The Giant City Trade

Power was the key to escaping the Death World. This time, after solidifying from illusion into reality, Xiao Chen’s stay in the Nine Provinces had been extended to twenty breaths.

The Bone Well blazed with multicolored light; the diamond treasure was a dreamlike vision. His journey through the Nine Provinces replayed before him. Xiao Chen stood at the bottom of the well for a long time before climbing back up.

This experience had awakened countless thoughts in his heart: family, friends, enemies... love, hate, past grievances—everything seemed as if it happened only yesterday.

Emerging from the Bone Well, he did not linger in that city. He swiftly returned to the Divine Village.

"Guan guan cry the ospreys on the islet in the river. A graceful gentleman is a good mate for a fair maiden."

At the village entrance, he sensed the Red Diamond King’s mental fluctuations. That fellow’s energy was truly excessive. The Red Diamond Skeleton had his arm around a group of Divine Tribe youths, reciting poetry to a Divine Tribe girl not far away.

Alas, the girl was unimpressed. She picked up a basin of laundry water and splashed it, divine power rippling. Water splashed everywhere, drenching the Red Diamond Skeleton like a drowned chicken. A group of Divine Tribe youths burst into laughter.

"He longs for her but cannot reach her; awake and asleep, he thinks of her. Longing, longing—he tosses and turns in his bed." The Red Diamond Skeleton sensed something and turned around, just seeing Xiao Chen entering the village. He bounded over enthusiastically: "Big brother, you’re finally back! You were gone for half a month. I was so worried, afraid you might have died out there."

Seeing this fellow spouting nonsense without restraint, shaking his head and acting the dandy, Xiao Chen gave him a sidelong glance: "You certainly are carefree."

"Of course! The greatest joy in life is this: watching maidens in the morning, watching lolis in the evening—carefree and content. Beautiful women walking toward me from ahead—could there be greater bliss?"

On a small wooden tower nearby, a loli pushed open a window and dumped a bucket of water straight down. "Splash!" The Red Diamond Skeleton was drenched again.

"It seems neither maidens nor lolis much appreciate you."

"Alas, geniuses are never understood by the masses. The greatest tragedy in life is no more than this."

Xiao Chen ignored him. He opened his space ring and began distributing gifts to the surrounding Divine Tribe youths. These were items he had bartered for at the trading market using diamond fragments and crushed bones, including weapons, food, and other things they liked. The youths were all very happy.

"Seems like you’ve been doing pretty well here these past few days."

"But of course! A flashy guy like me, no matter where I am, is like a blazing star in the night sky—dazzling, towering, and outstanding!" The Red Diamond Skeleton struck a narcissistic pose.

When Xiao Chen finished handing out gifts, he asked, "How did that matter I asked you to handle go?"

The Red Diamond Skeleton immediately straightened up. "With me personally taking charge, of course there was no problem! I found a buyer even for a Yellow Diamond skull."

"Good!" Xiao Chen patted his shoulder. "Come with me—let’s talk it over carefully."

A troop of Divine Tribe kids scattered away laughing, leaving only Little Tianya tagging along.

Over the past days, the Red Diamond Skeleton had indeed put in his best effort, using his available connections to contact powerful fire seed beings in both the eastern and western regions.

The "waters" in the western region ran deep. Experts from the outside generally dared not venture there lightly, because a powerful alliance had formed there. The entire western region had been unified under an ancient giant city, consolidating a formidable force. It was said the western alliance leader might at any time strike into the deepest part of the continent.

"What kind of giant city is that?" Xiao Chen asked.

"A very ancient and long-standing giant city, passed down through countless ages. It has always been one of the major cities of the western region. Its name is Angelic City."

Xiao Chen frowned. Just hearing the name Angelic City told him it was no simple place.

"I don’t recommend trading in Angelic City," the Red Diamond Skeleton said. "The waters there are deep, and it’s said the buyer is a general under the city lord. If something goes wrong, we’d have no recourse at all."

Xiao Chen nodded. "Then tell me about the eastern situation."

"In the past hundred years, no powerful fire seed being has managed to unify the eastern region. Not because no kings have arisen, but because several giant cities have comparable strength, and none can overwhelm the others."

Xiao Chen thought of his previous trading trip when he was hunted by the Seven Kills City Lord. "Are the Seven Kills, Broken Army, and Greedy Wolf cities always allied? And how strong are they?"

"In ages past, the Three Cities were very famous, but over the last hundred years they’ve declined from their prime and can no longer compare to true giant cities."

Xiao Chen nodded. "If I strike, I’ll destroy Seven Kills City first."

The Red Diamond Skeleton continued: "Among the eastern giant cities, the Giant City has always had a good reputation. Very few traders have been killed there. Through some old acquaintances, I contacted a buyer there—a terrifying king."

"Since you’ve already selected the best option, let’s choose the Giant City in the eastern region," Xiao Chen said. He took out the Yellow Diamond skull from his space ring. The crystalline skull was like a work of art, radiating a faint yellow glow.

If the trade succeeded, he could quickly advance to become a Purple Diamond-tier powerhouse, and the Giant City would gain a king with a Yellow Diamond skeleton body. Each got what they needed; it was perfectly fair.

"Make the arrangements. I want to complete the trade as soon as possible." Xiao Chen was indeed eager to strengthen himself.

"Alright. I’ve been waiting for my own advancement too." The Red Diamond King knew that as soon as Xiao Chen advanced, he would follow.

Tianya, who had been munching contentedly on a green fruit, also called out happily, "Ooh, I want to go too!"

In the Death World, oases were extremely rare, and the death qi was so heavy that few spiritual fruits could form. The fruit Tianya was holding like a treasure was nothing more than an ordinary wild fruit in the Mortal World.

Xiao Chen had a sudden thought: he wondered if he could use his space ring to bring some Mortal World spiritual fruits into this world. If so, he might be able to exploit that on a large scale.

The Red Diamond Skeleton said nothing more and left to arrange the details.

In the following days, upheavals did not cease in the heart of the continent. The roars of terrifying kings reached directly to the peripheral regions—clearly, peerless kings were locked in fierce battle. The vast and boundless continent was unimaginably large; for such fluctuations to cross space, one could imagine the power of those battling. They might not be kings, but they could not be far from it.

But what astonished the most was that on the third day, from deep in the continent, a young woman’s ethereal song drifted forth: "When will the moon shine bright? I ask the sky with wine cup in hand. I know not in the celestial palace above what season of the year does hold. Wishing to ride the wind and return, yet fear the jade towers and crystal halls, so high and cold for one like me…"

The song was melodic and graceful, like a heavenly sound floating on the wind. And what shocked everyone most was that it was a real voice, not the mental fluctuations of a fire seed being.

As soon as this heavenly voice emerged, all the powerful beings in the continent’s peripheral regions were shaken. Every fire seed being felt a supreme pressure.

Though the song was beautiful, it was by no means sung by a delicate maiden. It was the sound wave of a true peerless powerhouse. That it reached the distant periphery was a declaration that she had become a sovereign of her domain.

Even the two elders Li Mu and Zhao Ying in the Divine Village showed looks of astonishment. They understood more than ordinary fire seed beings did.

"That woman has reached the ultimate state: she has reversed death and achieved life. The heavenly sound heralds that she has just completed a qualitative transformation, regrown her flesh, and achieved true resurrection." This was the conclusion of the two Divine Tribe elders.

"People have their joys and sorrows, separations and reunions; the moon has its fullness and waning, clear and dim—this has been the same since ancient times. I only wish we can live long and share the moon's beauty a thousand miles apart…" The song lingered for an entire day before the woman gave a heavy sigh, and the heavenly sound faded. It seemed she was reminiscing about a past filled with regret.

To reverse death, regrow flesh, and truly come back to life—this struck a deep chord in Xiao Chen. Who was that woman? His very soul resonated with the song, as if he felt deep sympathy for it. He had to become stronger, and soon, to reverse death—this was the goal he pursued.

Ten days later, the Red Diamond Skeleton returned; everything was arranged.

To this end, Xiao Chen specially invited the two Divine Tribe elders, Li Mu and Zhao Ying, to accompany him. This concerned a major transformation he was about to undergo—he could not afford to take it lightly. Li Mu and Zhao Ying agreed, but they would protect him from the shadows, not revealing themselves directly.

Thus, Xiao Chen set out. The eastern region was vast and boundless, but fortunately the Red Diamond Skeleton was a former wandering poet, so he had no trouble finding the destination.

When they passed Seven Kills City, Xiao Chen watched for a long time.

The Red Diamond Skeleton said, "In ages past, Seven Kills City produced an incredible being who killed his way into the depths of the continent. But now it’s fallen into decline. Wait until brother I advance to Purple Diamond—we’ll tear down this city."

They traveled eastward for a full six or seven days, even at their great speed, until a giant city came into view on the distant horizon. Outside the city lay an ancient battlefield, shrouded in boundless killing aura. In the distant ages, countless battles had been fought here. Though some white bones had already decayed, that bitter, fierce aura persisted, never fading. From the many remains, some as large as small hills, it was clear that many extremely powerful fire seed beings had fallen here.

The Giant City lived up to its name. This city was much taller and more imposing than any Xiao Chen had seen before. The fire seed beings entering and leaving were generally around four meters tall, a full head taller than ordinary fire seed beings.

The ancient city was majestic, covering a vast area. Its walls stretched like a long Great Wall, the gate towers high and imposing, exuding an ancient, boundless atmosphere.

At the city gate stood two rows of fire seed beings, their combat power not to be ignored. They entered the city smoothly. Xiao Chen and the Red Diamond Skeleton walked along the broad avenue. There were all kinds of strange fire seed beings around, all tall and large—worthy of the name Giant City.

The Red Diamond Skeleton had been here before. He had previously contacted the buyer, a powerful being who had long wanted to acquire a Yellow Diamond skeleton body. He had been offering a reward for over a decade but had never succeeded. Many powerful beings, even if they reached the Purple Diamond or even Yellow Diamond level in strength, still had white bones. If they could obtain such a Yellow Diamond skull, it would completely change their power, taking them another step up—perhaps even changing their entire fate.

"Hey, brother! We meet again," said a four-meter-tall giant lion as he walked up to the Red Diamond Skeleton.

This made the Red Diamond Skeleton preen. He boasted shamelessly to Xiao Chen, "A genius like me, even in a sea of people, can be spotted at a glance. What can I do? I’m just too famous."

"Bam!"

The giant lion’s huge bone claw came down on the Red Diamond Skeleton’s shoulder. He ground his teeth and said, "Kid, you forget fast. You hunted me for three days and nights back then. I’ll settle that score with you sooner or later."

"Ah, was there such a thing?" The Red Diamond Skeleton was thoroughly embarrassed.

"Come on. My master has been waiting for you," said the giant lion, pointing ahead to a massive mansion.

"That’s the place," the Red Diamond Skeleton said, then glanced at the giant lion. "I didn’t see you last time I came."

"Don’t worry—one thing is one thing. My master won’t let our old grudges affect the deal. Your transaction won’t be compromised."

Xiao Chen stood there pondering for a moment before entering.

Inside the massive mansion, there were many powerful fire seed beings. A patrolling white-bone giant seemed no weaker than the Red Diamond Skeleton, and there were actually two Blue Diamond skeletons guarding the main gate.

As they walked deeper into the mansion, they distinctly sensed several powerful auras, so deep even Xiao Chen couldn’t gauge them. Real tigers were crouching here.

When they were led into a great hall, an overwhelming pressure surged forth, crushing the skeletons of Xiao Chen and the Red Diamond Skeleton with creaking sounds, as if they were about to shatter at any moment. This was definitely a supreme expert. Fire seed beings normally relied on their skeleton bodies for combat, yet this person could exert such pressure—one could imagine how terrifying he was.

The pressure formed an invisible mountain, forcing the two to look down.

"I came to trade, not to duel," Xiao Chen said, deeply displeased but holding no fear.

After a while, the terrible pressure receded like a tide. Only then could their bone bodies move again.

On the central throne in the hall sat a fire seed being nearly five meters tall. Apart from his limbs and skull being white bone, his chest and abdomen were covered in green scales, looking especially eerie—like a corpse that had gained intelligence. The terrifying soul-flame in his skull emitted a light from his eyes that no one dared to gaze at directly.

"Good. A Diamond fire seed being truly is a supreme-level evolver. If it had been a white-bone being of the same rank, it would already be powder."

A soul-flame fluctuation as powerful as a mountain surged through the great hall. For lower-ranked fire seed beings, this was definitely a soul-shattering power.

The fire seed being who dared to offer a reward for a Yellow Diamond skeleton body was quite possibly one of the very top powerhouses of the entire eastern region.

But Xiao Chen showed no fear. He said calmly, "We are here for a fair trade. A king acting this way seems lacking in dignity."

A chilling laugh came from the throne above. "In a world where the strong rule, the more power you have, the more of the world you command. I do as I please because I want to."

Xiao Chen was deeply unhappy, but he had no choice but to remain silent. The Death World was truly a realm of survival of the fittest; everything relied on strength.

"Inspect the goods." The terrifying king on the throne held in his hand a cracked Purple Diamond skull, its soul-flame leaping within.

But Xiao Chen did not stare at the Purple Diamond skull. Instead, he looked at the great throne itself. As the terrifying king rose, a broken sword was revealed on the throne. On the throne lay a broken sword that glowed with seven-colored radiance. It felt so familiar to Xiao Chen. Suddenly, his heart shook violently—it was none other than… Zhunti Daoist’s Seven-Colored Evil Sword!