Chapter 331: Changes in Great Yong |
So much blood, after being burned dry, only condensed into seven drops of silver blood.
"Is this Silver Blood?" Qin Ziwen looked at the seven drops of blood in the pot, rotating the basin.
The silvery blood beads rolled inside like mercury.
Mogu said, "You can touch this stuff directly with your hands."
Qin Ziwen poured the contents of the pot onto his hand.
The silvery blood beads fell into his palm, heavy like iron pellets.
He pinched one; it had a certain elasticity and a warm, smooth texture.
Qin Ziwen said curiously, "Interesting."
He cast Insight.
This Silver Blood was actually a level three rare treasure.
It was just a bit lacking in quantity.
Judging from the description, its effect should be exactly as Mogu described, requiring special processing, presumably cooking.
The only pity was that this Silver Blood didn't count as an Aquatic Rare Treasure.
This left Qin Ziwen somewhat confused.
In his view, blood and water were at least somewhat connected. How could a rare treasure refined from blood not count?
North side of the residential complex, Teaching Building, Fourth Floor.
Traveling Merchant Teahouse.
As the residential complex continued to develop, the value of the Traveling Merchant Teahouse had gradually declined to some extent.
Because many buildings had appeared within the complex, most daily necessities could now be produced and consumed internally, including cloth, ironware, pottery, and so on.
The traveling merchants encountered at the Traveling Merchant Teahouse were random, and due to the ban in Great Yong, most items like ironware could not be purchased.
Over time, the value of this building had gradually decreased. More often than not, it served as an information channel instead.
Of course, the residential complex and Great Yong were separated by who knows how many worlds, so even understanding it wasn't very useful.
Therefore, although the Qin Alliance still maintained the operation of the Traveling Merchant Teahouse, its importance had dropped several levels.
Inside the simple teahouse building placed in the room, a line of merchants carrying shoulder poles walked into the house.
After entering the room, they observed their surroundings. The drastically changed environment indicated this was no ordinary teahouse. Clever individuals guessed this might be the place mentioned in folk rumors.
Within the group, several people looked around, a hidden fierceness flashing in their eyes.
A Qin Alliance member stationed by the window knocked on the table, asking lazily, "Customers, what would you like to buy?"
The traveling merchants didn't answer, instead exchanging glances.
Some of the guards behind them silently drew their knives.
Seeing this, the stationed member chuckled, used a pole to push open the window, and shouted, "Come greet the customers!"
Footsteps sounded from the corridor outside as a group of Qin Alliance members armed with bows and crossbows rushed in, raising their crossbow bolts and standing in a row.
The merchants who had harbored certain intentions instantly had clarity in their eyes.
"Sir, there was a minor conflict at the Traveling Merchant Teahouse earlier. A group of merchants came in wanting to rob the place, but they've all been dealt with," Jia Liangcai came to report the news.
After hearing the news, Qin Ziwen felt things had changed significantly. "These merchants are much bolder than before."
Jia Liangcai said, "I heard the court is imposing exorbitant taxes and levies. The grasslands to the north have been conquered. There are uprisings all over Great Yong, with beacons of war everywhere. Most traveling merchants still operating outside now are either restless or backed by some major power."
Qin Ziwen became thoughtful. Looking at it this way, Great Yong seemed to be showing signs of a dynasty's final years.
If more time passed, would Great Yong change dynasties, replaced by a new one?
Witnessing a dynasty's decline and descent into chaos firsthand, while he himself led Home through world after world, like a passerby independent of the world.
"Sir, that merchant convoy was selling grain. Youzhou has suffered drought and military conflict. Grain prices have risen repeatedly. These people were carrying over a dozen carts of raw grain to sell in Youzhou. They've all been detained by us now."
"Raw grain, I remember that's rice with husks, right?"
Jia Liangcai said, "Yes, sir. Because grains with husks store well, are less prone to mold, and are suitable for long-distance transport. Bulk trade usually uses raw grain. Also, raw grain with husks weighs more on the scale. Refined grain is generally only bought by wealthy households."
"That works out perfectly. Old Wei is working on new farmland. This batch of rice can be planted right away. Once the scale is larger, we can regularly eat rice and flour," Qin Ziwen was somewhat pleased. Although eating meat every day was filling, he missed rice and flour after not having them for so long.
Wei Zhaohua hurried over after learning the news. Seeing bags of rice with husks, his eyes lit up.
He immediately promised he would definitely cultivate this batch of rice well.
On the other side, the Fish-man Chieftain, having returned to the Fish-man Tribe, came to a temple in the eastern part of the tribe.
Unlike the Deep Sea Temple, this temple was located in the southeast direction of the tribe, mostly hidden within a dense coral cluster.
The temple's exterior appeared very dilapidated, its surface pitted and scarred, with moss growing thickly in the gaps between bricks and stones.
Inside the temple, an old fish-man with a massive build but dry skin lay half-reclined on a stone chair. Unlike other fish-men, this old fish-man's head was somewhat flattened, with extensions protruding from both sides of the skull, looking somewhat like a "hammerhead shark."
His eyelids drooped on both sides, his turbid eyes tinged with white. Hearing the movement of water, the old fish-man turned his head toward the temple entrance.
The Fish-man Chieftain stood straight before him, then bowed. "Elder, I need the tribe's records of the internal map of that black mountain to the west."
The old fish-man lifted his eyelids, his voice aged and weary. "You're helping that human so diligently. Aren't you afraid of repeating my mistakes?"
"Old Chieftain, I trust my sense of smell," the Fish-man Chieftain said confidently.
The old Fish-man Chieftain fell silent for a long moment. He knew of the Fish-man Chieftain's talent. "Don't overly trust your own abilities. Humans are fickle. They may be your friend today and your enemy tomorrow."
"Qin is not that kind of person," the Fish-man Chieftain shook his head. He had been to Qin's Home, seen how Qin treated those fish-man tribesmen. He only believed what he saw with his own eyes.
The old Fish-man Chieftain raised his head, his turbid, whitish eyes staring at the sky. After a long while, he slowly said, "So much like me."
The Fish-man Chieftain said, "That's why you chose me as your successor."
The old Fish-man Chieftain said, "I once took humans deep into the black mountain too. I know a path, and I know there is something they want there. But remember, after entering, don't stay too long. Take the thing and leave quickly."
After speaking, he bent over, his arm groping behind the stone chair he sat on. Soon, he pulled out a stone slab.
His fingers rubbed the patterns on the slab's surface. Finally, the old Fish-man Chieftain handed it to the Fish-man Chieftain. "Go. I hope you don't follow in my footsteps, and I hope your judgment is better than mine."