Li Wei stood at the edge of Pingyao Slum's market, the Jade Ledger tucked under his arm, its jade-inlaid surface warm against his patched hanfu. The morning sun filtered through the auroras above the floating island, casting a faint glow on the bustling stalls. Hawkers shouted over piles of Sichuanese peppers and chipped porcelain, their voices a chaotic symphony of desperation. Wei's heart raced as the Ledger's interface hovered in his vision, its elegant calligraphy unyielding:
Quest: Profit x10
Objective: Sell an item for 10x its value.
Time Limit: Dawn (2 hours remaining).
Reward: Skill – Basic Market Sense (Analyze market trends).
Penalty: Loss of Jade Ledger.
Ten times. In Pingyao, where a single tael was haggled to dust, the task felt like scaling the Wudang Peaks barehanded. But the Ledger's voice, sharp and Confucian, echoed in his mind: "Time's slipping, Li Wei. A true merchant turns scraps into jade. Find your opportunity, or I'll find a worthier master."
Wei scanned the market, his eyes locking on Old Ma's stall, where a handful of dull Jade Essence shards sat ignored. The smallest, a cracked piece no bigger than a lychee, glowed faintly, priced at two taels. Merchants passed it by, chasing brighter crystals. Wei's lips twitched. Perfect. In Chengdu's sky markets, he'd heard traders hype flawed goods with tales of rarity. With the Ledger's help, he could do the same.
He approached Old Ma, a grizzled vendor with a Shanxi accent, his face etched with the weariness of Pingyao's decline. "Two taels for that cracked shard?" Wei asked, feigning casual interest.
Ma snorted. "Take it or leave it, boy. It's still Jade Essence, cracked or not."
Wei hesitated, his last tael spent on the Ledger. He glanced at the forge across the street, where his father hammered away, oblivious. A risky idea formed. "Trade you a dagger for it," Wei said, pointing to a blade he'd forged—decent, but worth maybe one tael. Ma squinted, then nodded grudgingly.
Clutching the cracked shard, Wei moved to the market's center, where wealthier traders from Chengdu browsed. The Ledger hummed. "Bold move, trading debt for debt. Now sell that shard for twenty taels. Impress me."
Wei's mind churned. He needed a story, a hook. He recalled Old Zhang's tales of Xi'an merchants selling "cursed" relics as rare treasures. Holding the shard aloft, its faint green glow catching eyes, he raised his voice, channeling the confidence of a Silk Road peddler. "Behold, a Wudang-forged Jade Essence shard! Blessed by a fallen cultivator, its cracks hold the spirit of a thousand-year storm. One touch, and your talismans will sing with power!"
A crowd gathered, skeptical but curious. A young woman in a silk robe, her hair pinned with a jade hairpin, stepped forward. Her sharp eyes and the spicy scent of Sichuanese perfume marked her as a Chengdu trader. "A pretty tale," she said, her voice smooth but edged. "Why's a slum boy selling cultivator relics?"
Wei's pulse quickened, but the Ledger whispered: "She's Chen Xiaoyan, a rogue trader with a nose for profit. Convince her, and others will follow." Wei met her gaze, his voice steady. "Because I know value when I see it, lady. This shard's cracks channel qi better than polished stones. Twenty taels, and it's yours—power your airship or sell it in Xi'an for triple."
Chen Xiaoyan's lips curved, half-amused, half-intrigued. The crowd murmured, drawn by Wei's audacity. A merchant in a Xi'an-style coat scoffed, "Twenty taels? For that? Ten, maybe."
The Ledger's interface flickered, showing: Market Trend: Rising interest in unique artifacts. Wei seized the moment. "Ten? You'll regret it when this shard's fueling a Wudang master's talisman. Nineteen taels, final offer."
Xiaoyan raised a brow, then tossed a silk pouch. "Eighteen. Don't push your luck, boy." Coins clinked—eighteen taels, nine times the shard's value. Close enough. The crowd buzzed, some clapping, others eyeing Wei with new respect.
As Wei pocketed the coins, the Ledger glowed, its voice grudgingly pleased. "Not bad, slum rat. Quest complete—barely. You've earned 'Basic Market Sense.' Use it wisely." The interface updated:
Skill Unlocked: Basic Market Sense
Effect: Detect subtle market trends and buyer intent within 10 meters.
New Quest: Expand Influence
Objective: Establish a stall in Pingyao's market by week's end.
Reward: Skill – Aura of Commerce (Boost negotiation success).
Penalty: Loss of reputation.
Wei's chest swelled. Eighteen taels could clear his family's tax debt and more. But Chen Xiaoyan lingered, her gaze sharp. "You've got a knack, Li Wei," she said, her tone teasing. "Ever been to Chengdu's sky market? I could use someone like you."
Wei blinked. How did she know his name? Before he could ask, she slipped into the crowd, leaving only the scent of Sichuanese spice. The Ledger chuckled. "Careful, boy. That one's trouble—and opportunity. Your empire starts here, but don't let a pretty face distract you."
As dawn broke over Pingyao, Wei clutched his coins, the weight of his first victory sinking in. The Tianyu Empire's markets were a battlefield, but with the Jade Ledger, he'd fight—and win.