Alone and Infinite.

Chapter 602 A Huge Transaction
The shady dealer, with confidence, held the gems inside the box in his palm:

“This gem is one of my most prized possessions; the guest should know the value of such items.”

Li Xia was certainly aware that, just like the Time-Space Coins, the Time-Space Coins had an extremely high premium due to their scarcity and the fact that high-level users were prohibited from circulating them downwards.

The long-term asking price for Time and Space Copper Coins is 8 Hall Points per coin. Is anyone selling them?

When someone urgently needs the goods, the price will rise even higher. Li Xia once saw someone urgently asking for 20 Hall Points when he was at the third tier.

Time-space coins are somewhat like spirit stones traded in fantasy novels in the modern world. They are hard currency in themselves and can also be absorbed to improve cultivation, which is why time-space coins have extremely strong trading value.

Gemstones also have this attribute. Due to their scarcity and high value, and if they have excellent properties, they can instantly reach a high price.

The most crucial gem has an attribute that Time Coins lack: its circulation value. This means that even if you don't use the gem yourself, you can still sell it, unlike Time Coins which are consumed.

Therefore, the value of a gemstone = intrinsic value + use value + circulation value + scarcity.

In other words, these inlaid gemstones, time-traveling coins, and palace points are somewhat similar to the relationship between jewelry, gold, and currency in the modern world.

Jewelry usually commands a higher price than gold, but sometimes, with updates or changes in the times, some pieces fall from grace and their prices plummet.

Gold, on the other hand, is a timeless hard currency, and its popularity is universal across all social classes. For a poor (weak) apostle, owning gold jewelry is already a luxury; gold bars are simply out of reach.

Currency has the widest circulation and transaction value, but sometimes it can have a very high premium, and most of the time it is very convenient.

These thoughts flashed through his mind and then disappeared, but in the outside world, they might only last for a moment. Li Xia knew very well what the black marketeer meant by those words; he had only one purpose.

That's price gouging!
"Therefore, this gem is valued at one pale orange dawn!"

The Dawnstone of the light orange grade is priced at 800,000 Hall Points by those shops, but they are only willing to offer 500,000 for it. Black market merchants will offer much higher prices, between 650,000 and 700,000, but they take a cut, so you'll only get a little over 600,000.

Of course, Li Xia can also find people to sell to, for example, by setting up a stall. Although most of the fourth-tier shops are stores, there is still a small area in the commercial district where you can set up a stall to trade.

But then another problem arises: there are only so many people who can afford to consume this top-tier Dawn. Many people already have it, and many apostles are on training and not in the hall at all. Even if word spreads from person to person, what can be done if people are not in the hall?
Black market dealers are different. They have many "listings," which means that some people who want certain things will list them with black market dealers and ask them to help them buy them, even if they are not in the hall.

Sometimes, good things are obtained through bartering by shady dealers.

These thoughts raced through Li Xia's mind as he lightly tapped the table. Trading one Dawn for one gem meant he was slightly at a loss, probably around 100,000.

"It's too expensive, not suitable."

"Guest, if you sell this gem for Hall Points, it will be worth at least 500,000, if not more."

The shady businessman shook his head politely but firmly and smiled:

"Swapping for Dawn only makes a small profit; otherwise, buying Dawn with Hall Points would be the same."

Awoo chuckled. As the head steward, it was involved in many transactions, and sometimes Li Xia felt that he was not as skilled at negotiating business as Awoo.

"If that's the case, then you can sell them to get Hall Points and then buy Dawn."

Xiao Long said with a sidelong glance, "I've dealt with black market merchants many times. You'd be lucky to believe a single word they say."

For example, this gemstone could very well have been swindled from some lucky person. It's all a setup, a charade. They're black market merchants. Why not just call them "trading merchants"? Because the hearts of these people can't be cleaned even with bleach.

"I just wanted to make a little money to support my family."

The black marketeer remained unfazed, as if he hadn't heard Aowu's sarcastic remarks. If he couldn't even handle this much, what kind of black marketeer was he? Moreover, compared to Aowu, many more people directly started cursing.

"Business is tough these days, so even if we have to cut back a little, it's still money."

Li Xia ignored what he said, tapped the table, and continued to ask:
"This gem, plus a piece of clothing, I'd like to make a trade if you're interested."

This time, the black marketeer didn't hesitate and readily agreed, "Okay!"

Clothes are not like armor; they are completely different types of equipment. Armor is very expensive, but clothes are not.

Because armor provides a level of defense that clothing can never reach; the defense offered by clothing is at most supplementary, and its primary function is primarily functional.

Li Xia didn't like these clothes because they were mainly for defensive purposes and had few auxiliary functions.

Therefore, the clothes are quite cheap. You can buy very good clothes for less than 100,000. If you take into account the purchase price of black market dealers, they will be even cheaper.

That's why the shady dealer agreed so readily.

Li Xia casually picked out a light-colored robe, which was somewhat similar to the robes worn by Chinese monks and also resembled the robes worn by gods in the Naruto anime.

Its name is [Weaving Mist Long Robe], and its defense is quite good, with an 8.

Well, it's not even as good as Li Xia's skin in terms of defense, but besides the automatic repair that comes standard with the clothes, it also has a feature that Li Xia values.

[Lightweight: Slightly improved flexibility]

The principle is that the wind blowing inside the clothing during movement reduces wind resistance.
It can only be described as exceptionally extraordinary.

In addition, it can also provide some benefits such as mana regeneration speed, which are not high but are still useful attributes.

After completing the transaction, Li Xia picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at the beaming black market merchant before asking:
"I have some things I want to acquire, I don't know if you have them."

The black marketeer put away the dawn light, his smile unusually bright, and said confidently:

"You said that we individuals may be insignificant, but as long as the customer can afford the price, as long as it is available at the fourth tier and can be traded, we will definitely be able to find it for you!"

That's true. Black market dealers may only carry a limited variety of goods, but they communicate very frequently and can earn commissions by referring business to other black market dealers, and these commissions are not low.

This is the foundation for ensuring that black market dealers are willing to introduce their products to other black market dealers, and it is also the guarantee for the prosperity of the black market. They are like weeds, growing wildly, but they should not be underestimated.

"Hmm, if you have any gems, you can introduce me to some. Also, I need soul defense equipment. Can you get soul shields and mental protection equipment?"

Li Xia spoke calmly, each word causing the black marketeer's eyes to widen and his breathing to quicken.

Each of these items is an extremely sought-after commodity at Tier 4, with prices so high that they are practically nonexistent. Every successful deal that a black marketeer makes is a cause for celebration.

These things aren't cheap!

The black marketeer tilted his head back and chugged a bottle of water, then unbuttoned his collar and twisted his neck left and right.

Even his nostrils were flaring with heavy breathing. He had a vague premonition that this was likely a transaction involving several million Hall Points, or even a super deal worth tens of millions due to the nature of black market multilateral transactions! Although there is a premium for fourth-tier items, Hall Points shouldn't be treated like dirt!
"Don't worry about whether I can afford it."

Li Xia smiled slightly. The super generous profits from the Seeking Light World this time were his source of confidence. In addition, he also had 5 Time-Space Copper Coins and 7 Time-Space Silver Coins in his hand.

These coins are more valuable than the Dawn in his possession. Now he has a relatively stable source of silver coins: each world settlement gives him a fixed copper coin, and S+ and above give him silver coins.

Furthermore, the fleeting nature of the Mountain and River Map led to a significant decrease in his desire for silver coins; he was even willing to use them for trade.

The black marketeer stared intently at Li Xia, quickly trying to gauge whether the customer in front of him had the ability to fulfill his promise. But he soon realized that this customer was a ruthless person who had directly bid four or five million for a Hall of Fame item.

How could they possibly be unable to fulfill their promises?

He immediately stood up and said hurriedly, "Wait a moment, I'll contact someone right now, give me ten minutes!"

The shady dealer practically sprinted out of the shop, his eyes bloodshot. He grabbed his communicator, opened the pinned group chat, and yelled, "Big fish in Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs! Bring your best stuff and come quick!"

"What's happening? Don't worry about it, someone can handle it!"

"Are you sure you can afford to pay? Are you kidding me?"

While the shady businessman was frantically contacting his competitors, Li Xia and the three little ones were chatting casually in the coffee shop.

Black Charcoal raised a very interesting question.

"Meow?" (Why don't the black market dealers sell their stuff to the guilds?)

"That's a very insightful question."

Teacher Ao coughed twice, put down his cold drink, and tapped his paw on the smooth tabletop:
"I used to think that the guild would take all the good stuff on the market, and everyone else would only be able to eat their leftovers."

But then I discovered something.

Aowu raised his finger and said seriously:
"That means the guilds and apostles themselves do not generate Hall Points; they only earn Hall Points from the Hall. In other words, the right to mint and print Hall Points as currency belongs to the Hall of Light."

The eight major guilds are like eight top-tier corporations, and besides them, there are also shops and individuals of all sizes.

From the perspective of the first rank, the first rank has the most people, exceeding 100,000 apostles, plus the supporting staff, the scale is about 300,000.

That is, the population level of a county in reality. This is already the limit, because 100,000 apostles can only support that many workers.

Every year, many people become employees, and many others are eliminated because they cannot pay the "employee tax." The red line for employees is there; it is impossible to infinitely increase the value of employees.

How many plates are there?
An apostle with an economics background conducted a detailed investigation and estimation, estimating that the annual generation of Hall Points for the entire First Order is between 80 billion and 100 billion.

However, many apostles purchased equipment or skills with hall points, but died in the dungeon.

This part of the value has actually disappeared invisibly, and it accounts for a significant proportion, at least one-tenth.

Many Hall Points are spent on upgrading skills, purchasing daily necessities, and enjoying other things, so the actual amount circulating in circulation is probably discounted.

At least half of this amount circulated among the apostles. Let's say 15 billion actually ended up in the hands of the eight major guilds and other large and medium-sized guilds. According to the Pareto principle, the eight major guilds received 12 billion, and each guild received 1.5 million.

How many people are in each guild?
Including all departments, combat personnel, and members of the chamber of commerce, the number is no less than 600!

Aowu picked up the cup, took another big gulp, and chuckled:

"A guild with over 600 members and an annual revenue of 150 million. The salaries of the combat personnel, also known as apostles, are not low, and the other management personnel also need to earn a share."

Don't think of the people in these guilds as honest and upright; they're just sitting on top, eating and drinking to their hearts' content.

They appear large and powerful, with abundant inventory, but they haven't put much effort into acquisitions.

More often, it's about establishing a friendly relationship with powerful figures like the boss, and then acquiring top-tier equipment at a 10% premium.

As for black market dealers, their goods are already expensive. If you let the guilds continue to buy them at a premium, then they'll just eat less.

Commissioner Smith is everywhere!

"Meow!"

Black Charcoal's eyes widened in disbelief; he had never expected this.

Although Xiaotian didn't understand, he stuck out his tongue and made a surprised face.

"Hehe, the second-tier plate is larger, but still limited. When it reaches the fourth tier, the plate suddenly expands. This is due to the special structure of the Hall of Light. Because of the avatar, the survival ability of the fourth-tier apostles is greatly enhanced."

Furthermore, Tier 4 produces more Hall Points, but the corresponding prices have also increased significantly.

Those guild executives have countless rare treasures in their homes, and hordes of androids. They even dream of using a huge amount of Hall Points to buy a world settlement ticket, which means spending a lot of Hall Points to go to a livable world and enjoy the pleasure of being a king.

It's absolutely rotten!

The guild's system is built on their monopolistic position; they are undeniably powerful, but also undeniably corrupt.

He sighed and exclaimed, "But all of this is based on the premise of the division of each tier, which prevents the output of higher tiers from flowing downwards."

The person who came up with this method is quite clever. With just this one move, the guild was effectively split up. Resources could not be shared, and even with a very strong hierarchical relationship, a division was still a division.

Without this segmented gameplay, everyone would be exploited by the guild, who could fleece them whenever they wanted!

They have a hundred ways to outmaneuver ordinary apostles and small merchants.

For some reason, a divine message suddenly appeared in Li Xia's mind: "Eight of the twelve acting envoys have perished, and four are seriously injured."

I recalled that the guild had once been enraged, and it was that rage that turned the situation from one of guild dominance to the one we see today. Although guilds still run rampant, at least solo players, lone wolves, and small groups can breathe a sigh of relief.

Could it be those four zombies who have come back to life?
It made a brief appearance before disappearing again?
Li Xia was deep in thought when several shady merchants, dressed similarly, pushed open the door and walked directly towards them.

"The items have arrived!"

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1. Monthly pass 2. Recommendation vote

(End of this chapter)