Akashic_Tales Originals
God-Tier Shop System: I Sell Everything But Mercy
[Author – SYTTROX]
[Editor – MiT7]
Chapter 4: Northern Forest Dungeon Opens
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The Alchemist Guild headquarters loomed over the eastern quarter of Azurecrest City, its jade-tiled roof gleaming in the morning sun. Unlike the ostentatious Crimson Hawk compound with its crimson banners and gilded statues, the Alchemist Guild projected understated authority, ancient stone walls stained green with age, windows tinted amber from decades of herb smoke, and doors reinforced with spirit-metal that hummed with protective enchantments.
Lin Tian approached those doors with five lacquered boxes tucked under his arm, each containing a product sample for certification. The guards, both sporting the telltale yellow eyes of those who'd spent too many years inhaling alchemical fumes, regarded him with professional disinterest.
"State your business," the taller guard intoned.
"Product certification." Lin Tian presented a jade token bearing his family's merchant seal. "I have an appointment with Master Feng."
The guards exchanged glances. "The Lin Family doesn't deal in alchemical goods."
"We do now." Lin Tian kept his expression neutral, though inwardly he smiled at their confusion. Change always disoriented those accustomed to routine.
After a brief verification, they admitted him into a reception hall where apprentices scurried between workstations, grinding herbs and stoking spirit-fires beneath bubbling cauldrons. The air tasted of bitter minerals and sweet decay, he unmistakable flavor of alchemy.
"Young Master Lin." A wizened man in yellow robes approached, his beard so long it had been wrapped twice around his waist and secured with jade clips. "I am Master Feng. Your request for certification was... unexpected."
Lin Tian bowed with precise formality. "The Lin Family is diversifying its interests."
"So I've heard." Master Feng's rheumy eyes held a knowing gleam. "Crimson Hawk Guild has been quite vocal about your recent market activities."
"I imagine they have."
The old alchemist gestured for Lin Tian to follow him deeper into the guild hall. "Certification requires rigorous testing. Each product must meet safety standards, demonstrate consistent efficacy, and contain no prohibited substances. The process typically takes ten days."
"I'm willing to pay for expedited service."
Master Feng's bushy eyebrows rose. "Eager, aren't we? Expedited service costs three hundred spirit stones per product."
"Acceptable." Lin Tian had anticipated the fee, another barrier erected to protect established interests from newcomers.
They entered a testing chamber where three yellow-robed alchemists waited beside complex apparatus. Lin Tian placed his five boxes on a stone table, opening each to reveal his creations: beast repellent, healing salve, bowstring enhancer, night vision tonic, and foundation stabilizer.
Master Feng lifted the vial of foundation stabilizer, surprise flickering across his ancient features. "This is not a hunter supply."
"A secondary product line," Lin Tian explained. "For early-stage cultivators."
The old alchemist uncorked the vial, wafting its scent toward his nose. His eyes widened. "Sunburst pollen and phoenix tears... with something else I can't quite identify."
"A proprietary catalyst," Lin Tian said smoothly. Earth chemistry had many applications in this world's alchemy.
Master Feng recorked the vial with newfound respect. "We'll begin testing immediately. Return tomorrow for preliminary results."
As Lin Tian turned to leave, the old alchemist added, "Young Master Lin, a word of caution. Crimson Hawk Guild has deep connections within the city's power structure. They've already filed a formal complaint about your 'dangerous uncertified products.'"
"Which will become certified products by tomorrow," Lin Tian replied.
"Perhaps." Master Feng stroked his beard. "But certification won't shield you from their influence. Guild Master Varro doesn't tolerate competition in what he considers his domain."
Lin Tian met the old man's gaze. "Neither do I."
---
The market district buzzed with midday activity when Lin Tian arrived to inspect his newly rented stall. Located at the intersection of two busy thoroughfares, the position offered excellent visibility and foot traffic. He'd paid a premium for the location, triple the standard rate after the previous tenant mysteriously decided to relocate.
Kiera waited beside the empty stall, her injuries from the previous night already fading thanks to his enhanced healing salve. She'd traded her hunting leathers for simple civilian attire, though the daggers strapped to her thighs ruined any attempt at looking harmless.
"Nice spot," she commented as he approached. "Expensive?"
"Worth every stone." Lin Tian surveyed the surrounding stalls, jewelers, textile merchants, food vendors, and a single bored-looking weapon smith. No direct competitors nearby, which was ideal.
"I've spread word among the independents," Kiera said, helping him unpack crates of product from his spatial pouch. "Expect a crowd once we're set up. The Northern Forest dungeon officially opens to all ranks at sunset."
Lin Tian paused in his unpacking. "All ranks? I thought it was restricted to E and D-rank hunters for the first week."
"Emergency reclassification this morning. Scout teams reported stronger-than-expected beasts in the deeper sections. They're calling in higher-ranked hunters to clear the dangerous areas."
Interesting timing. Lin Tian suspected Crimson Hawk's influence, another attempt to disrupt his business by changing market conditions. Higher-ranked hunters meant demand for more powerful supplies, which required ingredients he hadn't yet stockpiled.
"We adapt," he said, arranging vials on the display shelf. "Focus on what we have. Quality over variety."
By early afternoon, their stall drew curious glances from passersby. Lin Tian had designed the display to stand out, crystal vials arranged by color, illuminated by strategically placed spirit-lights, with clear pricing and effect descriptions. No haggling, no hidden costs, no guild markup.
Their first customer was a young woman in apprentice hunter garb, her guild insignia so new it still gleamed.
"Are these really beast repellents?" she asked, examining a blue vial. "My guild leader says only Crimson Hawk sells effective ones."
"Your guild leader is misinformed," Lin Tian replied. "These repel beasts up to D-rank for twenty-four hours. Forty spirit stones, guaranteed effective or your money back."
She hesitated. "The guild charges sixty..."
"The guild overcharges," Kiera interjected. "Trust me, I've tested these myself. Worth every stone."
The apprentice purchased two vials, her transaction drawing attention from other shoppers. Soon, a small crowd gathered, attracted by the competitive pricing and bold guarantees. Lin Tian handled each sale with practiced efficiency, the system tracking each transaction in his peripheral vision.
[Transaction Complete]
[Total Sales: 17 Items]
[Profit: 830 Spirit Stones]
[Customer Satisfaction: High]
By late afternoon, word had spread beyond the market district. Independent hunters arrived in groups, stocking up for the dungeon opening. Even a few guild-affiliated hunters made discreet purchases, hiding their insignias beneath cloaks.
Lin Tian was explaining the effects of his healing salve to an elderly cultivator when a commotion erupted at the market entrance. Six Crimson Hawk members marched through the crowd, led by Officer Zhao. Beside him walked a thin man in alchemist robes bearing the guild's emblem.
"Inspection!" Zhao announced, his voice carrying across the market square. "By order of the City Safety Council, all alchemical products must be verified for consumer protection!"
Merchants scrambled to produce certification documents as the inspection team moved from stall to stall. Lin Tian continued serving customers, his expression betraying nothing of his inner calculations.
When the inspection team reached his stall, Zhao's smile held all the warmth of a winter grave. "Young Master Lin. What a surprise to find you personally manning a market stall. Does your father know you've fallen so far?"
"Officer Zhao." Lin Tian nodded politely. "How convenient that you've brought an alchemist. I was hoping to demonstrate the quality of my products."
Zhao's smile faltered at Lin Tian's calm demeanor. "Guild Alchemist Wei will determine if your products meet safety standards. Uncertified goods will be confiscated immediately."
The thin alchemist stepped forward, his sallow face pinched with predetermined disapproval. "I'll need to test samples of each product type."
Lin Tian gestured to his display. "Help yourself. Though you should know that Master Feng of the Alchemist Guild began certification testing this morning. The preliminary results should be available tomorrow."
Alchemist Wei paused, glancing at Zhao. The Alchemist Guild outranked any guild alchemist in matters of certification.
"Preliminary results aren't certification," Zhao snapped. "Until you have official documentation, these products remain suspect."
The alchemist selected samples of each product, performing basic tests with tools from his belt pouch. His frown deepened as each test revealed no obvious flaws. When he reached the healing salve, his eyebrows rose in genuine surprise.
"This concentration of healing essence exceeds standard formulations," he muttered, almost to himself.
"Is it unsafe?" Zhao demanded.
"No..." Wei admitted reluctantly. "Actually, it's remarkably stable for its potency."
Zhao's face darkened. "Check the beast repellent. There must be prohibited ingredients."
The alchemist complied, but again found nothing objectionable. "The formulation is unusual but effective. I detect no prohibited substances."
A crowd had gathered to watch the inspection, including many hunters preparing for the dungeon opening. Lin Tian noted their interested expressions, the inspection was becoming an inadvertent product demonstration.
"These preliminary findings don't constitute approval," Zhao declared, sensing his advantage slipping. "Without proper certification, sales must cease immediately."
"Actually," Lin Tian countered, "City Ordinance 47 permits continued sales during the certification process if the products pass preliminary safety inspection, which they just did, witnessed by this entire market."
Murmurs of approval rippled through the onlookers. Zhao's face flushed with barely contained rage.
"This isn't over," he hissed, leaning close to Lin Tian. "The dungeon opens tonight. Accidents happen in dungeons all the time. Especially to those without guild protection."
The threat hung in the air as Zhao and his team departed, their inspection having accomplished the opposite of their intention. Sales doubled in the aftermath, hunters impressed by the products' ability to pass guild scrutiny.
As sunset approached, Lin Tian counted their day's earnings: nearly three thousand spirit stones, with inventory almost depleted.
"We need to restock before tomorrow," Kiera said, securing the remaining products in a locked chest. "And we should discuss Zhao's threat. He wasn't subtle about targeting dungeon-bound independents."
Lin Tian nodded, his mind already formulating countermeasures. "I'll produce more inventory tonight. As for Zhao's threat..." He paused, considering options. "How would you feel about a more direct approach to the Northern Forest dungeon?"
Kiera's eyes narrowed. "What are you suggesting?"
"I think it's time I saw this dungeon firsthand." Lin Tian's mismatched eyes gleamed with calculation. "If Crimson Hawk plans to target my customers there, I should be on site to ensure product satisfaction."
"You want to enter the dungeon?" Kiera looked incredulous. "No offense, but merchants don't typically survive dungeons, especially not newly opened ones with unknown beast populations."
Lin Tian smiled thinly. "I'm not a typical merchant."
---
Night had fallen by the time Lin Tian returned to his chambers, arms laden with ingredients purchased from various suppliers across the city. The system interface glowed in the darkness as he cataloged his acquisitions.
[Inventory Updated]
[New Materials Added: 27]
[Rare Materials Added: 3]
[Available Recipes: 12]
He'd need to work through the night to replenish their stock for tomorrow. But first, he needed to prepare for the dungeon expedition. The system had been surprisingly quiet about his decision to enter the Northern Forest dungeon, neither generating a quest nor offering warnings.
"System, show me combat capabilities," he commanded.
[Host Combat Status]
[Cultivation: Blocked Meridians (Qi Foundation Stage 1 - Damaged)]
[Physical Condition: Above Average]
[Combat Skills: Basic Self-Defense (Earth)]
[Special Abilities: None Currently Activated]
[Recommendation: Avoid Direct Combat]
Lin Tian frowned. The original body's damaged meridians limited his cultivation potential, which explained why the former Lin Tian had been considered a disappointment by his merchant family. In a world where cultivation determined status and power, blocked meridians were a severe handicap.
"System, can my meridians be repaired?"
[Meridian Repair Possible]
[Methods Available: 1]
[Requirements: Bloodline Awakening]
[Estimated Success Rate: Unknown]
[Warning: Bloodline Awakening May Have Unpredictable Effects]
Bloodline awakening? The original Lin Tian had never mentioned any special bloodline, though the silver streaks in his hair and mismatched eyes had appeared after the system transfer. Something to investigate later.
For now, he needed practical solutions for dungeon survival. Without active cultivation abilities, he'd need to rely on system-crafted items and strategic thinking.
"Show me special equipment recipes for dungeon exploration."
The interface expanded, displaying several options.
[Concealment Cloak]
[Requirements: Shadowsilk x3, Void Essence x1, Spirit Thread x10]
[Effect: Partial Concealment from Beast Senses]
[Crafting Difficulty: High]
[Emergency Teleportation Talisman]
[Requirements: Spatial Crystal x1, Stabilizing Rune Paper x5, Blood Essence x1]
[Effect: Emergency Teleportation to Preset Location (One-Time Use)]
[Crafting Difficulty: Very High]
[Beast Confusion Bomb]
[Requirements: Sensory Disruption Herbs x5, Volatile Essence x2, Containment Shell x1]
[Effect: Temporarily Confuses Beasts within 10-Meter Radius]
[Crafting Difficulty: Moderate]
Lin Tian checked his inventory against the requirements. He had enough materials for two confusion bombs and one concealment cloak, but lacked the spatial crystal needed for the teleportation talisman.
He began crafting immediately, the system guiding his hands through unfamiliar motions. Earth chemistry knowledge merged with this world's alchemy principles as he infused materials with spirit essence, binding them to the system's specifications.
Hours passed in focused work. When he finally completed the items, dawn light crept through his windows.
[Items Successfully Crafted]
[Concealment Cloak (Uncommon Quality)]
[Beast Confusion Bomb x2 (Common Quality)]
[Crafting Skill Increased]
Lin Tian examined his creations with satisfaction. The cloak shimmered with a dull gray light, almost painful to look at directly, perfect for avoiding beast detection. The confusion bombs resembled small metal spheres etched with swirling patterns, designed to shatter on impact and release their disorienting contents.
Not enough for extended dungeon exploration, but sufficient for a reconnaissance mission with Kiera as guide.
A knock at his door interrupted his preparations. A servant announced that his father requested his presence, again.
Lin Tian found the elder Lin in his study, examining market reports with a furrowed brow.
"Three thousand spirit stones in a single day," his father said without preamble. "From a market stall selling products we've never offered before. Explain."
Lin Tian took the seat opposite his father. "As I said, I'm expanding our business interests."
"Into direct competition with Crimson Hawk Guild." His father set down the reports. "Guild Master Varro paid me a personal visit last night. Do you know what an honor that is? A Peak Soul Realm cultivator, in my study, discussing my son."
Lin Tian tensed. "What did he want?"
"For you to stop, obviously." The elder Lin's expression remained unreadable. "He offered a compromise, the Lin Family receives exclusive textile and jewelry contracts with the guild for the next decade, in exchange for you ceasing all alchemical product sales."
A generous offer on the surface, but designed to maintain the guild's monopoly while appearing reasonable. "And your response?"
His father's lips quirked in an unexpected smile. "I told him I'd discuss it with you, but that you'd recently developed quite the independent streak."
Lin Tian blinked in surprise. "You didn't accept?"
"Son, I've been a merchant for forty years. I recognize a market in disruption." The elder Lin leaned forward. "Your products are superior to the guild's. Your pricing strategy is aggressive but sustainable. Your marketing, setting up that public inspection confrontation, was brilliant."
"You think I planned that?"
"Didn't you?" His father chuckled. "Zhao is predictable. By establishing your stall so publicly and spreading word about certification testing, you guaranteed he would respond with a market inspection. When your products passed his own alchemist's tests, you gained more credibility than any advertising could provide."
Lin Tian hadn't given his father enough credit. The man hadn't built a merchant empire without understanding strategy.
"The guild won't stop with offers," Lin Tian warned.
"Of course not." His father's expression sobered. "Which brings me to the reason I called you here. My sources tell me you're planning to enter the Northern Forest dungeon tonight."
Lin Tian kept his face neutral. "Your sources are well-informed."
"It's suicide." The elder Lin slammed his palm on the desk. "You have no cultivation base, no combat training, and no dungeon experience. Whatever point you're trying to prove isn't worth your life."
"I'll have an experienced guide. We're not venturing deep, just enough to understand the environment and ensure our products perform as advertised."
His father studied him with exasperation. "There's no talking you out of this, is there?"
"No."
The elder Lin sighed, then opened a drawer in his desk. He removed a small wooden box inlaid with silver and placed it between them. "Then take this. It belonged to your grandfather."
Lin Tian opened the box to reveal a dagger unlike any he'd seen before. Its blade gleamed with an iridescent light, shifting colors as he lifted it from its velvet nest. The hilt fit his hand perfectly, as if made for him.
"Moonshade steel," his father explained. "Rare and nearly unbreakable. It can channel spirit energy even without a cultivation base. Your grandfather used it to defend our caravans before he built this estate."
Lin Tian tested the dagger's balance, feeling a faint resonance as it responded to his touch. "Thank you, Father."
"Don't thank me. Just come back alive." The elder Lin's voice softened. "Whatever's happened to you this past month, whatever caused this change, I won't pretend to understand it. But I recognize ambition when I see it. Just remember that dead men build no empires."
Lin Tian secured the dagger at his waist, its weight reassuring against his hip. "I'll remember."
---
The Northern Forest dungeon entrance materialized at sunset, exactly as the reports had predicted. A shimmering tear in reality appeared at the forest's edge, widening into an archway of swirling energy that illuminated the gathering crowd with ethereal light.
Hundreds of hunters had assembled, guild members in their crimson uniforms, independents in mismatched gear, even a few young cultivators seeking beast cores for their advancement. City officials maintained order while scribes recorded each entrant's details.
Lin Tian found Kiera at the designated meeting point, away from the main crowd. She'd resumed her hunting attire, reinforced leather armor adorned with small metal plates over vital areas. A short bow and quiver hung across her back, while various pouches and daggers lined her belt.
Her eyebrows rose at Lin Tian's appearance. He'd abandoned his merchant robes for practical attire, dark trousers and tunic, reinforced boots, and a utility belt holding his newly crafted items. The concealment cloak hung from his shoulders, currently inactive, and his father's dagger gleamed at his waist.
"You look almost competent," she remarked, circling him with a critical eye. "Almost."
"High praise from you." Lin Tian adjusted his belt. "What's our plan?"
Kiera produced a rough map sketched on parchment. "The scout teams identified three main zones. Outer ring is E-rank beasts, mostly forest scavengers and minor predators. Middle ring shifts to D-rank, with some territorial species. Inner ring is where they found C-rank and above, including a reported B-rank nest."
Lin Tian studied the map. "We stick to the outer ring?"
"For your first dungeon? Absolutely." She folded the map, tucking it into her armor. "We enter, verify product effectiveness against actual dungeon beasts, gather some basic materials if possible, and exit before midnight. Four hours maximum."
"Agreed." Lin Tian activated the system interface, checking his preparations one final time.
[New Quest Generated: Dungeon Baptism]
[Objective: Enter Northern Forest Dungeon and Return Safely]
[Bonus Objective: Gather 3 Dungeon-Exclusive Materials]
[Reward: Bloodline Resonance Test]
[Failure: Potential System Penalty]
The quest's reward caught his attention. Bloodline resonance test? Perhaps related to the meridian repair method the system had mentioned.
They joined the entry line as night fully descended. Ahead, a Crimson Hawk official checked each hunter's identification and equipment. When they reached the front, the official's eyes narrowed at the sight of Lin Tian.
"Merchant Lin," he said, making no effort to hide his disdain. "This is a restricted area for qualified hunters only."
Lin Tian presented a temporary hunting permit obtained that afternoon through his father's connections. "I believe this addresses your concern."
The official examined the permit, searching for any irregularity. Finding none, he reluctantly recorded their entry. "Crimson Hawk Guild offers no protection to independents or... tourists. Enter at your own risk."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Kiera replied sweetly, guiding Lin Tian toward the shimmering entrance.
As they approached the energy archway, Lin Tian felt the air thicken with wild mana, the concentrated essence that formed dungeons and nourished the beasts within. The system interface flickered in his vision, analyzing the energy patterns.
[Dungeon Analysis]
[Type: Forest Ecosystem]
[Estimated Age: 3-5 Years]
[Energy Density: Moderate]
[Beast Population: High]
[Resource Richness: Moderate to High]
"Ready?" Kiera asked, checking her weapons one last time.
Lin Tian nodded, his mismatched eyes reflecting the dungeon's ethereal light. "Ready."
Together, they stepped through the archway and into the Northern Forest dungeon. The world shifted around them, reality bending as the dungeon's internal laws asserted themselves. When the disorientation passed, they stood in a dense forest unlike any in the outside world.
Trees towered hundreds of feet overhead, their trunks wider than houses. Bioluminescent fungi cast an eerie blue glow across the forest floor, while strange flowers pulsed with inner light. The air tasted different, richer, heavier with energy that made Lin Tian's skin tingle.
"Welcome to your first dungeon," Kiera whispered, already nocking an arrow. "Stay close, move quietly, and remember, everything in here wants to eat you."
Lin Tian activated his concealment cloak, feeling it hum with energy as it bent light around him. The dungeon beckoned with danger and opportunity in equal measure. Somewhere in these depths lay the materials he needed, the experiences that would strengthen him, and perhaps the key to unlocking his blocked meridians.
The hunt had begun.