Zhou Yan enters the Treasure Room, eyeing a full Black Iron suit. He checks the war knife first:
[Equipment: Black Iron War Knife]
[Quality: Silver]
[Durability: 80/80]
[Attributes: Strength +15, Critical Strike +6, Ignore Defense +1]
[Requirement: Strength 20]
[Introduction: Forged by dwarves.]
Impressive, outclassing his old weapon. The suit—helmet, gauntlets, armor, belt, leggings, shoes—adds flair:
[Equipment: Black Iron Helmet]
[Quality: Silver]
[Durability: 85/85]
[Attributes: Defense +18, Spirit +2, Magic Damage Reduction 2%]
[Requirement: Spirit 20]
[Introduction: Part of Black Iron suit; six pieces boost attributes. Dwarven craft.]
The rest follow suit, boosting defense, strength, constitution, agility, and speed. The full set adds: strength +43, agility +21, physique +22, spirit +3, defense +113, critical strike +6, ignore defense +1, damage reductions, stamina recovery, and a Swift Shadow skill. Zhou Yan equips it, feeling a surge.
He outfits his 20 new White-Robed Ghost Soldiers with spare silver gear. A full territory upgrade needs more materials—high-grade ores are pricey in trials, limited to lord trades.
At the Divine Forge, hammers clang. Dwarves, engrossed, miss Zhou Yan's arrival.
"Jerry!" he calls.
Jerry spins, eyes alight. "Lord! You're back! Ore's low—any high-grade, three-star stuff?"
Zhou Yan grins, clapping Jerry's shoulder. "Plenty of buns and meat coming."
Jerry blinks. "Ore, not food. I'm not hungry."
Zhou Yan chuckles—cultural gap. "I'll get it now."
He opens the trading hall, hunting iron ore. One-star pieces run 30 spirit coins—triple the lord world's 10. Some lords demand 50. Forging a Black Iron weapon takes five pieces; with costs, 400 coins break even. Market price? 500. At 800, trial scarcity ensures buyers.
[Territory Prompt: "Bought one-star black iron ore, -30 spirit coins."]
[Territory Prompt: "Bought one-star black iron ore, -45 spirit coins."]
[Territory Prompt: "Bought one-star black iron ore, -40 spirit coins."]
Zhou Yan sweeps one-star ores—iron and beyond—for gear. Equipment doubles ore costs in sales, and he's flush with coins. Two-star ores hit 100 coins; he buys at 50 or less. Three-star ores, 500 to 1,000, promise profit. He clears the hall's stock.
The ore vanish sparks chatter:
"Ore's gone! Someone's hoarding!"
"Bet it's the spirit fruit guy—capitalist moves."
"Crafting gear? Smart—trial gear's rare."
Zhou Yan smirks—his moves stir the trial.