From various hunts and exchanges , Eric had amassed around 100 golds in 1 month! including Cross's and Vince's salary! But this was not enough for what he had in mind!

This day was just like any other day! Eric headed towards the outer area of the primal mountain as always. He wore his mask and black robe! The robe was common unlike the mask! this was a new mask That He found during one of his trips to the mountain! it was hidden inside a rock , He only saw it with his essence eyes! Its essence was unlike any other! It was a transparent essence, Which almost fooled Eric into thinking it was an item without essence but he felt the essence! It was white and had many patterns inscribed into it!

The appraiser at the auction house deemed it as normal but Eric did not believe it to be so! After observing the essence for a week he was finally sure it was harmless and was not dangerous! That essence was helpful but he did know how to use it! So he ended up just wearing it.

Eric usually hunted small strange beasts yet powerful ones! This time he also had quite the harvest and just as he was heading back he saw a blinding light come from about a couple of miles to his left! and it was all essence! He has never seen this amount of essence in any item before! and it was gray! a new color!

He was really fast and got there in less than a minute! His speed was not comparable to Vince's but it was indeed still among the top in their ranks! when he got there, he saw a dozen men with 2 keeping guard but still they could not sense him in stealth mode! While the others had mining axes and shovels! they were drilling on a side of the primal mountain and the light came from inside ! The light was too much and he could not identify the item!

These men were from the Dragon gang! They were obviously really happy now !

" hahaha! OH my god! we 're rich! if we get this star meteor iron! we won't need to work for the rest of our lives!"

" damn yes!"

" shut up! we're here on a mission! and since the higher ups sent us here , they must already know how much is there! so we can't take even a bit! so just stay here and guard it while I inform them, the rewards and promotion shall be enough for our troubles!" The one who seemed like their leader said as he darted towards the city!

" Star metoeric iron!" Eric eyes were so bright they could swallow the mountain whole! This was an extremely rare metal! so rare that they say it was the essence of the meteors that fell from heavon! IT was extremely durable, light and flexible! Just a small bit is already priced with amethyst coins!

Just as he was about to kill them all, his eyes shook and he got startled! he saw something move in the stones! IT was a snake! as for its strength all he could say he never something so strong! his senses urged him to run and he was about to!

The gang members did not notice it! as it came out of nowhere and ate half of them before they even managed to react!

" A sentient beast!" Shouted the surviving members! as they turned around to run! This was not a sentient beast but something even more dangerous! a snake of the second realm! exceeding six stars!

IT immediately chased after them, Eric took this chance to dash towards the hole in the mountain he saw the iron embeded into rocks, he did not bother with it but grabed two gray herbs who had quite the essence and ran for his life not looking back!

The snake finished them off and went back to guard its lair!

Eric never ran this fast and he reached the city in 20 minutes! He looked at the herb that looked like a gray lotus and did not recognize it! but it had quite the essence! so much essence that all of the herbs he collected so far seemed dim compared to it!

He had no choice but to look for the auction house's head-appraiser. He dashed into the auction house , the guards greeted him: " Collector!" ,he usually greeted back but now he rushed to where the manager Anthony who he always dealt with stayed and barged into the room.

Anthony was disgruntled when he saw someone barge into his room! but when he saw it was "The collector" He had dealt enough with him to know he was not the imbecile type and since he did so he had to have a reason for it! so he said:

"oh it's the collector what brings you this time in such a hurry?"

"Big deal! call the head-appraiser"

" oh! Call Isaac over here now!" Anthony was surprised , since he asked for the head appraiser it was definitely something big! the collector was not the type who played jokes!

Isaac was an old man with white hair and beard! He rushed here after the call, he was only called for special items!

Eric did not say anything more and brought out one lotus!

"What! No! this can't be? where did you find this??" Asked Isaac in an agitated tone

" Isaac what is it?" Anthony was dumbstruck at Isaac's reaction!

" let me calm myself first!... If it is what i think it is , then the Collector just struck it big and we as well!" Isaac said between breaths

" Just tell me what is it!" Anthony demanded!

Eric was also curious!

" It is called Mettalic Upgrade lotus! One of the very few herbs used in smithing! Using it on a weapon can increase the weapon's rank by 1 star! any weapon under 3 stars! "

Eric's jaw fell under his mask, he understood its value now! each Star corresponded to a realm so they could use it on a 2 star top rank weapon and it becomes a top 3 star one! Good weapon for those who reached the third realm!

"What!" Anthony was amazed he knew what an increase by 1 star meant! he turned around and asked Eric:

" are you sure you want to sell this?" He almost smacked himself after asking this question

Eric nodded, now that he has shown it, it was better to sell it there were still others in the snake's lair and he still had one left! He'll think about how to get two later!

" OK, then we'll give you 50 amethyst coins for it!"

Eric shook his head and said : "100! "

Anthony was surprised but he then did some calculations in his mind he still benefited greatly! so he agreed!

" haha! it has always been a pleasure doing business with you collector!"

" I got a bigger deal, you intrested?"

" what is it ?" Asked anthony

" 1000 amethyst in advance first and 1000 after"

" what! what is that has such a price!"

" priceless information!"

Anthony hesitated, 1000 amethyst coins was not a small sum but he still grit his teeth went to his office and paid it to the collector and asked:

"what information ?"

" A star meteoric Iron small mine's location!"

" What the fuck! stop joking!" cursed anthony and he almost wanted his money back!

" young man do you know what you are saying?" shouted Isaac!

" Yes, the dragon gang just found it and it is guarded by a stone snake with strength that exceeds 6 stars! all of their men died except for one who left early! they would still want to keep it a secret as they do not know that their men died!"

" a second realm beast!"

"transcendent beast!"

screamed both of them, then added : " where?"

Eric said :"paiment"

anthony immediately passed another thousand to him not hesitating anymore! they could indeed get 10 times this amount if they sold this information! just to 1 noble family!

Eric asked for a map which he then circled an area in it ! exactly where the snake was! Anthony told Isaac to go contact noble families!

Eric had a plan in mind, he told Cross and asked him to use his clone to go to golden gate pavillion and sell the news there as well! he just needed to find manager Julian and tell him that the collector sent him! and they would trust him!

Now they easily gained over 4000 amethyst coins! They got rich in One deal!

Seeing Eric not leaving, Anthony asked:

" something else?"

" Do you have slaves here?"