Although the overall construction was not yet fully completed, with scaffolding and construction puppets still faintly visible, the main framework had already taken shape. The upturned eaves, brackets, carved beams, and painted rafters shimmered with a faint magic light under the twilight sky, already possessing the nascent atmosphere of an immortal academy.
The architectural style was simple and heavy, with stone beasts guarding the corners of the eaves and cloud patterns carved into the corridor pillars. Every detail exuded the charm of a classical training academy of this world, showing no trace of being from another world.
Thousands of zombie and iron golems were still working in an orderly fashion, transporting building materials and arranging the landscaping.
Randy was standing on a high platform in front of the main hall, checking progress blueprints with several engineering Commanders. Seeing Steve and the other two return, a trace of a smile appeared on his serious face as he came forward to meet them.
"Steve, you're back."
His gaze swept over the three of them, and seeing that they were all unharmed, his heart settled slightly.
"Was it successful?"
Steve nodded and handed over several jewelry boxes and a small bag of mana stones.
"Randy, these are samples of basic mana Grass and mana stones from this world. Take them back and have the Research Institute analyze their composition and energy structure as soon as possible."
"Especially the mana Grass. I want to try using bonemeal to ripen them in this world's magic energy environment to see if we can preserve or even enhance their magic energy."
Randy took the items. Upon touching them, he felt a faint flow of magic energy within the jewelry boxes. Although the mana stones were only low-grade, their structure was dense and their energy pure, far exceeding most energy crystals he had encountered before.
He solemnly put them away and turned to instruct a man dressed in robes beside him, who was actually a researcher in disguise.
"Immediately send the samples back to the Earth Base through the Portal. Set the priority to highest; I want to see the first draft of the analysis report within twelve hours."
"Yes, Chief!"
The priest bowed and took the order, quickly retreating.
Steve then pointed to a crimson mana Grass he had kept—the red sun fruit plant. It was currently planted in a temporarily prepared pot of magic soil.
He walked to a relatively open area on one side of the square in front of the hall, placed the mana Grass pot on the ground, and then took a small bag of bonemeal from his robe.
Under everyone's gaze, Steve sprinkled a small pinch of bonemeal evenly at the roots of the red sun fruit plant.
In an instant, a sudden change occurred.
The red sun fruit plant seemed to be injected with a surge of violent vitality. The stem grew taller at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the leaves unfurled.
What was even more amazing was that the magic energy between heaven and earth seemed to be drawn in, forming wisps of pale white cyclones that surged frantically into the plant.
Under the dual effects of magic energy infusion and bonemeal catalysis, the red sun fruit rapidly expanded to the size of a pigeon egg. Its color became increasingly vibrant and succulent, and the fire-attribute magic energy fluctuations it emitted rose steadily.
"The magic energy absorption rate has increased by at least a hundredfold."
"Bonemeal not only accelerates the growth cycle but also significantly enhances the mana Grass's affinity and conversion efficiency for magic energy."
The surrounding members of the Sovereign Simulacra Academy—whether they were soldiers disguised as Outer academy Deacons or researchers playing the roles of alchemists and craftsmen—all showed excited expressions.
What did this mean?
It meant that as long as they had enough mana Grass seeds, they could mass-produce mana Grass in a very short time here in the Tianxuan Continent.
Alchemy, artifact refining, and training assistance—the bottlenecks in every link that relied on mana Grass resources would be easily resolved.
However, this excitement did not last long.
About half an hour later, an Iron Golem walked quickly from the direction of the Portal, and a communication from the Earth Base was projected from its chest.
"Report, Chief!"
"The Fortress has preliminary results for the bonemeal catalysis experiment on mana Grass. In an environment without magic energy, bonemeal can greatly accelerate the growth cycle of mana Grass, achieving maturity within hours. However, no magic energy was generated within the plants; they are merely ordinary herbs."
"Preliminary conclusion: the generation of magic energy in mana Grass must rely on an external magic energy environment. bonemeal can only catalyze the growth process and enhance magic energy absorption efficiency; it cannot create something from nothing."
Randy and Steve looked at each other, not too surprised by this result.
As a high-level energy form unique to this world, the generation and condensation of magic energy clearly required specific laws of heaven and earth and environments. bonemeal did not seem to contain the ability to generate magic energy.
"It seems that if we want to train mana grass on a large scale on Earth , we must first solve the problem of the source of magic energy."
Randy pondered aloud.
"Either we find a way to transport or store magic energy across worlds, or we completely transform the Earth environment to bring about a magic energy recovery."
Steve nodded, his gaze sweeping over the nascent academy buildings. A grander layout was gradually becoming clear in his mind.
"Randy, since we can't bring about magic energy recovery on Earth in the short term, let's take a different path. We'll use this world as a base to train mana Grass in large quantities while simultaneously creating our own chamber of commerce network. We won't just sell mana Grass and pills; we'll use it to collect this world's techniques, classics, and intelligence, and even scout for all kinds of natural treasures and special talents."
He paused and continued.
"We can first set up our first stronghold in Bulwar under the name of a subsidiary chamber of commerce of the Sovereign Simulacra Academy. We'll open the market with high-quality mana Grass and gradually open branches in every major city of the Tianxuan Continent."
"On the surface, it's a commercial operation, but secretly, it will be our intelligence network and resource channel."
"This way, we can quickly accumulate the wealth and resources of this world while deeply integrating into the local society, laying the foundation for a possible future unification mission."
A sharp light flashed in Randy's eyes, and he clapped his hands in praise.
"Good idea. Using commerce to support warfare and using commerce to scout the path is indeed more stable and discreet than direct military expansion. I'll arrange the manpower right away to continue collecting various mana Grass seeds and seedlings to establish an internal mana Grass training base for the academy."
"At the same time, we'll prepare for the chamber of commerce matters, selecting and training personnel who are good at management and have meticulous minds, preparing them to enter Bulwar."
"Furthermore,"
Randy added.
"The academy construction has entered the final stage. The Think Tank just submitted a complete 'Sovereign Simulacra Academy Initial Operation and Management Plan,' including disciple recruitment standards, the academy contribution system, mission posting procedures, and management systems for the inner and outer sects."
"Once the buildings are all finished, we can officially open the mountain gates to the outside world and recruit our first batch of local disciples."
Steve nodded.
"Regarding recruiting disciples, quality over quantity. Focus on assessing their character, especially their sense of identity with the academy. We can start on a small scale first."
"For example, we can secretly scout for some candidates with clean backgrounds and decent talent in Bulwar and surrounding villages. We'll bring them in as handymen or outer academy disciples and train them slowly."
"As for top-tier geniuses, they are rare, but if we find any, we must win them over at any cost."
He pondered for a moment and then said,
"However, the prerequisite for all of this is that we must have enough attraction ourselves. Besides mana Grass resources, technique inheritances and the training environment are all crucial."
Randy laughed and scolded good-naturedly,
"You brat, you're being a hands-off boss and letting us old bones teach and educate people for you?"
Despite saying that, his eyes were full of eagerness.
To be able to combine world's militarized management and scientific training methods with the training system to train a loyal and powerful team of sorcerers was itself a task full of challenge and a sense of achievement.
The two discussed a few more details, and then Randy left in a hurry to gather the relevant personnel and assign tasks.
Steve, on the other hand, strolled through the academy alone on an inspection.
Everywhere he went, the construction was nearing its end.
The main hall, the Simulacra Hall, was towering and solemn, with a vast interior space.
Some soldiers who were doing the final cleaning work saw Steve and immediately straightened their backs, saluting habitually.
"Director."
Steve waved his hand and corrected them gently but firmly.
"Here, call me Headmaster."
"Yes, Headmaster."
Everyone responded in unison, quickly changing their form of address.
"You've all worked hard."
Steve said.
"The academy has just been established, and there is much to be done. Besides your current work, you must also rotate in batches to head out under the guise of gaining experience to scout the surrounding areas."
"Understood, Headmaster."
A soldier who looked like a captain stepped forward and said solemnly.
"We have already planned several reconnaissance squads. We will start heading out in batches tomorrow and will definitely map out the situation within a thousand-mile radius."
Steve nodded with satisfaction, offered a few more words of encouragement, and then continued on his way.
He arrived at a secluded platform on the back mountain. The view here was open, overlooking most of the academy and the vast mountains in the distance.
As the sun set, magic mist swirled around, indeed possessing a bit of an immortal air.
"The immortal aura is sufficient."
As for transforming the Earth into a world of magic energy, Steve shook his head; this was too grand a task to be accomplished overnight.
For now, he preferred to focus his energy on improving their combat power and laying out plans for the Tianxuan Continent.
After all, his main body and Muriel were still dual training together at D.C Villa. Through the resonance of the heart of faith and the heart of the angel, their training speed was progressing by leaps and bounds.
And the mission of this clone in this realm was to fight, fight, fight, and kill, kill, kill, to expand world's territory and clear away obstacles.
"Once the chamber of commerce is established and resource channels are opened, perhaps I can find something regarding the nature of magic energy."
Steve made up his mind and stopped dwelling on it.
Time passed.
Early the next morning, when the first rays of dawn pierced through the clouds and fell upon the newly built glazed tiles of the Sovereign Simulacra Academy, the entire academy had taken on a brand new look.
Even more striking was that the steep terrain that had been the edge of a deep pit yesterday had now been completely transformed.
The land surrounding the giant pit had been forcibly leveled and compacted.
From a distance, the Sovereign Simulacra Academy was no longer a perilous place hanging precariously on the edge of a giant pit, but a formal mountain gate situated on a flat and beautiful land, appearing magnificent and full of immortal charm.
"It finally looks like something."
Randy and Steve stood side by side atop the mountain gate, overlooking the new atmosphere and nodding in satisfaction.
Just then—
A few miles away from the Sovereign Simulacra Academy's gate, a stumbling figure was desperately fleeing.
It was a youth of about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in rags and covered in blood. His face was pale, clearly at the end of his rope.
He looked back in terror from time to time; dust was rising in the distance behind him, indicating pursuers.
The youth was none other than Jaddar.
He was originally a disciple of the Evenstar family in Wudan City, who practiced hard and was highly regarded by the family.
However, last night, the other four major families in Wudan City suddenly joined forces and launched a night raid on the Evenstar family manor.
The Evenstar family was caught off guard, suffering heavy casualties. His father died in battle while protecting him during the breakout.
Jaddar relying on his familiarity with the terrain and a bit of luck, barely managed to escape the city, only to be chased all the way here by assassins sent by the four families.
He remembered that ahead should have been a terrifying giant pit known as the Immortal Falling Crater, a dead end.
But looking up now, a flat area had appeared out of thin air at the edge of the giant pit, with numerous halls standing upon it and magic light flickering—it was clearly an immortal academy.
"When did this academy appear?"
Jaddar was filled with doubt and alarm, but the sound of rushing air drew closer behind him; the pursuers had arrived.
He had no time to think, driven by the instinct to survive as he ran desperately toward the academy.
Perhaps that was his only chance at life.
However, due to his severe injuries, excessive blood loss, and depleted magic energy, Jaddar only felt waves of darkness before his eyes.
After struggling to run another hundred yards, he finally couldn't hold on any longer, collapsed to the ground, and his consciousness gradually blurred.
The moment he fell, a squad of Outer academy deacons patrolling nearby immediately noticed.
They had already discovered Jaddar and his pursuers through hidden monitors placed around the area, but they hadn't made a move yet.
"Captain, a youth has collapsed over there. He's badly injured."
A soldier whispered.
The one called Captain was a resolute-looking middle-aged man who had served as a special forces Commander and was now the head of the Sovereign Simulacra Academy's Field reconnaissance team.
His gaze was sharp as it swept across the three black-clad figures rapidly approaching in the distance, then looked at the fallen Jaddar, and he quickly made a decision.
"Save him."
"Yes."
Two soldiers immediately darted out, their movements like lightning as they reached Jaddar's side in an instant.
One kept watch on the surroundings while the other bent down to check him. Then, the two of them hoisted the unconscious Jaddar up and retreated rapidly toward the academy.
Almost simultaneously, the three black-clad assassins arrived.
They were all sorcerers at the eighth or ninth level of enlightenment, ordered by the four major families to take Jaddar's life to eliminate future trouble.
"Where is he?"
The leader of the black-clad men's expression darkened as he scanned the surroundings, only to feel a sense of emptiness.
"Big brother, Jaddar just ran here. How did he disappear in the blink of an eye?"
Another black-clad man asked, filled with doubt and uncertainty.
"There's something strange about this place."
The leader looked around; it was flat and open, with everything in plain sight, yet they had somehow lost track of their target.
"Could an expert have intervened?"
They didn't dare stay long, much less deeply investigate the sudden cluster of buildings.
To be able to establish a academy of such scale by the Immortal Falling Crater overnight, its background was definitely not something a few enlightenment stage assassins could afford to provoke.
"Retreat. Go back and report to the Family Head. Jaddar might have been saved by a mysterious academy; we need to plan carefully."
The leader made a prompt decision, and the three of them quickly turned around, turning into three streaks of black smoke as they fled.
Mountain Eagle and the others brought Jaddar back to the medical room within the academy.
When Steve arrived upon hearing the news, Jaddar had already been placed on a medical bed, and his vital signs were stabilizing.
"Headmaster."
The Military doctor in charge of the treatment reported upon seeing Steve arrive.
"The patient's external injuries have basically healed, and the internal organ tremors have stabilized. It's mainly excessive blood loss and magic energy exhaustion. He should wake up after a few hours of rest."
Steve nodded and glanced at the unconscious youth through the observation window outside the medical room.
The youth's brow still held a hint of childishness, but his features were resolute.
Just as Steve was about to leave, a rustling sound came from inside.
He pushed the door open and entered, seeing that the youth had already struggled to sit up and was looking around in a daze.
When Jaddar saw someone enter, he was startled at first. Upon seeing that the newcomer was a youth in green robes of a similar age to himself but with an unfathomable aura, he hurriedly tried to get up to pay his respects. However, the injury in his chest pulled at him, and with a muffled groan, he fell back into a sitting position.
"Lie down and don't move."
Steve walked to the bedside, his voice calm.
"Your injuries haven't healed yet; there's no need for formalities."
"Thank you, benefactor, for saving my life."
Jaddar endured the pain and cupped his fists.
"May I ask for your great name, benefactor? And where is this place?"
Steve sat down on a stone stool.
"My name is Steve, and this is the Sovereign Simulacra Academy."
He got straight to the point.
"You were found unconscious outside the mountain gate and saved by patrolling disciples. Tell me, what happened?"
Hearing the words 'Sovereign Simulacra Academy', Jaddar searched his memory quickly but had no impression of it.
However, for this academy to appear overnight by the Immortal Falling Crater, it was definitely not ordinary.
He took a deep breath, his eyes bloodshot, as he recounted the changes in Wudan City one by one.
It turned out the Evenstar Family was originally one of the five major families in Wudan City. Though not the top, they had a century of heritage and three Early-stage Albedo sorcerers presiding over the clan.
Jaddar was the only son of the family head, Evenstar Zarelion. At sixteen years old and at the Rubedo Stage, his talent was considered decent among the younger generation.
But three days ago, the other four families in the city—Jaxis, Eranil, Sun, and Zuire—suddenly joined forces. Using the pretext that the Evenstar Family was colluding with evil sorcerers, they launched a surprise attack.
"That night, the flames reached the sky."
Jaddar's voice choked with emotion.
"Father hid me in a secret passage and told me to flee east. He said that in the Appalachian Mountains a hundred miles to the east, there might be rogue sorcerer seniors who could take me in. He stayed behind alone to block them... I heard explosions and screams..."
Steve listened quietly without interrupting.
"After I escaped the city, the four families sent three groups of assassins to hunt me down."
Jaddar continued.
"The last group chased me all the way to the edge of the Immortal Falling Crater. I was already in despair when I saw a academy suddenly appear here..."
Steve nodded slightly after listening.
This story wasn't new in the training world; the drama of the strong devouring the weak and exterminating clans for treasure played out almost every day.
But he noticed a detail: Jaddar mentioned his father told him to flee east, and the Sovereign Simulacra Academy was located exactly due east of Wudan City.
"Did your father ever mention a academy near the Immortal Falling Crater?"
Steve asked.
Jaddar shook his head.
"Father only said there might be rogue sorcerers living in seclusion to the east; he never mentioned a formal academy. And..."
He hesitated for a moment.
"This junior dares to ask: the Immortal Falling Crater was left by the clash of Soul Transformation experts and is filled with soaring baleful aura. Ordinary sorcerers avoid it at all costs. Why would your noble academy choose to establish itself here?"
Steve smiled.
This youth had experienced the tragedy of his clan's destruction, yet under such emotional turmoil, he could still notice these details. His temperament was indeed good.
"The baleful aura of the Immortal Falling Crater is heavy, which is perfect for tempering the disciples' character."
He casually made up a reason, then changed the subject.
"What are your plans for the future?"
Jaddar's expression darkened.
"The blood feud must be avenged. But with four families joined together, there are at least eight Albedo sorcerers. There are even rumors that the Jaxis family ancestor has touched the threshold of the late stage of Albedo. With my current training, going back is just seeking death."
"So you want to find a place to train in seclusion and wait until your strength is sufficient before returning for revenge?"
Steve finished the sentence for him.
Jaddar nodded, a fire burning in his eyes.
"Exactly. Before he died, my father said that as long as one is alive, there is hope. I will take ten years, twenty years, or even fifty years—one day, I will make them pay their blood debts in full."
Steve was silent for a moment before suddenly saying,
"If I told you that by joining the Sovereign Simulacra Academy, this time could be shortened to three years, or even less, would you believe me?"
Jaddar snapped his head up, his eyes full of disbelief.
"Benefactor, Senior Steve, are you saying..."
"My Sovereign Simulacra Academy has just been established and is in need of disciples."
Steve stood up, standing with his hands behind his back.
"Your aptitude is fair, your character is resilient, and you carry a blood feud—you are good seedling for training. If you are willing to enter my academy, I can guarantee you will have the power for revenge within three years."
Jaddar's breathing became rapid.
Three years?
This was simply a fantasy. He had started training at age six and had toiled for ten years to reach the Rubedo Stage. At a normal pace, it would take at least another ten years to break through to Albedo . To have the strength to oppose eight Albedo sorcerers, he would likely need to be at the late stage of Albedo or even the Rubedo Stage—that would be at least fifty years from now.
But looking at Steve's calm yet confident eyes, remembering how this mysterious academy could build halls of such scale overnight, and recalling the magic light he saw in his moment of desperation...
*Thud.*
Ignoring his injuries, Jaddar struggled to roll out of bed and knelt on the floor.
"Disciple Jaddar is willing to enter the Sovereign Simulacra Academy. In this life and the next, I will never betray the academy."
Steve reached out with an invisible force to lift Jaddar up.
"There is no need for such grand ceremony."
He said indifferently.
"My Sovereign Simulacra Academy doesn't have many rules, only three: first, do not betray the academy; second, do not harm your fellow disciples; third, do not go against your own heart. Have you remembered?"
"This disciple shall remember it in his heart."
Jaddar said solemnly.
Steve nodded and took a jewelry box from his storage bag.
Opening the lid, fifteen crimson fruits were arranged neatly inside. Each was about the size of a pigeon egg, with hot fire-attribute magic energy flowing on the surface. They were indeed red sun fruits.
"These fifteen red sun fruits are your initiation gift."
He handed the jewelry box to Jaddar.
"You practice a fire-system training technique, don't you? This fruit will be of great use to you. From now on, at the beginning of every month, you can go to the Deacon Hall to receive corresponding training resources."
Jaddar took the jewelry box, both his hands trembling.
red sun fruits, and fifteen of them at that.
He remembered clearly that last year, when he broke through to the Rubedo Stage, his father had gone to great lengths to bid for a single red sun fruit at the Bulwar auction, spending a full eighty low-grade mana stones.
That was two months of the Evenstar Family's income, yet this young Headmaster in front of him had casually produced fifteen, and even said there would be more every month...
Just what kind of academy was this?
"Headmaster."
Jaddar's voice was dry.
"This is too precious; this disciple is unworthy..."
"The Sovereign Simulacra Academy does not lack such resources."
Steve waved his hand.
"Your task now is to recover and train. After your injuries are healed, go to the Deacon Hall to register. Someone will arrange your residence and training matters."
He paused and added,
"As for your revenge, once you reach the Albedo stage, the academy will give you justice."
Jaddar's eyes reddened as he kowtowed heavily.
"This disciple will certainly not fail the Headmaster's expectations."
Leaving the medical room, Steve met Muriel, who had been waiting for a long time in the corridor outside the hall.
Today, she had changed into a plain white dress, her long hair simply held up by a ruby hairpin. She had lost some of the killing intent from the battlefield and gained a bit more ethereal immortal aura.
"Murie, how is it?"
Steve walked to her side.
Muriel smiled slightly.
"That youth's heart is pure. Though his desire for revenge is intense, it lacks dark malice or toxicity; he is a talent worth training. His oath just now came from the heart, without the slightest falsehood."
Steve breathed a sigh of relief.
This was one of the important reasons he had brought Muriel along.
The heart of the angel's ability to perceive emotions and lies could be called a human lie detector.
In a place as unpredictable as the training world, with her around, he could at least guarantee the loyalty of the core disciple layer.
"Fortunately, I have you."
Steve sighed with emotion.
"Otherwise, I wouldn't even be able to tell if the disciples I recruit are human or ghost."
Muriel shook her head.
"My perception also has its limits. If someone with a high training level deliberately hides it, or if they practice a special breath-concealing technique, I might not be able to see through them completely. Moreover..."
She hesitated for a moment.
"Steve, we are outsiders after all. We aren't familiar with the training techniques or heart methods of the sorcerers in this realm. Some local methods of disguise might exceed my range of knowledge."
Steve nodded.
"I understand. That's why in the early stages, we'd rather go without than take in poor candidates. We'll only recruit those with clean backgrounds and simple temperaments. Once we've researched the training system more deeply, we'll establish a more comprehensive screening mechanism."
The two of them walked side by side across the academy's plaza.
"How are the preparations on Randy's side?"
Steve asked.
"Randy has already organized the first batch of Chamber of Commerce personnel."
Muriel said.
"There are thirty-six people in total, all experts in the fields of economics and management. They have already set off in batches to Bulwar and three surrounding towns to survey the market and select locations for our branches."
Steve nodded with satisfaction.
"It's time for us to head to Bulwar as well."
Half an hour later, Steve arrived at Bulwar accompanied by Muriel, Lin Ya, and six experts disguised as academy deacons.
This time, they didn't enter the city discreetly but landed directly at the Bluestone Plaza in the east of the city.
This was a common gathering place for sorcerers, where disciples from various major sects and rogue sorcerers often exchanged information and formed temporary teams.
Seven streaks of light descended from the sky, immediately attracting the attention of many people.
"Look at those clothes; they aren't from a local academy."
"So young. The one in the lead looks like he's not even twenty, yet his aura is unfathomable."
"The two female sorcerers beside him—hiss—they're stunning. Especially the one in white; she looks like a fairy stepped right out of a painting."
"Shut up! Do you want to die? Someone who can bring so many followers and carry such a calm demeanor must be at least a true disciple of some major academy."
Low murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Steve turned a deaf ear to them. His divine sense had already enveloped the entire plaza, instantly capturing all valuable information.
The group crossed the plaza and walked onto the bustling main street.
Bulwar truly lived up to its reputation as the largest city within a thousand-mile radius.
Steve noticed that the commerce here was clearly stratified. The high-end shops that actually sold mana herbs, pills, and training techniques were concentrated on Lingxi Street, the busiest street in the city center.
Steve took a liking to a shop located right in the middle of the street at a glance.
The shop's location was excellent, with a side road on either side forming a small intersection where people converged.
The storefront was five rooms wide and three stories high. A plaque reading 'Andrelion's General Store' hung over the door, but it was deserted, forming a sharp contrast with the lively shops around it.
What interested Steve even more was that directly across from this shop was the Eranil's Oddities, the same one where he had bought mana herbs yesterday.
"Interesting."
The corners of Steve's mouth curled up slightly.
"This is the one."
Pushing the door open and entering, the shop's interior was simply furnished. The shelves were sparsely stocked with some ordinary medicinal herbs, beast skins, and ores, all of mediocre quality.
Behind the counter sat a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a blue cotton shirt. He was looking down and fiddling with an abacus, his brows furrowed deeply.
Hearing footsteps, the man looked up. Seeing that Steve and his group had extraordinary temperaments, he quickly stood up and cupped his hands.
"Honored guests, what would you like to buy? My shop may be small, but the goods are genuine..."
"Is this shop for sale?"
Steve interrupted him directly.
The man was stunned.
"The guest means..."
"The whole shop, including the land deed. I want it all."
Steve said calmly.
"Name a price."
Andrelion was completely dazed.
He had run this shop for over ten years. Business had always been mediocre, but it had been going from bad to worse over the last six months.
The reason was simple: the Eranil's Oddities across the street had used unknown means to poach all his old regulars and spread rumors that his goods were shoddy.
Andrelion was an honest businessman and couldn't compete with those tactics. Seeing that he was about to go under, he was considering selling the shop at a low price and returning to his hometown to farm.
But now, this young sorcerer who had suddenly appeared wanted to buy the entire shop?
"You aren't joking, are you?"
Andrelion asked cautiously.
Steve didn't speak. He simply took an object from his storage bag and placed it on the counter.
Thud!
It was a gold brick, cast from pure gold. Based on Andrelion's years of experience, this piece was worth at least five hundred ounces of gold.
According to the market rate, one hundred ounces of gold could be exchanged for one low-grade mana stone. Five hundred ounces was five low-grade mana stones.
As for Andrelion's shop, while the location was good, the building was old and the land area wasn't large. The market price was roughly between three to four low-grade mana stones.
Steve's gold brick was already a premium price.
"Is it enough?"
Steve asked.
Andrelion swallowed hard, forcing down his excitement.
"It's enough. However, guest, if I may be so bold as to ask, what kind of business do you plan to do after buying this shop?"
"Selling things, naturally."
Steve said indifferently.
"Mana herbs, pills, ancient treasures—anything is possible."
Andrelion's expression changed. After hesitating repeatedly, he still lowered his voice and said,
"Guest, you're new here and might not know. That Eranil's Oddities across the street has a complicated background. The shopkeeper Andreas Eranil has a cousin who is an outer academy deacon at the Bluestar Academy, which is why they can stand firm on. Moreover, their methods aren't very clean. If you also do business in training resources, I'm afraid you'll..."
He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear: you will be targeted.
Steve smiled. This Andrelion was quite honest; even though he was desperate to sell the shop and get the money, he still offered a warning.
"No matter."
He waved his hand.
"I'm taking this shop. Go and get the land deed and property deed. We'll finalize the transfer now."
Seeing that his mind was made up, Andrelion stopped trying to persuade him and turned to go into the inner room.
Before long, he came out with a wooden box containing the land deed, the property deed, and a transfer document stamped by the government. It seemed he had been prepared for a long time.
Steve checked that everything was correct and pushed the gold brick over.
"The extra is a tip for you."
Andrelion thanked him repeatedly, quickly signed and sealed the document, and handed over all the shop keys.
Before leaving the door, he turned back once more and said sincerely,
"Guest, please take care. If you really can't keep it going, I, Andrelion, am willing to buy this shop back at the original price."
With that, he hurried away clutching the gold brick, his departing figure looking somewhat flustered.
Just as Andrelion left, several people walked in.
The one in the lead was a manaed old man with white hair and a white beard, wearing a gray robe and holding a whisk. At first glance, he looked quite like an immortal sage.
He was one of the economic experts, Camir.
"Headmaster."
Camir cupped his hands in greeting, and the five deacons behind him also greeted in unison.
Steve nodded.
"Camir, I'll leave this place to you. The main shop of the Chamber of Commerce must be opened as soon as possible. The primary task is to make a name for ourselves."
"Regarding the source of goods, I will transfer three hundred red sun fruits, two hundred silver thread orchids, and one hundred gold whisker ginsengs for the first batch. All of them will be ripened to their optimal age using bonemeal. The quality must crush all similar products on the market."
Camir's eyes lit up.