finally completing the charge, Jack stepped forward and swung the blade in his hand violently.

An invisible blade was released outward along the blade, slashing towards Bond with the momentum to cut off everything.

As Leon expected.

It was neither a shock wave from an explosion nor a compressed gas released! It was purely an extraordinary power in the name of "Qi"!

Or rather, the power system created by the Dragon Clan's god, called the "Dragon God Faction"!

Even with the buff applied by Leon, Bond almost exhausted all his strength to withstand this blow, and a finger-thick mark was left on the steel greatsword!

Leon was secretly surprised, never expecting that this seemingly cowardly man in front of him would have such strength?

What Leon didn't know was that Jack was even more surprised, even shocked, at this moment.

Although he was not a peerless master, he had been promoted to Bronze-level for many years.

In his memory, no player of the same level could withstand this move, "Slaughter"! Most people either jumped back to create distance, watching him chop the floor, or didn't give him a chance to use this move at all, or stabbed a few swords to force him to give up accumulating Qi.

Could it be...

That the zombie summoned by this Necromancer also has Steel-level strength?! How terrifying would this Necromancer's strength be?!

Jack felt his head buzzing.

He was a rough man with little education, only having mixed in the underground streets of Thunder City, and his understanding of Necromantic Spells was limited to the extent of listening to his card-playing friends bragging.

"Not bad... barely passable."

Plugging the greatsword in his hand into the ground, Leon, manipulating Bond, gave a calm evaluation, and then continued.

"What's the name of this move?"

"We usually call it Slaughter." Panting heavily, Jack glanced at the greatsword cautiously and said nervously, "Sorry... can I compensate you with a new one?"

Such a large steel greatsword was not cheap.

A quarter of the profit was directly lost, and Jack felt a pang of pain in his heart, and could only comfort himself that it was an investment in goodwill.

In contrast.

Being given the cold shoulder by the Necromancer was even more terrifying.

Leon didn't refuse, manipulating Bond to nod silently, then continued.

"How is this move used? Are there any incantations or tricks?"

Most of the Temple Faction's combat skills require shouting out the skill names, like chanting spells.

However, it is said that the Dragon God Faction's skills don't require chanting; they only need to use the Qi control methods taught to the clansmen by the Dragon God.

Jack scratched the back of his head, thought for a moment, and said.

"There aren't any incantations... Anyway, the friend who taught me this move told me that you just need to accumulate Qi on the blade and then slash out with all your strength."

Leon took a palm-sized mirror from his pocket, glanced at You You, and seeing the latter conjure a thumbs-up, he put away the mirror and the Crystal Ball.

You You's answer told him that these clues were enough.

At the same time, Bond, standing with his sword, nodded at Jack and said.

"Very well, you may step back."

Seeing that this Necromancer had finally let him go, Jack breathed a sigh of relief, as if a thousand pounds had been lifted from his shoulders.

Looking at Bond standing motionless at the entrance of the cave, he asked out of curiosity.

"Esteemed Mr. Leon, may I ask... what are you planning to do with this information? Ah, please don't misunderstand, I don't mean to pry into your privacy, I just wanted to say that if you are interested in adventurers' combat methods, I can bring you some related books and Recording Crystals next time you come."

Leon: "Experiments."

Upon hearing this word, Jack immediately shut his mouth, too nervous to say another word.

Experiments.

He didn't want to know what a Necromancer's experiments were.

However, this lord showed a strong interest in his information.

"Remember to bring a copy of those materials, and give them to me with the next batch of goods."

After a pause, Leon controlled Bond to continue.

"Also, that greatsword."

"Understood! I will definitely keep it in mind!"

Jack nodded slightly, a flattering smile on his face, and respectfully retreated.

"It is my honor to share your worries!"

On the other side, One Leaf Knows Autumn, who had just received "playmate compensation" from Lord Demon Lord, was standing in front of the counter of the only NPC shop in Demon Lord Territory, picking and choosing.

Currently, only he and Hu Wan could afford to shop at this store.

Long Xing Wan Li watched from the side, his eyes filled with envy.

Too bad.

There were too few people in the server right now, otherwise he would have directly bought Hell Money at a 1:1 ratio.

With a heavy reward, there must be brave men; he didn't believe that anyone could resist the temptation not to sell to him.

Just as One Leaf Knows Autumn was agonizing over whether to exchange his next weapon for a Steel Spear, or save up and wait for the development team to remember to put Magic Wands in the store, a line of dark green pop-up windows suddenly appeared before his eyes.

[a.0.3 Update: Skill System!]

Clearly, he wasn't the only one to receive this line of pop-ups.

In that instant—

The entire Demon Lord Territory was in an uproar!