On the blade were carved the two characters "Xuan Huang," written in an elegant, flowing script that exuded a majestic aura.Anyone who looked at it could sense a vast and profound energy.
One side bore the name Tianxie (Scorpio), and the other side displayed the characters Xuan Huang.Tianxie was clearly the name of the warblade—but the meaning of Xuan Huang was more obscure.Some speculated that it was the mark of the weapon's forger; others thought it might mean something else entirely.
"These 'Xuan Huang' characters appear on the Eternal Coins too—one side says 'Eternal,' the other says 'Xuan Huang.' The calligraphy is identical in both cases. Could there be a deeper connection here?"Someone had noticed the uncanny match between the inscription on the Tianxie warblade and that on the Eternal Coins, and a theory began to form in their mind.
Whispers spread among the crowd.
Yi Tianxing heard the talk, a flicker of intrigue passing through his eyes. Then, with a calm smile, he addressed them:
"Everything I've brought here—including these Eternal Coins—didn't just appear out of thin air.They all come from Xuanhuang City. The Eternal Coin is the official currency of Xuanhuang City, minted and distributed there.These goods—this warblade, these weapons, arrows, ceramics, clothes—all originate from Xuanhuang City."
His tone was measured and confident.
"Xuanhuang City? What kind of place is that? I've never heard of a city like that in the Golden Sand Desert. The only notable place I know of is the ancient city in the Camelback Oasis, ruled by the Queen of Jingjue. Never heard of this Xuanhuang City," someone said with doubt.
"Yeah, me neither. I'm certain this is the first I've ever heard of it."
"But just look at these goods—the quality, the quantity! Not even the ancient Jingjue City could produce such fine weapons, not to mention the ceramics and garments. This is the true legacy of our Yanhuang ancestors!"
"To make such an abundance of products, Xuanhuang City must be incredibly strong—and prosperous too! It must be no less glorious than the peaceful eras of the past. What a dream it would be to live there!"
As soon as people realized all these goods came from Xuanhuang City, their expressions changed.
They were stunned—and instinctively felt a strong desire.
No one here was a fool.Having lived through the apocalyptic chaos for a year or two, enduring disaster after disaster and building new settlements, they knew how to compare.Villages and towns had sprung up everywhere, but not a single one could provide supplies like these. That spoke of deep foundations.
While the Golden Sand Desert still relied on crystal coins, Xuanhuang City had already minted its beautiful Eternal Coins.While most folks here were still in rags, the citizens of Xuanhuang City wore luxurious Mist Brocade, far finer than what aristocrats once wore.
The contrast was staggering—like a paradise compared to the ruins.
How could they not yearn for such a place?
"Boss Yi, may I ask—where exactly is this Xuanhuang City? Why have we never heard of it before?"
Someone finally voiced the question on everyone's mind.
Yi Tianxing smiled faintly.
"Xuanhuang City is not in the Golden Sand Desert.It lies far beyond it, in a distant region blessed with mountains, rivers, and forests.There, tens of millions of humans live in peace, with an unbroken territory stretching thousands of miles.The people are safe and happy, and even fierce beasts and foreign races dare not invade."
"Not in the desert? Then… how did you come here? And how did you bring all this with you? Is there a way to travel between the two places?"
Some looked utterly shocked, and suspicion brewed in their hearts.
Could it really be possible to travel between the desert and Xuanhuang City?
Yi Tianxing gave no answer—only smiled mysteriously.
Some things didn't need to be said. The clever would figure it out.
The conversation ended there.
Then, the crowd surged forward, eagerly buying all kinds of goods:
Rune Arrows: 5 for 1 Eternal Coin
Bone Arrows: 1 for 2 Eternal Coins
Moonwell Water: 1 portion for 3 Eternal Coins
Tianxie Warblade: 100 Eternal Coins
Bone Spear: 60 Eternal Coins
…
The dazzling array overwhelmed the local folk.In all their lives, they had never seen such bounty—each item could mean the difference between life and death in this apocalypse.
Of course, there was also food.
Miscellaneous Spirit Rice: 100 catties for 1 Eternal Coin
Ordinary Arrows: 100 for 1 Eternal Coin
Ordinary Weapons: 1 for 1 Eternal Coin
Cotton Quilt: 1 for 1 Eternal Coin
Tiangang Pill : 1 for 100 Eternal Coins
Skeleton Bow: 1 for 100 Eternal Coins
Bone Sword: 1 for 80 Eternal Coins
Bone Blade: 1 for 80 Eternal Coins
Tier 1 Beast Meat: 10 catties for 1 Eternal Coin
Tier 2 Beast Meat: 1 catty for 1 Eternal Coin
Yi Tianxing even erected a large signboard with fixed prices, establishing the official price index for Xuanhuang City's goods.Though subject to change over time, this was the baseline for now.
"Grain! They're selling food! One Eternal Coin gets you 100 catties! That's enough to feed someone for a whole month!""Tiangang Pill… is that a pill for cultivation? A hundred coins per pill? Never heard of it before… wait, it says here this Tiangang Pill has no pill toxins, a true pure elixir! It's a genuine spirit pill!""They even sell beast meat! I haven't tasted meat in ages!"
The prices and goods stunned everyone.
Then someone noticed something else:
"Look! Cultivation techniques! They're actually selling cultivation methods!There's Greenwood Codex, Longevity Art, Blackwater Scripture, Stonewall Technique—all foundation methods for the Divine Sea Realm!"
"That's amazing! If we can buy these, we can become cultivators too! We'll finally have the power to fight beasts and kill enemies ourselves!"
Techniques—this word alone meant power. It meant hope.
Yes, there were cultivation methods in the Golden Sand Desert.Many practiced them, especially the soldiers of General's Valley, where military methods like the Tiger-Wolf Blood Fiend Technique were common.That method supposedly gave users the strength of tigers and wolves, perfect for brutal combat.
Most soldiers there were cultivators.
But for the average civilian, these methods were out of reach.No one would share them casually—power was power. Sharing it meant creating future threats.
Selfishness is part of human nature.
But now Yi Tianxing was openly selling techniques.Countless hopefuls immediately lit up—finally, a chance to pursue strength.
On the price list:
Divine Sea Realm Techniques:
Low-grade: 100 Eternal Coins
Mid-grade: 500–1000
High-grade: 1000–10,000
Top-grade: 10,000–100,000
Note: Buyers must swear a Heart Demon Oath before cultivating.Once the technique is acquired, it will disappear—it cannot be passed on.
"Expensive… but worth it! These are the keys to ascending the path to power!"
Many rushed to buy the technique they liked, despite the price.
Then…
"Boss… will you take these seeds?"
As the crowd buzzed, a ragged little child timidly stepped forward and held out his hand to Yi Tianxing.In his palm were some flat, reddish-brown seeds—like small beans—with a smooth surface and a strange, sweet fragrance.
"What are those? Beans?"Song Yuting sniffed them curiously.
The child looked up and said firmly:
"I found them on a tree in the mountains. The tree grows big fruit. Inside are these beans.They smell good and taste good—and fill you up. One tree grows a lot. These seeds can grow new trees."
Yi Tianxing's eyes lit up.
He had recognized them at once.
"These are... cocoa beans."
A valuable find.
The cocoa tree is an evergreen species.Its large, smooth leaves start red and turn green when mature.Its fruit contains numerous cocoa beans, rich in nutrients, high in protein, and a potent energy source.
Many might not know cocoa beans, but surely…
Everyone knows chocolate.And chocolate is made from cocoa.