As long as the Behemoth King still cares about this little Golden Behemoth, as long as he remains alive, then he becomes an extremely important bargaining chip. A dead Golden Behemoth would only completely enrage the Beastmen, but a living one would at least force them to act with caution, perhaps even hesitation. It would leave open a chance for dialogue, preventing the war from immediately descending into total annihilation.
"To prevent the Beastmen from flying into a rage and rampaging through our villages and towns, I propose we set the battlefield near our own Xuanhuang City, using the Iron-Blood Great Wall as a boundary. And to avoid the Beastmen's reckless advance, this little Golden Behemoth is our best leverage. Since war is inevitable, let's designate the final battleground in advance. Given the status and identity of the little Golden Behemoth, the Beastmen will likely accept."
Jia Xu's pupils narrowed as he spoke slowly, a hint of confidence in his expression.
War was inevitable. Even if they released the little Golden Behemoth, blood had already been spilled—it wouldn't be overlooked. Once provoked, the Beastmen would not let it go. The Golden Behemoth was merely the fuse—its greatest value lay in securing the right to choose the battlefield. That alone was the limit of its utility.
If the Beastmen army were to rampage, the devastation inflicted upon the human race would be too great. Any loss would shake the people's morale.
If war must come, Jia Xu would rather it be outside the Iron-Blood Great Wall.
"I believe we must immediately dispatch a messenger to relay the news. Regardless of whether the Beastmen believe it was our doing, they must be made aware that the little Golden Behemoth is in our hands. Our intentions must be conveyed to the Behemoth King."
Wu Yong also nodded in agreement.
Without delay, under the coordination of Huang Chengyan, Jia Xu, and others, the entirety of Xuanhuang City began operating at an astonishing pace.
Howl!!
A piercing cry tore through the sky. Golden Roc and Wind God took off, tearing across the heavens—they were the messengers chosen to reach the Behemoth tribe. Carrying letters, they would deliver the message directly, making the intentions crystal clear.
With war imminent, sending soldiers would be too dangerous—no one knew if the Beastmen might vent their fury on the emissary. Though unlikely, the risk still existed. Using the Golden Roc and Wind God was the best option. In the skies, they were overlords—few could threaten them. They would also gather intelligence on the Beastmen's military movements and formations.
Meanwhile, in the Golden Sand Desert—
Yi Tianxing's arrival had shaken the entire General's City—not merely because of the goods he brought, but more so due to the news from Xuanhuang City, particularly the rumor circulating among the people.
It had a stunning effect on everyone.
After a full day and night of spreading, the influence of the rumor had reached the entire oasis.
That morning, just after dawn, Yi Tianxing and Wushuang Ghost once again appeared at the same street corner where they'd set up shop the day before. Laying out the stall and placing various goods on display, they didn't even need to call out—masses of people flocked to them instantly.
Some came to trade. Others came to exchange rare desert items for Eternal Coins. Many simply came to watch the excitement.
The main topic of conversation was whether Yi Tianxing could really take people out of the Golden Sand Desert—that was what everyone cared about most.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Amidst the bustling trade, a sudden tremor swept across the ground. A uniform sound of marching approached, growing louder and louder, carrying with it a formidable pressure—one that only came from trained, professional soldiers.
"It's the army! Troops from the General's Valley! The armor bears the mark of a green wind spiral—that's the Gale Army under the Wind General!"
The nearby townsfolk raised their heads as they heard the sound. Sure enough, a troop of soldiers marched straight toward Yi Tianxing's stall. Their armor seemed crafted from compressed yellow sand, but each one bore a green spiral insignia—the mark of the Wind General, one of the four generals from Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon.
There was no ranking among the four generals—they regarded each other with mutual respect and cooperation, jointly defending the General's Valley. The people of General's City instinctively held affection and trust toward these soldiers. As the unit approached, the crowd stepped aside to let them through.
At the forefront stood a clean-faced young officer.
As he approached Yi Tianxing, his gaze swept over the goods: clothing, daily items, and especially the crates of Bone War Bows, Runic Arrows, Bone Arrows, and war blades—his eyes lit up.
As a warrior, he clearly understood just how powerful these weapons were.
News of this mysterious merchant had already reached the General's Valley. These exact weapons had already been tested by soldiers—they weren't ordinary at all. Their power could pose a fatal threat even to cultivators, not to mention beasts or foreign races.
"May I ask—are you Master Yi?"
The young officer bowed and respectfully asked.
"That's me. And what does the general want to buy? All my goods are clearly priced—same rate for everyone, no matter who they are."
Yi Tianxing replied calmly, treating the officer no differently just because he came from the General's Valley.
"Your merchandise is indeed rare and of great value. We do intend to purchase a batch—military supplies, in great quantities. We hope Master Yi can accompany me to the General's Valley. There, the General himself will personally discuss the terms. A banquet has already been prepared."
The officer took a deep breath and added, "And… the General asked me to say this—if Master Yi doesn't agree, what comes next may interest you."
"Oh? And what might that be?"
Yi Tianxing raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
The young officer took another deep breath and stated decisively:
"The Raging Sand Battle Armor!!"
"You mean the armor you're all wearing?"
Yi Tianxing's eyes flashed.
"Correct. What we're wearing is the Raging Sand Battle Armor. With it, even facing savage beasts, we can withstand most attacks. If you come with us, this armor will be part of the transaction."
The officer replied quickly.
"Very well, then. I'll go!"
Yi Tianxing agreed without hesitation.
He had already seen this armor on Hua Mulan's troops. It was unique and clearly mass-producible—a valuable military asset. Now that there was an opportunity to trade for it, he wouldn't let it pass.
"Ah Gui, you'll stay behind and look after the stall. Use yesterday's pricing for trades and exchanges. For unfamiliar items, just hold them until I return."
Yi Tianxing instructed Wushuang Ghost.
The goal of the stall was still to circulate Eternal Coins—he could already feel the surging fate energy flowing back to Xuanhuang City through the growing network of currency use. This was the power of money—when it flows, it cannot be stopped.
"Yes, my lord!"
Wushuang Ghost nodded in agreement.
Yi Tianxing's power was something he had witnessed firsthand. Here in the desert, there were few who could even threaten him, let alone harm him.
"Please follow me, Master Yi. The General's mansion awaits—and the chef is quite skilled."
The officer smiled.
"Alright. Let's be on our way."
Yi Tianxing nodded.
Without delay, the troops cleared a path and led the way toward General's Valley.
It wasn't far—General's City existed under the protection of the General's Valley and was essentially built around it. The valley itself was a natural fortress—easy to defend and hard to attack, a strategic military stronghold.
As soon as he stepped into the valley, Yi Tianxing couldn't help but praise it inwardly:
"What a place of fierce martial energy. The baleful aura here is no less than that of an ancient battlefield. Countless bones must be buried beneath. This might very well be a mystical land formed atop an ancient war zone."
Even with his firm will, Yi Tianxing could feel the baleful aura rushing into him upon entering. Any ordinary person would likely be stunned by the sheer force of it.