CHAPTER 361: CHAPTER 25: TRADE, THE HORN SHADOW CLAN

One month later, the merchant Luo Wencheng had contacted arrived.

"Excuse me, are you the Divine Son?" Qian Baolin from the Money Clan, who looked remarkably like a refined rat, his face full of respect, said to Chen Jiuge.

Chen Jiuge sized him up and said, "That’s me. And you are?"

"It truly is you! Your unique aura... I sensed something different the moment I saw you. You are truly more dazzling than the sun itself!" Qian Baolin exaggerated immensely.

"Stop, stop, stop. You’re here to trade, right? Let’s get straight to the point." Chen Jiuge couldn’t stand such blatant flattery.

When it came to business, Qian Baolin’s demeanor turned serious. He stood up straight and patted his vestment robe. "Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Qian Baolin, from the Money Clan."

"Our Money Clan excels in trade, known for being swift and convenient, and recognized as one of the top ten merchant guilds in the Star Sea Realm."

"I almost came too late. Qian Baolin? Why is it you?" The newly arrived Luo Wencheng looked at Qian Baolin, his face darkening a bit.

"Hey, isn’t this my dear Brother Wencheng?" Qian Baolin was extremely enthusiastic, as if he had seen a relative.

"Enough with the nonsense. This transaction depends entirely on our clan’s Divine Son; flattering me is useless."

---

**Vanilla Pig:** Can reach approximately three thousand three hundred pounds upon maturity. Its meat has a vanilla fragrance and excellent taste. It reproduces quickly and can serve as a meat-producing Spiritual Beast.

**Five-Taste Sheep:** When mature, can reach approximately one thousand one hundred pounds. It comes in five different flavors—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and strange. The first four flavors manifest in the fur color, while the strange flavor is mixed in, making it a Spiritual Beast for meat that adds a little surprise to your mundane life.

"These two Spiritual Beasts, what should I be aware of when raising them daily? And what are their prices?" Chen Jiuge asked, having picked two Spiritual Beasts that looked quite interesting.

"Straightforward," Qian Baolin’s small eyes sparkled as he explained. "Being meat-producing Spiritual Beasts, you just need to feed them Spirit Grass containing Spiritual Energy. The higher the Spiritual Energy content, the faster they grow, and the better the meat quality."

"As for the price? That depends on what the Divine Son wishes to trade with."

"Spirit Stones, Star Stones, Shadow Stones, Law Crystals—the price varies for each."

SNAP.

"Here are a few Law Crystals I have left. See how much these can get," Luo Wencheng said, casually throwing two walnut-sized Law Crystals onto the table.

"Brother Cheng?" Chen Jiuge was somewhat surprised. These are Law Crystals!

"These items are of no use to me," Luo Wencheng stated. "The Shadow Clan isn’t very prominent, and the effects of its crystals can, at most, help someone reach the Heavenly Immortal realm."

Qian Baolin quickly snatched the two crystals from the table, his weaselly face revealing a hint of ecstasy. "Shadow Law Crystals, each weighing two taels, two in total."

"I can give you thirty thousand Vanilla Pigs, ten thousand Five-Taste Sheep, and I’ll throw in some high-quality Spirit Grass seeds as a bonus."

Although Chen Jiuge wasn’t very clear about the price of Law Crystals in the Star Sea Realm, Qian Baolin’s offer seemed too low.

"That’s too low," Chen Jiuge shook his head.

"Divine Son, this price isn’t low at all! If not for the Shadow Law being somewhat rare, I wouldn’t even offer this much," Qian Baolin complained.

"Then let’s trade with Spirit Stones and Shadow Stones."

Qian Baolin’s mouth twitched. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go! Shouldn’t he haggle a bit, I make a small concession, and then we agree? Wait a minute... since when do Asuras haggle?

After a spirited haggling session, the two finally reached an agreement.

Qian Baolin admitted with some respect, "You are the most skilled Divine Son at bargaining I’ve ever met—no, the most skilled Asura at bargaining."

Chen Jiuge smiled. "I’ll take that as a compliment."

Having settled the payment of two Law Crystals, one hundred ten thousand pounds of Shadow Stone, ten million Top Grade Spirit Stones, and eight million Star Stones, Qian Baolin’s complexion finally improved considerably. He waved to his clan members. "Set up the goods as the Divine Son directed."

The Shadow Clan naturally also had a Grotto Heaven. It originally housed a large number of Spiritual Beasts, their source of food. However, during the final moments when the Defense Magic Array broke, the Shadow Clan members who stayed behind detonated all the Pocket World Cores, leaving behind no resources. This led to the current transaction.

This large sum of resources naturally bought quite a few things. First were three Grotto Heavens, which Chen Jiuge placed in the Shadow Clan’s main plaza.

One Grotto Heaven was designated for raising these herbivorous Spiritual Beasts, specifically for meat production; one Grotto Heaven was set aside for cultivating Spirit Rice as a staple; and the last Grotto Heaven was mainly planted with various Spiritual Medicines, which would provide raw materials for common Elixirs.

Next were the little elves to care for these three Grotto Heavens. Unlike other races, little elves—a peculiar species naturally engendered by heaven and earth in both the Heavenly Realm and the Star Sea Realm—had a decent standing in the Heavenly Realm. Here, however, it was different; they had become the most basic commodity in the slave trade.

Thirty thousand little elves entered the three Grotto Heavens in batches. Qian Baolin noticed Chen Jiuge’s expression was somewhat unnatural. Thinking he was worried about the little elves’ ability to care for everything, Qian Baolin quickly said, "These little elves have been carefully nurtured. Each one possesses Nascent Soul level strength and can perfectly manage the Spiritual Beasts. The little elves assigned to the Spirit Plants are also well-versed in the knowledge of Spiritual Plant Masters, so rest assured, there will be no accidents."

Chen Jiuge was startled. "That’s not what I meant. I just feel that, compared to being trafficked, extinguishing their entire species is also a form of mercy."

Qian Baolin paused, a look of surprise appearing on his face. "It’s rare to hear such a reasoned statement from an Asura."

"Indeed, compared to being sold, perhaps annihilation would be a kindness for them. However, some races don’t even possess the value of being exterminated. The crystals obtained from their annihilation would be worth less than their value alive. I am merely a merchant. I only consider profit, not the feelings of the merchandise."

"That makes sense," Chen Jiuge nodded.

Ten dark gray, medium-sized Flying Boats hovered in the air. Qian Baolin introduced them, "These are Shadow-model medium-sized Flying Boats. Their optimal carrying capacity is one thousand people, with a maximum of three thousand. They are equipped with High Rank Defense Magic Arrays capable of withstanding attacks from anyone below the Golden Immortal realm. Each Flying Boat also features two Shadow Battle Swords, whose maximum power can reach that of a Heavenly Immortal’s strike. They are best piloted by Cultivators who practice Dark Attribute Laws."

Then, an invisible ripple spread out. Qian Baolin continued, "This is the Nine Hidden Array. Its defensive and offensive power is poor, but its concealment capabilities are exceptional. When fully activated, even a Golden Immortal might not detect it without paying close attention. Crucially, its energy consumption when fully active is very low."

"So, this transaction is considered complete."

After inspecting the Flying Boats and the Array, Chen Jiuge was inwardly very satisfied, but his expression remained calm. "You haven’t left any backdoors on these, have you?" he asked.

Upon hearing this, Qian Baolin responded with a wry smile, "Divine Son, although this Flying Boat and Array are not bad, they are not top-notch. Leaving a backdoor would be easily detectable, and then who would trade with our Money Clan?"

Chen Jiuge nodded silently. "Ah, I was just kidding."

"Well then, Divine Son, I shall take my leave now. If you need anything in the future, I hope you will contact me, Qian Baolin. Here is my Communication Talisman."

Holding the Communication Talisman, adorned with a golden rat’s head, Chen Jiuge watched the massive rat-shaped Flying Boat float away into the air, then turned to Luo Wencheng and said, "Brother Cheng, the Money Clan flies around the sky with so much wealth; aren’t they afraid of being robbed?"

Luo Wencheng thought for a moment and said, "There’s at least one Immortal on board, and no less than two quasi-Immortals as a minimum. We wouldn’t be able to rob them."

Chen Jiuge’s expression darkened. "I didn’t say *we* were going to rob them."

---

「In the Shadow Clan’s remodeled grand hall」

"Divine Son, why spend so many resources remodeling this dilapidated place? Don’t tell me you want to live here?" Luo Wencheng asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I have another race under my command who also practice the Shadow Law, so I plan to settle them here," Chen Jiuge casually fabricated a reason, knowing full well that Asuras were too slow-witted to suspect anything.

In a month’s time, this new batch of Little Blacks had grown rapidly, their strength changing dramatically each day as if they had taken steroids. The original seven had already reached the Mahayana realm, though they still needed some time to become True Immortals.

Under the diligent guidance of Chen Ziteng and Mo Yu, this batch of Little Blacks had also learned the basics of common knowledge, and their daily lives were no longer a problem.

When ten thousand impressive Little Blacks appeared, Luo Wencheng was startled. "Good heavens! If it weren’t for the horns, with this aura and appearance, I would have thought the Shadow Clan had been resurrected!"

"They are the Horn Shadow Clan, and they also cultivate the Shadow Law. I think this place is very suitable for them, so I plan to let them settle here. It will also serve to stabilize our rear," Chen Jiuge said thoughtfully.

"Divine Son, you may do as you wish. In any case, at this distance, the Purple Butterfly Clan lacks the ability to occupy it, and we certainly wouldn’t move our clan members to such a godforsaken place," Luo Wencheng said casually.

When the Asura Clan exterminates another race, they loot its resources and leave immediately. They never occupy territory for development, treating other races purely as granaries.

After Luo Wencheng left, Chen Jiuge turned to look at these members of the Horn Shadow Clan.

"Father God!"

The first seven Little Blacks to appear, now the strongest among them, were also the leaders of the ten thousand.

Looking at the seven respectful Little Blacks before him, Chen Jiuge announced, "From now on, this will be the place where you live. From today, you are the Horn Shadow Clan."

"Yes, Father God."

"Henceforth, you shall take ’Horn’ as your surname."

Chen Jiuge had no intention of naming these Horn Shadow Clan members individually. Not only was he terrible at naming, but the sheer task of naming ten thousand of them would be exhausting. Besides, if the Horn Shadow Clan was truly meant to be a replacement for the Shadow Clan, then their upper limit in strength would likely be similar.

The Asura Clan was not adept at management, so their role here was limited. Thus, Chen Jiuge had them return to the Purple Butterfly Domain, leaving only a few hundred as guards.

With Mo Yu’s help, the Horn Shadow Clan quickly overcame their initial period of chaotic adjustment and gradually began to establish order.

「Three years later」

Wudao Tian, who had been in seclusion, suddenly emerged and found Chen Jiuge. "Junior Brother," he said, "the people from the Sect have arrived. Elder Changsun said he would personally deliver your Spiritual Beast in a few days."

"Also, my Master and Great Elder Ye have arrived. They probably want to discuss the upcoming plans with you, Junior Brother."

Chen Jiuge, who was playing Mahjong with Da Bai, Yue Meng, and Mo Yu, looked up in surprise. "So soon?"

"It should be fine. It’s been three years, after all," Wudao Tian replied.

"Nine of Bamboos," Da Bai said, his expression conflicted as he played a tile.

"Mahjong! All one suit! Spirit Stones or Star Stones?" Yue Meng chirped, extending her small hand.

"Let’s call it a day here."

Chen Jiuge sent the Three Beasts away and looked seriously at his Senior Brother. "Senior Brother, I really don’t understand the Sect’s reasoning. How does cooperating with me allow them to establish their own sect independently?"

"Honestly, my current strength is, frankly, quite average. Although my status isn’t low, I don’t truly represent the Asura Clan."

"So, what exactly is the Sect planning?"

Wudao Tian rubbed his nose helplessly. "Junior Brother, do you think I would know? Don’t mind that I’m the Sect’s Senior Brother; in reality, I’m just a Heavenly Immortal. I don’t have much standing here."

"Anyway, Junior Brother, just stick to your own ideas. I, your Senior Brother, will always support you."

In the dimly lit room, Chen Jiuge sighed. I hope they don’t make things too difficult for me.

---

「Seven days quickly passed.」

The familiar Flying Boat appeared in the airspace above the Horn Shadow Clan’s settlement.