Ace turned his attention to the Immortal Market.
The description alone was anything but ordinary.
"Trade in resources and buy materials beyond a mortal’s reach?" Ace muttered, rubbing his chin. "That sets the bar pretty high."
With a thought, he activated the Immortal Market.
The next moment, his consciousness was whisked away to an entirely different realm.
At first glance, it bore some resemblance to his Divine Garden—except, instead of flourishing farms and serene gardens, this place was teeming with stalls and grand storefronts, each brimming with mystical treasures.
The air buzzed with energy as vendors shouted over one another, their calls blending into a chaotic yet oddly mesmerizing symphony.
"Selling Crystalians! Come and get them! One Red Immortal Bead for 100 of these rare crystal humanoids!"
"Bald humans for sale! One bald man for just one Red Immortal Bead! Plenty in stock!"
Ace blinked, utterly baffled.
Are those Variant humans? That’s a thing?
Beyond the bizarre human trade, there were countless other treasures on display. Spirit Beasts in gilded cages, floating castles carved from divine minerals, Spirit vegetables, cattles—all available for purchase.
But there was one problem.
Everything was priced in Immortal Beads—and Ace had absolutely no idea what those were. Before he could even curse the system for not explaining things properly, a notification popped up.
[System Updating...].
[Update Completed]
- New currency system implemented.
- Gold Credits have been converted into Immortal Beads.
- Updated balance: 3 Red Immortal Beads.
[System is updating again...]
[Update Completed]
- The Divine Garden now produces 1 Red Immortal Bead per week.
- The Divine Garden consumes 1 Red Immortal Bead per month.
- Host must reach the realm of Immortals or absorb additional fragments of the Divine Garden to enhance Immortal Bead production.
Ace quickly checked his balance. 3 Red Immortal Beads.
"...Wait. That’s it? I had over 3 million Gold Credits, and all I got was three of these things?" He narrowed his eyes.
What kind of conversion rate is this? Am I broke in the Immortal Market?
Resigned, he asked, "Well, give me information about the Crystalians, system."
[Crystalians are a variant of humans with unique mineral-infused bodies. As they grow, precious minerals naturally form on their skin, embedding into their very being.
However, their true value emerges after death—the land they inhabit becomes rich with rare minerals, sometimes leading to immense fortune for those lucky enough to discover it.]
Ace’s eyes lingered on the system’s description of Crystalians.
"A human variant with minerals growing on their bodies… Most valuable after death… Their land is rich in minerals, and with luck, one could strike it big."
Ace crossed his arms. If their land becomes a goldmine, then putting them in the Divine Garden might be worth it. If they live long enough, maybe I can use them for labor… or trade them later.
He smirked. "Either way, I won’t lose."
A glint of interest flashed in his eyes.
"I’ll buy them."
Without hesitation, he withdrew one Red Immortal Bead and strode toward the bustling market stall that had been advertising them.
The stall was manned by a burly figure with glistening, dark-blue skin and six glowing eyes. His broad, tusked grin widened when he spotted Ace approaching.
"Welcome, welcome! You have the eyes of a buyer. Looking for Crystalians, eh? Fresh batch just came in!"
Ace nodded, glancing at the rows of humanoid figures behind the vendor.
The Crystalians stood eerily still, their skin embedded with shimmering mineral formations—some with sapphire-like veins, others with clusters of raw gemstones growing along their limbs.
"I’ll take a batch. One Red Immortal Bead, right?" Ace confirmed, flipping the bead between his fingers.
The vendor’s grin stretched wider. "Ahh, a man who gets straight to business! I like that. Yes, one bead for a hundred of them! All healthy, well-fed, and untouched. You won’t find a better deal anywhere else."
Ace raised a brow. "Untouched?"
The vendor chuckled. "Means no one’s dug into their minerals yet. Maximum value, my friend."
Satisfied, Ace flicked the Red Immortal Bead toward the vendor. The moment it landed in the seller’s palm, golden runes flashed beneath their feet, marking the completion of the trade.
[Transaction Complete!]
A ripple of energy surged through the air. In an instant, all one hundred Crystalians vanished from the stall.
Ace’s system chimed again.
[New residents have arrived in the Divine Garden.]
Ace smirked, already picturing the possibilities. "Pleasure doing business."
The vendor let out a booming laugh. "Likewise! If you ever need more, you know where to find me!"
After completing his trade, Ace didn’t return immediately. Instead, his gaze shifted toward the stall selling bald humans.
"System, give me all the details on bald humans," he commanded.
The system responded promptly:
[Bald Humans – Highly skilled in alchemy. Extremely introverted. Above all, they yearn for freedom. Raising them for commercialization is not recommended.]
Ace raised an eyebrow. Alchemists, huh? He considered it briefly but dismissed the idea just as quickly. If they aren’t cooperative, they’re more trouble than they’re worth.
Deciding to conserve his remaining red immortal beads, Ace ended his search, realizing their value might be far greater than he initially thought.
Upon returning to the Divine Garden from the Immortal Market, he was met with a new sight—one hundred Crystalians and their mineral-laced bodies shimmering.
[System Updating…]
A familiar notification flashed before Ace’s eyes once more.
[Host has taken the first step in improving the Divine Garden. Restrictions on spirit animals have been removed.]
A new list appeared before him, detailing his current livestock holdings:
Ace stared at the numbers in shock. I own this many? Do I even need to earn money anymore?
Spirit Chickens – Over one million
Spirit Pigs – Around 600,000 Stay connected with freewebnovel
Spirit Cows – Barely 400,000
"...That’s insane." He rubbed his temples. "How the hell am I feeding them all? Do I have a Spirit Farm Manager somewhere? Are they just grazing on immortal grass?"
A terrifying thought struck him. What if they start breeding?
"Nope. Not dealing with that right now."
Before he could fully process the information, another system message appeared:
[System has begun integrating with the host. Please reach the Immortal Realm as swiftly as possible.]
The familiar female voice inside Ace’s head chuckled.
— Funny. That sly old man sold you all males.
Ace frowned. "What do you mean?"
R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freewebnovёl.ƈom Only.
— Are you slow? The crystal humans you bought are all male Crystalians. They won’t reproduce. You’ll have to keep buying more if you need more in the future.
Ace clicked his tongue. "Tch. Typical businessman."
The voice laughed mockingly.
"Hahaha! You didn’t even register those crystal humans as humans? Your morals are seriously questionable."