Газрын аймаг (2)

Wo-woong!

A hot breeze sweeps through the surroundings.

True Dragon Alliance's Serving Command Ark's demon race market.

There, numerous members of the demon race are gathered, exchanging goods, and many of them wander around in their true forms, emitting intense heat, filling the area near the market with a sweltering warmth.

'Finding demon beasts transformed into human form is difficult.'

After all, it isn't the land of the Heaven Tribe or the Human Race, so there’s no need to maintain a transformed shape.

Only occasionally did the demon races of immense size transform due to their large size.

"Come, come, this elixir has been personally delivered from the Heaven Tribe!"

"How many Blood Refining Methods have been developed to fuse Immortal Beast true blood into the body? Our Blood Refining Method is of a different caliber compared to those developed so far…"

"We'll auction off the space dharma treasure obtained from subduing the Bright Crow Race last time!"The voices of the demons are loud, each straining not to be drowned out by the others.

However, since the demon race communicates by vibrating spiritual energy to speak, if a member of the Human Race, who does not possess the Earth Tribe’s vision are to listen, the market would seem quite quiet as the spiritual energy only slightly fluctuates.

'The market of the demon race isn't much different from that of humans.'

In some ways, it even seems much more orderly than that of humans.

I briefly tour the market, observing the reactions of the surrounding demons while looking for a place selling method manuals.

After a while, I enter a street where demon beast methods are sold.

'So many...'

There’s a separate street for selling demon beast methods, indicating an overwhelming abundance of them.

Unlike human cultivation methods recorded in books or jade slips, most of the demon beast methods are recorded on bones, skins, or teeth.

'Is it because of the characteristics of the demon language, or is the recording method itself different?'

Demon script fundamentally records the flow of yin and yang within the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to communicate meanings.

Thus, their linguistic system is entirely different from that of the Human Race.

Therefore, the method of recording also involves engraving the flow of yin and yang onto bones or stones imbued with spiritual essence, so that when spiritual energy is infused into the bone later, the engraved flow vibrates the spiritual energy, conveying the content.

Perhaps that's why the majority of demon races went around with methods engraved on their bodies or bones.

Among these demon races, a significant number came to the street selling demon beast methods, tearing off parts of their bodies that contain the methods to sell and leave.

Crackling!

"Kuahaha! This horn of mine contains the Horned Ox Black Origin Transformation of our Horned Ox Race! How much will you offer?"

"Hmm, I've never even heard of the Horned Ox Race..."

"What? Are you insulting my race now!?"

"No, that's not it... Ah, don't get angry, will this amount satisfy you?"

"Hmm..."

Watching a large, bipedal black ox, identifying as a member of the Horned Ox Race, snorting as it hands its horn to a demon race merchant for spirit stones in exchange, makes me quite shocked by the culture.

After securing the spirit stones, the bipedal black ox snorts and leaves for another place.

With a few steps, a new horn begins to grow where the old one had been, indicating that for demons at the Core Formation stage or higher, such regeneration is entirely possible.

The flounder demon merchant giggles as he takes the ox's horn, clearly pleased.

"Recently, among the mercenary races, the Horned Ox Race has been gaining tremendous popularity. A method from such a race will surely sell for a high price."

I manipulate Yuan Yu covering my body with Blood Body Skin Armor to sprout scales on my cheek and grow red deer antlers on my forehead. I then deactivate the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts in front of him.

"Look here, I've just ascended to the Bright Cold Realm and it's my first time at the Earth Tribe market, so I have a question to ask…"

Wo-woong!

As I let the energy of my Inner Core flow out with dragon-shaped consciousness, the flounder merchant is startled and stands up.

"My goodness, what brings a noble dragon to such a place?"

"As I said, I've only recently ascended to the Bright Cold Realm... I have some questions."

"Yes, yes, ask away."

"First off, is it common for demons to come here selling demon beast methods like just now?"

"Of course. Well, in truth, those demon beast methods sold by such demons are actually one of the main specialties of our Earth Tribe."

The flounder merchant continues his explanation.

"As you may know, our Earth Tribe is essentially grouped together due to our ‘vision’, but we are all different races. It's well-known that the majority of the Earth Tribe originally roamed the fields and mountains as beasts. Hence, the classification is practically impossible to count.  But, precisely because of that! There's an enormous variety of Earth Tribe methods."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?".

The flounder merchant looks at me as if he didn't understand my question, his eyes almost questioning why I couldn't understand such a simple matter.

"Hmm, the environment in the Lower Realm where I lived is too different from the Bright Cold Realm."

I make up a suitable excuse about the lower realm, and the flounder merchant nods.

"Ah, right, you mentioned you've just ascended. Well, there are countless lower realms, so that makes sense. To explain the situation of the Earth Tribe in the Bright Cold Realm to a distinguished dragon like yourself, our 'Earth Tribe methods' are practically not standardized, except for the Dragon Race or the Phoenix Race you belong to, right?"

"...Right"

I don't know much but agree, fearing that any further ignorance on my part might lead to more suspicion.

'Well, I can guess as much.'

Earth Tribe, or essentially the demon race.

Unlike the Heaven Tribe, which passes down and progressively develops methods for future generations, most demon races were once wild beasts roaming the fields, unable to inherit methods from their ancestors.

Therefore, demon races accumulating power essentially had to create their methods individually as they grew, so it made sense that there are no standardized methods.

"Yes, as you know, we demon races must 'create' our own suitable methods relying on our instincts from the day we awaken our spiritual nature and gain intelligence. Because of this, the methods created by each race and individual vary greatly. Such demon beast methods are created by countless demon races relying on their instincts and their bodies. That's why there are so many demons who carve the flow of spiritual energy into their bodies and sell parts of those engraved bodies like this."

"Hm, I see."

There seems to be a reason why demons engrave methods into their bodies.

"And such a diverse market of demon beast methods provides an opportunity for many other demons who have awakened intelligence to look for methods that suit them. If there are sellers, there are also buyers. For example, if someone creates a method according to instinct but it turns out to be poor, they can come to the method market to buy one that suits them better. And, of course, many from the Heaven Tribe also desire our demon beast methods."

The flounder merchant chuckles and scratches his head.

"Those from the Heaven Tribe who wish to study our demon beast methods always come here to buy these method manuals in bulk at regular intervals. That's why this demon beast method market is so vibrant. I'm not sure what the Lower Realm you came from is like, but it seems they didn't have such a system?"

"Hm. Indeed, it's a unique system of the Bright Cold Realm."

After asking the flounder merchant a few more questions about the Earth Tribe, I hand over some spirit stones I brought from the lower realm.

'The Earth Tribe market is ultimately related to the characteristics of the Earth Tribe itself.'

As you learn a method, the flow of spiritual energy leaves traces throughout the body according to the characteristics of the method.

A market for demon beast methods where parts of the body with these traces of flow are sold.

That is the unique characteristic of the Earth Tribe.

After looking around the flounder merchant's shop, I visited other shops.

While wandering through the shops, I realized that there were some manuals commonly sold in several places.

"Look here, I've seen this manual quite often in other shops too, what kind of manual is this? I've only recently ascended, so could you explain it to me?"

Fortunately, when I ask merchants while imitating the appearance of the Dragon Race, they are more than willing to explain as if it’s an honor.

"Ah, you are an ascended dragon kin, I see. These methods are the most fundamental among the demon beast methods of the Bright Cold Realm. They can be considered basic methods."

The merchant, who looks like a mussel but bizarrely with limbs, lifts a small spirit stone and continues the explanation.

"While countless demons each have their unique methods, we all share some common ground as demon races. These commonalities have been compiled to create what can be considered the basics of basics among demon beast methods."

"Oh? What's its name?"

"It's called the Vast Cold Formula."

"Vast Cold Formula…"

I purchase the Vast Cold Formula and tuck it away.

After buying the basic demon beast method and a couple of other methods that seem suitable, I head back up to the stone building where Seo Hweol is located.

'It seems Seo Hweol hasn't come out yet.'

It seems he has a lot of work to deal with inside.

As I wait for Seo Hweol, several hours pass.

When the spiritual energy of heaven and earth revolves, indicating the evening,

Seo Hweol comes out of the stone building.

"Have you been waiting long? Weren't you bored?"

"How could I be bored waiting for you, Sir Seo Hweol? Moreover, in cultivation, patience is a virtue."

"Good words. Have you been practicing the Summoning Wind, True Blood Transformation I gave you?"

"Yes, I have."

"Haha… I see."

Seo Hweol smiles and pats my shoulder.

However, at that moment, I suddenly feel Seo Hweol's suspicions skyrocket.

'...? But I didn't do anything, why is he suddenly suspicious?'

This person, who doesn't even possess the vision of Beyond the Path, couldn't possibly see through me.

But Seo Hweol, though cunning, is a rational being.

'There's no way he would suddenly suspect me like that without any reason. There must be some grounds for it…'

I used the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts to ensure he wouldn't have noticed me leaving and returning.

Furthermore, I left a Gang Sphere clone secretly, so even if Seo Hweol occasionally checked with his consciousness, he wouldn't be able to tell.

But why so suddenly?

"Since today's tasks have been largely satisfactorily handled, let's return. By now, even if Cloud Heart Lake hasn't been conquered, our race's elders must have built a new Sea Dragon Palace there."

"Yes, I understand."

Swoosh!

Seo Hweol transforms back into his true form and carries me on his neck.

As I hang onto Seo Hweol's neck flying, I think to myself.

'Should I now, even by burning my True Origin Energy, draw the Formless Sword and cut this guy's neck?'

His suspicion towards me has enormously spiked.

Perhaps killing him right now and escaping might be better in the long run.

That's when he speaks.

"Ah, and while I was handling tasks at the True Dragon Alliance's office, I heard some interesting information. It's about a plan that will soon be implemented across the entire Earth Tribe."

"Is it alright for me to hear about it?"

"No problem, it's not that big of a secret. 'The Entire Earth Tribe Naming Project.' In the future, the True Dragon Alliance, like the Human Race Grand Alliance's system of compiling a register of the living and dead among humans, plans to name every member of the Earth Tribe and manage those names."

"…Names, you say?"

I’m taken aback by the sudden change of topic.

'Why bring up names out of nowhere?'

"Names (名) partly contain fate (命). Our Earth Tribe doesn't have the Heaven Tribe's ability to read the fate of the heavens. That's why we've always been behind in the information war against the Heaven Tribe, and the influence of the Earth Tribe has been significantly reduced recently. As such, the True Dragon Alliance plans to manage the names of all Earth Tribe members and give names to those without. It's a grand initiative.”

"...But, if I may ask, what's the use of that?"

"Ah, if you don't understand fate, it might be a bit difficult to grasp… By managing the names of all Earth Tribe members, the True Dragon Alliance's supreme council decided it's possible to indirectly read the power of fate contained within those names, thereby predicting the overall fate of the Earth Tribe."

"Why are you telling me this decision?"

"Simple. In the future, every race within the Earth Tribe will dispatch one or two individuals for their own management to participate in the Entire Earth Tribe Naming Project. I'm thinking, from our Sea Dragon Race, we'll dispatch you among others."

"Thank you for granting me such an opportunity."

'What exactly is he planning?'

I frown inwardly.

By the time we arrived at Cloud Heart Lake, the sun had set.

Seo Hweol and I enter the newly constructed Sea Dragon Palace beneath the lake.

"Let's discuss the details tomorrow. For today, rest well."

I enter the room assigned to me and sit down.

What should I do?

What is Seo Hweol scheming?

As I ponder this, I inadvertently look at the identity plaque Seo Hweol had given me.

"…Huh?"

Why is intent infused in the identity plaque?

I feel a chill down my spine as I examine it.

And then I realize a horrifying truth.

'Damn it.'

During my time at the market today.

I had been constantly monitored by Seo Hweol.