Chapter 77: The Marvelous Ambergris!

After seeing the game notification, Chu Lin immediately entered the Atlantis map and found the objects that had appeared among the animals. They were blocks of a white, candle-like substance. Curious, he strode forward and picked one up. It was remarkably light, and a faint, distinctive fragrance wafted from it.

At the same time, he read the description:

[Atlantis Ambergris: Quality 1]

[Ambergris is formed when a sperm whale consumes certain animals that it cannot fully digest. The indigestible remains accumulate in the whale’s body, eventually forming stones. These stones irritate the whale’s intestines, prompting the secretion of a fragrant, oily, and waxy substance that envelops them. Over time, through the action of digestive acids, microbial decomposition, and other organic processes, these masses slowly turn into ambergris! When the sperm whale dies and decomposes, the ambergris enters the sea. Initially jet black, it gradually turns light gray as impurities are washed away by the ocean. After centuries of natural refinement, oxidation, and saponification, it becomes a pure white of the highest quality.]

[Special Effects: Alluring Fragrance +1, Relieves Stress +1, Calms the Mind +1]

After reading the explanation, Chu Lin was genuinely astonished.

So this was ambergris. In ancient times, only royalty and nobility could afford the finest ambergris; it was one of the three essential fragrances for an emperor’s bedchamber. The annotation also explained why ambergris taken directly from hunted sperm whales was worthless, while naturally found ambergris was worth a fortune.

That’s why so many people online claim that ambergris is a scam, boasting they have tons of it that no one wants. The reason is clear: without the passage of time and the slow purifying effects of nature—elimination of impurities, oxidation, saponification—ambergris has no value.

Furthermore, the misconception persists that ambergris is simply whale excrement. The detailed note made it clear that true ambergris is not. After all, excrement could hardly possess attributes like Alluring Fragrance +2, Relieves Stress +1, or Calms the Mind +1.

What Chu Lin didn’t know was how much the system-generated Atlantis Ambergris was actually worth.

He had never used ambergris before. It was reserved for ancient royalty and, even today, for the ultra-wealthy. It was said to be traded by the gram, more expensive than gold itself—far beyond anything he could have afforded before.

Curious, he exited the game and searched online. He discovered that ambergris prices varied wildly, from 200 to over 3,000 per gram. The finest ambergris on the market fetched up to 3,000 per gram and was reputed to have stress-relieving effects, though it was extremely rare.

Some specialized ocean exploration teams spent years scouring the sea for such treasures. Whenever such high-quality ambergris was recovered, it sparked a frenzy among collectors.

There was even a legendary grade of ambergris, fetching up to 5,000 per gram, whose scent and effects surpassed the ordinary finest grade—superior fragrance and even more potent calming properties.

But this level of ambergris was never found on the open market, reserved only for the world’s wealthiest elite. Like tea from the original Da Hong Pao mother trees, it was a symbol of status, connections, and influence. Possessing even a small piece was cause for boasting among the highest echelons.

Since this grade was not available to ordinary buyers, Chu Lin couldn’t make a direct comparison. But in terms of color alone, his Atlantis Ambergris was at least comparable to the finest on the market. With its special attributes—Alluring Fragrance +1, Relieves Stress +1, Calms the Mind +1—his ambergris could surely rival the rarest kind.

Therefore, a value of 5,000 per gram for Atlantis Ambergris seemed reasonable.

Excited, Chu Lin re-entered the game, collected all the pieces of ambergris that had spawned, and piled them up. Although the quantity seemed ample, the actual weight was not that great—ambergris is light, which is why it floats and is found at sea.

Having gathered every piece, Chu Lin exited the game and returned with a small digital scale. He weighed the ambergris in-game, and the total came to twelve jin.

He did the math: one jin is 500 grams, so twelve jin equals 6,000 grams. At 5,000 per gram, that totaled 30 million.

Chu Lin could only marvel at its value. He’d had the game system for nearly two months, and his bank balance had only just exceeded ten million. Now, with this ambergris, he was holding something worth thirty million. Why couldn’t the system spawn this every day? Instead, it appeared only by rare chance, swept in by unpredictable currents.

Of course, value was one thing—finding a buyer was another. This wasn’t something the average rich person could afford. Even the chairman of a company valued at ten billion couldn’t easily produce thirty million for a batch of ambergris.

Some might argue that someone with a ten-billion business could sell a few shares for millions, but cashing out shares is another story. The moment a chairman sells shares, the company’s value might plummet from ten billion to five billion. This happens in reality.

There was another example—a so-called heir with assets worth 6.5 billion (mostly through investments and equity) owed the bank 150 million but could only repay 40 million, and was then blacklisted and restricted from high-end consumption.

So for Chu Lin to sell the ambergris, he’d need access to the right circles, which he didn’t have. Posting it online would only bring ridicule—people claiming he’d found “whale droppings,” or boasting they had tons to sell at five per gram.

Some would suggest contacting the top tycoons in Min City, but that was easier said than done. These people required appointments, and Chu Lin’s status wasn’t even enough to secure a meeting, let alone a sale. Moreover, not every wealthy individual collected ambergris.

After much thought, he realized he’d have to rely on Huang Bin. Huang Bin himself didn’t have such influence, but the company he worked for was a broker, and that might be the key. Conveniently, Huang Bin was coming by the next day—Chu Lin would discuss the matter then.

For now, he was curious to experience the ambergris for himself. He took a small piece out of the game. This was a quality that even the richest could scarcely obtain.

Back in his bedroom, he gathered his tools, broke off a fragment of ambergris, and began to grind it. He couldn’t produce a fine powder, but for a mere trial, it was enough.

Once it was ready, he ignited it, and wisps of fragrant smoke curled into the air.

If any master perfumer had witnessed this, they’d have been beside themselves—what a waste! Who would treat such a rare treasure so roughly and extravagantly? When crafting the finest incense, special herbs and woods are always added, and even then, the wealthy might only burn half a gram at a time.

How much more was in this small chunk?

Yet, in just a short while, a sublime and delicate fragrance filled the bedroom.

Inhaling the scent, Chu Lin’s face quickly revealed astonishment. He finally understood why ambergris commanded such a price per gram. It wasn’t just the wonderful aroma—within the fragrance, he gradually sensed a clarity of mind, his fatigue melting away, his body feeling light and free.

This, he surmised, must be the effect of Relieves Stress +1 and Calms the Mind +1.

The sensation was nothing short of miraculous.