5: Initial replication and Miter Auction House

The next morning, at the first hint of dawn, Xiao Chen got up and left the Xiao Family courtyard. He didn't disturb Xiao Yan, who seemed to still be 'cultivating', and, with his remaining few copper coins, once again stepped into the bustling market of Wutan City.

After a night of contemplation, he temporarily abandoned impractical ideas like going directly to the Mittel Auction House or venturing deep into the Magical Beast Mountain Range. The immediate priority was to solve basic survival issues and accumulate even a tiny bit of initial capital.

The market was still bustling with people. Xiao Chen's goal was clear: find the cheapest items that might contain energy, and at the same time, see if there were any odd jobs suitable for a 'Dou Qi-less person' like him.

He first lingered at various herbal and general goods stalls, using the system's Scan function, hoping to find another overlooked treasure. But good luck seemed to have run out yesterday; after Scanning dozens of stalls, all he saw was either pure junk or genuine items with prices far beyond his means.

"It seems finding overlooked treasures is a matter of luck," Xiao Chen thought helplessly, turning his gaze towards the labor market at the edge of the market.

Here, many laborers and temporary workers gathered, waiting to be hired. Most were strong and healthy, and more or less had some Dou Qi foundation. A young man like Xiao Chen, with his thin build and complete lack of aura, seemed out of place.

"Hiring herb gatherers! Entering the outer perimeter of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, five silver coins a day, requires Dou Qi Stage Three or above, and familiarity with basic herbs!" a brawny man with a scarred face shouted loudly.

"Dock unloading, paid by the piece, Dou Qi Stage Four preferred!"

Xiao Chen walked around, his heart sinking. Almost all jobs had a minimum Dou Qi requirement, and he couldn't even meet the most basic threshold.

Just as he was about to give up, a faint voice caught his attention.

"Um... hiring... hiring people to help organize a warehouse, count miscellaneous items... two silver coins a day... includes one meal... no Dou Qi required..."

Xiao Chen followed the sound and saw a middle-aged man, dressed in patched clothes with a worried expression, squatting in an inconspicuous corner. In front of him was a small wooden sign with the crookedly written words "Hiring." He didn't look like a boss, but rather a down-on-his-luck accountant.

"Uncle, are you hiring here?" Xiao Chen walked up and asked.

The middle-aged man looked up, saw Xiao Chen's young appearance, hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, my... my young master set up a small warehouse, collected some random things, and wants to organize them to see if anything valuable is inside. The work isn't heavy, just tedious, and requires carefulness. Young man, can you read?"

"Yes, I can read," Xiao Chen replied confidently. This was true; having transmigrated, although the writing of this world differed from what he knew in his previous life, he had already mastered it through the convenience of soul integration.

"Then... then are you willing to do it? Two silver coins a day, and a meal of coarse rice at noon." The middle-aged man seemed desperate for help, as the conditions he offered were quite low in the labor market.

Two silver coins were negligible for the former Xiao Chen, but for him, currently penniless, it was a significant income. More importantly, a meal meant he could save on food expenses for the day.

"I'm willing," Xiao Chen agreed without hesitation.

The middle-aged man, named Old Chen, was a distant relative of a small merchant in Wutan City and had been sent to manage a small warehouse that his young master had impulsively taken over. The warehouse was filled with various sundries left by the previous owner, reportedly including some damaged weapons and leftover medicinal materials. The young master hoped to dig out some treasures from it but was unwilling to spend a lot of money to hire someone, so he had to ask Old Chen to find a cheap temporary worker.

The warehouse was located in the most secluded corner of the market, dark and damp, filled with the smell of mold and dust. Inside, as Old Chen said, it was indeed piled high with all sorts of junk: rusty swords, broken armor, moldy books, and many fragments whose original appearance was unrecognizable.

"Young man, just sort these things into categories. Weapons on one side, miscellaneous items on the other. See if there's anything that looks relatively complete, or... feels a bit special, and set it aside," Old Chen instructed, then went off to check his ledgers.

Xiao Chen looked at the warehouse, which resembled a garbage dump, but instead of disgust, a flicker of excitement appeared in his eyes.

A garbage dump? In others' eyes, it was trash; in his eyes, it could be a treasure trove of energy!

"System, continuously Scan this area!" Xiao Chen commanded in his mind, while simultaneously starting to organize.

【Scan: Rusty iron sword... No energy reaction.】

【Scan: Damaged leather armor... No energy reaction.】

【Scan: Unknown beast bone... Energy completely lost.】

At first, it was still a lot of useless information. But Xiao Chen was not discouraged, patiently cleaning and classifying.

When he moved a pile of rotten wood, several small, mud-stained bottles were revealed underneath. One of the bottles was already shattered, and some dried dark red powder had spilled out.

【Scan: blood coagulation powder (expired) dregs】

【Grade】: Mortal Rank Low-grade (Expired)

【Components】: blood coagulation grass and other medicinal residue, 99% loss of energy activity.

【Can be copied】: No (Energy structure has been destroyed)

【Recyclable energy】: 0.5 units.

0.5 units! Though small, every bit counts! Moreover, this indicated that there might be other forgotten, energy-containing "trash" in this warehouse!

Xiao Chen's spirits lifted, and he worked even harder to clean.

【Scan: First-tier earth-attribute demonic core (shattered)... Energy residue 2%, recycling value 0.2 units.】

【Scan: Inferior Qi Gathering Powder (dried)... Recycling value 0.3 units.】

【Scan: Ore stained with trace amounts of fire-attribute magical beast blood... Recycling value 0.1 units.】

An entire morning passed. Xiao Chen was drenched in sweat and covered in dust, but he had found seven or eight recyclable items from the garbage pile! Although the energy in each was pitifully small, combined, it amounted to 3.2 units!

At noon, Old Chen indeed brought two bowls of coarse rice without a trace of oil and a small dish of pickles. Xiao Chen devoured them, feeling his strength recover significantly.

In the afternoon, he continued to excavate "treasures." At the bottom of a dilapidated wooden box, he discovered a small bundle of dried herbs, wrapped in oilcloth and already somewhat yellowed.

【Scan: Clear Heart Three-Leaf Clover (air-dried)】

【Grade】: Mortal Rank Low-grade

【Components】: Contains faint cooling medicinal energy, well-preserved, about 60% of medicinal efficacy remaining.

【Can be copied】: Yes (Requires energy: 3 units)

【System Evaluation】: Can be used to refine low-grade Clear Heart Pills, or directly brewed in water for consumption, has a faint calming and focusing effect. Market value approximately 15 gold coins. Recyclable energy: 5 units!

5 units! This was the biggest gain of the day! And this Clear Heart Three-Leaf Clover itself was worth some money!

Xiao Chen suppressed his excitement and carefully put the bundle of herbs aside. He chose not to recycle it immediately, intending to keep it, perhaps for other uses.

By evening, the warehouse was finally organized. Valuable or seemingly complete items were placed separately. Although not many, there were over a dozen, including the bundle of Clear Heart Three-Leaf Clover and several low-grade medicinal materials that were still recognizable.

Old Chen came to inspect, and seeing the well-organized warehouse and the pile of "treasures," a look of surprise appeared on his face: "Young man, you're quite efficient! And your eye is good too, these things... well, they look a bit better than trash." He kept his word and promptly paid the two silver coins for the work.

Holding the two silver coins, still warm from his touch, Xiao Chen felt a surge of mixed emotions. This was the first money he had earned in this world through his own labor (and the system cheat).

Bidding farewell to Old Chen, Xiao Chen did not immediately return to the Xiao Family. Instead, clutching his day's "haul"—the bundle of Clear Heart Three-Leaf Clover, 3.2 units of "junk energy items," and the two silver coins—he arrived at an ordinary shop in the market that bought and sold medicinal materials.

"Shopkeeper, do you buy this bundle of Clear Heart Three-Leaf Clover?" Xiao Chen placed the oilcloth-wrapped bundle on the counter.

The shopkeeper, an old man with a goatee, picked up the herbs, examined them carefully, then sniffed them, and nodded: "The quality is average, it's been air-dried for a bit too long, and some medicinal efficacy has been lost. I can give you twelve gold coins at most."

Twelve gold coins! Slightly lower than the system's estimated fifteen gold coins, but within Xiao Chen's expectations. He didn't hesitate, nodding directly: "Deal."

Holding the twelve gold coins and two silver coins, Xiao Chen felt his back straighten a bit. He didn't sell the energy items; those wouldn't fetch much money, but recycling them into energy points was more important to him.

He found an secluded corner and chose to recycle all the broken demonic cores, expired medicinal dregs, and other items he had found today, except for the Clear Heart Three-Leaf Clover.

【Ding! Recycling successful, gained 3.2 units of energy!】

【Current energy: 3.8 / 10000!】

The energy pool was finally no longer a pitiful zero point something!

Looking at the 3.8 units of energy, a bold idea arose in Xiao Chen's mind.

He hadn't actually used the copy function since it was unlocked. Now, he had 3.8 energy points, and copying a complete, Mortal Rank Low-grade "blood coagulation powder" required 5 energy points. He was still short 1.2 points.

His gaze fell on the money pouch in his hand. Twelve gold coins, two silver coins.

"System, can gold coins and silver coins be recycled?" he asked, with a testing attitude.

【Scan: Gold Coin】

【Grade】: Mundane Item (Currency)

【Components】: Gold, small amount of impurities.

【Can be copied】: No (Target is a general equivalent, rules prohibit copying to avoid disrupting economic order)

【Recyclable energy】: 0.0001 units (negligible).

Xiao Chen: "..." Well, the path to getting rich by copying gold coins was blocked.

It seemed he could only honestly buy items containing energy.

He entered a shop specializing in low-grade medicinal materials and spent ten gold coins to purchase two well-preserved "blood coagulation grass" and one "bone regeneration flower." These were the raw materials for refining the lowest-grade healing medicine, "blood coagulation powder." System Scan showed that each blood coagulation grass contained about 2 units of energy, and the bone regeneration flower about 3 units. The total value was roughly ten gold coins.

Then, he once again found an secluded corner.

"System, recycle one blood coagulation grass!"

【Ding! Recycling successful, gained 2 units of energy!】

【Current energy: 5.8 / 10000!】

Enough! Copying one blood coagulation powder required 5 energy points, and he now had 5.8 points!

Xiao Chen took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement. He chose not to recycle the medicinal materials to obtain energy but kept the other blood coagulation grass and bone regeneration flower as samples. What he wanted to try was copying!

He picked up the blood coagulation grass that served as a sample, concentrating his mind.

"System, Scan target, add to copy list!"

【Ding! Target scanned: blood coagulation grass (complete). Added to copyable list.】

【Energy required for copying: 2 units.】

Next, he scanned the bone regeneration flower.

【Ding! Target scanned: bone regeneration flower (complete). Added to copyable list.】

【Energy required for copying: 3 units.】

Then, he silently chanted in his mind: "System, search for combinable item recipes... blood coagulation powder."

The system interface flickered slightly, and indeed, a change occurred. Under the 【Copy】 option, a sub-item 【Simple Synthesis】 appeared.

【Simple Synthesis】: Detected that host has scanned "blood coagulation grass" and "bone regeneration flower," meeting the minimum synthesis requirements for Mortal Rank Low-grade pill "blood coagulation powder." Generate synthesis recipe? Generation consumes 1 unit of energy. (Note: Synthesis recipe can be optimized, requires more medicinal material samples and energy.)

"Generate!" Xiao Chen didn't hesitate. One energy point for a stable pill recipe was too good a deal!

【Ding! Consumed 1 unit of energy, generated "blood coagulation powder (Mortal Rank Low-grade)" Simple Synthesis Recipe.】

【Materials energy required for recipe: blood coagulation grass (2 units), bone regeneration flower (3 units).】

【Energy required for direct synthesis: 5 units.】

【Synthesis success rate (current): 70%.】

【Start synthesis?】

A 70% success rate! Worth a try!

Xiao Chen placed the sample blood coagulation grass and bone regeneration flower in front of him, and silently chanted in his mind: "Start synthesis!"

In an instant, he felt the system's energy pool in his mind decrease by 5 units. A faint but clear warm current surged from the energy pool, passing through his body, seemingly connecting to the two medicinal materials in front of him.

Immediately after, a strange scene unfolded. The blood coagulation grass and bone regeneration flower seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, slowly floating up, emitting faint red and green light dots. These light dots began to merge and condense under the action of some rule... The process lasted about ten breaths. As the light dissipated, a small pinch of fine red powder quietly floated where the medicinal materials had been, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

And the sample blood coagulation grass and bone regeneration flower were surprisingly intact! Only their colors seemed slightly duller, barely noticeable without close inspection.

【Ding! Synthesis successful! Obtained 1 portion of "blood coagulation powder (Mortal Rank Low-grade)".】

【Current energy: 0.8 / 10000.】

It succeeded!

Xiao Chen carefully collected the pinch of red powder into a small jade bottle he had prepared beforehand (it cost him his last silver coin). Looking at the medicinal powder in the bottle, which represented hope, his hands trembled with excitement.

Copying! This was the power of copying! Although it was only the lowest-grade pill, and it consumed precious energy, this meant that he now had the ability to convert energy into tangible resources!

This one portion of blood coagulation powder was worth about twenty to thirty gold coins on the market! And the cost he paid was only five energy points! Although obtaining energy also required a cost, the profit margin was huge!

A clear path finally unfolded before him: use the Scan function to find overlooked treasures or precisely purchase raw materials -> synthesize (copy) finished products through the system -> sell finished products for gold coins -> buy more energy items -> accumulate energy, upgrade system permissions, copy higher-grade items!

The gears of a virtuous cycle had finally begun to turn!

Although his energy was now only 0.8, and the synthesis success rate was not yet 100%, he had finally taken this first step!

Carefully putting away the blood coagulation powder and the remaining medicinal material samples, Xiao Chen calmed his emotions, a truly relaxed and hopeful smile, the first since coming to this world, appearing on his face.

The sky over Wutan City also seemed to have become a little bluer.

He didn't notice that on the second floor of a teahouse across the street, behind a window, a pair of deep eyes watched his retreating back with a thoughtful expression.

"Energy fluctuation... though faint, it's very peculiar. Not alchemy, nor artifact refining... more like... creating something out of nothing?" The Black-Robed Figure gently tapped the table, and a curve of interest appeared at the corner of his mouth under his hood.

"It seems I need to find an opportunity to 'have a good talk' with this little friend."