PalaceMoonlight — News of an Origin Stone
Lu Yuan's post had barely gone up before the first replies came in.
He opened the trade thread again — already over a thousand comments.
He scrolled through them one by one. Most were there for the entertainment. A fair number wanted to pay in Spirit Crystals.
> **NocturnalKnight:** First! A Boss Grade Gene Armament? Is this even real? How does OP have something that high-tier? How come nobody's ever heard of you before?
> **NeverComesBack:** Grabbed second! Just passing through to pay my respects to a boss packing Boss Grade armaments. On my knees!
> **IvoryClam:** Is the girl in the third comment seriously loaded enough to buy Boss Grade armaments? Looking for a rich sponsor!
> **FingertipSweetheart:** OP, can I buy with real-world currency? Willing to pay above asking price.
> **DreamPetal:** Big bro~ won't you gift little sis an Elite Grade leather armor? Little sis is very pretty with a great figure and will do *anything*~
> **SwordShadowGale:** Honestly, I'm more curious who OP actually is. Checked the profile — first post ever. Are you a front for some big consortium?
> **MemorableGrace:** Wait — the staff in this trade thread is identical to the Boss Grade staff I spotted in the shop, and both are trading for an Origin Stone. Is it the same person?
A small number offered to pay with real-world currency or Spirit Crystals. That was the extent of it. No one had an Origin Stone to trade.
Lu Yuan kept scrolling, disappointment quietly settling in. Then he reached:
> **DreamPetal:** Big bro~ won't you gift little sis an Elite Grade leather armor? Little sis is very pretty with a great figure and will do *anything*~
His expression curdled. Over ten thousand Spirit Crystals and she wanted it handed over for free? That was even worse than the one who'd tried to scam him out of an Elite armament — this one was angling straight for a Boss Grade piece.
He typed a single character and blocked her without blinking.
He'd barely finished when another notification came in from his shop account. He glanced at it — at least this one was somewhat legitimate.
> **PrimeYearsForever:** Friend, the Wild Beast Leather Armor Set is listed at 1.5 million Red Maple Coins. Isn't that a bit steep? Could you come down a little?
Lu Yuan read it and moved on. He wasn't a professional merchant. He had no interest in haggling.
"No discount," he replied.
He went back to browsing.
Somewhere in the Red Maple Empire — a room inside a well-appointed residential complex.
A middle-aged man stared at three characters on his holo-display. His face went slightly dark.
Beside him sat a young girl, bright-eyed and neatly pretty. She glanced at the screen, then lightly tugged his arm.
"Dad... that's actually the lowest price we've seen anywhere."
The man sighed inwardly. "Fine. Let's buy from this shop. A friend told me that a Gene Warrior's first time entering the Land of Origin is critical — I want you going in with proper Elite armaments so it won't be so hard on you."
He processed the payment, grumbling all the while:
"Gene Warriors really do make money... I've been running a small company half my life, killing myself for it — total family assets barely crack forty million. And these people can sell a single Gene Armament for 1.5 million. On top of that, they can't even be bothered to respond when you ask for a discount..."
His daughter beamed and threw her arms around him. "Thanks, Dad~~ hehehehe~"
He laughed, reaching up to ruffle her hair with fond affection. "My good girl is the best. Dad believes in you. Though whoever is selling Boss Grade armaments on this account must be seriously strong — you'll have to work hard."
She puffed her chest out with confidence. "Once I get stronger, I'll get my hands on Elite Grade Gene Armaments too and make this much money. Then I'll be the one supporting *you*!"
He was speechless. He turned and extended a single thumb.
"Impressive. I have nothing to say."
Back to Lu Yuan.
Another notification. He opened it.
> **PrimeYearsForever:** Friend, do you happen to have any Elite Grade weapons? Preferably a longbow, or short swords.
His brow lifted. He had plenty of armaments from his time at the Ancient Sea Oasis — including a pair of short swords dropped by the Ancient Sea Giant Wolves. Wolf Fang Short Swords: primary enhancement to agility, secondary to strength. Weapons generally fetched more than armor, too.
*As a matter of fact, yes.* He checked the item details and sent them over, priced at 1.5 million.
PrimeYearsForever replied immediately and bought them on the spot.
*Didn't expect them to actually go through with it.*
This single sale was worth more than several Elite armaments combined.
He checked his shop overview. Another Gene Armament had sold. The Combat Technique: Poison Mist had gone as well. Someone was also sending messages asking about the staff.
He still couldn't sell the armaments for Spirit Crystals the way he'd prefer — but Origin Stones were simply too scarce. No point rushing. Once he broke through to First-Rank, he could evolve Black Iron Body and inscribe another Transcendent Gene. His strength would multiply several times over.
For the items from his Battle-mark Space, he scheduled a 4 PM pickup through the Battle Net marketplace. The Gene Warrior Association ran its own logistics division — their staff would verify the goods on-site and handle the rest.
He went back to scrolling the trade thread. Reply after reply. Nothing useful. No one with an Origin Stone.
He scanned further, and further, almost to the end of the thread —
Then he stopped.
His eyes lit up.
> **PalaceMoonlight:** I have a Trainee Grade Origin Stone. How do we trade?
A faint smile crossed his face. He tapped open the message and quickly typed a reply.
He wasn't worried about himself. His own strength was solid, and he was almost at First-Rank besides.
It was Li Qinghe he was worried about. She was just an ordinary person.
*I should sit down and have a proper talk with her.*
After blocking another round of scammers trying to worm their way into getting his staff for nothing — a brazenness that surpassed even DreamPetal — he left home and headed for Wild Wolf Materials.
**Jiuhu Shopping District. Wild Wolf Materials.**
Xue Wang was slouched in his chair, eyes fixed on the holographic display mounted on the wall. A beautiful news anchor was speaking:
"— Last night, in the Mingzhi Complex on Black Oak Street in the South District, an explosion occurred. According to reports, the blast was caused by a gas leak due to resident negligence. Thirty-two residents were killed—"
Lu Yuan pushed open the door and paused.
*A gas explosion.*
*Thirty-two dead.*
He glanced toward the screen. Black Oak Street... wasn't that fairly close to where he lived?
"Hm. That Black Oak Street in the news isn't far from my place."
*That many people.*
At least it wasn't his building.
A chill settled over him anyway.
*Could this be connected to the Shadow?*
He'd told himself it was probably fine before. But the Shadow seemed to be escalating — getting worse. Better to move sooner rather than later.
He wasn't worried about himself. It was Li Qinghe he was worried about. She was just an ordinary person.
*I need to have a serious conversation with her.*
Xue Wang snapped back to attention and swiveled around with a grin.
"You didn't show up yesterday. I was starting to think you'd found a better deal somewhere and moved on without me."
"Stop." Lu Yuan's tone was flat. "Don't say things that gross me out. I had stuff to deal with."
He smiled and reached into his Battle-mark Space, pulling out a mountain of materials.
Xue Wang's expression dropped.
"...Good lord. You miss one day and *this* much piles up? Let me count first."
He started tallying. His eyes went wide almost immediately.
"Sixty-seven Elite Grade materials?! Where did you go to kill *this* many Elite Feral Beasts??"
"Killed them when I ran into them."
"How can it be that simple? I'm not a monster like you!" Xue Wang shook his head in disbelief. "All right — how much total this time?"
"Lot of materials this haul. Six million, nine hundred and forty thousand. I'll transfer it over."
Xue Wang stared at him for a long moment. Then he turned slowly and raised a single thumb.
"Incredible. I genuinely have nothing to say."
Lu Yuan waved and turned toward the door.
"Wait—!"
He stopped.
Xue Wang hesitated a moment, then spoke.
"You live in the slum district, right? Has there been a lot of deaths over there lately? Something feels off about the whole situation. If you can manage it, you should really think about moving."
Lu Yuan turned to look at him.
He himself was fine. It was Li Qinghe he was thinking about — she had no way to defend herself.
"I know. I'll go look at some places."
"Find somewhere close to me," Xue Wang said, grinning. "We can hang out."
"No hanging out."
Xue Wang laughed. As Lu Yuan started for the door again, Xue Wang called after him once more.
"Oh, one more thing — hasn't your gene fully integrated yet?"
Lu Yuan stopped. He turned and looked at Xue Wang with a puzzled frown.
Xue Wang smiled faintly. "Never mind. That's good, then."
"...Right. I'm heading out."
He rolled his eyes and left.
Walking back through the streets toward the slum district, phone in hand and Battle Net open, Lu Yuan checked whether anyone had sent a new message about the staff.
*Wonder how Sister Qinghe is doing.*
Behind the closed shop door, Xue Wang's smile faded slowly. He sat alone, staring at the holographic display, expression distant — his thoughts unreadable to anyone watching.