Upon hearing Ma Ning's words, a question mark popped up over Yang Bolin's head:
"?"
He knew about Detonator Talismans, but what on earth were Spiritless Detonator Talismans and Boom Boom Joy Sticks?
So, Detonator Talismans don't need spiritual energy to activate?
Even if we step back a thousand miles and assume there's really a Spiritless Detonator Talisman that doesn't require spiritual energy to ignite...
Ma Ning is holding a short stick, damn it!
Do sticks have anything to do with talismans?
Seeing Yang Bolin's expression, Ma Ning suddenly realized something and coughed twice:
"Ahem, Shopkeeper Yang, here's the thing.
Our Taoshu Commerce Association comes from east of the Celestial Moon Mountain Range, so there might be some differences in language and culture. Over there, these sticks can also be called talismans.
Besides the 67-type Boom Boom Joy Stick, we also have the 155-mm Thunderous Earthquake Talisman, 93-mm Thermobaric Blast Talisman, and 2.78-meter Green Log Talisman... also called Enemy Happy Stick and so on.
Cultural differences, cultural differences."
After hearing Ma Ning's explanation, Yang Bolin stroked his beard.
He accepted the explanation, somewhat understanding.
After all, the Damo Realm is vast, and some regions don't interact frequently with the outside world, so cultural differences are reasonable.
For example, the Celestial Moon Mountain Range Ma Ning mentioned is a giant mountain range east of Chixian City with territory-isolating properties.
The cultures on either side of the mountain range differ greatly, and in past years, some merchant teams from beyond the mountains have come to trade at Ziqiong Market. Those teams indeed had significant differences in views and even language compared to Ziqiong City.
After thinking through this, Yang Bolin no longer focused on the issue of names and asked:
"Shopkeeper Ma, I'm curious about the power of this 67-type Boom Boom Joy Stick. Can it compare to a conventional Detonator Talisman?"
When discussing the practical use of the Joy Stick, Ma Ning looked toward Gu Junming in the distance.
After all, he was just a clerical staff; demonstrating the Joy Stick, which has some risks, should be done by a professional.
Facing Ma Ning's gaze, Gu Junming knowingly nodded.
He turned and called a special forces personnel over, it was Chen Fei, who had been responsible for moving the Earth Vein Fire Alloy boxes earlier, signaling him to follow Ma Ning's direction.
Then Ma Ning gestured to Yang Bolin:
"Shopkeeper Yang, let's go to the demonstration field and try it out."
Yang Bolin also made a polite gesture:
"Shopkeeper Ma, please."
The location of the demonstration field had been introduced by Wei Qiangsheng at the beginning, located at the southern end of the street where the Taoshu Commerce Association is.
The field is roughly 100 by 100, occupying an area of about 10,000 square meters—a moderate size.
The field is divided into several areas: one for experimental gear, one for experimental weapons, and one for demonstrating talismans.
When Ma Ning and the others arrived at the demonstration field, several groups were gathered there, presumably from other associations demonstrating their products.
However, as the Chief Shopkeeper of Purple Treasure Pavilion, Yang Bolin could easily clear an area for himself.
In no time, he led Ma Ning to a relatively spacious area.
This area was filled with obstacles of various sizes—stones, wood, iron, and copper objects.
This allows for effective testing of the power of conventional talismans.
Reaching this area, Ma Ning first introduced the wooden handle of the Joy Stick:
"Shopkeeper Yang, this is the fuse of the Joy Stick. After pulling it, just throw it forward, and it will explode in a few seconds.
Unlike Detonator Talismans that need spiritual energy control, the Joy Stick only requires a forceful throw based on distance, with a maximum reach of about eighty meters."
After explaining this, Ma Ning handed the Joy Stick to Chen Fei:
"Comrade Xiaochen, I'll leave it to you."
Chen Fei accepted the Joy Stick and solemnly walked to the edge of the area.
The 67-type Boom Boom Joy Stick was developed by the rabbits in the mid-1960s as a Joy Stick weapon.
It was named the 67-type Joy Stick because its design was finalized in 1967, strictly speaking, it's an enhanced version of the 63-type Joy Stick.
A single 67-type Boom Boom Joy Stick weighs 600 grams, has a body length of 204 millimeters, and is packed with 38 grams of TNT, with a damage radius of approximately 7 meters.
This Joy Stick is quite different from the rabbits' existing 86-type Oval Joy Stick, both in terms of ergonomic throw curve and explosive power—it can only be considered very ordinary.
But it has one characteristic...
Its inventory is astonishingly large!
During that special period, the production of 67-type Joy Sticks reached a whopping 2 billion units, claiming it could fight through three world wars!
The allocation plan back then was one set per soldier, ten sticks per militia, averaging 4-6 sticks per person.
Decades have passed without a major conflict, leaving an increasing stockpile of 67-type Joy Sticks.
Even in some provincial TV news, you can occasionally hear stories of Joy Sticks found in homes in certain areas. (Someone even asked if Joy Sticks were lollipops—do they genuinely not know, or are they just fishing...)
Nowadays, these Joy Stick inventories turn into a major and unsolvable issue.
The rabbits have always been thrifty and are afraid of poverty, so destroying them truly pains them.
But keeping them relies on the consumption rate of second-line troops and militia training... might last till 2022 and beyond.
By then, it's not even certain if they'll expire; it's uncertain if humanity will even be around.
Now realizing the presence of beast tides in the Damo Realm, the rabbits naturally ponder clearing these leftover supplies.
Today's throwing exercise might very well determine Yang Bolin's final assessment of the Joy Stick.
With this thought in mind.
Chen Fei, who deeply understood the importance of his task, took a deep breath and calmly chose the most suitable position.
He pulled the fuse open, and after smoke started to emanate, he forcefully tossed it forward.
The Joy Stick drew a beautiful parabolic arc through the air, then precisely fell into a cover.
A moment later.
"Boom!"
A loud explosion was heard.
The explosive within the Joy Stick unleashed intense thermal and mechanical energy in a brief moment, blasting the stone-built cover into pieces.
After half a minute, the smoke cleared, revealing a large crater on the ground, with stones weighing about fifty kilograms pushed three to four meters away, and the front area full of cracks.
Seeing this, Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief, grateful he hadn't made a mistake.
Meanwhile, Ma Ning asked Yang Bolin:
"Shopkeeper Yang, how's the power?"
Yang Bolin pondered for a moment, then carefully said:
"In terms of power, this Joy Stick isn't much different from a regular Tier One Detonator Talisman, but it doesn't require spiritual energy to guide it, which is quite convenient."
Yang Bolin's words were polite, but a trace of disappointment flickered in his heart.
In his imagination, the Joy Stick, launched by the rabbits using various methods, should have had power close to a Tier Two Detonator Talisman.
Only with a higher tier would its profit margin be larger.
As for a Tier One Detonator Talisman... the profit is basically fixed and can't be compressed much further.
In the Damo Realm, Tier One Detonator Talismans are highly produced annually, making them a very common talisman.
It only requires the Fifth-Layer Qi Cultivation to possibly succeed in crafting a Tier One Detonator Talisman, which is much easier than crafting Body Protection or Swift Movement Talismans.
The usage requirements are even lower, needing just above Second-Layer Qi Cultivation.
Due to the differences in cultivators' levels, the price of a Tier One Detonator Talisman generally fluctuates between 2-4 Spirit Stones.
The Joy Stick shown by Ma Ning and others has power approximately equivalent to a Tier One Detonator Talisman priced at three Spirit Stones.
Given that it can also be used by mortals, the cost of a Joy Stick would never be that low.
If wholesaled by volume, one Joy Stick might cost about 2.2-2.4 Spirit Stones.
After all, as a professional shopkeeper, he possesses this judgment.
Thus, overall, the Joy Stick does have profit, and its market is expected to be good since mortals can use it as well.
However, its cost-effectiveness falls far short of market dominance, and its annual sales are unlikely to reach a scale that would shock Yang Bolin.
After all, a regular Tier One Detonator Talisman priced at three Spirit Stones costs about 2.6 Spirit Stones each at wholesale, including transportation and labor costs, so there wouldn't be much of a gap.
Therefore, compared to this Joy Stick, Yang Bolin is even more interested in coats.
But just as he was pondering how to respond to Ma Ning, he saw Ma Ning happily asking him:
"Shopkeeper Yang, if this Joy Stick is priced at one Spirit Stone each, would you be interested in stocking some?"
Hearing Ma Ning's words, Yang Bolin suddenly froze.
After a few seconds.
This high-ranking Chief Shopkeeper of the Purple Treasure Pavilion, a Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer cultivator, comically dug his ear, blinked, and looked at Ma Ning:
"Shopkeeper Ma, how much did you just say?"
Ma Ning smiled, picked up a Joy Stick, and waved it in front of Yang Bolin as if teasing a puppy:
"A Joy Stick."
Then he held up one finger:
"1 Spirit Stone."
Seeing Yang Bolin's expression change dramatically, it seemed as if two ears were wagging on top of Ma Ning's head:
"Dear, there's a discount for bulk purchases too~"
...
Note:
Xinhua News reported that Elder Yuan passed away today at 13:07.
At the same time that Elder Yuan passed away, liver and gallbladder authority Wu Mengchao also passed on...
This statement is intended to reach more readers, so I won't post it in the author's notes.
Back when I wrote chapter 65, wasn't there a mention of ground pulse fire and gtp technology? It involved issues related to biology and medicine, and at the time, I consulted many friends on the matter. For biology, I consulted a friend from Zhejiang University, and for gtp, I consulted a surgeon from Xiangya Hospital. During our chats, I heard about Elder Yuan's health problems.
At that time, Elder Yuan was already showing signs of fatigue, which led to Chapter 65.
That's also why I abruptly wrote about the Ten-Year Life Extension Pill and specifically gave it to Elder Yuan, because such an item shouldn't have prioritized Elder Yuan as much. Many didn't understand why back then, but now you understand, right?
But I genuinely hope everyone never has to understand it...
The older we grow, the fewer great figures of our elementary school textbooks remain...
Lastly, let me leave you with a saying:
Perhaps we can't resist the tide, but we should always remember the lighthouse.
Unparalleled, Elder Yuan is eternal.
If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.