Cocoa beans—such things could undoubtedly improve human life the moment they appeared, enriching daily existence with more variety. Chocolate was a treasure in itself—a high-energy product, and during times of famine, potentially life-saving. Not to mention, once crafted into chocolate, it could vastly diversify the range of delicacies available.
Chocolate...
Yi Tianxing still remembered the first time he had tasted chocolate. Its flavor was unforgettable.
A world without chocolate somehow felt like it was missing something essential.
Holding the cocoa beans in his hand, Yi Tianxing's expression shifted.
"These contain spiritual energy—these are spirit beans borne from a spirit fruit tree!"
With his cultivation, he could instantly detect that among the cocoa beans, a few were imbued with spiritual energy—a stark contrast to the others. While the rest were merely tainted by ambient energy, these few were true spirit beans, akin to spirit rice or spiritual herbs.
"This is a mutation—a product of increased world essence. The cocoa tree didn't fully evolve into a spiritual tree, but it did produce some spirit beans. A form of evolutionary breakthrough."
Thoughts raced in Yi Tianxing's mind.
As seeds, these spirit beans could be planted. If cultivated properly, they would give rise to spirit cocoa trees, which would then bear spirit fruit regularly. It was a complete evolutionary leap—a new path of advancement.
"If we plant these spirit beans, grow spirit cocoa trees, and harvest spirit cocoa beans to make chocolate… what divine taste would that be? They may even hold unique effects—this is a spiritual plant, after all."
This was a huge opportunity, not to be missed.
He already had plans to plant them in his Life Orifice, which had recently undergone a major transformation—vastly expanded and filled with fertile spiritual farmland. Many plots were still unused. The spirit cocoa trees would be a perfect addition—and in a pinch, could even serve as emergency food.
"How much of this bean do you have? I'll buy at three Eternal Coins per jin. As much as you can bring, I'll buy it all."
Yi Tianxing smiled at the young boy before him.
Three coins per jin was not cheap. But considering the cocoa beans' potential—especially those hidden spirit beans—it was worth it. A small fortune in disguise.
"That's great! We've got lots! We used to eat them when we were starving, but too many made us feel sick. At three coins per jin, we'll bring them all!"
The boy's eyes lit up with joy.
The nearby mountains were filled with cocoa trees, each one bearing an abundance of fruit. They had never realized these could be so valuable. Now they could be exchanged for Eternal Coins, which could buy ten times their weight in food.
"Those are the same tree beans! I've picked them before! They're worth money? I've got some at home—I'll go fetch them right now!"
"There's a patch on the mountainside near here, and they're ripe. I'm going to harvest now!"
The gathered civilians were all stirred to excitement. What they had once dismissed as snacks were now essentially currency—a direct trade for food. The exchange rate was more than fair.
"Boss, would you take this too?"
An old farmer stepped forward, presenting some deep reddish-brown beans shaped like flattened pods, nearly black in color.
"They come from another fruit tree on the mountain. The berries are sweet, and inside are these seeds. Can we trade these too?"
He was cautious, but hopeful.
Yi Tianxing's eyes gleamed slightly.
"Coffee beans? Even coffee beans exist here?"
These were unmistakably coffee beans.
Where there are coffee beans, there are coffee trees—broad-leaved shrubs or small trees that bloom with white, jasmine-scented flowers and bear red berries. Their aroma and beauty were legendary. Inside each fruit were the dual seeds known to the world as coffee beans.
In the past, coffee was one of the most common beverages—akin to tea in stature.
Like cocoa, coffee could also be brewed into drinks.
Yi Tianxing was inwardly astonished—cocoa, coffee, and tea now all existed in this world. The three great beverages were complete.
Even more important: just like the cocoa beans, some of these coffee beans also contained spiritual energy.
"These? I'll buy. Same price—three Eternal Coins per jin. Bring as many as you can."
He agreed without hesitation, hiding his excitement behind a calm expression.
"Fantastic! I've got plenty at home—I'll go get them right away!"
Soon, residents began bringing in huge amounts of cocoa and coffee beans.
Yi Tianxing paid them according to weight, with clean and prompt transactions.
Once he obtained large quantities, he immediately sorted out the spirit beans and transplanted them into his Life Orifice's spiritual farmland.
With spiritual spring water and the life essence from the Kunlun Divine Tree, the spirit beans germinated and sprouted within moments, rapidly reaching half a man's height.
It was almost miraculous.
Though such growth speed would slow over time, in this environment their development would remain far faster than in the outside world. Under the Divine Tree's aura, it was only a matter of time before full maturity.
"A worthy deal indeed. Just the cocoa and coffee beans alone made this venture worthwhile. Once fully cultivated, these spiritual trees will continuously produce spirit fruit, far surpassing any ordinary product in flavor and function."
Yi Tianxing was secretly delighted.
These were renewable assets, forming the foundation of his realm's prosperity—not expendable goods.
Moreover, the oasis's citizens had even more treasures to trade—materials like Red Blood Stones, Ice Crystals, and more surprisingly: cultivation techniques and combat skills.
Many people who previously withheld their secret manuals had now begun offering them.
While most were ordinary, such as Green Spirit Sword Art, Spirit Stream Sword Technique, and Gale Fist, some gems emerged too—like the Celestial Moon Scripture (天河明月经), a complete and high-grade cultivation method covering everything from the Divine Sea Realm to the Life Orifice Realm and Life Chart Realm.
Its owner was a cultivator who had reached the Life Orifice Realm, and what he wanted in return was a powerful battle technique—specifically the Earth-grade battle art called Full Moon Demon Blade (圆月魔刀), a fearsome legacy seized during the slaying of Liu Bao.
This blade art was powerful but highly demonic, with few ever daring to practice it. Its bloodlust could slaughter thousands in one sweep.
Yet it was so desirable that the cultivator willingly gave up his Celestial Moon Scripture in exchange.
Time passed silently.
One day went by, and the volume of traded goods was staggering.
Yi Tianxing's marketplace never ran out. His supply—stored in the Heavenly Emperor's Pagoda—was vast enough to support extended trade. Its sheer abundance stunned everyone.
And soon, a rumor began circulating through the oasis:
"Have you heard? Outside the Golden Desert, there's a city called Xuanhuang City—built by a human powerhouse. It's prosperous, teeming with people, with no fear of hunger or monster attacks. A true human paradise."
"They say Boss Yi came from there. He knows a way out of the desert—and might even be able to take people with him. If only we could go to Xuanhuang City, we wouldn't have to live in fear every day…"