5112 Gold.

  This was the final sum Pierce held in his possession after liquidating every last vial of Brute Strength Potion at his stall. For a sixteen-year-old Arcane Apprentice who had been destitute a mere month ago, this was a staggering fortune that made the very air seem to thin with possibility.

  With this capital as a foundation, many of the armament plans he had previously shelved due to financial constraints could finally be set into motion.

  Pierce calmly stowed the empty wooden crate into his spatial ring and stood to depart. He first visited the administrative office to settle his rental fees and retrieve his substantial deposit, then began to stroll leisurely through the crisscrossing, soot-stained stalls of the black market.

  With less than a month remaining before the Freshman Trials, he felt a pressing need to transmute his heavy metallic wealth into tangible combat effectiveness.

  However, after nearly half an hour of wandering, Pierce felt a hint of disappointment. While the market was teeming with Arcane creations, under the microscopic scrutiny of the Eye of Omniscience, most of the so-called "ancient arcane relics" were merely defective goods or outright failures—mostly the work of enchantment apprentices desperate for a quick payout.

  Finally, he halted before a shop named "The Arcanist’s Crate."

  Among the cramped and damp open-air stalls, this brick-and-mortar establishment, spanning over a hundred square meters, stood out prominently. Through its crystalline display windows, one could see uniquely forged enchanted armaments, alchemical potions flowing with faint luminescence, and various arcane accessories. Most cloaked figures passing by would cast complex gazes of mingled greed and wariness, yet none dared linger at the entrance without serious intent.

  In such a lawless territory, the ability to maintain a physical establishment of this scale suggested the shadow of an Official Arcanist loomed behind it.

  Pierce entered the shop, bypassing the common steel weaponry to lock his gaze onto the magic item rack on the left.

  Within the hierarchy of Arcane creations, the lowest tier was Alchemy-grade, also known as Minor Magic Items. These typically possessed a single enchanted trait. For instance, a common longsword enchanted with Sharpness often sold for upwards of 1000 Gold. For the mercenary knights living on the edge of life and death, the net profit from slaying a beast of Intermediate Knight rank was only a few dozen gold; purchasing such a weapon often required years of accumulation.

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  Above Alchemy-grade lay Glimmer-grade, referred to in academic circles as Low Magic Items. These possessed multiple magical traits, and their value was such that gold alone was insufficient to measure it; even in official channels within Aurora City, they were strictly controlled. On the shop's shelves, Pierce saw four or five such treasures, with even the cheapest pendant priced at 15 Mana Stones.

  At the very top of the display rack, Pierce even spotted a true Magic-grade creation—an Arcane Artifact.

  It was a leather glove as crimson as fresh blood, emitting a heart-chilling, uncanny vitality even through the containment field. Its tag clearly displayed the price: 800 Mana Stones. Pierce mentally calculated that even if he maintained his current potion output, it would take nearly half a year to even touch a single fingertip of such a treasure.

  Suppressing his impractical fantasies, Pierce swiftly located his immediate tactical objectives.

  A Dimensional Pouch, priced at 1800 Gold.

  The Eye of Omniscience quickly provided feedback: its spatial structure was stable, with an internal folded volume of approximately 1 cubic meter. Though this was merely an entry-level spatial tool, it was more than sufficient for Pierce to store his potion ingredients and personal sundries discreetly.

  Next, to prepare for the extreme conflicts likely to arise during the trials, he selected a Ring of Protection priced at 1500 Gold.

  This was an Alchemy-grade ring imbued with the Force Shield trait. When the wearer encountered a sudden attack, it would automatically trigger an omnidirectional, translucent protective field. The quantitative data from the Eye of Omniscience showed that the shield could withstand a single impact of up to 7 Degrees or cumulative energy depletion of up to 100 Degrees.

  This meant that as long as he did not encounter the full-strength eruption of a High Knight, Pierce was virtually invincible against physical assaults.

  "Proprietor, the bill."

  The bald, burly man behind the counter saw the two Alchemy-grade items and his previously tense face immediately broke into a warm, eager smile. "That will be 3300 Gold, esteemed guest."

  "Do you have a steady supply of base materials for Brute Strength Potions here?" Pierce asked tentatively while handing over the gold. He did not intend to purchase materials frequently at the academy’s logistics department; it was far too conspicuous and trackable.

  "Of course! 18 Gold per set," the man replied, his eyes gleaming.

  Pierce nodded inwardly; the price was ten percent cheaper than the academy's internal rates. He ordered 100 sets on the spot.

  After spending a grand total of 5100 Gold, Pierce fastened the supply-laden Dimensional Pouch to his belt and slid the cold, metallic Ring of Protection onto his finger.

  The heavy gold had vanished in a mere heartbeat, and even for someone as composed as Pierce, he felt a faint twinge of "financial pain." Yet, it was followed by a profound sense of security that came with being armed to the teeth.

  As he stepped out of the shop to return, the clamor of a crowd nearby caught his attention.

  "...One hundred Mana Stones? This is highway robbery!"

  "You cannot say that. If this truly is an ancient inheritance of a 'High-tier Meditation Technique,' a hundred stones is practically a gift."

  "Do not be ridiculous. High-tier techniques are incredibly rare; how could one possibly appear in a chaotic place like this?"

  High-tier Meditation Technique.

  The moment he heard those words, Pierce’s pupils constricted slightly, and his steps involuntarily shifted toward the gathering crowd.