Chapter 0479 – Booming Frenzy

There's nothing that excites a drunkard more than discovering exceptional liquor—it's an irresistible temptation.

"There's actually such fine liquor for sale? I'm definitely heading to Ice City! This barter fair is far more interesting than I imagined. Even if it's for nothing else, I must go for the wine alone." One drunkard swallowed hard and exclaimed loudly, his face showing an eagerness that could no longer be contained.

"Count me in, count me in!!"

"Let's go! Bring the treasures—we're heading over. I heard that only Eternal Coins are accepted in Ice City's market. Nothing else counts. You must exchange treasures for Eternal Coins before you can buy anything. If you're broke, don't even think about getting a sip of plain water."

Many cultivators with a clear fondness for alcohol didn't hesitate at all. Without delay, they set off together from Rock City toward Ice City to join the barter fair. If nothing else, they had to get their hands on that liquor and see the fair with their own eyes.

"Look at this fabric—it's not ordinary at all. It's a premium textile woven by the human race, even more valuable than silk. It's incredibly soft and comfortable. They say this cloud brocade can even be crafted into magical garments or robes. It's an amazing item—I've never seen anything like it. I not only bought the fabric, I got clothes made with it. I'm going to try them on right away. They must look stunning."

A female from the Foxkin tribe held a roll of mist brocade close, caressing it with affection, enchanted by its silky texture.

Such exquisite fabric—no woman could resist. The love for beauty doesn't change with race; it's intrinsic to gender, unalterable.

Many non-human women in Rock City saw this, and their eyes lit up with envy. Desire bloomed instantly in their hearts.

Women love beauty—and competition.

What others have, they must have too.

This is the nature of most women. Regardless of era, the instinct to compare and compete never changes.

Soon, large groups of non-human female cultivators gathered and began heading en masse toward Ice City. The beautiful items at the market were simply irresistible to them.

"What exquisite weapons! This warblade is incredibly sharp and emits a chilling aura. Is this forged by the humans? And it's not just one—they're selling in bulk. If we could equip our tribe with these, our strength would rise tremendously!"

"Warblades, spears, even warbows—all up for sale. Is Xuanhuang City really this powerful? I have to see it for myself. If nothing else, I need to get my hands on these weapons and talismans. They'd be immensely helpful in resisting the insect tide."

These sights sparked all kinds of thoughts among the other races in Rock City.

Seeing the Foxkin purchasing weapons and talismans—even siege crossbows—others couldn't help but feel unsettled. If no one had them, that'd be one thing. But now some did, while they themselves had nothing—that disparity in strength couldn't be ignored.

If others have them, I must have them too. That's non-negotiable.

This rule applied to all races alike.

One after another, they made up their minds—they had to visit the market and see for themselves whether it truly lived up to the hype, and whether they could secure such valuable goods.

In just a few short hours…

Large numbers of non-humans left Rock City and entered Ice City. Once inside, they were completely captivated by the sheer variety of goods. They brought out their rare and exotic treasures and unhesitatingly exchanged them for Eternal Coins. Even without buying the goods, many were willing to trade just for the coins themselves.

Needless to say, Yi Tianxing's plan was a total success.

Even if nothing else came from it, the barter fair alone had firmly established humanity among the ranks of the major races. They held human-made porcelain in their hands, drank human-brewed wine, and ate human-cooked food. It was almost impossible not to know who the humans were now.

"These non-humans really do have countless treasures, but they don't even know how to use them. What a waste. Who would've thought I'd get a Seven-Aperture Exquisite Lotus here? I searched far and wide for it, only to stumble upon it with no effort at all."

Standing atop the city wall, Yi Tianxing watched the endless stream of non-humans coming and going. In his hand was a delicate, beautiful lotus. It wasn't just any lotus—this was the rare treasure he had been searching for all along.

The most valuable part of the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Lotus wasn't the flower, seedpod, or seeds—it was the lotus root.

Its root was shaped like a miniature human, with seven natural openings. Mysterious and wondrous, it held miraculous properties. Legend says the lotus can repair the seven orifices of the body, mend injuries and defects, and even allow one to forge a second body or resurrect the dead. In the hands of a master, this was a priceless artifact.

Yet the non-human cultivator who brought it didn't recognize its value. He only saw it as a spiritual herb, completely unaware of its true power. He traded it away for Eternal Coins at a dirt-cheap price—cheerfully, no less—utterly clueless that he had just given away a rare treasure. If he ever found out, he'd be crying too late.

Such cases were common at the barter fair.

Many rare treasures changed hands easily, because their owners didn't recognize their value—sometimes not even their names. These were traded off in exchange for Eternal Coins, leaving their former owners happy, yet deeply ignorant of what they had lost.

Unknowingly, Yi Tianxing had gained a new trove of rare treasures.

"Congratulations, my lord, on acquiring such a rare item," said Jia Xu with a smile as he stood nearby. "But isn't it a bit risky to sell weapons and crossbows to the non-humans?"

A trace of concern appeared on his face. These weren't ordinary goods—they were the weapons, armor, and war gear used by the human military. If turned against the humans, they could become a deadly threat. If these tools were ever used on their creators, it'd be a tragic joke.

"No need to worry," Yi Tianxing replied calmly, with a slight smile. "True, we're selling warblades and even Divine Crossbows, but the key lies in the bolts. Without powerful bolts, these crossbows can't unleash their true destructive power. Only special bolts can fully activate their potential. Without them, the Divine Crossbows are just for show. Besides, the ones we sell to non-humans are different from our own. If they try to use them against us, they'll only be courting death."

Of course, Yi Tianxing had thought all of this through. Arms dealing is no small matter—without thorough precautions, what's sold today could become tomorrow's lethal threat.

He would never sell to outsiders so carelessly.

Moreover, buying a Divine Crossbow meant a constant need for bolts—an ongoing transaction, highly profitable. Extracting wealth from the non-humans while maintaining leverage—why not?

Jia Xu nodded, assured by Yi Tianxing's confidence. "Since you've already prepared, that puts me at ease. What's your take on the non-humans? If the insect tide really arrives, can they hold their ground?"

"Despite their arrogance, the non-humans shouldn't be underestimated. Each race has its own strengths. The Foxkin, for example, are incredibly cunning and perceptive. The ogres are fearless in battle. Among beastkin, many tribes possess formidable combat power. Combined with the weapons they've bought from us, their strength will increase even further. When the insect tide comes, they should be able to contribute significantly."

Yi Tianxing took a deep breath. Though he held little affection for most non-humans, he couldn't deny their strength.

"The insect tide will likely be terrifying," Jia Xu said solemnly. "When I scouted the surrounding areas with Ye Zhiqiu, we found that everything was dead—no signs of life, not even ants underground. Wherever the tide passes, it leaves nothing alive. Complete devastation. We'll only know the full picture when it arrives. However, I've located a natural reservoir nearby."

"I've stationed a group of soldiers at the dam," he continued. "If things go south, we'll break it open. Flooding the insect horde could cause massive casualties. Water and fire are the most destructive forces. That flood could be devastating."

This was the battlefield, and he had factored in everything—terrain, contingencies, opportunities. Such was the strategist's instinct: to use everything possible to gain the upper hand and seize victory.

That was the core objective.

"You truly live up to your title of strategist," Yi Tianxing nodded with praise. "This gives us a fallback plan. We might not need it—but it's good to have another trump card."

"The barbarians seem to want to stay in Ice City," Jia Xu said thoughtfully. "Can we trust them? If not, we might be able to use them as part of a trap when the time comes."

As he spoke, a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.

This was the legendary poison strategist, a master of dark schemes. In the historical annals, he ranked among the best. He was no benevolent figure. If he chose to plot, his enemies often died without even knowing how.

If he truly turned his schemes against the barbarians, they might end up dead—and still be smiling as they handed him their money.