Chapter 80: Where Did the Money Go?

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"Ironware Market?"

Upon hearing Ling Yi's opening question, Long Ang and Qingqiu Li both frowned, puzzled as to why the topic had suddenly shifted to this.

After all, they were blacksmiths, and each had a decent family background and business in ironware. As blacksmiths, they naturally had an advantage and convenience in the ironware trade.

However, if asked about the Ironware Market in their respective cities, they could provide some relevant data. But Ling Yi was asking about the Ironware Market of the entire Waterwood Principality, and with so many senior blacksmiths present, spread across the three major cities, dozens of smaller towns, and even more villages.

Therefore, the two Soul Master-level experts did not immediately respond.

They couldn't just say they didn't know what was happening outside their own businesses, right? They were all respectable people and couldn't show their lack of knowledge.

So, Long Ang, despite being straightforward, and Qingqiu Li both looked at Ling Yi with interest, like enlightened elders giving their juniors a chance to speak freely.

Ling Yi, who had done his homework, knew the situation of the two men but still gave them face by rephrasing his question: "I'm sure the two seniors are aware that the Ironware Market in the Waterwood Principality last year had a turnover of around 1,830,000 Gold Soul Coins…"

He asked and answered smoothly, but Long Ang and Qingqiu Li, sitting opposite him, both had their pupils dilate sharply.

Ling Yi lowered his gaze at the right moment, looking at the paper spread out on the table, and continued: "Of these 1,830,000 Gold Soul Coins, the various blacksmith shops in Wood Plant City accounted for 387,000 Gold Soul Coins in transactions, ranging from ordinary farming tools, kitchenware, and common weapons to various hundred-refined high-quality arms and tools, all kinds of items…

The two seniors' cities, Coldwind City, had a transaction value of around 320,000 Gold Soul Coins, while Bilu City had less than 300,000 Gold Soul Coins…"

"The total transaction value of various ironware in the towns and villages under the principality is about 50,000 to 60,000 Gold Soul Coins…"

Hearing this, apart from the three who already knew—Old Jin, Fu Shan, and Li Qiang—both Long Ang and Qingqiu Li couldn't help but frown.

Even the three who knew the details had a complex look on their faces.

"Um… Ah Yi… Since I'm older than you, I'll call you Ah Yi, just like Old Jin…"

At this moment, Qingqiu Li spoke. He first glanced at Long Ang, whose expression was relatively calm, then shifted his gaze between Old Jin and Ling Yi, and said, "While the data I have isn't as comprehensive as yours, I believe that with the channels of three blacksmith masters in the capital, your data should be accurate…"

Pausing for a moment, Qingqiu Li gave Ling Yi a deep look and asked, "Can you tell me where the other nearly half of the ironware transaction value has gone—?"

Wood Plant City had 387,000, Coldwind City had 320,000, and Bilu City had less than 300,000, specifically 291,000. The combined total of the three major cities in the Waterwood Principality was around 1,000,000 Gold Soul Coins.

Even if you added the areas outside the cities, the total transaction value would only be slightly over 1,000,000 Gold Soul Coins.

This data was already somewhat unexpected for both Long Ang and Qingqiu Li.

But what they didn't expect was that the total ironware transaction value in the entire Waterwood Principality was 1,830,000 Gold Soul Coins!!!

So, where did the nearly 800,000 Gold Soul Coins go—?!

On the Douluo Continent, where one Gold Soul Coin could cover the living expenses of an ordinary family of three for several months, what did 800,000 Gold Soul Coins mean?

In the original story, Tang San, after working for three years at the Nodding Junior Soul Master Academy, only earned one Gold Soul Coin.

Of course, ordinary people are ordinary people, and Soul Masters are Soul Masters.

A One-Ring Soul Master could receive one Gold Soul Coin per month from the Soul Temple, a Two-Ring Great Soul Master received ten Gold Soul Coins, and a Three-Ring Soul Venerable received one hundred Gold Soul Coins!

Why becoming a Soul Master is a class leap in the values of everyone on the Douluo Continent, besides strength, the real money is also a huge factor.

Money isn't everything, but it can solve many troubles and problems in the world.

With enough money, even the precious Soul Bones, which Soul Masters chase after, can be bought!

Ordinary people need money for eating, wearing, living, and traveling, and Soul Masters also need money, and they need more.

As long as a Soul Master has a desire for strength, they will never skimp on their diet. They might not eat soul beast meat every meal, but they certainly won't just eat porridge, steamed buns, and pickles. Even trying new flavors is rare—

Who wouldn't want more Gold Soul Coins in their pocket under such circumstances?

In the original story, the Agility Clan's leader, White Crane, a Soul Douluo, was stuck over a few hundred Gold Soul Coins because they had a grudge against the Soul Temple. Otherwise, just the young members of the clan could get a lot of benefits from the Soul Temple every month.

Though the clan had many expenses for food, drink, and cultivation, it wouldn't have been as dire as it was in the original story.

So, Qingqiu Li and Long Ang, being Soul Masters themselves and having families to support, were very concerned about the missing 800,000 Gold Soul Coins in the ironware transaction value.

Even though this was just the transaction value, after deducting the costs of raw materials, forging, charcoal, labor, and transportation, the gross profit might be less than half, but it would still be 300,000 to 400,000 Gold Soul Coins!

Such a huge sum of money, the entire Waterwood Principality, few could ignore it!

If Ling Yi wasn't lying, if there really was such a transaction value, and if these ironware transactions were in their hands…

Thinking of this, both Qingqiu Li and Long Ang's breathing became heavier.

They stared intently at Ling Yi, waiting for his answer.

Ling Yi smiled faintly, tapped the table, and said, "It went there—"

Following Ling Yi's finger, Qingqiu Li and Long Ang looked up and saw a rough map of the Waterwood Principality's terrain and city distribution on the white paper.

But Ling Yi's finger did not point to any place within the Waterwood Principality.

Seeing the blank area where Ling Yi's finger pointed, Qingqiu Li and Long Ang's hearts skipped a beat, a sense of unease rising in their chests.

At this moment, Ling Yi's voice rang out, "Actually, the two seniors should know, but they subconsciously avoid thinking about it—"

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(End of Chapter)