Chapter 221: Purple Yew Staff and Water-Soaked Sponge

Rock Hammer Tiejiang Shop, as one of the blacksmith shops with the best reputation in Hegu Town, perhaps the price in terms of equipment recycling is not very practical.

But because of its own good reputation and the channels accumulated by the shop owner Ba'en over the years, it has formed deep relationships with a considerable number of adventurers.

This makes them willing to sell their loot to this straightforward dwarf hulking man even if they earn a few gold coins less.

And over so many years, having contacted countless adventurers and recycled equipment for countless guests.

Even if he didn't have the intention to study deeply in this area, the extremely rich experience was passively making Ba'en gradually master the judgment of the mission goals, whether the journey was smooth, the type of enemies, etc., through the loot harvested by adventurers.

Scratches, dents, light wear of curled blades, gaps, fractures, severe deformation of heavy damage, burning, freezing, acid erosion, and even the expression and equipment state of adventurers when selling loot, could all make him have speculations about their encounters on this adventure.

Now, Xia Nan first took out two standard short daggers common among Rogues from the Underdark, and then took out a precious enchanted stone spear that probably originated from the seaside and had strange effects.

Plus this broken purple yew staff now, it was hard not to suspect whether the other party had a conflict with an entire adventurer squad during the adventure.

Considering that the person standing in front of him now was Xia Nan himself, and not some other adventurer coming to trade with a decapitation longsword or a wooden sword.

The armor was severely damaged, but he himself couldn't see obvious injuries.

The result of the conflict between the two sides could be imagined.

His gaze subconsciously swept toward the plate-chain composite armor with ferocious claw marks waiting for repair under the counter.

Ba'en had speculations in his heart, but he was also very professional and didn't ask a single word.

Just silently took the staff handed over by the other party and sized it up seriously.

"The texture is dense and smooth, the surface gloss is dark, yellowish-brown, some positions have small knots, the growth rings are not very obvious, and the quality is average."

"But it is indeed purple yew wood, no mistake." His knuckles tapped the staff body lightly, and the sound was dull.

Although he was a "blacksmith," as a professional forger who could forge magical equipment, Ba'en also had considerable research on other materials besides metal ironware, but he was not so proficient.

"The wood itself is not tough enough." Short and thick fingers like radishes rubbed the fracture of the staff, "And the material was not chosen well. If the force is slightly larger, or if it falls, it is easily broken."

"The production craftsmanship is also very... simple."

"There is no metal reinforcement, no rune pattern carving can be seen, and even polishing has not been done much. Just cut a tree branch casually, shave it round and grind it twice, and it looks about the same as it."

"This should come from some mage apprentice who has just stepped into the threshold and is not very rich, or a new craftsman whose skills are not yet proficient?"

"If you want to recycle it..."

"Hmm? Wait..."

In Xia Nan's perspective, after Ba'en took the staff, he was talking about his judgment while turning the equipment up and down just like the method just now.

Even if he didn't understand much in this area, and didn't understand one or two professional words that popped out of the other party's mouth from time to time, but seeing his appearance, it was clear that he had a very deep understanding of the equipment he took out.

Hearing Ba'en's analysis of the purple yew staff, Xia Nan had already given up the expectation of being able to sell for big money.

Although it was a weapon used by spellcasters, it had already been broken by the Owl Bear, and the production quality was just ordinary, so it was estimated that it was not worth any price.

But what he didn't expect was.

Ba'en, who had basically finished the inspection and whose arm had even made a forward movement, intending to return the wooden staff to Xia Nan.

At the last moment, he suddenly seemed to have discovered something.

His hands paused suddenly, and he took the wooden staff back.

His head leaned closer, a pair of copper-coin-like round eyes almost stuck to the surface of the staff, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and the words he said became increasingly blurred.

The time spent on the purple yew staff was even longer than the dagger and stone spear combined.

Until he put the staff back on the table, he still frowned and kept silent, his expression thoughtful.

Two or three minutes passed before he suddenly raised his head and asked slowly:

"This staff, if it can be revealed, may I ask its origin..."

"A suspected spellcaster under the Druid professional category." The investigation mission had been completed and submitted, and regarding Bo He's information, as long as it didn't involve 【Tears of Spring Breath】, there was nothing bad to say, "At the same time, it is also a beast-kin."

"Druid... beast-kin..."

Ba'en's hulking arms crossed his chest, muscles bulged, and his brows furrowed tightly, not knowing what he was thinking.

In the end, he stared at the staff for a long time, as if confirming something, before finally informing Xia Nan of his discovery.

"Very sorry, but you may need to find an expert with corresponding appraisal ability to judge the actual situation of this staff."

"It looks simple and natural on the outside, and it is the same on the inside. No matter from which aspect, it should be a common and ordinary broken staff."

"Regarding this point, I believe I will not misread it."

"But what is strange is that compared to those common ordinary equipment, and even enchanted weapons with special effects, this purple yew staff gives people a deep and viscous feeling."

"Saying it like this might be a bit abstract, and you might not be able to feel it, but for craftsmen like us who have contacted countless types of equipment, this feeling is very clear."

"If I have to say it, it is like a hard sponge that has absorbed enough water. It feels like the texture of ordinary wood when touched, but if you can feel the 'water vapor' condensed on its surface and carefully experience it along the 'wetness', you can find its difference."

Ba'en's statement made Xia Nan feel curious, and he couldn't help but take the staff placed on the counter into his hand and concentrate on feeling it.

Surprisingly, perhaps it was his perception ability far exceeding ordinary people taking effect quietly in the invisible, after Ba'en said so, the staff that had never noticed any abnormality before actually really produced some kind of change.

It was definitely not a psychological effect.

Even if he didn't have as much experience in equipment as the other party, and there were differences in specific detail perception, he felt the invisible thing condensed on the surface of the staff faintly but clearly.

"This is... what?"

Xia Nan couldn't help but ask.

"You can touch it!?"

Seeing that he seemed to have really felt the difference between the staff and ordinary equipment, Ba'en showed a surprised expression, paused, and replied:

"I can't say specifically, but I have seen the same thing twice."

"The first time was when I was still honing my skills in the clan, before I came to Hegu Town. Among the materials provided in a round of clan forging competitions, an iron ingot stained with scarlet blood."

"I chose not to use it to forge equipment for the competition for the sake of safety. This iron ingot was chosen by another blacksmith whose skills were similar to mine, um... he didn't qualify."

"The second time was three years ago, from an adventurer who had already left town, an exquisite dagger used for rituals—finally bought by a wealthy collector from Niumu."

"I have a deep impression, because that business earned me nearly three hundred gold coins."

"And it must be stated that the blood-stained iron ingot, the ritual dagger, and this broken staff now, they give me a generally similar feeling, but the details are clearly different and have differences."

Fingertips rubbed gently on the surface of the staff, accompanied by the cold and hard touch unique to its wooden material, the invisible gas wrapped on the outside seemed to be connected and condensed as the fingertips fell. Digesting the information given by Ba'en in his brain, Xia Nan felt a bit regretful in his heart.

Perhaps it was because the purple yew staff had been completely broken, or it didn't possess the nature of "equipment" in the first place.

Making Xia Nan unable to view its attribute panel no matter how he concentrated—he had tried many times before coming.

This was also the reason why Xia Nan brought it to the blacksmith shop.

He hoped that Ba'en could provide some help, at least let himself know whether it was worth money, or how much it was worth.

Now after being pointed out by the other party, things have become troublesome instead.

It would be better to be straightforward, it was just a completely damaged ordinary staff, and sell it to him directly.

Now it was neither up nor down, afraid of losing big money if sold, and useless if kept.

On the contrary, it was more tangled.

"Can't I spend money to buy an identification spell scroll again?"

If the identification result was not satisfactory, then his adventure would really be a big loss.

In this regard, Ba'en gave his suggestion again.

"Since you intend to put the stone spear in the Adventurer Association for consignment, you might as well take this purple yew staff there."

"I remember that for professional adventurers qualified to go to the second floor, the association provides relatively cheap appraisal services—of course, many times it may need to be booked in advance and queue for a while."

"Those professional appraisers hired by the association, perhaps they are not spellcasters, and they will not 'Identify', but their vision is absolutely trustworthy."

"Especially for these strange things, their experience must be much more than mine."

Appraiser? Is there such a saying?

Why didn't Moli tell him before?

Xia Nan couldn't help but slander in his heart.

Of course, he didn't take the initiative to ask.

Expressing his gratitude to Ba'en again, Xia Nan put the staff back into his backpack.

And it could be seen that compared to when he took it out from inside just now, his movements were clearly much more careful.

Staying in the Rock Hammer Tiejiang Shop for a while, and after discussing matters related to the upgrade of the 【Snake Scale Arm Shield】 with Ba'en.

Xia Nan said goodbye and left the blacksmith shop, walking toward the association again.

Walking on the crowded street, his gaze swept over the various adventurers in front of him.

Xia Nan pondered in his heart.

The 【Bone-Binding Iron Shins】 customized in Ba'en's shop before cost him 500 gold.

This was still under the condition that he had already provided the main materials and obtained a certain discount on labor and auxiliary material fees from the other party.

Now, although the upgrade of the 【Snake Scale Arm Shield】 also did not need main materials, the quality level of the jet-black snake scales from the Eastern Secret Realm was definitely much higher than the bone sticks used to make leg guards.

Correspondingly, the equipment level made of it must also be several levels higher, maybe it was the first purple equipment in his life.

Plus other miscellaneous expenses.

500 gold was definitely not enough!

And now, all the family fortune on Xia Nan.

Subtracting the 45 gold needed for armor repair, plus the 53 gold for Weiruisi's poison and Beholder material, 37 gold for two daggers, scattered gold coins found from Kashi and Weiruisi's corpses, plus his savings in the bank.

A total of 554 gold, 2 silver, 6 copper, and 9 points.

—The reward for the promotion mission in Niumu City before, after Moli fought for it to the association, was raised by one level, and it was issued a month ago, which was divided by Xia Nan into 30 gold and 5 points.

As for the remaining 4 points, they came from the beast clearing missions he followed the Sea Thorn Squad to take on in the past month and a half.

The level of these commissions was the lowest category on the second-floor mission board, and after completion, they had to be shared with teammates, so they naturally saved slowly.

After Xia Nan conducts adventure activities in lone wolf mode in the future, the efficiency should be much faster.

Estimated that in half a year, he could save enough for a common-quality combat technique.

Both preparing funds to buy "Remove Curse" spell scrolls, and making plans for the upgrade of 【Snake Scale Arm Shield】.

"This gold coin... where should it come from?"

Considering the way to make money, Xia Nan returned to the Adventurer Association again.

At this time, it was evening, and Moli, who was responsible for reception, also looked like she was about to get off work.

Sitting behind the counter, without the listlessness during the day, the whole person sat quite upright, but revealed an visible impatience.

With the light outside the door gradually dimming, the frequency of aiming at the clock on the wall beside also increased, looking forward to the arrival of the off-work time.

And it was precisely because of her frequent gaze toward the outside of the door that Xia Nan was noticed by the other party as soon as he walked into the association.

"Mr. Xia Nan, the commission for you to find a spellcaster who has mastered 'Remove Curse' type spells, I have already hung it on the mission wall for you."

"Regarding the results of the beast-kin investigation mission, it is still under review and confirmation, and you need to wait for three days, I..."

Seeing the short-haired girl running out of the counter in a hurry to greet him, Xia Nan waved his hand at the other party.

"Not for this."

He weighed the 【Tidal Lure Rod】 wrapped in the cotton cloth given by Ba'en behind him and asked Moli:

"I heard that the association can consign equipment?"

Hearing this, Moli was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly scanned around carefully like a thief, seeing that no one noticed here, she deliberately lowered her voice:

"Yes, sir, but for ordinary quality equipment, I actually recommend you sell it to the blacksmith shop or grocery store in town."

"After all, the handling fee there... is much cheaper than the association, and the speed is faster, without so many annoying processes."

In this regard, Xia Nan just stared at the other party silently without speaking.

Seeing this reaction, Moli suddenly realized, realizing that the "ordinary equipment" he needed to consign was not what she said.

Knowing that there were many people in the hall, she didn't say it clearly, but turned sideways and led Xia Nan directly to the stairs.

"It's on the second floor, Mr. Xia Nan."

"I will lead the way for you."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 222 =====