Chapter 1 Nie Yan's Plan

Nie Yan chatted with Shi Tou for a few more words and hung up the voice call. He had already arrived on the island and found the fishing doctor, Blevins.

"Young man, how many fine silks have you collected?" Doctor Blevins asked when he saw Nie Yan return.

"Respected elder, here are the thirty fine silks I found. Please examine them," Nie Yan replied, using the standard quest dialogue.

"Young man, thank you for your generosity. As a token of my gratitude, here are thirty silks for you to accept. In addition, I have decided to impart a skill to you," Doctor Blevins said.

System: Do you want to learn the Intermediate Combat Bandage skill taught by Doctor Blevins?

Nie Yan's heart skipped a beat. This was the skill he wanted. He clicked confirm without hesitation.

System: You have learned the Intermediate Combat Bandage skill taught by the Archmage.

Intermediate Combat Bandage: Create and use intermediate combat bandages. Requires ten silks. Each combat bandage recovers 20 health points, lasting 10 seconds. Can be interrupted after 3 seconds. Can be used on teammates.

Ten silks were twenty copper coins. Although a bit expensive, it was a lifesaver in critical moments!

System: Quest Doctor Blevins' Request, completed 20%.

Nie Yan was stunned. Logically, he had handed in thirty fine silks, and the quest should have been completed. How could it only be 20% complete?

"Young man, thirty fine silks are far from enough. I need more fine silks. Can you help me find them?" Doctor Blevins said.

"I am willing to serve you," Nie Yan quickly replied. It seemed that the quest to reward the Intermediate Combat Bandage skill was only a fragment of the quest. He wondered what the quest rewards would be later. "Respected elder, here are five rare fine silks that I found. I wonder what their use is?"

"Fine silks must be processed before they can become rare fine silks. Each rare fine silk is equivalent to six ordinary fine silks," the old man explained, asking Nie Yan, "Are you going to give them to me?"

"Yes," Nie Yan said. Five rare fine silks were equivalent to thirty ordinary fine silks. Farming the Water Spider Leader for so long wasn't as cost-effective as killing just one.

But this was normal, because killing the Water Spider Leader was too dangerous. It was impossible for Nie Yan to complete it alone.

System: You have received thirty silks.

System: You have received the Silver Headhunter Leather Armor.

System: Quest Archmage's Request completed 40%.

Nie Yan was pleasantly surprised when he saw the second system notification. He opened his backpack and found a piece of silver-white leather armor.

This leather armor was made from the hide of some unknown animal. The texture was tough, and it shone with a silver-white luster. It didn't need to be identified.

He looked at the attributes.

Silver Headhunter Leather Armor (Silver): Level requirement 5.

Attributes: Defense 13-17, Strength +5, Agility +5.

Weight: 3 pounds.

User Restriction: Thief, Paladin, limited to Lawful Good alignment.

Silver-grade equipment had about 30% higher defense than ordinary equipment of the same level, and it also came with two additional attributes. If this Silver Headhunter Leather Armor was put up for auction, it could be sold for at least 5 silver coins at the current market price.

A level 5 dagger, plus level 5 Silver Headhunter Leather Armor. When he reached level 5, Nie Yan would be able to upgrade his equipment.

Nie Yan suddenly felt more motivated to level up.

The quest rewards from this old man were really generous. There was still 60% left to complete, and he had to collect ninety fine silks. That would kill him! He decided to spend money to buy fine silks. Ninety would cost three silver coins. It seemed that his money was far from enough.

How could he make money quickly? Nie Yan racked his brains, recalling the strategies he had seen online before.

A flash of inspiration struck Nie Yan's mind. He suddenly remembered the item that was said to be the most useless when the game first launched – bat teeth. Bat teeth were the materials for making level 0 novice weapons. The weapons made had very low attack, and basically no one would use them, except for some people learning Forging who would occasionally buy some bat teeth to practice basic Forging skills. Others wouldn't buy them at all. Throwing five stacks of a hundred bat teeth to the NPCs only sold for one copper coin, so in level 3 bat monster spawn areas, many bat teeth were left on the ground, and no one would pick them up.

Some players would rather throw away the bat teeth than carry these broken things that took up backpack space. Only those players who had no money would collect them and sell them to the NPC shop.

But Nie Yan knew another use for bat teeth. There was a high-level blacksmith in Carol City who could trigger a hidden quest to buy bat teeth. Every ten, which was half a stack of bat teeth, could be exchanged for one point of experience and one copper coin. That high-level blacksmith bought them in unlimited quantities. Later, after the NPC was discovered by the players, the price of bat teeth rose.

This was a business that could be done, Nie Yan couldn't help thinking. He only needed to put up an advertisement in the bat monster spawn area, buying bat teeth at a price of one copper coin per stack, and soon a large number of bat teeth would be delivered to his door. He could then turn all the bat teeth over to the high-level blacksmith in exchange for rewards. This way, he could both earn money and level up. How could he have forgotten about this!

No sooner said than done, Nie Yan rushed towards Terrak Town. Back in Terrak Town, he took out two silver coins from his personal warehouse, threw all the useless equipment he had harvested into the auction house, and went to the appraiser to identify the soft leather gloves that the Golden Electric Eel had dropped. They were a level 0 +2 Agility gloves.

For level 0 equipment, the attributes were already quite good. Nie Yan put on the gloves. This was the first piece of bronze equipment he could wear.

The gloves emitted a faint cyan glow. Nie Yan set the equipment glow to hidden. It was better to be low-key. If the equipment was too good, he would easily be targeted in the wild. He took the teleportation point to Carol City, and then ran non-stop towards Kady's Blacksmith Shop in the center of Carol City.

Carol City had more than sixty blacksmith shops, dealing in all kinds of ironware, from siege equipment to weapons and even horseshoes. Kady's Blacksmith Shop, however, was located in a relatively remote area and was one of the most inconspicuous blacksmith shops.

The high-level blacksmith Kady issued a quest to collect bat teeth. In his previous life, it was discovered by a paladin player. After learning that the high-level blacksmith Kady issued this quest, he bought a large number of bat teeth, and then went to the high-level blacksmith Kady to exchange them for money and experience. He wanted to hide this secret, so he did it very secretly. As the paladin bought more and more bat teeth, the players were all curious. What exactly was this paladin buying so many bat teeth for? Later, a thief tracked him here, and this secret was revealed to the public. However, by that time, the players were already over level ten, and the price of bat teeth had risen sharply. No one was willing to sell bat teeth at a low price anymore. When they looked back to do this quest, it was obviously no longer cost-effective. Recalling how many bat teeth they had thrown away before, they could only sigh with regret. Because he discovered this hidden quest and secretly did it for a long time, that paladin made a fortune.

But now, the only one who knew this secret was Nie Yan!

Nie Yan entered Kady's Blacksmith Shop. It was an extremely narrow shop, but it was one of the few blacksmith shops designated by the Greenland military.

Just entering the blacksmith shop, Nie Yan saw an NPC blacksmith apprentice.

"Respected guest, what do you need?" The blacksmith apprentice came up and asked.

"I'm looking for Mr. Kady."

"I'm sorry, my master is out," the blacksmith apprentice apologized.

"I have something to discuss with him. When will he be back?" Nie Yan asked. The blacksmith apprentice's answer was as he expected. This was how the quest was triggered.

"Please tell me what you need, and I can pass it on to him," the blacksmith apprentice said, sizing up Nie Yan, a look of vigilance in his eyes.

"Please tell Mr. Kady that I can help him solve his current problem."

"Please wait a moment," the blacksmith apprentice hurriedly ran out the door.

After a while, the blacksmith apprentice and a sturdy middle-aged blacksmith walked in. The middle-aged blacksmith had a messy beard, was bare-chested, and was covered in sturdy muscles. His skin had turned dark red from years of being roasted by the flames.

"Respected blacksmith, I heard that you have encountered some troubling matters. Can you tell me about it? I might be able to help you." Nie Yan thought, these quest dialogues should not be a problem.

"As we enter autumn, the battle situation at Hilton Fortress is becoming more and more intense. We need more weapons to meet the needs of the front lines. I need a batch of supplies, a very large quantity, and I still have no clue," the blacksmith Kady said, distressed.

"What supplies do you need? I might be able to help you find them."

"I need a large number of bat teeth. If you have bat teeth, I am willing to buy them at a price of two copper coins per stack," the blacksmith Kady said. To him, these bat teeth were very important supplies.

NPCs were just programs set by the main brain, with not much intelligence. They were only responsible for issuing quests and receiving quests. As a hidden NPC, the blacksmith Kady would not announce this quest.

System: Are you willing to accept the blacksmith Kady's request?

Yes!

System: You have accepted the blacksmith Kady's request.

"Please rest assured, I will definitely help you find this batch of supplies." Nie Yan said goodbye to the blacksmith Kady, went to the teleportation point, and teleported to Modo Town.

Near Modo Town, there was a large bat monster spawn point, the most concentrated place for level 3 bat monsters.

The town was crowded with people, at least several hundred.

"Team up to go to the level 3 dungeon, Warrior's Tomb. Level 3 and above, mages with over 30 spell damage, whisper me."

"Team up to farm bats, add level 3 fire mages!"

The players were looking for teams. Some players had found teams, while some players were like headless flies. Players with good equipment were often able to find teams quickly, while teams would avoid players with poor equipment like the plague.

One by one, the teams set off.

It was morning in the game. Once players formed a team, they would usually farm monsters for the whole day and disband near evening.

Nie Yan set up a stall next to the personal warehouse and hung up a sign: Buying bat teeth, one copper coin per stack.

As soon as the sign was hung up, many players gathered around. Most of them often farmed bats in this area and had many bat teeth in their backpacks. They would collect a hundred at a time and sell them to the NPC. One copper coin was small, but every little bit helped. Seeing that Nie Yan was buying bat teeth at a price of one copper coin per stack, it was much more cost-effective than selling them to the NPC.

These bat teeth that were thrown all over the ground could actually be sold at such a high price. Selling bat teeth could also earn a considerable income.

Ordinary players did not have high daily incomes, and with the cost of buying equipment and potions, their assets were only a dozen or twenty copper coins. They were naturally very willing to have more income.

"Hey, brother, I have three stacks of bat teeth here. Do you want them?"

"Yes, I want as many as you have," Nie Yan nodded, glancing at the dozens of people watching. He noticed that five or six people were already sorting out their packages. A few others hurriedly opened their personal warehouses, afraid that Nie Yan would have collected enough and would no longer want them.

"What are these bat teeth used for?" Some players asked tentatively.

"For practicing basic forging skills," Nie Yan replied.

"How can you use so many to practice basic forging skills?"

"I have dozens of friends who are all learning forging, and they asked me to buy them all together. Those who are ready to sell, start trading. Those who are not selling, don't stand here watching," Nie Yan replied nonchalantly.

"This is mine, two stacks."

Nie Yan looked at the trading column, put in two copper coins, and clicked confirm.

"This is mine, three stacks."

One by one, the players traded with Nie Yan. Some had three or four stacks, and some had one or two stacks. Some who had not yet traded were standing there anxiously. Those who had sold the bat teeth to the NPC or thrown them away all regretted it.

While trading, Nie Yan stored the bat teeth he bought into his personal warehouse. His backpack only had twenty slots, not enough space at all.

More and more people came to trade with Nie Yan. Those players who had sold the bat teeth told their friends, and those who had bat teeth came over with bat teeth.

Before long, Nie Yan had collected more than two hundred stacks of bat teeth.

Nie Yan quickly sent out an advertisement, saying: "Everyone, wait, wait, I've run out of money. I have to go get some money from my friends first. I'll be back in a while, fifteen minutes at most. Everyone, come back in fifteen minutes. Still here."

"There's still mine..."

"There's still mine..."

Nie Yan pushed through the crowd and walked out, catching his breath. These players were really too enthusiastic.

~~Today's second update, please recommend...