In just a single day, Su Hao sold off half the so-called "junk piles" from his shop, recouping his initial investment with ease.
Word of his wares spread like wildfire, and some customers even tried sneaking back in to make additional purchases.
However, Su Hao's [Minimap] wasn't so easily fooled. He had marked a large "X" over the heads of everyone who had already bought something, ensuring they couldn't cheat the system.
For those who ignored the rules or caused trouble, Su Hao had a swift and brutal response—breaking arms and throwing them out of the shop without hesitation.
A sign posted outside made the shop's policy clear: "Break the rules, and you'll get your arm broken."
By the next morning, news of his iron-fisted enforcement had spread across the various exploration teams and merchant associations, both big and small.
When Su Hao opened his shop the following day, a large crowd had already gathered outside, their faces flushed with excitement, coins jingling in their hands.
"I'll pay 30 silver shillings, sell it to me first!" one shouted.
"Screw you! I got here first! I'll pay 50 silver shillings—sell it to me!" another yelled, desperate.
"One gold crown!" someone else screamed.
"Damn it, I'll pay one gold crown and one silver shilling!" another bidder joined in.
Before long, the bidding had spiraled out of control.
Su Hao glanced at the crowd, and [Cosmic Light] quickly tallying the number of people and comparing it to the remaining stock. There were still enough sabers and armor to meet demand.
He decided to carry on with business as usual.
His shop became a battlefield of wallets, with sabers and armor snatched up by eager hands. Yet, anyone who tried to cheat or pull a fast one was swiftly identified. True to his word, Su Hao broke their arms and threw them out into the street, where they became grim warnings to the rest.
When all the sabers and armor were sold, a sizable crowd still lingered outside, their eyes filled with hopeful greed.
Sensing the opportunity, Su Hao addressed them with a booming voice, "A new batch of goods will arrive tomorrow! Anyone can buy, even those who've already purchased sabers and armor. First come, first served, while supplies last!"
The crowd erupted with excitement.
The next day, before dawn, people were already crowding the entrance of Su Hao's shop, eager to get their hands on whatever he had to offer next.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced the horizon, Su Hao threw open the doors with a grin. "Today's goods are only one silver shilling∼! Everything for just one silver shilling∼!"
Pandemonium broke out at the announcement. A guaranteed profit, everyone thought. It was too good to pass up.
"But today's goods are a bit special," Su Hao continued, his voice rising above the crowd's noise. "However, they are worth far more than what you're paying. Buy one, and you will effectively own a hundred sabers and a hundred suits of armor. No exaggeration! You'll even be able to advance to the rank of Master and reach the pinnacle of life!"
The crowd's anticipation reached fever pitch as they hung on his every word.
"Curious about what this is?" Su Hao teased, letting the suspense build.
The crowd stared at Su Hao with burning anticipation.
With a dramatic flourish, Su Hao raised his voice, "That's right! Today, I'm selling the method to make these special sabers and armor! It's simple, easy to learn, and quick to master! Once you buy it, you'll have the power to craft countless powerful weapons and armor!"
He swung the doors wide open, revealing rows of neatly arranged books inside, their covers gleaming in the morning light. "Come on∼! Buy it∼! Buy it!..." he called out, pulling down the curtains as a frenzied wave of people stormed in.
What followed was a frenzy beyond imagination.
Even though the rule was still one book per person, some people left empty-handed, feeling deeply regretful.
Despite the one-book-per-person rule, many left empty-handed, their regret palpable as they realized they'd missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Those who managed to secure a book walked out triumphantly, knowing they now held the key to limitless wealth and power.
On that day, fortunes were made. Some would soar to unimaginable heights, their lives forever altered by Su Hao's offer. Others would look back in regret, realizing they had let a life-changing opportunity slip through their fingers.
By the third day, while crowds once again gathered at Su Hao's shop, hoping for yet another miraculous offer, the doors remained closed. Su Hao had already left, vanishing with his hefty profits in tow. He moved swiftly, traveling to new towns to continue his lucrative venture, leaving only stories and whispers of his incredible sales behind.
....
Six days later, in the heart of a bustling town called Zhujui, Su Hao quietly opened another specialty weapon shop.
The strategy? The same as before.
In this small town, Su Hao quickly ignited another buying frenzy—this time over his mysterious books. Even though many couldn't read, the townspeople figured, "If everyone else is buying it, I should too! It's only one silver shilling—what's the harm?" The books sold out in hours, leaving everyone buzzing about their contents.
Then came Shuangshi Town, Baisha Town, and Daling Town...
In just two months, Su Hao had unleashed a flood of books across more than twenty human settlements.
What started as a small experiment quickly grew into a widespread phenomenon. At first, he still had to employ a few tricks to drum up interest—demonstrating weapons, giving a glimpse of what his books contained—but soon, it became unnecessary.
By the third town, his reputation had preceded him. Crowds would swamp his shop the moment it opened, eager to buy his coveted books.
People in the nearby towns began speaking of a mysterious figure they called the "Silver Armored Rune Master." This man, clad in shimmering silver armor, never showed his face and vanished as quickly as he appeared. Rumors spread of his extraordinary knowledge, specifically the detailed instructions in his books on how to create rune weapons and advance as a warrior. His work was leagues beyond anything previously available, covering every nuance of the warrior's path with mind-blowing clarity.
Eventually, Su Hao didn't even need to sell weapons or armor as bait. He began carting his books straight into towns, skipping the formalities. After a brief demonstration of the runes' power—using his swords and armor—he would sell out within hours and disappear, leaving townsfolk amazed and hungry for more.
Within a single day, Su Hao would sell everything and disappear with his earnings.
No one knew who this Silver Armored Rune Master truly was, or where he came from. But they knew this: his books were valuable beyond belief, and those who got their hands on a copy were sure to rise above the rest.
....
One such buyer, Meng Donghua, the mayor of a town, managed to secure complete copies of ≤The Path of the Warrior≥ and ≤Comprehensive Guide to the Worlds of Runes≥.
As a Grandmaster-level warrior, he believed he had already mastered much of what the world had to offer—until he began reading these books. The contents floored him, he found a wealth of new knowledge and insights he had never encountered before.
The books unraveled the entire process of a warrior's advancement, revealing insights that even Meng Donghua had never come across.
New techniques like the Blood Qi Enhancement Wave, which accelerated the buildup of blood Qi, and the Centrifugal Method, which sped up Qi conversion, were unlike anything he had ever seen.
It was revolutionary. And it wasn't just theory—the ideas were backed by well-reasoned explanations, rooted in a deep understanding of blood Qi and rune formations.
What astonished Meng Donghua most was the section on beast veins. The "Traveler" had simplified them, breaking down the once-impossible complexity into manageable pieces. Beast veins, previously thought of as untouchable mysteries, were now digestible patterns with clear, detailed explanations of how each segment worked and how they could be freely combined for desired effects.
A genius—an absolute, unrivaled genius. That was all Meng Donghua could think as he marveled at the brilliance behind the text.
Meng Donghua had worked with runes before, but he had never imagined they could be analyzed in such a way.
He wasted no time testing the ideas.
He tested it by inscribing runes onto a suit of armor, using the Golden Threadworms mentioned in the book to form the patterns. The armor activated successfully—it worked!
When the runes activated flawlessly, it confirmed everything. The ≤Comprehensive Guide to the Worlds of Runes≥ wasn't just speculation—it was real. And it worked.
The implications were staggering. Realizing the magnitude of what had been released to the public.
Meng Donghua carefully wrapped the two books, donned his armor, and set out at once for the capital city.
This wasn't just knowledge. This was power—power that could change the entire balance of the world.
....
Three days later, Meng Donghua arrived at the grand royal palace in He'an City, seeking an urgent audience with King He'an, the ruler of the human race.
As he approached the towering gates, the Grandmaster-level guards stationed there bowed respectfully and greeted him.
"Mayor Meng," one of the guards said, "His Majesty is currently in council with the Eight Great Elders. Please return at a later time."
The Human King, sovereign of He'an City, held dominion not only over the capital city and the fifty-two surrounding towns, including Lingyun Town.
The human race had nine main cities in total. with He'an City standing as the largest and most influential. The other eight cities, each governed by one of the Eight Great Elders, answered to the King, forming a collective rule.
With a sense of urgency, Meng Donghua said, "I have something urgent to report! This matter cannot wait! It concerns the very foundation and future of the human race!"
The guard smiled faintly and said, "You're referring to ≤The Path of the Warrior≥ and ≤Comprehensive Guide to The Worlds of Runes≥ aren't you?"
Stunned, Meng Donghua paused. "You already know about them?"
The guard chuckled. "We received word over a month ago."
Meng Donghua, momentarily at a loss, could only muster a sheepish, "Ah…"
"The King is well aware of the gravity of the situation," the guard explained. "He sent his fastest messengers to summon the Eight Great Elders from their cities to discuss the matter in a council. The journey is long, and they only just arrived last night. Rest assured, Mayor Meng, the issue is being handled."
Realizing he was too late, Meng Donghua cupped his hands respectfully, thanking the guards, and began making his way back through the bustling streets of the capital.
As he left, he ran into several colleagues on the street, all discussing the two books. Some were in awe, some in fear, some worried, some excited, some anxious, and some elated…
The entire town seemed alive with conversation, and the topic on everyone's lips was the same: the two books. The reactions were as varied as the individuals discussing them.
Some were awestruck by the sheer brilliance of the knowledge they had gained, while others seemed fearful of what this newfound wisdom might unleash upon society. Some worried that the dissemination of rune and warrior knowledge could lead to chaos, undermining the current power structure.
Others, particularly the ambitious and opportunistic, were thrilled by the potential of crafting powerful new weapons and advancing in ways previously unimaginable before.
These two books had done more than spread information—they had shaken the very core of the human race.
Meng Donghua sighed, murmuring to himself as he left, "Was I really the last to find out?"