Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 833: Chapter 629: The Shopkeeper from An Family’s ”Treasure Pavilion

Purwell emitted a joyful whale call.

Then he opened his mouth wide, two rows of white big teeth glistening with a terrifying light, looking extremely fierce.

Unwilling to accept being a toothless whale, Hill installed mithril teeth mixed with mithril powder according to his original shape.

Because of this, Hill even had to raise the entrance by a meter and installed an automatic retractable long ladder that could extend from the entrance to the ground.

Purwell felt truly relieved: these were far superior to the broken teeth modified by Bane’s followers.

As a male whale, he had a really tough time during that period. Although otherworldly whales rarely used their teeth to bite enemies, they were used to biting and crushing food!

Even if his stomach was corroded and couldn’t handle much food, Purwell couldn’t bear his teeth becoming a garbage dump!

What kind of disgusting things were those?

So at the time of purification, even his hard teeth couldn’t be saved.

A perfect set of whale teeth was one of their symbols of strength; losing them was indeed a bit painful, and only little ones following their mothers didn’t need teeth.

However, Hill didn’t seem to realize he was a toothed whale, making Purwell suspect that he was mistaken for a baleen whale, so he tried asking.

Hehe~ Luckily, the outcome was very satisfying for him.

Hill surprisingly fitted him with a full set of mithril teeth. Things that he couldn’t bite before could now be gnawed on twice.

Yet, when he was in Agleya, there wasn’t much to show off about; either people didn’t find mithril teeth a problem, or it was best not to interact with them.

Unexpectedly, he found an opportunity after switching continents!

Walking inside the whale’s mouth, An Yanfei actually sensed the pride of this metallic whale in front of him; sorcerers were inherently sensitive to changes in emotions in creatures.

Feeling somewhat inexplicable, he thought for a moment, then carefully observed that row of big teeth that had just appeared in front of him and was severely shocked.

Mithril teeth measuring dozens of centimeters to a meter were already terrifying; what else was mixed in?

An Yanfei couldn’t help but look up, but his view was blocked by the whale’s huge head.

He was from the sorcerer school most proficient in making strange objects and mechanisms!

That...must be mithril.

An Yanfei slowly hung a tag on a lower tooth and couldn’t resist touching it a few times.

Then he heard peculiar laughter, subtle and sharp, with numerous voices seemingly hiding behind that deep entrance gate.

Was it the small constructs of this Archmage? One could tell from the whale that this person must be a master proficient in mechanical crafting.

How could the sounds of constructs be made so subtle? An Yanfei thought while adjusting his expression, lightly brushing his cuffs with his fingers, strolling leisurely out of the whale’s mouth.

Then, with a serious face, he quickened his pace and ran back to his office: he didn’t feel embarrassed at all. For sorcerers who constantly handle mechanisms, once they knew what he saw, they would understand his condition.

No matter who it was, they would feel the same; gaining access to mithril would allow several mechanisms he’s always wanted to create to finally take shape!

Allowing him to touch the whale’s mouth, this Archmage clearly had some way to judge that An Yanfei could be trusted.

What he needed now was to quickly contact the An Family’s caravan nearby, taking advantage of nobody else knowing, bringing more good things overnight; as long as they could exchange for mithril from this Archmage of Agleya City, no matter the amount, their family would profit immensely!

Although unaware that by dawn, he might face his first major deal, Hill was prepared for someone to seek him out.

He really didn’t expect this sorcerer An Yanfei to be so familiar with magical materials, recognizing mithril at a glance.

But Hill’s intuition told him that this sorcerer was someone he could work with, without bringing any trouble.

Hill guessed this person might not be an ordinary government official.

Which was quite normal, as the family powers in the Shulong Empire were very strong, with the Emperor’s power being more like that of the later Ming Dynasty — no matter how ambitious, it was beyond saving.

In lucrative places like Reception Island, anyone who could establish themselves must have considerable family backing.

No matter if An Yanfei’s family was good or evil, as long as they were willing to trade fairly, it would suffice.

After all, it was his intuitive choice, and the Natural Consciousness surrounding Hill would never allow him to choose someone evil to cooperate with; at the very least, this family must have a bottom line.

Hill sunk back into his study and saw the small plate List had brought back.

He picked up a piece to inspect, noting that it was an interesting alloy containing a trace of strange magical energy, presumably the witch power from the Shoulong side.

It was a more primitive elemental power, unlike the mages on the Ferun Great Land who clearly delineated the elements; sorcerers seemed to use magic more directly as primordial power.

Different from the witch power found in barbarian tribes.

Though they both worship ancestral forces, the difference between ancestors with intelligence and barbaric totem gods is vast, and the ancestral power on the Shoulong side is controllable.

Hill pondered for a while on the strength attribute felt from An Yanfei and the small token before him, unable to hold back a smile. Though the Heavenly Court was right overhead and always acted assertively, it was clear An Yanfei and the great witch behind him were obviously using ancestral power.

The deities of Shoulong seemed to have an even greater distance from humans, blocked by their ancestors.

And the factions of Confucianism and Taoism both worship sects rather than any particular deity.

The deities most worshiped are probably among the Nine Walkers, but much like his previous world, these beliefs are more prevalent among the lower tier.

The Heavenly Court indeed stands above, and when the Shoulong people do things, they might call on these deities for protection, but it’s more lip service, hoping for a bit of luck, never truly expecting dividends.

Hill, leaning back on his easy chair, chuckled a few times; this approach by the Shoulong folk was familiar to him, yet carried a hint of unfamiliarity.

There was another feeling, hard to articulate...a sense of pride, as if no matter the world, that same nation is unwilling to bow down before deities!

Shoulong, granted authority by dragons, yet the True Dragon Emperor can only co-rule the empire with the cabinet.

The Heavenly Court indeed has various means to bind the Empire, but it’s merely a restraint, and the noble clans have countless methods to weaken this bind.

And the lower tier can gain power from the path of deities, so even the great noble families dare not be too oppressive, otherwise, no amount of tactics can withstand being summoned the Nine Immortals to the Mortal World.

Compared to the countries on the Ferun Great Land, this approach by Shoulong indeed proves more effective, ensuring even in a world full of deities a rather complete and strong empire.

Though division is unavoidable, once there’s a chance, the split-off small states can still be reclaimed, rather than perpetuating imperial disintegration.

In a leisurely mood, Hill hummed a tune as he half-reclined in his deck chair, receiving a visiting card at dawn.

Reading the post brought by List, with the signature ”Treasure Pavilion, An Ran’s Greetings,” Hill nodded and agreed to meet this quick-reacting merchant.

Though the merchant named An Ran had tidied and groomed himself before coming, he still carried an unmistakable traveled-worn air, apparently having rushed overnight from Haidong Province.

Reception Island has no portal; if foreigners desire to reach a mainland city, they must possess a small round token and first travel to Haidong Province on a passenger ship.

The normal cabins are free; if one dislikes being with outsiders, one can pay extra for a VIP room.

Merchants typically wouldn’t do so; for just one night, it’s safer to stay with their own crew.

After all, you can’t upgrade everyone’s cabin, right? So what else would one do with all that money?

Of course, major Shoulong families would surely have their own ships directly reaching Reception Island, unlikely overnight and surely faster than the passenger ones.

”Honored Mr. Polanio, it’s my privilege to have this opportunity to meet you. I am An Ran, from the An Clan, managing the family trade association’s Treasure Pavilion, with keen interest in precious materials from other continents. Here is our product list, everything on it is open for trade.

The purchase prices listed are merely base prices.

For good quality items, prices can be doubled or even multiplied several times!

Please consider Treasure Pavilion, Mr. Polanio.” In the reception room on the Magic Tower’s bottom floor, An Ran displayed utmost respect upon meeting Hill.

Though the highly regarded legitimate family member had spoken earnestly, An Ran initially hadn’t paid much attention.

Yet for someone like him who specialized in commerce from a collateral branch—essentially weaker individuals lagging behind in cultivation—though possessing some business acumen, they are undoubtedly inferior to those entering the political arena.

Such powerful individuals, though from collateral branches, would add rank titles to their names upon entering the family’s legitimate line, while he could only manage business and external affairs.

External affairs are indeed better; merchants are wealthy, and families allow them a commission on business endeavors, yet despite witnessing much, with flexible methods, his status remains here.

Even if An Yanfei, potentially a leading figure for the next family generation, expresses intent unknowingly, An Ran would still exhibit utmost seriousness despite dismissing it.

Unexpectedly, An Ran internally sighed; whether sharp-eyed enough or merely lucky, An Yanfei had heavily invested in his future.

Upon entering, he noticed the whale’s internal space incredibly large, suitable for housing hundreds if the An Family were to use it, yet An Ran found this Archmage had only twenty-some followers.

Though their abilities seemed strong, surpassing the escorts accompanying An Ran, he still couldn’t fathom why more attendants wouldn’t be better?

At least this clarified why An Yanfei repeatedly instructed him to ’act honestly.’