Chapter 0395: Return of the Wandering Bird
"Yōuyōu!!"
The cry was faint at first, barely distinguishable in the distance. But as the source drew closer, the sound became clearer and more distinct. It was unmistakable.
A bird. A massive bird—unfathomably enormous. When it spread its wings, it spanned four to five li across. Its broad back created a silhouette so vast it looked like a drifting blue cloud in the sky. That cry—it came from this bird. Strange, almost human-like in pronunciation, it echoed like the word "yōu."
"Yōuyōu."
The bird's blue feathers radiated a pure and natural aura. Merely gazing at it evoked a sense of closeness and warmth, making it hard to harbor hostility. Most unusual of all was its head—like the face of a baby. Covered in fine down, it bore a striking resemblance to a child, innocent and full of wonder.
It looked like a wandering soul of the skies, drifting far from home.
"A Wandering Bird. A traveling merchant," Yi Tianxing said, a gleam of recognition flashing through his eyes. He would never forget this bird. Its call, its shape, its size, and even the aura it exuded—it was unmistakably a Wandering Bird (远游鸟), a sacred creature of the heavens that symbolized peace and goodwill.
A messenger of peace.
He had encountered a traveling merchant before—Jia Chengxin—from whom he had acquired the Universal Printer. Without that miraculous tool, the rise of Xuanhuang Town would have been many times harder, if not impossible. It had provided a steady supply of war materials and resources essential to building a thriving human settlement.
"This one's even bigger than the last. Judging by the direction it came from, I'd wager it isn't the same merchant, Jia Chengxin," said Huang Chengyan, his eyes filled with anticipation. He, too, had seen a Wandering Bird before.
Merchants who rode these birds always brought rare and wondrous items—no one ever knew what kind of treasures they might carry. Meeting one was always a stroke of luck.
"Yōuyōu!!"
The Wandering Bird glided through the void, spotting Xuanhuang Town and seemingly drawn to its vibrant atmosphere. With a flap of its wings, it began its descent.
Its wingspan was so enormous that even the Golden Roc or Wind Drake King paled in comparison.
Despite its size, it descended gently, without stirring the wind, landing with incredible grace.
Its wings drooped low, brushing against the ground like two blue staircases, inviting travelers to climb upon its back.
Upon its back stood a towering four-story pavilion, majestic and harmonious, seamlessly integrated with the bird's body. It seemed not of this world—untouched by axe or chisel, a creation of heaven itself.
Creak!
With a crisp sound, the grand door of the pavilion slowly opened. Before anyone appeared, a cheerful voice rang out.
"A traveler roams the four corners; every land is home."
"My dear friends and fellow villagers, this wanderer from afar humbly seeks your hospitality. I beg your forgiveness for any disturbance."
A figure emerged from within the pavilion.
He was… chubby.
"Not Jia Chengxin," Yi Tianxing noted immediately. Even before seeing the face, he knew this was a different merchant.
The figure was a plump man with a rather small head—a small-headed fat man. The contrast was unforgettable. Despite his odd appearance, there was something endearing about him. His laughter evoked a sense of intimacy, not aversion.
"I am a traveling merchant—Zhen Youde. I've recently acquired a batch of fresh goods and wares. If any of you friends are interested, feel free to come take a look. Prices are fair, and I never cheat. Wherever I go, I'm known as a man of integrity."
—Zhen Youde
Though he didn't raise his voice, it carried across the entire town with clarity.
"To have such a distinguished guest from afar is an honor for Xuanhuang Town. I am Yi Tianxing, the town's governor."
—Yi Tianxing
He stood atop the city walls, his tone calm and composed, showing no sign of awe despite the bird's grandeur.
"I am but a merchant. I came because I saw a prosperous human settlement below. In this entire region, there's no town as flourishing as this. Friend Yi, your achievements are impressive. To have come this far in such a short time—truly admirable."
—Zhen Youde
Though his tone gave little away, the genuine awe was clear.
Indeed, for a town to rise so quickly—and survive what was evidently a brutal war—was no small feat. Even from the sky, the lingering bloodstains and aura of battle were still visible.
This kind of strength deserved respect.
Still, Zhen Youde didn't care for conflict. He was a merchant—he came to trade, to sell, to acquire goods. He would not involve himself in any war or vendetta. Such was the code of the Wandering Merchants.
Any merchant who broke this code would lose their identity—and the Wandering Bird would never again carry them.
"Since a traveling merchant has arrived, we naturally must see what treasures you've brought this time."
—Yi Tianxing
His anticipation was genuine. After all, he had once obtained the Universal Printer from a merchant—who knew what wonders might appear this time?
Without hesitation, he stepped off the city wall—walking in mid-air without the aid of steps or platforms. Each step seemed weightless and divine, a sign of his recent breakthrough.
"Walking through the void—this is a hallmark of the Life Aperture Realm. Friend Yi, congratulations. Very few across the Eternal Continent have reached this realm so soon. Every one of them is a proud genius of their race."
—Zhen Youde
As a well-traveled man, Zhen Youde had seen many cultivators. Those who could break through at such a time were all extraordinary.
Huang Chengyan and the others followed, using Wind Talisman scrolls to descend. Together, they walked up the bird's wings and onto its back, arriving at the pavilion.
"Please, come inside."
—Zhen Youde
With a beaming smile, he gestured them in.
This pavilion was a shop, filled with shelves and transparent display cases, showcasing a dazzling variety of goods. Compared to Jia Chengxin's shop, the quantity and quality were both clearly superior.
This was likely due to the passage of time and new acquisitions.
Thanks to the Wandering Bird, these merchants had a clear edge in gathering treasures. What was worthless in one land might be a rare treasure in another.
"So many treasures. As expected of a Wandering Merchant. I wonder if Friend Zhen has any Confucian cultivation techniques or divine arts?"
—Huang Chengyan
Confucian techniques were notoriously rare. He hadn't dared hope, but asked nonetheless.
"Ah, this friend practices Confucianism. Judging by your aura, your realm is also quite advanced. Confucian techniques are indeed rare... but I happen to have a Life Aperture divine art—would you like to take a look?"
—Zhen Youde
This was surprising. Huang Chengyan's eyes widened slightly.
"Here—this is 'Words Shape Reality' (出口成章), a powerful Confucian Life Aperture divine art. It uses your righteous energy to give form to your words—every utterance becomes a manifestation of truth. With enough cultivation, a single phrase becomes a divine decree, capable of suppressing all under heaven."
—Zhen Youde
In his hand appeared a jade scroll, clearly authentic and ancient—likely from the earliest days of the Eternal Continent.
Words Shape Reality was indeed a true Confucian divine art. However, uttering a single word or two held little power. Only fully-formed sentences, passages, or texts could tap into the force of Heavenly Mandates.
The power of this technique was tied not only to the speaker's cultivation but also to their understanding of the text's meaning.
If one recited sacred words from a sage or scripture, their power would be multiplied, echoing the laws of the universe and representing truth itself.
However, this was no easy divine art. To wield it effectively, one needed a profound comprehension of the essence behind the words—of their truth.