A trace of wisdom flickered in her eyes.This woman was not as simple as she appeared.
At the very least, her intellect was far above others. Foxfolk minds were, by nature, known for their cunning and trickery—capable of calculating countless turns in a single thought. She had clearly figured out the crux of the matter before coming here.
More than that, she had chosen to be among the first to arrive at Ice City.
"Hmm, is there really anything worthwhile among the human race?"A foxfolk expert questioned doubtfully.
To them, humans had always been weak prey—born with fragile bodies, so frail that they hardly warranted attention. Some even proposed that if all the alien races joined forces, they could completely annihilate humanity.
However, they had done their research before coming.
It was true that some among the humans possessed strength—Xuanhuang City being a prime example.
Xuanhuang City was like a sacred site for the human race, having risen by trampling over the corpses of countless alien foes. Its power was such that even combined assaults from several alien factions could not breach its defenses. On the contrary, it had often forced them into retreat, killing and maiming along the way. Its most terrifying trait was that every soldier in the city was a cultivator, and their combined strength was overwhelming.
That was precisely why the Foxfolk took this trade fair seriously and had come ahead of others.
With Xuanhuang City's power, it was impossible they would bring out anything ordinary. If they did, it would disgrace not just themselves, but the entire human race. A failed trade fair would shatter their prestige—and Yi Tianxing's along with it—turning them into a laughingstock.
"Do not underestimate the human race. It's said that among them, many top-tier experts exist. But due to the Heavenly Dao's restrictions, they've sealed themselves within the Immortal Sects, unable to step out. Otherwise, the current balance of power might not be as it is. The true heritage of humanity lies within the Immortal Sects."The woman said meaningfully, clearly aware of deeper truths beyond the surface.
"Who goes there?"
On the city wall, Wang Dahu shouted sternly.
All around, crossbowmen stood ready, cold eyes scanning the area. Their bolts were already nocked—if trouble arose, they would unleash a deadly barrage in an instant.
The success of the trade fair depended on strength. Without it, how could one ensure fair trade or protect one's own interests? In this world, steel was confidence.
"This is our Foxfolk Lady, Hu Li. She's here to attend the trade fair. What, are you saying she's not allowed entry?"A foxfolk warrior narrowed his eyes and spoke loudly.
"Of course she may enter. But once inside, do not cause trouble. If anything happens, don't say we didn't warn you. Fighting is forbidden within the city."Wang Dahu said solemnly.
The city gates had never been closed. As long as permission was granted, entry was unrestricted.
Hearing this, Hu Li nodded inwardly. Without hesitation, she took the lead and entered Ice City.
Upon stepping inside, a chill lingered in the air—but it wasn't freezing cold. For cultivators, a little cold was nothing; if anything, it helped them stay mentally alert.
"There's nothing here."Some of the Foxfolk frowned in confusion.
There were no buildings in sight—just empty space. The stalls around them seemed like mere decorations.
"Wait—there are people. Barbarians."
"What's that shiny stuff—money? So gold and dazzling! It's piled like a mountain. I can feel pure energy from it. This isn't ordinary currency."
"Look at those raised platforms—they're covered with goods. So many goods!"
"Oh no! Run! I saw that dog. It's lying right beneath the coin mountain, not moving—it looks like it's asleep!"
As they approached the center of Ice City, the eyes of the Foxfolk lit up with surprise and excitement. They saw towering mounds of Eternal Coins, and high platforms loaded with countless items—treasures of every kind. Just as promised: weapons, artifacts, pills, talismans—everything imaginable was on display.
The gleaming warblades and crossbows were enough to make their scalps tingle. One glance told them these were battlefield killers.
But nothing was more terrifying than the Green Emperor lying next to the coin mountain.
The moment they saw him, all greed and ambition in the eyes of the Foxfolk vanished.
Who would've thought that this nightmare would reappear—right in front of them, dozing like a loyal guard dog. The fear it evoked nearly swallowed their sanity.
They shivered instinctively.
No one dared entertain wicked thoughts in front of the Green Emperor. The mere memory of his singing gave them headaches.
Post-traumatic stress, without a doubt.
They instinctively took a few steps back, but soon realized—this dog must be human-owned, likely bred and raised as a war pet. Their contempt for the human race evaporated completely, replaced by a deep sense of caution.
"May I ask, are you the Lord of Xuanhuang City—Yi Tianxing, Daoist Yi?"Hu Li's eyes swept the crowd and landed on Yi Tianxing. She smiled as she approached and asked. His aura stood out—impossible to miss. He was like a crane among chickens, radiating presence.
"I am Yi Tianxing. You've come for the trade fair, then? If you see anything you need, feel free to purchase—no restrictions. However, all transactions must be made in Eternal Coins. We do not support barter here."Yi Tianxing said calmly.
Although her face was veiled, it was easy to tell she was a stunning beauty. Still, his expression didn't change.
"Hu Li of the Foxfolk greets Lord Yi. I wonder what kind of treasures are available here. If the prices are right and the quality is good, our Foxfolk are ready to make bulk purchases."Hu Li said with a light smile, clearly intrigued.
As she spoke, she also observed her surroundings. She had already seen many barbarian cultivators excitedly purchasing goods.
Crossbows, blades, spears, bows—all high quality.
Even bone porcelain bowls and accessories were beautifully crafted.
A strong desire grew within her. These were items few other races could produce.
Cloud brocades and mist silks—one glance and she already adored them.
"Miss Hu may browse freely. If something catches your eye, feel free to purchase."Yi Tianxing replied with a faint smile, saying no more.
Hu Li sensed that Yi Tianxing wasn't interested in deep conversation and didn't insist. She simply smiled, bowed lightly, and moved on to browse the nearby platforms.
"What a powerful war crossbow—this thing is terrifying. With these bolts, even a cultivator below the Divine Sea realm would be in danger. If deployed on the battlefield in large numbers, these could unleash a storm of death."A Foxfolk observer couldn't take his eyes off the Divine Machine Crossbow, already calculating the battlefield impact.
"What a sharp Scorpion Warblade! The Scorpion race uses these—lightweight yet lethally sharp. They're also coated with poison. Total killing tools."
As they examined each weapon, the Foxfolk minds naturally began running simulations—if they equipped their armies with these tools, how much stronger would they become?
Then they thought of the human soldiers they had seen—equipped with equally fine weapons and armor. That realization made their hearts skip a beat.
Their earlier contempt for the humans vanished completely, replaced by deep apprehension.
"These ceramics are so exquisite! Are these the famed human porcelains? Beautiful! Eating and drinking with these would be more regal than royalty!"
Many Foxfolk couldn't tear their eyes away from the fine bone porcelain. The desire in their hearts only grew.
They had no resistance against such refined beauty.
"Talismans—so many talismans! They're not high-grade, but they still contain magical power. Used en masse, the destructive force would be massive."
"Is that… food? It glows… and contains spiritual energy? I've never eaten anything like that in my life. Incredible. Are humans truly so clever and skillful?"
As the Foxfolk wandered the fair, exclamations of wonder echoed constantly.
One astonishing item after another sat openly displayed, available in bulk. The implications were clear—the human race was not to be underestimated.
"The human race truly is terrifying… the ability to forge tools, treasures, wonders… their creativity alone is a deadly advantage."
As Hu Li continued browsing, that thought echoed in her mind.