When Chen Mo successfully opened the only bound item "Heavenly Craftsmanship" in the newbie warehouse gifted by the system and merged with it, his warehouse now became empty. As for gold coins, he had already used all of them to purchase a Rainbow Staff for his crush, Mingyue. Currently, his only possession was the system-gifted silver coin.
In the game "Second World", the currency was called "World Coins", which were further divided into gold, silver, and copper. One gold coin could be exchanged for 100 silver coins, and one silver coin was equivalent to 100 copper coins.
Being a life profession player who chose Craftsman as his initial job at birth, he could not use his sole silver coin to purchase some poor quality white equipment from the system store, or to buy some potions and fruits from the newbie trading plaza, and then go out of the city to kill monsters to level up like ordinary combat profession players.
Firstly, as a Craftsman, he had no initial combat ability bonus like other combat profession players. Secondly, after successfully opening the "Heavenly Craftsmanship," he could not afford to die in battle. Therefore, if he rashly engaged in combat outside the city, the results could be disastrous.
Perhaps, for an ordinary Craftsman, combat level might not be crucial, but for Chen Mo, a powerful combat ability was his biggest guarantee as a special life profession player.
Therefore, before he started to upgrade his combat profession level, he had to forge a set of powerful newbie equipment that required only level one to equip. This was the only way to ensure his personal safety in the event of encountering danger outside.
Craftsman, being the most common life profession player, had two initial life skills: Gathering and Crafting.
Gathering included mining, logging, and wild collection. The materials obtained from mining and logging, such as ores and lumber, were necessities for crafting all conventional equipment in the game.
Mining and logging needed specific tools - the mine pickaxe and axe, which also had corresponding consumption rates.
...
"Hey, have you heard? The leader of the largest guild, 'King,' in District Nine committed inexplicable suicide. I really can't figure out what these top-notch celebrity gamers are thinking!"
"Of course. It must be that legendary brother has completely broken up with the backer behind the scenes of 'King.' Otherwise, how could such a badass like Legendary Brother talk about suicide?"
"Right, my cousin in 'King' told me that their guild is currently searching every newbie village among the thousand in our District Thirteen for the whereabouts of Legendary Brother's new character!"
"Yes, it seems that the backer behind 'King' has given a death order. Once Legendary Brother's new character is found, they will be killed without mercy. This is too ruthless. However, all players in District Nine understand that the reason why 'King' has today's status is all thanks to their former guild leader, Legendary Brother, who fought his way up with his own hands!”
"Indeed, now that Legendary Brother's top-level character has committed suicide, 'King' no longer needs him. Ah, to be Legendary Brother in this situation is troublesome. Anyone that 'King' wants to deal with, even if they are an old player in the game, will have no way out!"
As Chen Mo, carrying his sole possession of a silver coin, headed towards the trading plaza in Bai Li Town, the players around him were discussing the recent events. It was normal for his suicide to be discussed given his status and fame in the game. However, upon hearing their conversation, Chen Mo immediately frowned. He had not thought that Li Tianhao, whom he once supported and respected, could be so ruthless.
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Nevertheless, Chen Mo continued towards the trading plaza. Although he had only one silver coin, he could afford to buy one or two sets of newbie mining and logging tools at the current average market price. He could then use these to mine some ore or gather lumber to sell. With this income, he could purchase more newbie tools after returning to the city.
Repeating this process, even though he was only a novice craftsman, he believed that with the life profession ability bonus acquired by opening the "Heavenly Craftsmanship," he would have enough basic materials to forge a set of powerful newbie equipment that required only level one to equip within a few rounds.
As long as he could pass the most challenging period of being a newbie after his suicide resurrection, his entire life profession game journey would become clear and bright.
At this point, Chen Mo could not help but remember Li Tianhao's ugly face, and how he had treated Chen Mo when he was in a low state. He had been merciless and had urged others to kill him. Chen Mo unconsciously quickened his pace, determined to return to 'King' one day and reclaim all the game achievements that he had created with his own hands!
...
Bai Li Town's Newbie Trading Plaza!
"Excuse me, are there any high-quality mining picks and axes for sale in the newbie town?"
"Our Bai Li Chamber of Commerce here only provides ordinary stone picks and axes that can collect level one and level two basic materials. However, the prices for newbie production tools are quite expensive for novice players. Each tool requires ten silver coins!"
"Each tool costs ten silver coins? Are you sure?" Chen Mo was shocked. "Even for an ordinary stone pick and axe that can only collect level one and two materials?"
"Yes, in our District Thirteen's Bai Li Town, the prices of newbie production tools are like this!"
Chen Mo knew that the prices of this kind of ordinary stone picks and axes in other newbie towns were no more than one silver coin per tool. Even if the prices varied between different newbie towns, the prices at Bai Li Town were ten times more costly!
At this point, Chen Mo faced a dilemma. His only possession was the system-gifted silver coin, and he could not even afford to buy a set of newbie production tools in District Thirteen. Without these tools, he could not produce anything. Without materials, everything else was just wishful thinking!
"Hahaha, my friend, are you a new craftsman? Actually, you don't have to lose hope. Although you can't afford the newbie production tools, if you want to mine or log, then you have come to the right place, our Bai Li Chamber of Commerce can provide you with free newbie production tools!"
"It's simple, just sign a contract with us and we can provide you with free beginner production tools. However, all materials you collect must be handed over to our Baili Trading Company. Of course, there are two benefits for you: First, your collection life skills will improve, and second, we will compensate you with a certain amount of currency or items based on the quantity of materials you collect!"
"So, you want me to be a slave for Baili Trading Company?"
"Hahaha, my friend, you're exaggerating! I have some advice for you, if you want to survive in Baili Town as a craftsman, it's best to sign a contract with Baili Trading Company and become our craftsman. Otherwise, I can guarantee that you new craftsmen won't survive in Baili Town!"
"Are you threatening me?!" Chen Mo frowned, "I hate being threatened the most!"
"My friend, Baili Trading Company is not threatening you. I'm just giving you a clear path because besides our company, you won't be able to purchase any beginner production tools anywhere else in Baili Town. Without tools, will you use your hands to mine and chop wood as a craftsman? Hahaha!"
The seventh member of Baili Trading Company looked down on Chen Mo. He had seen many new craftsmen like Chen Mo in the Thirteen Zones, and in the end, these new craftsmen either compromised or committed suicide to start anew. None of them were able to resist Baili Trading Company.
"Is there a need to consider this?" the seventh member asked. "Or, should I give you another path? If you really think our beginner production tools are expensive, you can consider making them yourself. Of course, the prerequisite is that you have enough currency to buy the tool-making blueprint, which is currently more expensive than the price of a finished beginner production tool in the Baili Town market. Oh, by the way, our entire town's blueprint market is monopolized by Baili Trading Company. If you want to buy, you also need to come to us!"
"Make beginner production tools myself?" Chen Mo chuckled lightly. "That's a good idea. Thank you for the reminder."
After speaking, Chen Mo surprised everyone by sitting on the ground and setting up a small stall right next to Baili Trading Company's professional booth, which had the highest transaction volume in the Newbie Village trading square.