63: Chapter 63 Secret Realm Challenge Token

[Master Blacksmith Li Zhenguo]: "Brother Lin... you've really given this old brother a tough problem! Ten thousand units... even if I melt down all the iron ore in my inventory, I can't make up that number! (bitter smile emoji) To be honest, I only have five thousand units of ready stock right now. Even if I have all my dwarf brothers work through the night, by tomorrow morning, at the very, very most, I can only scrape together another three thousand, for a total of eight thousand units! This is the limit; any more, and even if you stuffed me into the furnace, I wouldn't be able to refine it!"

Lin Tian saw the reply and let out a soft sigh. Refined Iron was different from iron ore; it required smelting and forging, so production capacity was indeed limited.

Although eight thousand was short of the goal, it was already the maximum amount obtainable at the moment. He could only accept reality.

[Lin Tian]: "Brother Li, you're being modest; eight thousand units is already impressive! Among the people I know, you're the only one who can stably provide such a large amount of Refined Iron at this stage! Then eight thousand it is! We'll trade tomorrow morning; the price will be the same as always, 1 Spirit Crystal per unit, how about it?"

Behind the chat interface, Master Blacksmith Li Zhenguo let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead, finally securing this major client. He immediately replied: "Deal! Brother Lin is straightforward! Then it's settled, see you tomorrow morning! I have to hurry and help those dwarf boys work, or I won't be able to deliver tomorrow morning!"

After ending the call with Master Blacksmith Li Zhenguo, Lin Tian immediately contacted Chen Hao. He hadn't originally held much hope for the black-yellow stone, as this special stone was harder to mine.

[Lin Tian]: "Brother Chen Hao, are you asleep yet? How was the harvest today?"

[Chen Hao]: "Brother Lin Tian! I'm not asleep, not asleep; I just finished eating with the miner brothers! We had good luck today and found a rich ore vein, we dug up quite a lot of black-yellow stone!"

Lin Tian felt a surge of joy; it seemed there was an unexpected harvest today! He quickly asked: "How much? I want it all."

[Chen Hao]: "We dug up four thousand units today! Quite a bit more than yesterday! I've saved it all for you!"

"Four thousand units!" When Lin Tian saw this number, his eyes lit up; it far exceeded his original estimate of one or two thousand units! This was truly a pleasant surprise!

This guy Chen Hao, although he didn't talk much, really had a knack for mining, and he was an honest person who never hiked up prices.

[Lin Tian]: "Great! Brother Chen Hao, you're truly my lucky star! Four thousand units, I'll take it all! Same price as before!"

[Chen Hao]: "Got it! Preparing to trade now!"

Having solved the issue of the key special stones and metals, next were the massive amounts of basic building materials. Lin Tian didn't hesitate to find the "all-purpose" Qian Duoduo.

[Lin Tian]: "Boss Qian, sorry to disturb you late at night, but a big deal has come."

[Qian Duoduo]: "Lord Lin! What are you saying? To serve you, it's always business hours! I wonder what you need this time? How large is the quantity?"

[Lin Tian]: "wood, twenty thousand units. iron ore, twenty thousand units. stone... one hundred and twenty thousand units."

[Qian Duoduo]: "Lord Lin... this scale of yours... (wiping sweat emoji) wood and iron ore are easy to handle; my channels are stable, twenty thousand units is no problem, and the price will be at market rate. It's just this stone... to be honest, because of the massive purchases of stone yesterday, the price has been driven up quite a bit. Currently on the market, 5 units of stone for 1 Spirit Crystal is considered a fair price, and even then, it's frequently out of stock."

Lin Tian frowned slightly; he hadn't expected stone to suddenly become so scarce.

But wall construction and future expansion were inseparable from it; he had to get it. He calculated quickly in his mind: one hundred and twenty thousand stone would be twenty-four thousand Spirit Crystals. Although it hurt his wallet, it was still within his tolerance. He replied: "I understand the price; market laws and all. We'll go with 5:1, for one hundred and twenty thousand stone. wood and iron ore will also be at the latest market price. Boss Qian, can these goods be ready by tomorrow noon?"

At this moment, Qian Duoduo was also ecstatic; this was another huge transaction! His mind whirled as he immediately replied: "Lord Lin, rest assured! You are my VVIP client; even if I have to risk this fat... cough, even if I put in all my effort, I guarantee that by tomorrow noon, I will deliver all the materials you want in full! Otherwise, I'll write the name Qian Duoduo backwards!"

Lin Tian was also amused by his "oath": "Good! I trust Boss Qian's credit. Then it's settled, full payment for full goods tomorrow morning."

Qian Duoduo: "Understood! Just you wait and see!"

Ending the "bulk procurement" negotiation with Qian Duoduo, Lin Tian felt more drained than after fighting a battle. He rubbed his temples, but his gaze shifted firmly to the next name on his friend list, Lord Su Wan.

This female lord of "Moonlight Territory" was not only his stable supplier of high-end wood, potions, and food, but her "Goddess of Luck" constitution and her apparent path toward logistical development also formed a perfect complement to him.

"It's time to do another big business deal with her, and while I'm at it, stock up enough 'provisions' and 'medicinals' for the coming period." Lin Tian thought as he clicked open the chat interface.

[Lin Tian]: "Boss Su Wan, are you there? A big order is coming! (attached with a 'rubbing hands in anticipation' emoji)"

[Lord Su Wan]: "Lin Tian? Just in time, I was just about to contact you! I have something important I want to discuss with you."

Soft moonlight filtered through the crystal-like window, falling onto a strange token in Lord Su Wan's hand that was neither metal nor wood, its surface swirling with a radiance like a secret realm vortex.

This was precisely the treasure she had obtained today when her luck exploded again, opening it from yet another Gold Treasure Chest: [Secret Realm Challenge Token (One-time Use)].

The token's information showed that one could enter an unknown secret realm to challenge it either solo or in a two-person team. The difficulty was adaptive and the rewards unknown, but being from a Gold Treasure Chest, it was bound to be high quality! Most importantly, dying during the challenge wasn't true death; it just meant the challenge ended.

Lord Su Wan's emerald eyes gazed at the token, then looked out the window at the nature elves who were busy tending to spirit plants and making potions under the moonlight, but who were clearly not skilled in combat.

She sighed softly, her beautiful face carrying a look of contemplation. "Solo challenge? With the combat power of me and the elves, I'm afraid we wouldn't even get past the first stage... Two-person team, rewards split evenly..."

She quickly filtered through possible candidates in her mind. Someone who traded frequently, whose strength grew rapidly, who was as good as his word, and who currently seemed to have no excessive ambitions... Lin Tian's figure naturally emerged.

"Perhaps... I can try cooperating with him." Lord Su Wan made her decision. Just then, Lin Tian's message arrived.

[Lord Su Wan]: "You tell me what you want first. Let's get the trade settled, then talk about my business."

[Lin Tian]: "Good! I want a lot this time: 8,000 units of moon birch spirit wood, I'll take as many healing potions and holy lotus fruits as you have. Additionally, Spirit Rice and all kinds of fruits and vegetables—I'll take them all. You calculate the price."

On the other side of the panel, Lord Su Wan saw this long list and the words "take them all." She was so startled she nearly stood up from her chair covered in soft vine cushions. Eight thousand moon birch spirit wood? All the healing potions and holy lotus fruits? All the food too? This scale... it was practically going to empty her warehouse!