Myriad Heavens Market.
As time passed, more and more alien races entered the Market Ruins, and its streets gradually grew livelier.
Yet Song Chi was not happy. He had remained in the stall area, hoping to find another one or two Star Sea Marvels like last time, but he had found nothing for a long while.
As for the goods in the shops, all sold at five times their purchase price, they were still extremely popular. However, those profits had long been part of his plans and could not be considered a pleasant surprise. What he wanted were unexpected gains.
Just then, his eyes lit up as he looked toward the entrance of the Market Ruins.
Filled with intense excitement and agitation, Gore returned to the Market Ruins. Its destination was clear: it passed through the crowded free-stall area and headed straight for the shop selling Gene Optimization Potions.
"Excuse me, how many of these Gene Optimization Potions can one three-hundred-year Deepwater Mussel Pearl be exchanged for?"
Standing in the middle of the shop, Gore looked somewhat nervous.
The Bronze Halberd Tribe had long since declined. Even though its father was the tribe chief and a Second Rank merman, he could only produce six Deepwater Mussel Pearls over three hundred years old. Naturally, the more of these Gene Potions they could exchange for, the better.
Song Chi's body did not move in the free-stall area, but his consciousness had already shifted to the Gene Potion shop.
After pondering for a moment, he named a price.
One three-hundred-year Deepwater Mussel Pearl could be exchanged for three Gene Potions.
Based on Morning Star Duchy prices, a three-hundred-year Deepwater Pearl could sell for over two hundred thousand credits, while three Basic Gene Potions cost thirty thousand credits. He was only earning a markup of more than six times. That was not excessive at all, right?
Naturally, Gore had no idea what Song Chi was thinking. With a reach into its belongings, four Deepwater Mussel Pearls, each around three hundred years old, appeared in its palm.
After hesitating slightly, it put three of them away and extended one toward the counter.
"I'll take three Gene Optimization Potions first."
Song Chi was in no hurry. He controlled the power of the Market Ruins' laws to collect the three-hundred-year Deepwater Mussel Pearl, and then three Basic Gene Potions floated out from beneath the counter and flew into Gore's hands.
Having obtained the Gene Potions, the impatient Gore immediately picked one up and gulped it down.
For a lifeform that had never used one before, a basic Gene Potion was remarkably effective. After a period of rather painful genetic correction, Gore sensed that familiar, powerful bloodline within its body and could no longer hold back its laughter.
Then, it took out the other three Deepwater Mussel Pearls again and exchanged them for nine Gene Optimization Potions. That was not all. To Song Chi's delighted gaze, it produced two even larger Deepwater Mussel Pearls.
"Deepwater Mussel Pearls that are seven hundred and nine hundred years old are much more precious than three-hundred-year ones. If I use these two to exchange, how many Gene Potions can I get?"
Suppressing his excitement, Song Chi swiftly gave his answer.
A seven-hundred-year Deepwater Mussel Pearl could be exchanged for ten Gene Optimization Potions, while a nine-hundred-year Deepwater Mussel Pearl could be exchanged for twenty.
Seeing those exchange rates, Gore's eyes filled with conflict. Alongside its excitement was a faint struggle.
Deepwater Pearls over seven hundred years old were extremely valuable. Even when the Bronze Halberd Tribe had still been a royal merman tribe, the tribe treasury would not have held more than fifty Deepwater Mussel Pearls over seven hundred years old.
Once these two were exchanged, given the sea territory currently controlled by the Bronze Halberd Tribe, it would likely become difficult to collect Deepwater Mussel Pearls of such age again.
Just as it was hesitating, footsteps sounded behind it. Gore turned around and saw a Star Sea Human Race member entering the shop.
The aura this human gave off was merely average, but his words were truly startling.
"May I ask how much stock of this Gene Potion your shop has? If it isn't too much, I'll take it all."
As he spoke, he tossed out a large quantity of Floating Continent Essence and Life Cores, some Zero Rank and some First Rank.
Hearing this, Gore stopped hesitating and quickly said,
"I'll exchange them. Trade both the seven-hundred-year and nine-hundred-year Deepwater Mussel Pearls for Gene Potions."
The moment those words left its mouth, Gore failed to notice the faint upward curve of the human's lips behind it, which quickly vanished again.
This human was naturally Song Chi. Seeing that the merman was wavering, he had come over to give it a push.
He had no choice. Seven-hundred-year and nine-hundred-year Deepwater Mussel Pearls were exceedingly rare, and they would provide tremendous assistance to his current level 5 Guidance Art. He would truly be unwilling to let them slip away.
With his current cultivation progress, even with the acceleration of the All-Attribute Cultivation Room, it would still take half a year for his Guidance Art to break through to level 6. That was not slow, and could even be called extremely fast. After all, he had taken less than a month to advance from level 4 to level 5.
But Song Chi was not satisfied with that speed. The later stages of cultivating the Guidance Art would be a long road. If the early stages were already this sluggish, what would he do once he reached level 30, or even level 40?
With these seven-hundred-year and nine-hundred-year Deepwater Mussel Pearls, he was confident that he could raise his Guidance Art to level 6 within one month. Together with the four three-hundred-year pearls from earlier, he was somewhat confident he could raise it to level 7 within three months.
After handing thirty Basic Gene Potions to Gore, Song Chi settled his heart. Once the transaction was complete, it would be useless even if Gore regretted it later.
These were the transaction rules he had designed for the Myriad Heavens Market. Transactions had to follow the principle of voluntary consent. If either party disagreed, the transaction could not proceed. But once it succeeded, regret afterward was useless.
Ahem, ahem!
Seeing that the fishman's transaction was complete, Song Chi knew it was his turn to take the stage. He gave a light cough to draw Gore's attention, then continued asking,
"May I ask how much Gene Potion stock the shop has?"
At the same time, a thought stirred in his mind, and the words on the light screen changed accordingly.
Close to five figures.
Seeing this, Song Chi, who already knew the truth, put on an act.
"So many? What a pity I don't have enough funds on me. Otherwise, I definitely would have bought them all."
Hearing him, Gore instinctively nodded, deeply agreeing.
Seeing this, Song Chi found the right opportunity and took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
"Friend, I saw that you bought quite a few of these Gene Potions just now. It seems you've also discovered how powerful they are. How about we make a deal?"
Gore raised a brow, and a trace of vigilance flashed through his heart.
"What?"
Song Chi acted as though he had noticed nothing and lowered his voice.
"I'll give you some Floating Continent Essence. Could you buy an Enhanced Gene Potion for me?"
Gore's eyes narrowed, and it froze for a moment. Rather than agreeing immediately, it asked in return,
"Enhanced Gene Potion? What is that?"
Before you continue