58: Chapter 58 The Final Deal, People from the Gray Realm

Three days later, Xingyan Grand Market.

When the silhouette of the massive city suspended at the end of the sea mist truly appeared in his field of vision, even Lu Hu couldn't help but gasp.

Compared to it, Black Reef Island was practically just a crack in the reef.

The city was built against the sea cliffs.

The outer layer was a black reef wall stretching for dozens of miles, with runes surging like tides on the wall and giant crossbow platforms stacked layer upon layer.

Inside were layers of market districts, Piers, warehouses, and tall pavilions, while the flying boats, spirit ships, and streaks of light coming and going almost sliced half the sky into fragments.

This was the place that truly consumed the large cargo of the Outer Sea.

And only here could the sea beast Materials, Deep Sea Spirit Medicine, and Cold Iron essence that Changyuan Trading Company had brought out on this trip fetch a high price.

As soon as the cargo ship entered the Outer Port, the travel permit submitted in advance by the Zhao family took effect.

The Pier steward only glanced at the nameplate and paperwork of "Changyuan Trading Company" before waving them through, even specially arranging a spot near the middle-tier cargo yard.

Patriarch Zhao, that local snake, although he only entrenched himself in a small place like Black Reef Island...

...after lingering in this kind of transit chain for so long, he ultimately had some connections.

Lu Changyuan was in no rush to dump his cargo.

Instead, he first took Lu Hu and two accountants to scout out the market conditions for large cargo at several locations in Xingyan Grand Market over the past three days.

After one round, Lu Hu was amused.

"Master, what was said over at Black Reef Island was truly correct."

"With the Outer Sea in such chaos, the prices for sea beast hides and bones, Deep Sea pearl Materials, and cold-attribute mineral Materials have all risen. Especially for military-grade Artifact Refining Materials; the prices are almost extortionate."

Lu Changyuan nodded.

"Those who fear chaos are hoarding goods."

"Those with connections are stockpiling."

"Military towns and major forces are preparing supplies."

"At a time like this, whoever has stock on hand is the boss."

In the afternoon, the first batch of cargo from Changyuan Trading Company entered the market.

What was displayed on the surface were sea beast hide armor, bone Materials, monster tendons, and a batch of Deep Sea pearl Materials.

These items couldn't be counted as the absolute top tier.

But they won on having sufficient quantity, consistent quality, and being the most needed consumables for naval warfare during this period.

Several trading firms initially wanted to suppress the price.

But Lu Changyuan didn't take the bait at all.

He first had his people display only thirty percent of the goods, and specifically sent two boxes of the highest-quality pearl Materials to two shops in the market that specialized in high-grade protective gear for inspection.

Upon inspection, the news immediately spread.

What Changyuan Trading Company had in their hands were not ordinary scraps from the near seas.

They were premium goods truly brought back from the dangerous regions of the Outer Sea.

By the time the second round of bidding started, the situation had changed.

"I offer 3,800 Medium Grade!"

"You think you can get it for 3,800? I offer 4,200!"

"I want half of that batch of monster tendons, and I can raise the price!"

For a time, the people from the various trading firms went back and forth, and even Lu Hu, who originally had no interest in accounting, listened with excitement.

Lu Changyuan, however, remained calm and composed throughout.

He did not sell everything at once.

Instead, he broke them into several batches by product category, distributing them to different trading firms, different shops, and even different Artifact Refining Workshops.

In this way, he could not only drive up the price but also prevent people from figuring out the true bottom line of Changyuan Trading Company.

One old shopkeeper surnamed Gu was still unwilling to give up; taking advantage of the time when others went to inspect the second batch of goods, he deliberately lowered his voice and approached.

"Manager Lu, why break it up so much?"

"Give those remaining boxes to me as well, and my Gu's Shop can settle the payment on the spot today."

"As for the price, that's negotiable."

Lu Changyuan glanced at him, his expression indifferent.

"Manager Gu, do you want the goods, or are you trying to probe my bottom line?"

The old shopkeeper's face stiffened, and then he forced a laugh.

"In the business world, we should always know each other's roots."

Lu Changyuan couldn't even be bothered to smile.

"If you really figure out my bottom line, this deal won't be able to go through."

"Right now, the Outer Sea is short on goods, and it's not just one or two firms that are lacking."

"I am breaking up the goods to leave a living for everyone."

"If Manager Gu only wants to swallow it all in one bite, then wait for the next trip."

With that sentence, the old shopkeeper's plans were blocked.

He finally understood that the young manager before him might not look like much, but he was steadier than a weight on a scale.

Eating up the price was fine.

Probing the bottom line, no.

When twilight arrived and the first round of large transactions was settled, Lu Hu's hands holding the account book were slightly warm with excitement.

"Master, this is only the visible cargo."

"We've already sold nearly twenty percent more than we estimated."

"If the remaining batch of Cold Iron essence and Deep Sea Spirit Medicine also goes this way..."

Lu Changyuan said indifferently: "That wouldn't be earning money, it would be a blood transfusion."

Over the next two days, Changyuan Trading Company played the concept of "how to sell goods" to the extreme.

Sea beast hide armor was split among several protective gear merchants.

Bone Materials were sold in batches to Artifact Refining Workshops and shipyards.

Deep Sea pearl Materials and rare cold-attribute Materials were sold specifically to shops with backing that could handle high-value goods.

As for the Cold Iron essence, Lu Changyuan held onto it until the last day before bringing it out.

He only brought out a small portion.

But even this small portion directly caused those trading firms in the middle-tier cargo yard that specialized in heavy military equipment to drive the price up all the way.

By the time the last transaction was sealed, the visible cargo that Changyuan Trading Company had brought out on this trip had almost all been converted into mountains of Spirit Stones and several portable, high-value resources more suitable for bringing back to Blue Moon Island.

Even the batch of over three thousand newly acquired people had been temporarily settled in the Outer Port, just waiting to be transported together on the return trip.

"That's about it."

At night, when they returned to the small warehouse courtyard they had rented temporarily, Lu Changyuan looked at the account book and finally reached a conclusion.

"Start restocking tomorrow."

"Prioritize collecting seeds, raw Formation Plate Materials, ship timber, moisture-proof talisman paper, low-grade healing pills, and Artifact Refining Materials that can be thrown directly into the Workshop for use."

"Also, collect a few more sets of rough Formation Plates suitable for mining lines and Piers."

"Don't look for expensive ones, just durable ones."

Lu Hu grinned while writing it down.

"After this trip back, Blue Moon Island is probably really going to change completely."

Lu Changyuan didn't respond to that.

He simply closed the last page of the account book, though a trace of satisfaction flickered in his eyes.

This trip to the Outer Sea, up to this point, could already be considered seventy percent successful.

The remaining thirty percent depends on whether they can safely bring these things back to the island on the return trip.

On the other side of the courtyard, the shed area where the batch of newly acquired people was temporarily settled was still lit.

Some were distributing water.

Some were receiving coarse grains and medicinal powder.

There were also those huddled in the corners, who only dared to slowly straighten their backs after confirming that they would not be resold tonight.

Lu Changyuan listened for a moment through the courtyard wall before withdrawing his gaze.

These people were just numbers for now.

But once they returned to Blue Moon Island, entered the Workshop, went down the mining lines, and were inserted into the Spirit fields and Piers, they would become the skeleton of the island.

This trip, selling goods was just the surface.

What was truly valuable was whether this group of people and this batch of high-value resources brought back could push Blue Moon Island up another level.

That night, after everything was arranged, Lu Changyuan left the warehouse alone.

He did not go to those high pavilions or restaurants.

Nor did he go to the auction house.

He just walked slowly along the long street of scattered stalls in the more remote part of the middle tier of the market.

The people here were mixed, and the goods were also mixed.

It was the best place to listen to the winds, observe people, and also the easiest place to find small items that proper trading firms were unwilling to display.

But as he walked, his footsteps paused slightly.

A narrow alley ahead that should have been bustling had somehow fallen silent.

The stall owners were gone.

The hawking sounds were also gone.

The surrounding lights were clearly still on, but the sounds seemed to have been cut off by someone.

Lu Changyuan's gaze sank, and just as he was about to retreat, the surrounding space vibrated silently.

The next instant, gray light spread out before his eyes.

The entire alley seemed to be covered by a layer of deathly silent cloth.

The sea breeze disappeared.

Even the flow of Spiritual Qi seemed to have been severed.

Lu Changyuan stood in place, but there wasn't much panic in his heart.

He was very clear that for someone who could perform such a feat silently in a place like Xingyan Grand Market, if they really wanted to kill him, he wouldn't have been able to retreat even half a step just now.

At the end of the gray realm, a figure slowly emerged.

The person was draped in a hemp robe, with a withered and thin figure, their face hidden in a layer of thin gray light, making it unclear. Only a cross-shaped emblem on their chest faintly shimmered with starlight as they walked closer step by step.

Lu Changyuan's pupils constricted slightly.

It wasn't because he recognized this person.

But because of that aura.

Unfathomably deep.

Compared to the likes of the Zhao family on Black Reef Island, it was simply not on the same level.

"The lord of Blue Moon Island."

The gray-robed person spoke, their voice hoarse, like iron plates grinding.

"Tell me."

"On the night the Blood Shark Pirates were wiped out, what exactly did you see?"

Inside the gray realm, it was so quiet that only this sentence remained echoing.

Lu Changyuan narrowed his eyes, finally understanding why this person had come looking for him.

All the chaos in the Outer Sea recently was not just being watched by him.

People at higher levels were also watching.

And throughout his journey, from the Blood Shark Pirates to the Deep Sea Royal Clan, and then to Black Reef Island and Xingyan Grand Market, he had ultimately left a trail in the eyes of those who were paying attention.

He slowly exhaled, but his expression remained calm.

"Does Senior want to hear the truth, or does Senior want to hear living words?"

The gray-robed person looked at him, and the pressure within the gray realm silently increased by a notch.

"If you know how to speak, then say it all."