Chapter 2: Destiny Materials

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After the earlier commotion, the alley seemed as if nothing had happened. Both buyers and sellers remained focused on their business, as though the bloody incident was a mundane occurrence.

Jiang Kai cautiously walked deeper into the alley.

The dark alley was fraught with uncertainties. You could never be sure if the person you were dealing with was a scammer or a desperate criminal.

In such a place, showing even a hint of fear could be disastrous.

After another hour of circling around, it was already very late. The number of people in the alley had significantly dwindled.

Jiang Kai carefully recalled each stall he had observed.

He noticed that the masked woman at the northwest corner of the first three-way junction had completed at least three transactions, though each involved prolonged haggling. Her goods were probably legitimate, but she seemed to play tricks with pricing.

Heading east from the junction, about ten meters away, there was a young red-haired woman who didn't look like she was from Huaxia. She sold several portions of nuclear soil to a buyer whose uniform peeked out from under their black coat—likely someone from Jiangzhong City's military.

To the west, a bald man surrounded by many customers appeared to be affiliated with a guild. He loudly bargained with buyers, exuding confidence.

...

After hours of observation and screening, Jiang Kai finally set his sights on an elderly seller in his sixties.

The old man had graying hair, stood less than 1.7 meters tall, was thin, and had a cold, unapproachable demeanor.

His stall was tucked in the deepest part of the middle lane at the three-way junction, a location that was far from ideal.

But Jiang Kai remembered seeing at least five groups of buyers successfully completing transactions with him. Each deal was swift, conducted almost wordlessly.

It was clear that these buyers were regular customers who trusted him greatly.

In a place like this, having loyal customers indirectly indicated the seller's credibility and fair pricing.

The most crucial factor was the old man's age, which gave Jiang Kai hope.

At his age, he might just have what Jiang Kai was looking for!

It was worth a shot.

By now, it was already midnight, and the alley was even quieter.

The old man noticed Jiang Kai stopping in front of his stall. There were no other customers at the time, but he didn't show any enthusiasm, merely casting a cold glance at Jiang Kai without speaking.

Faced with such an indifferent seller, Jiang Kai had no choice but to take the initiative. He looked at the syringes displayed on the stall and asked, "Old man, what kinds of job transfer materials do you have here?"

Hearing Jiang Kai's question, the old man frowned slightly, a trace of displeasure crossing his face.

Noticing the man's expression, Jiang Kai was puzzled. The syringes on the stall were clearly job transfer materials, so why was it inappropriate to ask?

Then it dawned on him—he had overlooked a critical detail.

Currently, Huaxia had ten major career paths. Seven years ago, a set of soldier transfer materials appeared on the official trading platform, selling for 35 million Alliance Coins.

And that wasn't even the most expensive. Eleven years ago, a Martial Disciple transfer material sold for a staggering 51 million.

Even non-combat professions like Barefoot Doctor or Executioner, which were only slightly combat-adjacent, cost millions.

The Smuggler profession, in a class of its own, had materials priced between 2 to 3 million due to its ability to carry 50% more items for withdrawal.

For non-combat professions like Gourmet, Ascetic Monk, or Feng Shui Master, the materials ranged from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.

Only "trash" professions like Beggar and Drunkard had materials priced within a more affordable range of 10,000–20,000 Alliance Coins.

For a seller to possess rare transfer materials meant carrying wealth equivalent to a death sentence in a dangerous place like this.

By casually asking about materials, Jiang Kai essentially inquired, "How much money do you have on you?"

In the dark alleys, observing others was fine, but probing their background was a dangerous move.

Realizing his mistake, Jiang Kai quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, that was careless of me. I meant no offense."

The old man glanced at Jiang Kai, his displeasure easing slightly. "It's your first time in the alley, isn't it? I'll let it slide."

Jiang Kai frowned. How could the old man tell it was his first time here?

Noticing his confusion, the old man snorted lightly. "Don't bother pretending. I've been in this alley for thirty years. The regulars all know me. I noticed you and your friend the moment you entered. You're unfamiliar and cautious—a dead giveaway."

"And to top it off, you've spent over four hours wandering here."

"Still, choosing my stall shows that those four hours weren't wasted."

Jiang Kai didn't deny it. The old man's sharp insight was impressive.

"Old man, what's the cheapest transfer material you have?"

The old man replied indifferently, "Beggar, 18,000. Drunkard, 8,000. Anything cheaper, and you should consider if you're being scammed."

8,000... Even the cheapest Drunkard transfer material cost 8,000!

The price was slightly lower than the official trading platform, making it reasonable.

But even with the slightly discounted price, Jiang Kai's combined savings and loans still weren't enough for the cheapest option.

Noticing Jiang Kai's troubled expression, the old man sneered. "If you don't even have 8,000, let me tell you this: no amount of wandering here will get you any transfer material."

With that, he ignored Jiang Kai and closed his eyes to rest.

Time passed. When the old man opened his eyes again, he was surprised to find that the young man was still standing there.

He frowned. "Why are you still here?"

Jiang Kai looked up at the old man. "Do you have anything cheaper?"

"I heard there's something called Defective materials."

The old man's brows furrowed, his gaze sharpening at Jiang Kai.

Defective materials, officially known as Destiny Transfer Materials, were more commonly referred to as Defective.

These materials had only appeared during the early days of Destiny. Back then, humanity struggled against the monsters in the game, making transfer materials incredibly scarce.

Fortunately, Destiny provided humanity with a "starter gift pack" containing several hundred Destiny Transfer Materials.

However, the success rate for these materials was abysmal. Out of 380 recorded cases, only five succeeded, and the resulting professions were all unimpressive.

To make matters worse, using Defective materials prevented any subsequent initial transfers, regardless of success.

Because of this, Defective materials quickly fell out of favor and faded into obscurity over the decades.

Hearing the term again after fifty years, the old man couldn't help but feel surprised.

"Do you know what Defective materials are?"

"I do!" Jiang Kai said eagerly. "Do you have them?"

The old man scrutinized Jiang Kai again. Despite the young man's effort to appear composed, his nervousness was evident.

Still, the old man could tell this kid wasn't stupid. His patience in observing sellers for hours proved his sharpness.

Seeing the young man's determination, the old man finally spoke. "Defective materials are a gamble where the odds are heavily against you. Only a fool would take that risk."

"I understand!" Jiang Kai insisted.

"Yet you still want to buy them?"

"I do!"

The old man smirked. "I thought you were cautious, but you're just another reckless gambler."

Jiang Kai gave a wry smile. "Maybe."

After a moment of thought, the old man said, "You chose my stall not just because of my reputation but because you guessed my age made it more likely I'd have Defective materials."

Jiang Kai shook his head. "I considered both factors."

The old man chuckled. "You're probably preparing for the rookie trials. From your background, you should've sold your trial certificate. But instead, you want to risk it all—even on Defective materials. Do you seriously plan to compete against the rich kids who've spent tens of thousands, even millions, to secure their place?"

"If that's your plan, you're the most foolish person I've ever met."

The old man turned away, muttering, "It's late. I'm done for the night."

He began packing up his stall.

Panicked, Jiang Kai realized he had only one chance to change the old man's mind. As the elder walked away, Jiang Kai's voice rang out, trembling yet resolute:

"Fate is born of the heavens, but destiny is ruled by me. With a single chance, I'll wager against the gods!"

The old man froze mid-step.

That phrase—it was inscribed on the description of the Destiny Materials he had once held.

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