To fish, you need bait. Even Jiang Taigong, who fished with a straight hook, still used bait. Without it, how would fish ever bite? That wouldn't be fishing—that'd be creating something out of nothing.
"Oh? May I ask what kind of bait Fellow Daoist Yi is using?"
Jiang Ni looked meaningfully at Yi Tianxing, his raspy voice carrying a trace of curiosity.
"The bait, naturally, is something that everyone would be interested in. Otherwise, how could I catch the big fish?" Yi Tianxing replied calmly.
"You possess items that can attract the interest of the common people? Could it be all kinds of supplies? You're no ordinary person, that much is clear." Jiang Ni's pupils narrowed slightly as he spoke quickly.
"Impressive, Fellow Daoist Jiang. You understood immediately."Yi Tianxing smiled and nodded.
"Quite the tactic. But what exactly is your goal here? From what I've seen and sensed, your fortune—it's not your own personal fortune, but rather a karmic tide formed from the gathered will of living beings. That's a kind of virtue-based luck, the kind only the leader of a power or force can generate. And this luck—it comes from far away, not from this region, but from the void itself. Continuous, unbroken, hard to sever."
Jiang Ni narrowed his eyes and added, "You're from afar. The power you built is also not nearby. Your act of winning people over here—do you have a way to take them out of the Golden Sand Desert, back to your domain? Is it through space gates, or something else?"
His expression revealed a hint of certainty, a confidence that was compelling and infectious.
"Truly admirable, Fellow Daoist Jiang. As expected of a rare feng shui master, your eyes see through the mundane and reach into the profound." Yi Tianxing chuckled without giving a direct answer.
Of course, some things don't need to be said aloud. The answer can be seen between the lines.
"Let's go, Ghost. You'll be the one pushing the cart. From today, we are merchants!"
Yi Tianxing smiled as he spoke to Wushuang Ghost. With a wave of his hand, a pushcart appeared before him. On top of it, large wooden crates began to materialize one after another, stacked into a towering pile that filled the cart to capacity—clearly, this wasn't a small shipment.
"Understood, my lord,"Wushuang Ghost grinned, stepping forward to grab the cart and push it effortlessly despite the massive load.
"Let's go together."
Yi Tianxing followed behind the cart, heading toward General's City.
Jiang Ni and Song Yuting exchanged glances, then followed without hesitation.
A massive cart, loaded with mountains of goods, pushed by a brawny figure like Wushuang Ghost—such a spectacle immediately caught everyone's attention. As they neared General's City, a crowd of townsfolk had already spotted them. Curious whispers rose up all around.
"More newcomers? What's that—someone pushing a cart? Those are crates, and they look heavy too."
"Could they be merchants? But this is the Golden Sand Desert—full of beasts and monsters. The villages and towns here face constant attacks and could fall at any time. Even if there were merchants, they wouldn't dare travel far, and those that do never bring much with them. Usually just basic stuff."
"Ah, if only a big merchant really did come… We have beast materials from our hunts, ice stones from Cold Ice Lake, blood-red ore from our mines, and all kinds of herbs grown on Medicine Mountain. But there's no one to trade with. No major merchant ever comes, and we can't get good goods—not even basic supplies."
The sight of the cart filled many people's eyes with hope.
Bang!
Wushuang Ghost parked the cart right in front of General's City.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
He pulled out a copper gong from somewhere and struck it forcefully, drawing everyone's eyes to him.
"Citizens of General's City! I am Yi Tianxing, a traveling merchant. I have come to your fine city with goods and supplies, hoping we can engage in mutual exchange. I bring all kinds of materials and daily necessities. Whether you plan to buy or not, come have a look—you might just find something you need. I only accept Eternal Coins for trade. If you wish to barter, you may first exchange goods for Eternal Coins and then purchase. Rest assured—fair prices, honest trade, no deception."
Yi Tianxing clasped his hands and smiled to the crowd as he spoke.
With that, he had Wushuang Ghost unload the crates and set up a large open market stall in a nearby clearing.
One crate after another opened, revealing all manner of supplies.
In no time, the stall was packed with a stunning variety of items:
Crossbow bolts, White Bone War Arrows, White Bone War Bows, Divine Crossbows, and even Ballistas
A wide range of talisman scrolls
Bottled elixirs and medicinal pills
Luxurious mist silk and cloud brocade fabrics
Exquisite bone porcelain bowls and dishes
Cooking ware and everyday utensils
Salt, spices, and fully made clothing for both men and women
Shoes, and many more essentials
Then, with another wave of his hand, a massive pile of Eternal Coins appeared beside the stall. Golden and glowing with divine brilliance, the coins emitted a radiant golden aura that stunned all who saw them. The sheer aura of wealth was almost tangible.
The entire transaction still used Eternal Coins as currency. Even though this added an extra exchange step for those without coins, it was a necessary step for true trade circulation.
Barter was a primitive form of trade. True economy required currency, and Eternal Coins were the key to gathering destiny energy, collecting willingness from people, and elevating Eternal Coins into the mainstream currency of all races. This moment was crucial in expanding the coin's influence in the Golden Sand Desert.
"This is the Eternal Coin. Be it the corpse of a beast or a rare treasure, you can exchange them here for a fair value in Eternal Coins. Once refined, Eternal Coins can boost your cultivation and accelerate your training, all without any impurities or pill poison. It is an excellent currency. Whether you accept it or not—these goods only trade in Eternal Coins."
Yi Tianxing emphasized again.
By now, a large crowd had gathered, peering excitedly at the displayed goods.
From weapons of war to daily necessities, from clothes to fine items—there was everything. Most of these people had never seen such things before.
Some were itching to snatch everything and hoard it for themselves.
One man picked up a bone porcelain bowl, examining the fine, snow-white surface and lifelike peony pattern.
"What kind of porcelain is this? White as jade, thin as paper, hard as iron, with a beautiful chime when tapped. Such delicate craftsmanship—I've seen Ru ware, I've seen Jun ware, and none of them compare to this. It's perfect!"
Clearly, he had been someone of status before, knowledgeable in fine ceramics.
Nearby, another man stood before jars of wine, one of which had been opened to release its intoxicating aroma.
"This… is wine? Hero's Blood? I've never heard of such a brew. But the smell—so rich and strong. It's clearly a spirit, and I even sense a trace of spiritual energy in it."
In the apocalypse, it had been a long time since any of them had tasted real wine. Grain was too precious—there was never any left to brew alcohol.
But wine connoisseurs could tell quality just by smell. This brew, from scent alone, was clearly something special.
Elsewhere, someone examined the clothing.
"These are ready-made clothes? Look at this fabric—it's more refined than the best Shu brocade I've ever worn. So smooth. Unbelievable. I don't even remember the last time I wore something new."
The crowd swelled to surround the entire stall, layer after layer.
"Everyone stay calm. And don't even think about stealing. Anyone who tries will face the wrath of my flying chakram,"
Wushuang Ghost stood tall, flexing his rippling muscles. The explosive power radiating from him made even the boldest think twice.
No one doubted he was a force to be reckoned with.
Still, the burning hunger in their eyes as they looked at the goods had not faded.