The Current State of Trade City

To be honest, I didn't originally plan to release this chapter—it's more or less optional. If you don't like it, feel free to skip it! I guess I got swept up by the internet trend, but after thinking it over, since I already wrote it, I might as well post it. Who knows, maybe someone will enjoy it!

Human Race Trade City

By now, the Trade City had developed over the years into a massive metropolis. Here, you could find most of the races from the Primordial World. Even the technological weapons that the Human Race had largely abolished were preserved here, giving the city the highest technological atmosphere among all human cities. Skyscrapers lined the streets, and if you didn't look closely, you might mistake it for a modern metropolis!

The reason the Trade City had become like this was precisely because of the multitude of races gathered here. Only technological means could meet their diverse needs! So Jiang He had maintained the Trade City's uniqueness, while also seeing how far technology could ultimately develop.

Because of the previous battle between the Sages and the Heavenly Dao, the Trade City—being the human border city closest to the battlefield—had inevitably been affected! Fortunately, only parts of the city walls and buildings had collapsed, and no one had been crushed to death. However, various races affected by the aftermath had fled here for refuge, and even many cultivators from the disbanded Anti-Demon Alliance had come running.

The current City Lord of the Trade City was none other than Su Bai from Tianyuan City back in the day. Over the years, Su Mo had been at the Jixia Academy, striving to break through to the Great Luo Realm. Thanks to the Dragon Clan's submission to the Human Race, which greatly boosted their fortune, Su Mo directly broke through to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.

Among the Human Race, anyone who reached the Great Luo Realm would be sent to guard a region. Since Su Mo had previously served as the City Lord of Tianyuan City, he was assigned to the Trade City, which happened to be undergoing a change of leadership!

Unlike before, when he was a student and the Human Race was in its early expansion phase with a shortage of personnel, Su Mo's term in Tianyuan City had been a hundred years per rotation. Now that the Human Race had stabilized and he had broken through to the Great Luo Realm, he was considered a permanent guardian. Unless something major happened, he'd likely hold this City Lord position for ten thousand years or so.

City Lord's Mansion

Su Mo was racking his brains over the massive influx of races lingering in the city. The numbers kept increasing day by day, leading to frequent large-scale fights and riots. The city's soldiers were run ragged, with requests for reinforcements pouring in from everywhere!

"Minghui! How did your previous City Lord handle this kind of situation? We're always short on manpower!"

Su Mo complained to his deputy beside him.

Zhang Minghui, as the second-in-command of the Trade City—the Deputy City Lord—had risen from a small border town. But he had taken office much earlier than Su Mo and was naturally familiar with the city's affairs. The reason he'd kept quiet these past few days was that he hadn't yet figured out Su Mo's temperament and didn't dare voice his opinions casually. After all, this man wasn't just his direct superior; he was also a personal disciple of the Jixia Academy's Dean—a background far more impressive than his own!

Still, after all these days, he'd found that the new City Lord was easy to talk to and didn't put on airs, just a bit soft-hearted!

If this had been the previous City Lord, it would have been settled the very first day!

"Uh... City Lord Su, before, we used to contact the Alchemy Academy and the Artifact Refining Academy to handle this," Zhang Minghui said cautiously.

"...? What do you mean? Those two academies can handle it? And all my soldiers can't?" Su Mo's eyes widened in shock.

"Ahem... well..."

"Our Trade City has three major industrial pillars, doesn't it? Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and selling tech..."

Zhang Minghui hinted subtly.

"When did it become just those three pillars? What about Talismans?" Su Mo asked, puzzled.

Zhang Minghui gritted his teeth and laid it out plainly: "I mean the three underground pillars—Demon Cores, beast hides, and puppet arts!"

Seeing that Su Mo still didn't get it, he said directly: "It's the Alchemy Academy, Artifact Refining Academy, and Technology Academy. They buy Demon Cores, demon hides, and demon bones, no questions asked about the source." He especially emphasized the last four words!

"Sss!"

Even Su Mo, dense as he was, caught on now. This was... well, wasn't it?!

"Won't this cause trouble?" Su Mo said cautiously.

Zhang Minghui's eyes lit up at that. Hey, there's a way! He immediately said: "What trouble could it cause? Most of the people who come to our Trade City are fugitives from their own races. The ones who actually do business with us, we don't touch them, right? Besides, we're just the buyers. The ones who do the dirty work are usually the villagers living outside the city."

"City Lord Su, this city is a mixed bag—all kinds of people are here. We can't apply the same rules we use in the inner city to this place! We only have two goals here: one is to protect the safety and interests of the humans in the city, and the other is to make money!"

Hearing this, Su Mo understood! It was pretty much the same as Tianyuan City back then—except Tianyuan City only targeted Fierce Beasts from the sea and didn't allow other races besides the Dragon Clan to stay for long!

"Then why didn't you tell me sooner! I've been run ragged these past few days!" Su Mo said irritably.

"Hehe, I just hadn't figured out your personality yet, you know! After all, you're a scholar!" Zhang Minghui said with an ingratiating smile.

"Alright, enough nonsense. Get those three academies to handle this right away." Su Mo finished speaking and headed out. These past few days had exhausted him; he needed a good rest. Just as he was about to leave, he added: "Oh, and make it look clean. Don't be too greedy!"

Zhang Minghui stared in surprise at Su Mo's retreating figure: "Damn, even a scholar can be ruthless!"

A flood of penniless foreign races had poured into the city for refuge, crowding both sides of the streets, lying or sitting around.

It wasn't that they couldn't go outside the city—they didn't dare. These days, sleeping outside didn't guarantee you'd wake up!

Occasionally, some foreign race would be snatched away by others, and soon the Alchemy Academy would acquire a brand-new Demon Core! The other two academies were the same.

At that moment, the Black Ape had just squeezed into the city with his clan. He was at the Mystic Immortal realm, placing him in the middle-to-lower tier of this city. He had come here before with his clan's elders to trade. This time, because of the war's aftermath, his clan had suffered heavy casualties, so he thought he'd bring his people to the Trade City to find work. After all, they were somewhat similar to humans, unlike other races that retained their demonic traits even after transformation.

Along the way, he arrived at the restaurant of Boss Bai Yezi, a merchant he'd often done business with before.

"Boss Bai, sorry to bother you this time!" the Black Ape said, putting on a flattering smile.

"Oh! If it isn't Brother Black Ape! Long time no see. Got something good for me again?" Bai Yezi said cheerfully.

"Hehe, sorry, Boss Bai. This time, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you. My clan suffered a disaster, and I've brought them here hoping to find some work at your place!" the Black Ape said nervously.

Hearing it wasn't a trade, Bai Yezi's smile gradually faded. He was about to chase them away when he noticed the Black Ape's clan members behind him—a few young ape cubs peeking out timidly from behind the adults.

Bai Yezi's smile instantly returned: "Ah, how could you call it trouble? No trouble at all. Come on in, quick! Look how tired these little ones are!"

With that, he led them into the restaurant, patting each little ape cub on the head, putting on a show of warmth. But the cold glint in his eyes and the fangs protruding from his lips made the gesture seem eerily out of place.

The simple-minded Black Ape didn't notice this at all. He eagerly stepped inside, hoping to see the figure that had captivated him before—Boss Bai Yezi's daughter. She had undergone a thorough transformation, leaving only her tail and nose! Every time he'd come to trade before, it was with Miss Bai. Sometimes, she would even take him out for a stroll, and they'd share some... extra-friendly moments.

That night, the Black Ape didn't see Miss Bai, which left him deeply disappointed. Just as he was about to lie down, a knock suddenly came at the door.

"Brother Black Ape, open up!" an urgent voice called from outside.

It was Hei Yan!

The Black Ape quickly opened the door and found Hei Yan and his wife standing outside, their eyes red as they stared at him.

"What's wrong, Brother Hei Yan? What happened?" the Black Ape asked hurriedly.

"Eldest Brother Black Ape, Xiao Hei's gone missing—we can't find him anywhere!"

"What?!"

Black Ape exclaimed in shock.

"Quick, gather everyone and search!"

"Do you have any of Xiao Hei's personal belongings?" Black Ape finally showed a bit of sense, remembering the Tracking Doll he'd bought from the Human Race. As long as it had a scent, it could track its prey—they'd been relying on it for hunting lately!

"Yes, yes! This is the Monkey Doll you bought him from the humans—he's been carrying it everywhere!" Xiao Hei's Mother hurried back and brought out Xiao Hei's doll.

Black Ape took it, let the Tracking Bird get a whiff, and then followed it.

The group followed the trail all the way to the backyard of the restaurant, which was now Boss Bai's private residence. Some of the tribe had come here before, but they hadn't dared to go in.

Black Ape led the tribe straight inside, following the Tracking Bird until they reached a cellar. He wasn't unfamiliar with this place—he'd once met Miss Bai here for a rendezvous.

He deftly opened the mechanism and led the group inside. Passing through a long tunnel, they suddenly heard a blood-curdling scream. They rushed toward the sound and found a scene that would haunt them forever.

Xiao Hei was tied beneath a table, only his head exposed on the surface. Boss Bai Yezi and his daughter Miss Bai—one holding a knife and fork, the other pouring boiling water over Xiao Hei's head.

(I won't describe the specifics—you probably get the picture!)

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