The morning light was faint, the thin mist not yet fully dispersed.
Ning Dazhuang had hitched up the family’s somewhat worn-out flatbed cart.
On it were neatly bundled several newly crafted tables, chairs, stools, and a wardrobe, all made from sturdy hardwood, polished smooth, reflecting the craftsman’s care.
“Dad, can I go with you?” Ning Chuan hurried out of the house, wearing an old shirt that was noticeably too short for him now, his face lit with the eager anticipation of a young boy heading into town.
Ning Dazhuang was checking whether the ropes were securely tied and didn’t look up at the question.
“What are you going for?
The city’s crowded and full of eyes.
Stay home and help your mother with the chores.”
“I…” Ning Chuan had already prepared his excuse.
He wore an expression of slight embarrassment mixed with a hint of mystery, lowering his voice.
“Dad, the other day when I went to the little creek in the back hills, not only did I not catch any fish, but…
I also found a stone.
Pitch black, really heavy, looked a bit strange…
I forgot to show you.
I thought since you’re going to the city today, you could take it along and ask around.
Maybe we could exchange it for a few Copper Soul Coins?
We could buy some patterned cloth for Mom and Xiao He.”
As he spoke, he carefully pulled a “stone” from his pocket.
This was a piece of alloy scrap he had meticulously selected and processed at the garbage dump last night.
It was about the size of an infant’s fist, dark grey all over, its surface covered in irregular edges and fracture marks.
It looked unremarkable, even somewhat ugly.
But upon closer inspection, one could see its texture was unusually dense.
Some of the fractured surfaces refracted a light under the morning sun—a restrained, tenacious sheen different from ordinary metal.
Ning Dazhuang stopped what he was doing and took the “stone” from his son’s hand with suspicion.
The moment it landed in his palm, its weight, far exceeding his expectations, made his wrist dip.
“Whoa!
This heavy?” He exclaimed in surprise, hefting it a couple of times.
He rubbed its surface carefully with his rough fingers, then brought it close to his eyes to examine the peculiar luster of the fracture.
“This…
doesn’t look like any stone from around here.
More like…
some kind of iron lump?
Ning Dazhuang, a country carpenter with limited experience, just thought the thing was odd, frighteningly heavy, definitely not ordinary iron ore.
“I just found it in the pile of rocks on the riverbank.
It looked special, so I picked it up,” Ning Chuan said, feigning shyness and scratching his head.
“Who knows, it might be something good?
There are lots of knowledgeable people in the city.
Take it to a blacksmith’s or a general store and ask.
What if we can get some money for it?”
Ning Dazhuang looked at the hopeful expression in his son’s eyes, then hefted the heavy metal lump in his hand again, hesitating.
He thought about how his son had just suffered a setback a few days ago.
It was normal for him to have some novel ideas.
Maybe it would be good for him to see a bit of the world in the city.
“Alright,” he nodded.
“Stay close to me, don’t run off.
The city’s not like the village.”
“Yes!
Thank you, Dad!” Ning Chuan’s face immediately broke into a smile, and he deftly helped his father give the ropes a final tightening.
Liu Lan came out holding Xiao He to see them off.
“Be careful on the road, come back early.
Xiao Chuan, listen to your father, don’t cause any trouble.”
“Got it, Mom!”
Ning Chuan responded, and together with his father, one on each side, they pushed the flatbed cart.
With creaks and groans, they left Holy Soul Village and set off on the dirt road leading to Notting City.
The road was far from smooth, and the furniture on the cart rattled softly with each bump.
Ning Dazhuang spoke little, silently pushing the cart, occasionally stopping to rest and take a sip of water.
Ning Chuan followed quietly, his eyes discreetly surveying the surroundings.
This was his first time leaving Holy Soul Village since arriving in this world.
After roughly two hours, the road ahead gradually widened and leveled, with a noticeable increase in pedestrians, carts, and horses.
In the distance, the imposing silhouette of a city appeared on the horizon.
The bluish-gray city walls were tall and thick, visually estimated to be at least ten meters high, winding and extending as far as the eye could see.
Flags fluttered atop the walls, and the faint figures of soldiers in gleaming armor could be seen patrolling.
The massive city gates stood wide open, divided into left and right passages.
Pedestrians, carts, and horses lined up, undergoing inspections by the city guards before entering and exiting in an orderly fashion.
This was Notting City, a key border town in the Farsnow Province.
Ning Chuan took a deep breath.
The air carried a complex mix of dust, livestock, goods, and various foods—this was the scent of the city.
The process of queuing to enter the city went more smoothly than expected.
The guards merely gave the furniture on the cart a brief inspection, asked about their purpose for entering, collected a few Copper Soul Coins as the city entry tax, and waved them through.
Once inside the gates, it felt as if they had instantly stepped into another world.
On either side of the broad bluestone-paved streets, shops stood row upon row, their colorful signs and banners fluttering in the wind.
Taverns, inns, grain stores, cloth shops, blacksmiths, general stores… a dazzling array of shops stretched before them.
The streets were packed with people, shoulder to shoulder.
There were commoners in coarse cloth garments, merchants in fine attire, formidable-looking Soul Masters with swords at their waists, and even a few boys and girls in the uniforms of the Primary Soul Master Academy passing by, their faces bearing a hint of pride.
Hawkers’ cries, haggling voices, the sounds of carts and horses, laughter, and chatter… all mingled together, forming a vibrant and noisy tapestry of life.
Ning Dazhuang was clearly familiar with the place.
Pushing the cart, he skillfully navigated through the bustling crowds, avoiding the reckless carriages, and headed toward the western part of the city.
Ning Chuan followed closely behind his father, curiously observing this city of another world while silently memorizing the route and notable landmarks around them.
Finally, the cart stopped at the back door of a rather imposing furniture store.
The shopkeeper was evidently acquainted with Ning Dazhuang.
After inspecting the goods, he promptly settled the payment and even praised the craftsmanship.
A rare smile appeared on Ning Dazhuang’s sun-darkened face as he carefully wrapped the earned Silver Soul Coin and Copper Soul Coins and tucked them into the innermost part of his clothing.
With the main task completed, Ning Dazhuang visibly relaxed, his tone lighter.
“Let’s go, we’ll buy some cloth for your mother and Xiao He, and then take a look at that stone of yours.”
Father and son pushed the empty cart and merged back into the flow of people.
Ning Chuan’s gaze swept over the blacksmiths and general stores lining the streets, his mind rapidly calculating.
That alloy—if sold to an ordinary blacksmith, it would likely only be bought as scrap metal, not worth much.
He needed to find someone who recognized its value, or perhaps… a place that specialized in collecting odd and unusual items.
“Dad.” Ning Chuan tugged at his father’s sleeve, pointing toward a more bustling side street with more refined shops not far away.
“Let’s go check that way out.
There are more shops over there.”
Ning Dazhuang glanced over.
It was the city’s famous commercial street, selling all sorts of delicate items—and at higher prices.
He hesitated for a moment, but seeing the anticipation in his son’s eyes, he nodded.
“Alright, let’s take a look.
But don’t touch anything.”
The street was indeed much more prosperous, with shops exquisitely decorated.
Most sold Soul Master supplies, weapons and armor, medicinal herbs, and there was even a small Soul Tool shop.