Ning Chuan stood beneath the eaves of Seven Treasures Pavilion, staring blankly at the small flag embroidered with the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda.
The thought of obtaining resources or information through the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was like a stone dropped into a lake, sending ripples spreading through his heart.
This sect, which stood at the pinnacle of the continent, possessed wealth rivaling that of nations, with informants everywhere and a thirst for rare treasures far beyond ordinary imagination.
Many of the scraps he had obtained from the Garbage Station might be priceless treasures in their eyes.
But trading with them carried equally enormous risks.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was certainly no benevolent organization. Its ranks were filled with capable people, and once they set their sights on him and traced matters back to their source, could he keep the secrets on his person hidden?
"This requires further consideration..." Ning Chuan shook his head inwardly, suppressing the restlessness that had just risen within him and deciding to remain still for now.
His strength was still too weak. Contacting such a colossal force now was no different from seeking a bargain with a tiger.
Gathering his thoughts, Ning Chuan turned to leave, intending to visit a few other shops first and see whether he could find anything worthwhile.
Just as he lifted his foot to depart, a somewhat urgent yet delighted voice called out from behind him:
"Young friend, please wait!"
Ning Chuan paused and turned toward the voice, only to see someone striding swiftly out of Seven Treasures Pavilion. It was the old man who had appraised his unusual alloy last time!
Today, the old man wore an elegant dark-blue silk robe, his goatee meticulously combed. A warm smile covered his face, making him seem entirely different from the detached, businesslike man he had been before.
"So it really was you! This old man saw your silhouette from inside and thought it looked familiar. I never expected it to truly be you, young friend!" The old man took several steps to Ning Chuan, his eyes keenly studying him as he spoke with great courtesy. "What brings you here today, young friend? Did you happen to acquire some new and unusual item?"
Ning Chuan's heart tightened slightly, but he showed just the right amount of surprise and a trace of shyness. "So it is Master. I came into the city today to buy books. I happened to pass by, so... I just took a look."
"Buying books?" A glint flashed through the old man's eyes, and his smile deepened. "Good, good, good. Studying is a fine thing! But since you are here, it must be fate. The sun is rather harsh outside. If you do not mind, why not come in for a cup of tea and rest your feet?"
The old man's eagerness was somewhat abnormal. Ning Chuan knew perfectly well that it had to be related to that piece of alloy from last time.
After a brief hesitation, he nodded. "Then I will trouble you, Master."
"Please!" The old man turned sideways to lead the way, personally bringing Ning Chuan into an elegant quiet room in the inner hall of Seven Treasures Pavilion.
The room was simply and tastefully arranged, with a faint sandalwood incense burning within, sealing it off from the bustle outside.
After serving fragrant tea, the maid quietly withdrew, leaving only Ning Chuan and the old man in the room.
The old man took a sip of tea, set down his cup, and turned his gaze to Ning Chuan again with a genial smile. "Look at this old man's memory. We were in too much of a hurry last time, and I never introduced myself to you. My surname is Ning, and my given name is Yuan. I serve as one of the managers of Seven Treasures Pavilion here in Nuoding City. Speaking of which, we are practically family, young friend."
Ning Yuan? Family?
Ning Chuan's heart stirred. He promptly rose and bowed with great respect. "This junior is Ning Chuan. Greetings, Elder Ning."
"No need for such formality. Sit and speak." Ning Yuan smiled and gestured for him to sit. Once Ning Chuan had taken his seat again, the conversation naturally turned to the main matter, his tone carrying a touch of emotion.
"Young friend Ning, to be honest, that piece of 'stone' you brought last time truly opened this old man's eyes!"
He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and revealed an expression mingling excitement with curiosity. "After you left that day, the more I examined it, the more extraordinary that metal seemed. Its material was remarkably strange, its toughness excellent, and that subtle inertness toward energy was no ordinary trait."
"This old man did not dare neglect the matter. Following procedure, I sent it, along with a detailed appraisal record, by urgent dispatch to headquarters in Heaven Dou City."
At this point, Ning Yuan paused, watching Ning Chuan's reaction before continuing. "And what do you think happened? Several masters at headquarters attached great importance to it!"
"They said that although the item was already damaged, a certain 'spirit-conducting' property contained in its base material might very well offer inspiration for the core arrays of high-level Soul Tools! It even alarmed one of the sect's elders!"
Ning Chuan's hand holding the teacup remained as steady as a rock, while timely surprise and confusion appeared on his face. "Huh? That black stone... was that impressive? It even alerted an elder?"
Yet his mind was perfectly clear. The Composite Spirit-Conducting Metal from a world of advanced technology naturally surpassed the Soul-Conducting Alloys commonly found on the market in both microscopic structure and principles of energy conduction.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had established itself through commerce. Their sensitivity toward new materials that might bring technological breakthroughs was entirely normal.
Seeing Ning Chuan appear like someone who had stumbled upon tremendous fortune without understanding it, a trace of imperceptible doubt flashed through Ning Yuan's eyes, though the smile on his face grew even kinder.
"Indeed, young friend. That is why I say your luck is truly remarkable!"
"The sect is very interested in this. They specifically sent word that if you... or your family and friends can find similar materials, regardless of size or quality, Seven Treasures Pavilion is willing to purchase them at the highest price! We certainly will not let you suffer a loss!"
Ning Yuan had finally revealed his true purpose. After circling around for so long, his core aim was still to probe the source of that strange metal.
Ning Chuan smiled inwardly, but a troubled expression appeared on his face. He lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rough rim of the teacup as he stammered.
"Well... Elder Ning, to be honest, that stone... really was something I picked up while wandering around the small riverbank behind my village. There was only that one piece... I thought it felt heavy and looked strange, so I brought it home. Later, I went back to that place several times to search, but I never saw a second piece."
After saying that, he raised his head again, his sincere eyes carrying a young man's frustration. "If I had known it was worth so much, I would have turned that riverbank upside down looking for more! What a pity..."
Ning Yuan narrowed his eyes, carefully examining every subtle expression on Ning Chuan's face, attempting to find a flaw.
The youth before him was plainly dressed, his face still carrying traces of childishness. His eyes were clear, and his words held the straightforwardness unique to a rural child, along with regret over missing a chance to make a fortune. None of it seemed false.
Could it... truly have been nothing but a coincidence?
But how could such special metal have appeared out of nowhere on the riverbank of some rural village?
Before you continue