Alone and Infinite.

Chapter 125 The Essence of the Zanpakuto!
Like guilds, there are also several top-tier guilds that span multiple tiers, as well as some smaller guilds that can only span a few tiers and are still developing.

Top-tier chambers of commerce control 80% of the market, while smaller chambers control the remaining 20%, a situation that has become quite stable over the years.

Smaller chambers of commerce charge commissions for buying and selling, but they charge much less or even no commissions at all in order to survive, all for the sake of reputation.

It can only be said that everyone has their own way of surviving.

Li Xia chose Wanhui Trading Company, which was known as having the most complete range of services among the four major trading companies.

As a merchant guild spanning nine levels, the variety of its goods is self-evident.

The business at Tier 2 is relatively quiet, since the transaction fees are still a bit painful for ordinary Tier 2 apostles.

So, as soon as he entered, a sweet-looking waitress in a stockings uniform greeted him and, after learning his purpose, led him with a smile into an elegantly decorated private room.

A moment later, there was a knock on the door, and a man in a suit and tie with a smile on his face walked in and introduced himself.

"I am Lei Sen, the sales manager of the second-tier branch of Wanhui Trading Company. Hello, hello."

The Wan Hui Trading Company has existed for at least several hundred years, evolving with each new generation of apostles and changing with the times.

It's no different from a modern trading company.

Li Xia didn't stand on ceremony and directly took out the Devil Fruit, placed it on the counter, and Lei Sen's eyes immediately lit up.

Whether something is good or not depends on its price range.

Is the appearance of a Devil Fruit at Tier 2 the same as the power at Tier 6?
At the second level, a Devil Fruit can directly boost the user's strength by a significant margin, while at the sixth level, it becomes a useless fruit with a powerful debuff.

“Devil Fruit—” Leisen placed his hand on the fruit to check its properties.

"Logia-type Swamp Fruit"

Nature is good, swamp is so-so.

Leisen nodded with slight regret, but quickly became serious.

His expression also became more serious:
"This item is absolutely top-notch, a rare find in the third tier. How would you like to make your purchase?"

Hall Points? Exchange?

"Replacement!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Xia said directly, "I don't want to change my main weapon. Is there anything that can help me solve this problem?"

He didn't know what could help him solve the problem, but the people in the business certainly did.

So all you need to do is state your requirements, and leave the rest to the merchant.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Xia finished speaking, he noticed that Lei Sen's gaze had begun to wander slightly, clearly he was already filtering through his thoughts.

After pondering for less than a few seconds, Leisen glanced at Li Xia and suddenly asked an unrelated question.

"Have you contacted any large guilds, sir? Like, those that buy back high-tier equipment at a premium?"

Li Xia frowned, and Lei Sen across from him hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Please don't misunderstand, sir. It's just that some items are only available for limited sale."

It's a kind of tacit understanding, after all, the lone wolves and the big guilds have a mutually beneficial relationship to some extent.

This is a small perk for everyone.

Leisen then spent a little more time explaining the relationship between the trading company and the guild.

As Lisa mentioned before, the equipment acquired by the major guilds will be inventoried regularly and then sold in a unified manner to recoup Hall Points.

The four major trading companies were responsible for the sale, and the four top guilds also had close ties with these top trading companies.

The two parties are not in a subordinate relationship, but rather in a relationship similar to a strategic partnership.

The top apostles who are given 'proof of friendship' by various guilds are one of the main sources of super-tier equipment.

Enjoying certain conveniences from the four major trading companies is a tacit understanding among the major guilds.

Ordinary apostles have no right to know these things; in the world of the palace, strength reigns supreme.

Li Xia thought for a moment and then confirmed with Lisa again. Lisa gave an affirmative answer, 'full of resentment'.

In fact, Lisa was well aware that an apostle like Li Xia couldn't possibly sell all his top-tier equipment to the guild; they needed to exchange it.

Even if only two or three out of ten items can be sold to a guild, it's still a profit for the guild.

The rest will basically be replaced, and that's why.

That's why there's a strategic relationship between guilds and trading companies.

'Resentment' is merely a means, not an end.

Lisa knew it, and so did Li Xia.

He pulled out his 'ironclad friendship' note, glanced at it, and readily ordered someone to bring him something.

With just one glance, Li Xia was unable to look away.

The essence of a Zanpakuto

[Quality: Purple]

【Origin: Death】

[Type: Special Category Item]

[Effect 1: Integrates with the weapon, bringing it to life and allowing it to resonate with the user's soul, transforming it into a soul-equipped weapon]

[Note: Soul equipment will be bound to the user's soul, creating a soul resonance, and the weapon's tier will remain consistent with the user's.]

[Effect 2: After merging with the essence of a Zanpakuto, it gains some of the characteristics of a Zanpakuto; it can be upgraded but cannot be Bankaied]

[Usage Restriction: Tier 3 and below, melee weapon equipment]

[Synopsis: This is Death's masterpiece, and also a resonance of souls.]

Li Xia's heart pounded a little at this thing, but it seemed to be more valuable than his own Devil Fruit, didn't it?

"Can it be exchanged?"

Leisen shook his head with a wry smile: "It's not worth it, but it's not too far off either."

He sat up straight and explained earnestly:
"Since the guest is a friend of the Brotherhood of Steel, I won't hide it from him. This thing is useful, very useful, but there's one thing we can't overlook."

That is, upgradeable equipment isn't very popular.

Li Xia frowned. Why weren't growth-enhancing equipment popular?
"The price! While upgradeable equipment does have growth potential, it consumes too many resources, so much so that even top apostles sometimes find it a headache."

The resources required to upgrade a grade by one level are likely to be several times that of the same grade, and the requirements increase as the game progresses.

Leisen held up one finger:
"Most importantly, the attributes that appear after each growth are random and may conflict with your own attributes. Once there is a conflict, the equipment is basically useless."

Those who choose upgradeable equipment are basically melee masters who use cold weapons; for them, cold weapons that they have used for a long time are very convenient.

There's an even simpler method: buy a rubbing scroll and directly rub the newly replaced equipment onto it. This will restore the appearance and feel of the equipment to a nanometer level.

No wonder. In comparison, Devil Fruits offer an immediate boost and come with numerous abilities such as physical transformation and environmental manipulation.

It's like having a system right away, and the upper limit is decent; it can be used up to the fifth or sixth order without any problems.

Leisen's point was quite valid; a top-tier trading company like this wouldn't bother concealing its flaws for the sake of a Devil Fruit.

"Your Highness, it is possible to exchange it. As for the attributes, there are actually ways to obtain them, but our current rank is too low to do so."

A howling sound echoed in my mind.

Li Xia suddenly looked up; this was the feeling of having a powerful backer!
"Change!"

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1. Monthly pass 2. Recommendation vote

(End of this chapter)