Processing Feather Robe, Eating a Meal

Times change, and the Heavenly Dao cycles through.

In the last ancient epoch, the Dragon Clan and Phoenix Clan were peerlessly powerful, the overlords of the Primordial Era, almost invincible.

But unfortunately, due to a devastating calamity, they lost that status.

The countless resources they once controlled were also lost almost entirely due to bankruptcy and liquidation.

Losing their overlord status was one thing, but lacking resources... that was the truly fatal matter!

Indeed.

The Dragon Clan and Phoenix Clan are kindred species of two supreme Innate Divine Beings, born with boundless potential.

As long as they can survive their growth period and mature, even the weakest among them will reach the Golden Immortal cultivation.

This is an achievement that countless ordinary beings can't even dream of, even after a lifetime of cultivation.

But!

Their maturation period is just too, too long!

In fact, this is a problem that plagues many divine beasts and divine birds.

High growth potential, but a long growth period.

At this time, countless resources are needed to shorten this period.

In the past, the Dragon Clan and Phoenix Clan controlled the vast majority of the Primordial Era's resource output.

Even though a large portion had to be given to the affiliated Innate Divine Beings, the remaining fraction was enough to make them feast.

But now? It's not possible.

They can only find their own way, rely on themselves, and trade with the outside world to earn more resources so that their young, ravenous clan members can grow up.

In the beginning, it was normal for Great Divine Ability Users to employ them as laborers and mounts.

The Great Divine Ability Users were also very satisfied to use members of the ancient overlord races as mounts, and they were generous with their payments.

--The money, of course, was given.

The top powerhouses of the Dragon and Phoenix clans were not all dead. Even those who had lost themselves and were in the Grand Unity realm could still return in the future.

To offend those powerhouses to death over a few little dragons and phoenixes... it wasn't worth it.

Not only was a portion of the resources given to the higher-ups of both clans, but during the rental period of the mounts, they couldn't be treated too harshly; they also had to be given a salary.

There was a time when dragon and phoenix mounts were so common they almost became a symbol of Great Divine Ability Users.

But now...

"This market is almost entirely monopolized by the Dragon Clan... the Phoenix Clan has almost completely withdrawn." Dijiang clicked his tongue in amazement. "It's not because they were suppressed by the Dragon Clan, but because the Phoenix lineage found a better way to make money."

"Under Fuxi's guidance, they changed their pillar industry... withdrawing from the previous crude, labor-intensive industries and replacing them with industries that require more skill and possess certain irreplaceable factors."

"Changed industries?" Feng Xi's forehead seemed to be covered in a series of question marks.

"Processing! Feather Robes!" Ancestral Witch Dijiang explained. "This is the new source of wealth for the Phoenix lineage."

"You know... the herbs for alchemy are best from the East; the ores for artifact forging must be found in Western veins." Dijiang said meaningfully. "So, after gathering the materials for alchemy and artifact forging, where do you get the fire source?"

"The five elements in the five directions... East is wood, West is metal, North is water, South is fire, and the center is earth."

"Therefore... the South is the place with the best quality fire source!"

"Among them, the Undying Fire Vein suppressed by the Phoenix Progenitor below Phoenix Perch Mountain is the best!"

Feng Xi smacked his lips.

"Fuxi directed the Phoenix lineage to utilize the fire vein suppressed by the Phoenix Ancestor, and by aligning with the stars above and the geography below, they artificially created a Heaven and Earth Furnace, capable of forging creation."

"Even Grand Unity powerhouses can receive some assistance when refining pills and artifacts with such a treasure in hand. How could the Phoenix lineage not rise again?"

"Not to mention, relying on the racial talent of Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, they gathered countless divine birds from this world, finding a new source of wealth for the Phoenix Clan—ripping off wool!"

"No, it should be ripping off bird feathers... Every once in a while, the Phoenix clan would mobilize as a whole and get busy."

"They scurried back and forth in Phoenix Perch Mountain, collecting old feathers shed by divine birds and exotic birds as they molted, then weaving and refining them into Feather Robes to sell to the outside world."

"These Feather Robes are divided into thirty-six grades, catering to the needs of different people."

Dijiang was intimately familiar with the Phoenix Clan's business, as if he had personally investigated it.

"Feather Robes are not only beautiful and attractive but also very practical... collected from countless divine birds and cleverly combined, they provide significant enhancements in defense and flight."

"The business of processing and Feather Robes has made the Phoenix lineage wealthy again, returning to the days of the ancient epoch where they 'would not perch on any tree but the Wutong, would not eat any grain but the Lian, and would not drink any water but the Li'."

Ancestral Witch Dijiang's eyes were deep. "Why was the first place our Witch Clan visited set here?"

"One of the most hidden reasons is that we need their industrial support and cooperation in these two areas!"

"To use their furnace to upgrade the weapons of our soldiers on a large scale."

"To purchase their Feather Robes, adding another layer of protection for our Witch Clan warriors on the future battlefield, giving them a better chance of survival."

"Even if we cannot bring Fuxi and Nuwa to the same front line as us, we must still strike a deal and obtain the things we need at a price much more favorable than the market."

"Is that so?" Feng Xi's expression changed, greatly surprised. He thought it was a simple diplomatic visit, but it was accompanied by such an arms deal?

"Will it be successful?" he worried slightly. "Will those two emperors of the Demon Clan agree to sell these things?"

Dijiang smiled inexplicably. "I am very confident."

"When it comes to the integrity of arms dealers... you don't need to worry at all. They will never disappoint you."

"Moreover, even if these two outwardly disagree, their subordinates, those little phoenixes... there's nothing that can't be negotiated."

Feng Xi's mouth twitched. He was speechless.

This made him seem rather mercenary, a phoenix obsessed with money, and he didn't know what else to say.

However, thinking about the current state of the Dragon Clan, which once shone brightly alongside the Phoenix Clan... well, perhaps the Phoenix Clan might even enjoy this.

Integrity... is it as important as a meal?

Those phoenixes of noble character were long buried in the dust of ages.

In the Primordial Era, the weak are slaughtered, and the backward are beaten!

If you don't find every possible way to speed up your own and your clan's strengthening... perhaps tomorrow, your pile of withered bones will be among those on the earth!

Against such a backdrop, integrity and such... can be set aside for now.

After the world is at peace, they can be picked up again. Wipe them off, and they can fight for another three thousand years!

Feng Xi was sighing about how difficult survival was in the Primordial Era.

Suddenly, he heard Dijiang exclaim softly, "Interesting."

"What is it?" Feng Xi asked, looking bewildered.

"Nothing..." Dijiang smiled. "I'm just a little surprised by such a grand display."

"Aren't you curious about the peak splendor of Phoenix Perch Bird Scenery? Then you should watch carefully now..."

"In the past, the procession when the Phoenix Progenitor traveled was the most brilliant and magnificent, shaking the soul!"