"We're here!"
As the hunched old man spoke, Lin Yi was immediately drawn to the items displayed in the glass cabinet!
[Energy Bracelet] Category: Destiny bracelet (2 sockets) Grade: Z Effect: Increases combat power by 5%. Contains two sockets that can hold 2 gems of no higher than Z grade, granting their attribute bonuses. Description: An imitation of the ZZ-grade destiny bracelet [Chain of Moonlight]. One of the essential pieces of equipment for players outside the beginner village. Price: Not for sale Stock: 1
[Death-Exemption Scarecrow] Category: Talisman Grade: Z Effect: Upon death, this scarecrow is destroyed, negating the death penalty. Description: This scarecrow is recommended for creatures with more than 198 years of lifespan remaining. Price: Not for sale Stock: 1
[Agility Pill] Category: Medicine Grade: Z Effect: Permanently increases the agility of the corresponding body part. Can be used on six limbs. Description: Using it on the hands increases attack speed. Using it on the feet increases movement speed. Using it on the brain increases chanting speed. Using it on... ahem... Price: Not for sale Stock: 1
[Stardust Triangle Chain] Category: Destiny bracelet (3 sockets) Grade: FW Effect: Increases combat power by 20%. Contains three sockets that can hold 3 gems of no higher than FW grade, granting their attribute bonuses. Description: An imitation of the ZZ-grade destiny bracelet [Chain of Moonlight]. One of the essential pieces of equipment for players outside the beginner village. Price: Not for sale Stock: 1
[Mysterious Q Divine Crystal] Category: Divine crystal Grade: ZZZ Effect: None Description: A special container seems to be required to unseal the mysterious power contained within. Price: 9.9 days each (free shipping) Stock: 1
Although he knew what was stocked on the second floor, Lin Yi still couldn't help swallowing hard.
It was only the third day since the servers had opened!
And he had already encountered such great items!
The [Energy Bracelet] could be considered a god-tier item in the early game. It sold for 5,000 years outside the beginner village, but practically everyone who could afford one wore one.
With good gems, it was effectively like wearing two extra pieces of equipment!
The effect of the [Death-Exemption Scarecrow] spoke for itself. The later the game went, the better a bargain it became!
The [Agility Pill] was even more heaven-defying, permanently increasing attack speed, movement speed, and chanting speed!
The [Stardust Triangle Chain] was a higher-tier destiny bracelet, with three sockets that could hold two-star gems!
As for the [Mysterious Q Divine Crystal]...
Lin Yi had seen these things a few times in his previous life, such as the [Mysterious K Divine Crystal], the [Mysterious I Divine Crystal], and so on. Even humanity's strongest expert at the time had been collecting them, only to end up... losing so much he could cough blood.
The things he had paid a fortune to collect were completely useless. At most, they were collectibles.
In ten years, people had never managed to find the supposed containers for these so-called divine crystals.
Even at one day of lifespan per divine crystal, nobody would buy them!
They might be ZZZ-grade items, but they were utterly useless!
At least buying a steamed bun would fill your stomach!
As for destiny bracelets...
"Young man, what do you think of my things? Pretty good, aren't they?"
With his hands behind his back and his nose in the air, the hunched old man showed off to Lin Yi smugly.
"A senior truly is a senior. Your collection leaves this junior in awe!"
Lin Yi cupped his hands slightly and praised him sincerely.
He had only goaded the old man at first to get a look at the treasures. Now that he had gotten his wish, letting the little old man enjoy a bit of private satisfaction wouldn't cost him any flesh.
Lin Yi's goal now was...
To bag everything on this second floor at the lowest possible cost!
Lin Yi paused, then spoke with a hint of hesitation:
"It's just that, while these things look good, it's hard to understand their effects without using them!"
"Besides, this junior is short on funds and doesn't have long to live. Could you perhaps do something about the price..."
Before Lin Yi could finish, the old man interrupted him with an impatient wave.
"Say no more. There's no room for negotiation!"
"Besides, I'm only letting you look!"
"Didn't you see that they're not for sale?"
"They're only for display!"
"If you want to buy something, young hero, let's head down to the first floor!"
The hunched old man tugged Lin Yi's sleeve, about to head downstairs.
Yet, surprisingly, he couldn't budge him.
Lin Yi's eyes were fixed on the items in the cabinet. He gave a light cough and asked with a hint of embarrassment:
"Um, sir, what exactly is this destiny bracelet?"
"Why are there two kinds? And why do some have two sockets and others three?"
The old man smiled smugly again. As though the game's explanation mechanic had been triggered, he began explaining at length:
"A destiny bracelet is one of the most special pieces of equipment in this world. It carries its user's destiny."
"For destiny bracelets with different numbers of sockets, the more sockets, the better. More sockets can hold more gems, granting more attributes."
"For destiny bracelets with the same number of sockets, the higher the grade, the better. That allows them to hold gems with higher attributes, granting higher attributes."
"This [Stardust Triangle Chain] has three sockets and is two-star grade. It's a rarity in this world!"
"You should know that even the ZZ-grade destiny bracelet [Chain of Moonlight] only has four sockets!"
Lin Yi pretended to be a well-behaved child listening attentively and nodded slowly.
In his previous life, he had owned the ZZ-grade destiny bracelet [Chain of Moonlight]!
Likewise, the [Chain of Moonlight] was an imitation of the ZZZ-grade destiny bracelet [Chain of Illusion]!
The [Chain of Illusion] had a full eight sockets!
Only humanity's strongest expert had ever obtained it. Even Lin Yi didn't know the [Chain of Illusion]'s exact effects.
But without a doubt, those eight top-tier attribute slots had further cemented his position on the throne as the strongest expert.
And Lin Yi, as luck would have it, had once had his face viciously trampled and ground under that strongest human expert's bare foot.
Lin Yi had buried that hatred for nine whole years!
After all, the gap between them had kept growing. Even if Lin Yi wanted revenge, he had no way to get it.
Even though he had trained his skills furiously, the gap between their stats had left him utterly hopeless.
After all, he had a one-star talent, while the other man had a three-star talent.
With each passing day, the gap between them widened into a chasm.
And Lin Yi didn't even know how wide it was!
After all...
The other man had ascended long ago!
Fucking hell!
But now...
Lin Yi had what could be called a heavenly starting hand, along with a talent capable of infinite growth. He didn't even know how he could lose!
Actually, the old man was absolutely right!
Newcomers simply couldn't afford the things on the second floor of his general store!
The old man really wasn't a profiteer!
Even so, seeing these things really did leave Lin Yi unable to tear himself away!
That was why he had chosen to chat with the old man, make small talk, and build a rapport, to see whether he could snag anything.
"By the way, sir, what's that ZZZ-grade divine crystal?"
"It looks pretty badass?"
"9.9 days with free shipping... that's a little immersion-breaking!"
Lin Yi glanced at the [Mysterious Q Divine Crystal], seemingly casually, and asked with a hint of confusion.
The old man stroked his beard and gave a dry laugh.
"Well, that..."
"That thing really is good!"
"But... it belongs only to someone fated to have it!"
"I think you look quite fated!"
"I won't even charge you those 9.9 days. This priceless, top-tier three-star divine crystal..."
"Yours for free!"