Various tents, temporary wooden sheds, and metal structures were haphazardly crammed together, forming a complex trade network.
At certain stalls, Ron saw peculiar items he’d only read about in books:
A transparent container, in which a black substance constantly changed shape;
Another glass jar contained a purple liquid emitting an eerie pulsating glow;
And a seemingly ordinary stone that noticeably distorted the air around it.
Reynolds introduced to Ron:
"Materials from the 1st Floor to the 3rd Floor can mostly be found here, and the prices are often much cheaper than official channels."
"How safe are these materials?"
Ron asked, while using his "Extraordinary Recognition" skill to evaluate the energy fluctuations of the surrounding items.
"All materials entering the trade zone undergo initial purification and encapsulation."
Reynolds explained:
"Although it’s impossible to completely eliminate the Abyssal Traits, after all, that’s their value, at least it ensures no immediate pollution to the surrounding environment."
He led Ron through several rows of stalls, reaching a relatively spacious area:
"Here is the core part of the material exchange zone, where most of the high-quality abyssal samples are concentrated."
The stalls in this area were noticeably more formal than those on the outskirts, many even equipped with simple protective barriers and testing equipment.
The stall owners were no longer ordinary explorers but rather modulators or researchers with evident professional backgrounds.
Reynolds led Ron straight to a large tent located in the center of the area.
The exterior of the tent was covered with a layer of metal cloth, and inside it was arranged like a small laboratory, various precision instruments, and storage containers orderly placed.
A burly man stood at the entrance of the tent.
His right arm was entirely composed of some composite material of metal and crystal, glimmering with a chilly light under the lamp.
Judging by the fluctuation in his aura, he was evidently also an Official Wizard.
"Kasso!" Reynolds greeted enthusiastically: "This is the Bloodline Modifier friend I told you about."
The man called Kasso turned around, revealing a rugged face.
His left eye was normal brown, but the right eye was an unnatural blue-white, and the pupil shape was slightly unusual.
"Welcome, new face."
Kasso’s voice was surprisingly gentle, forming a stark contrast with his burly appearance:
"Reynolds mentioned you, are you here to purchase some high-quality abyssal samples?"
Ron nodded in acknowledgment: "Indeed, I’m looking for some special materials suitable for bloodline research."
"Then you’ve come to the right place."
Kasso grinned, revealing a row of sharp teeth:
"I specialize in collecting abyssal samples from the 3rd Floor and below, guaranteed quality and purity."
He turned and walked into the tent, signaling the two to follow:
"Come, let me show you something truly valuable."
Inside the tent was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside, evidently using some kind of space expansion magic.
The center was a large display table, surrounded by rows of well-sealed storage cabinets.
Kasso took out a small crystal key and opened one of the cabinets.
He carefully extracted a silver container and placed it on the display table.
"3rd Floor-refined ’Void Mucus’, with a purity of 85%," he proudly announced, opening the container’s lid.
Inside was a deep black liquid with a peculiar metallic sheen on its surface.
Subtle ripples constantly appeared on the liquid’s surface, as if countless tiny lives were swimming within.
"This is the best substrate for modulating the ’Autophagic Slime Monster.’
Kasso explained: "Much purer than the crude products commonly found on the market, the effect is naturally several times better."
Ron activated "Extraordinary Recognition" to carefully assess the energy fluctuations and purity of the liquid.
Indeed, compared to the ordinary samples he had seen before, the quality of this batch of "Void Mucus" was significantly higher.
The energy flow was more uniform and stable, and the impurity content was much lower.
"How many Magic Stone Fragments per standard unit?" Ron asked directly.
"The market price is usually between 200 and 260, but for Reynolds’ sake and you seemingly knowing your stuff, how about 160?"
Kasso made a discounted offer.
Ron raised an eyebrow slightly: "Indeed it’s much lower than the market price."
"To be honest, collecting Void Mucus isn’t particularly difficult, but the storage and transportation costs aren’t small."
Kasso explained:
"Many merchants are too greedy, raising the profit margin too high. But for me, a stable customer relationship is more important than short-term profiteering."
He took out several different containers, filled with other materials Ron needed:
"Mutagenic Catalyst, Energy Conduit... all in stock, and of superior quality."
Over the next hour, Ron carefully examined the quality and traits of each material.
Finally, he bought a full set of materials needed to cultivate an Autophagic Slime Monster at a relatively satisfactory price, just a bit short of his expected five full Magic Stones.
"These materials are enough for you to cultivate a quite decent Autophagic Slime Monster."
Kasso nodded in satisfaction, helping Ron pack the materials into a specially designed storage box:
"If you need other abyssal materials, feel free to contact me anytime."
"One more thing," Ron said:
"I also need some high-energy-content abyssal materials, for energy replenishment and conversion experiments."
Kasso pondered for a moment, then smiled broadly: "I guess you’re not looking for the common types?"
"True." Ron nodded in acknowledgment:
"I need crystal products with enough energy density, preferably from below the 4th Floor."
"That could be a bit troublesome." The man rubbed his chin:
"Materials from the 4th Floor are already scarce, and with the Abyss’s unusual activities in recent months, exploration difficulties have greatly increased. But..."