Jiang Ci stood at the entrance of the starter village, watching waves of eager players rush out into the wilderness, excited to grind levels and slay monsters.
He, however, didn't move a step.
System Message: Welcome to 'Starting Village – Greenvine Town'.As a Merchant, please find your own way to survive.
No beginner weapon.No tutorial.No combat skills.Just one item in his inventory:
[Worn Cloth Bag ×1]
[Copper Coin ×1]
System Tip: The Merchant class is non-combat. Recommended to team up with others or utilize resources to generate profit.
Jiang Ci let out a long sigh.
"Yep… definitely a hell-mode start."
In his past life, he had been a powerful warrior—charging through enemy lines with a massive greatsword.This time, he had to survive… with just a single copper coin.
But he wasn't panicking.
He had the most valuable resource of all: memories from a past life—and more importantly, time.
This time, I don't need to rush. Let them fight. I'll build.
As he scanned the area, something caught his eye: a bunch of rookie players holding raw boar meat, looking annoyed and confused.
Turns out, the system shop didn't accept monster meat. And worse, it would rot within hours, forcing players to throw it away.
Jiang Ci saw his opening.
He jogged over to the village's elderly cook NPC and asked casually,
"Auntie, need any boar meat? I can get you lots."
The old woman grumbled,
"These eyes of mine aren't what they used to be... I can't hunt anymore. If someone brought me fresh meat, I'd pay, sure."
Opportunity spotted.
Jiang Ci immediately opened the public chat.
"[Looking for Help]Buying raw boar meat! 3 pieces for 1 copper coin! Limited supply!"
Newbies were delighted.
"Seriously?! How do you make money from that?""Are you an NPC or something?"
Jiang Ci just smiled.
"Let's just say... I have connections."
A few quick trades later, his single copper coin had turned into 9 pieces of boar meat.
He carried them straight to the old cook.Meat in one hand, payout in the other—
Ding! You received: Copper Coin ×2.
Profit: +1 copper.
His first gold.
Not earned by slaying monsters…But by exploiting the gap between what players knew, and what he did.
Over the next few days, Jiang Ci didn't head into the city.He didn't touch a dungeon.
Instead, he set up a modest little stall just outside Greenvine Town.A scrap of cloth hung above it, hand-painted with crooked letters:
[Buying Today]Boar meat, wolf bones, herbs[Selling Cheap]Beginner Herb Pack – 5 copper[Exchange Service]Turn quest items into coins
Players began to notice him.
The guy who didn't fight.Didn't level.But somehow, knew everything about the game systems.
"Hey, Merchant Bro! Are herbs gonna go up today?""Boss Jiang, do you still take red mushrooms? I got ten!"
Like an ant quietly moving grain, he worked unnoticed in the background—Bit by bit, stacking tiny profits and gathering strength.
By day three, he had turned that one lonely copper coin into fifteen.
Not exactly rich.But he knew—it was a start.
Late at night, Jiang Ci sat on a wooden crate beside a warehouse, gazing up at the moon.
He recalled the merchant empires of his past life.
One monopolized herbs and became the game's first potion tycoon.
Another cornered the iron ore market and dictated weapon prices.
Someone even sold war intel during the cross-server battles and got rich off secrets.
And now...He, too, had his first stake.His first coin.His first foothold.
He chuckled to himself.
"In this game, the most valuable thing isn't level.It's not weapons, either. It's human nature."