Mao Sui's journey to various major races served a significant purpose — to win over those tribes that were already inclined toward friendliness with the human race and to propose the idea of opening a mutual market (互市). Once enough tribes were on board, the mutual market could be launched without fear of an awkward failure due to lack of foreign participants. Based on the information he sent back, several nearby tribes had shown interest.
These included the Iron Hoof Tribe, a goblin tribe, a gray dwarf tribe, and even an elf tribe, all of whom displayed amicable intentions toward the human race. None rejected the proposal to open a mutual market; in fact, some even expressed strong enthusiasm.
They were particularly intrigued by the use of Eternal Coins (永恒币) as currency.
Currently, among the various non-human races, there was no universally accepted form of currency. The introduction of Eternal Coins had these tribes flocking eagerly. These exquisitely crafted coins held a strong appeal. After all, these races weren't mindless beasts — they had civilizations and histories. They clearly understood the significance of currency — perhaps even too well.
Many tribes immediately asked Mao Sui if they could purchase the method of minting Eternal Coins. But naturally, currency production couldn't be sold. The coin-minting method was one of Xuanhuang City's foundational secrets, a core pillar of its survival. Leaking it would be catastrophic — like offering one's neck to the enemy's blade.
Even allies couldn't be trusted with it.
"The mutual market must be opened. The goods among the foreign tribes are more diverse than expected. Securing them will drastically enhance the foundation of Xuanhuang City,"
Yi Tianxing decided. Now that initial contact and diplomatic ties were established with several tribes, the time was right. Once internal threats were handled, the market would open.
"The assassinations by foreign races are affecting our fate energy (气运). This must be resolved immediately. The people's hearts are the fate energy."
After inspecting the Qi Luck Pool (气运天池), Yi Tianxing could detect a subtle decline in the speed at which luck gathered. Though barely noticeable, it hinted at a ripple of unrest in the people's hearts.
Stabilizing public morale was now paramount.
Later, Yi Tianxing returned directly to the City Lord's Mansion. In a secluded chamber, he used the Primordial Emperor Tower (鸿蒙天帝塔) and its Heaven-Earth Coin Casting Furnace (乾坤铸币炉) to refine the newly acquired Demonic Thought Pearls (魔念珠) into Eternal Coins at high speed.
At the same time, he activated his cultivation method to absorb heaven-and-earth spiritual energy and nourish his life orifices, refining them further.
He aimed to elevate all of his life orifices (命窍) into the second phase, each transforming into a source star in his divine sea. It was a daunting process, far from easy.
Meanwhile, the city gradually fell into a heavy silence.
The recent assassinations had stirred fury among the people, but with no suspects captured, there was nowhere to vent their rage. In the end, they could only disperse and return home.
That night's Night Market ended earlier than usual.
However, patrols intensified. City constables roamed the streets in greater numbers, faces grim and eyes smoldering with rage. Today's events were, in their eyes, a brutal slap to the face.
Their pride and responsibility stung with shame.
With no clear target, the best they could do was to patrol heavily. Deep down, they knew that if the assassin struck again, they would be nearly powerless to stop it.
Yet they had no intention of resting.
In the shadows, a presence moved — so well hidden that even close proximity wouldn't reveal it. She watched the patrolling constables and curled her lips into a mocking smirk.
"No matter how often you patrol, what difference does it make? If I want someone dead, no one — day or night — can stop me. Starting today, the entire Xuanhuang City will live in the shadow of my strolls. The game... has only just begun."
This shadowy figure was none other than Yingci (影刺), an assassin from the Shadow Fiend Clan (影魔族).
The three recent deaths had all been her handiwork — executed with ease and precision. One strike, one kill. Killing came too easily.
"The stronger the bloodlust in these citizens, the more I enjoy it. Breaking their morale little by little... that's the real thrill. Crushing them all at once would be boring."
Her eyes shone with excitement.
The thrill of danger had her blood boiling. It had been far too long since she felt this alive. She yearned to spill more blood, to savor the joy of murder.
"Three kills a day — that's the game's rule. I'll stick to it. But as soon as midnight hits, it's a new day. I never said when the kills had to happen. Past midnight... the game begins again. Tremble. Enjoy the blood-soaked banquet I'll bring."
She whispered gleefully, her voice inaudible in the darkness.
She could vanish into the shadows at will. No one could find her.
"Let's not go after constables this time. I've already killed one of them, one bounty hunter, and a vendor. This time, I'll target an elderly man, a child, and a woman. Yes... that's more interesting."
She wasn't choosing specific people — she was picking types of victims. To her, random brutality was more refined, more artful.
Having made her selection, she began to hunt.
These categories were plentiful in Xuanhuang City. She soon locked in her targets.
Then she waited.
Patience, after all, was the core trait of any proper assassin. Without it, one risked their own life. The Shadow Fiend Clan had learned this from generations of bloodshed.
They could lie in wait for days, weeks, even months, motionless, for that one moment of a perfect kill.
Time slipped by.
Soon, it was midnight. A new day had begun.
"Let the game begin."
Yingci licked her lips, already tasting blood.
Her first target: a young woman, barely in her twenties — a blooming flower living alone. She hadn't yet found a partner. Likely due to the recent assassinations, even in her sleep, she clutched a short sword.
She was no ordinary girl, but a female cultivator. Definitely not just some delicate flower.
"You'll be my opening move."
A sinister smirk crept across Yingci's face.
With a mere thought, a shadowy dagger materialized silently beside the sleeping girl — identical in size to her real sword, but pitch-black and gleaming with lethal chill.
Swish!
The dagger struck toward her heart.
"Huh?"
But Yingci suddenly gasped.
The dagger... froze in midair.
It wouldn't move.
No matter how she tried to push it forward, it refused to obey.
She could feel her connection to the blade, but it was as if some immense force held it in place — like an ant trying to move a mountain. No matter how much effort she exerted, it would not budge.
This had never happened before.
"What's going on?"
Alarmed, she immediately slipped into the shadows and fled — streaking through the darkness with terrifying speed. One failed strike meant immediate retreat. Such was the assassin's creed.
Though she sensed no danger, the strange resistance was reason enough to withdraw.
She did not underestimate Xuanhuang City. After all, they had once dragged Moushi — who was hiding underground — to the surface with nothing but scarecrows. That image was seared into her mind.
"Someone's working in secret."
That was her only conclusion.
Her control had been disrupted. The Shadow Blade (阴影之刃) wasn't supposed to malfunction. Some greater power was interfering.
It had to be someone stronger than her.
From one end of the city, she darted to the other.
At last, she stopped beneath a streetlamp. Hidden in its shadow, she let out a quiet breath.
"Should be safe now…"
"Oh? Are you sure it's safe?"
Suddenly, a sinister voice whispered into her ear.