In truth, Lanling had seen even more gold coins before, especially the gold reserves of the Royal City Gold House, where the entire floor was cast from gold and silver.
But at this moment, he still felt deeply shaken, with a feeling of being amidst mountains of gold and seas of silver.
Since coming to this world, Lanling had never received a pie falling from the sky. Even when he had once been as wealthy as a nation, it was all earned through management.
But right now, a massive pie had truly fallen from the sky.
This territory of the Mirror Demon King really was a land of feng shui treasure.
Not only was it ownerless land, but it also had natural food reserves and gold reserves.
How many gold coins were in here?
Lanling truly could not estimate, but exceeding six figures should not be a problem. There were also all kinds of weapons, gems, and so on.
At this moment, Lanling simply could not count them all, nor was there any need to.
Wealth no longer held any meaning for Lanling. What he wanted was power approaching that of the Dragon Emperor, a mighty empire, a demon army exceeding ten million.
Let this batch of treasure lie here quietly. Consider it the secret treasury of the future Yanmo Tribe.
This place was indeed extremely safe, because it was over one hundred metres underwater. Besides Lanling, very few people could dive this deep without suffocating. Moreover, the water pressure here was already astonishing enough, not to mention there was not a trace of light. Anyone else who came in would not be able to see anything at all.
Lanling took out a beast-hide bag and desperately stuffed gold coins into it.
The gold coins he grabbed were utterly insignificant compared to this mountain of gold.
He filled an entire beast-hide bag. Inside were not only gold coins, but also some gems, a heavy dagger, and a gleaming white sword.
After filling one bag, Lanling floated upward with it on his back.
A full two to three minutes later, Lanling finally surfaced and handed the massive beast-hide bag up.
“This heavy?” Suo Mo took Lanling’s large beast-hide bag.
It was all gold coins inside. How could it not be heavy?
Lanling climbed out of the water and said to the near-human woman, “You have rendered a great service. There are indeed many gold coins down below.”
Fortunately, the beast-hide bag Suo Mo had brought was not sewn together, but completely skinned from a wild beast, so its load-bearing capacity was very strong.
Otherwise, the gold coins Lanling had brought up would have weighed several hundred jin.
Suo Mo carried this bag of gold coins out of the cave, then began to count.
In the end, he counted out a full two thousand three hundred gold coins, each coin weighing a full three liang.
“And this dagger.” Lanling handed it over.
“A dark gold dagger.” Suo Mo was excited, then fiercely stabbed it into the hard ground.
The incomparably hard ground was directly pierced over half a chi deep.
“Good treasure, truly a good treasure.” Suo Mo said, “The value of this dagger alone exceeds this bag of gold coins.”
This was a pure dark gold dagger. A mere seven-inch dagger weighed over one hundred jin.
In the human kingdom, the price of a dark gold-plated arrowhead was ten silver coins.
For a skilled blacksmith, one liang of dark gold could plate three arrows. Overall, the price of one jin of dark gold was around seven to eight gold coins.
But this item was also available at a price with no market. The circulation of dark gold on the market was extremely scarce. Essentially all the secret gold in the entire human kingdom was controlled by Bazhou.
And Suo Mo said this dark gold dagger’s value exceeded over two thousand gold coins. It seemed dark gold was even more precious in the Savage Wilderness World.
“I heard that the Savage Wilderness World has quite a few dark gold mines, at least more than the human kingdom.” Lanling said.
Suo Mo said, “There are somewhat more, but they are all owned, so the dark gold circulating outside is very scarce. After melting down this dark gold dagger of yours and making it into a dark gold-plated greatsword, ten thousand gold coins would still find buyers.”
Lanling understood. It was still a matter of rarity being precious.
Any expert hoped to obtain a divine weapon.
Since coming to the Savage Wilderness World, the weapons Lanling had seen were basically iron swords, steel swords at most.
He had never seen dark gold swords, platinum swords, or dragon gold swords.
Next, Suo Mo picked out a snow-white stone from over a dozen gems and said, “This is called a spirit stone, extremely precious. Place it in water, then enter the water to bathe. Within half a year at most, it can remove scars from the body. It can also slow down ageing, making women become younger.”
Lanling was instantly incomparably astonished. Then this spirit stone was completely a woman’s favourite.
…
“Let’s go, we are buying a Beast Origin Pill!” Suo Mo said.
The Beast Origin Pill was the most important thing of all. It could help Lanling raise his cultivation level in a short time, so he could fight Du Yan.
Lanling said, “Where do we go to buy it?”
Beast Origin Pills were items available at a price with no market, and the tribes of the Savage Wilderness World were filled with hostility. Wanting to swagger into a tribe to do business was impossible, unless both tribes had an agreement.
For example, the Ankara Tribe and the Chimera Tribe could trade with each other. However, this agreement would soon be cancelled, because the hostility between these two tribes was growing increasingly intense.
Something like Beast Origin Pills, whether in the Ankara Tribe or the Chimera Tribe, could not be bought.
For these chiefs, Beast Origin Pills were equivalent to strategic resources. They basically would not take them out to sell.
Moreover, Lanling and Suo Mo suddenly taking out so many gold coins, there was no way to explain it to Constantine.
“There is one place where you can buy Beast Origin Pills, the Ghost Market!” Suo Mo said.
Lanling said, “The Savage Wilderness World has markets?”
The Savage Wilderness World certainly had markets. These tribes always needed to trade.
The so-called Ghost Market was actually the ruins of an ancient city. After countless years of geological changes, this city ruin had been buried, becoming an underground city.
The tribes of the Savage Wilderness World also needed to trade, but they did not feel safe going anywhere. So they placed all large transactions in the Ghost Market.
Nearly ten tribes within a radius of five hundred li all traded here.
Rumour had it that in the Ghost Market, anything could be bought, Beast Origin Pills included.
However, previously even though Suo Mo was the great chief of the Foreign Legion, he had no qualifications to enter the Ghost Market.
Because entering this market required paying three gold coins upfront, three gold coins per person, regardless of whether you bought anything or not.
For a destitute collective like the Foreign Legion, how could they possibly be willing to go to the Ghost Market? Buying things at the tribal market was already impressive enough.
“How far is the Ghost Market from here?” Lanling asked.
“Around two hundred and thirty li.” Suo Mo said, “So, we must go quickly and return quickly.”
The near-human woman said, “Now that the Mirror Demon King is dead, the illusions in this region have also disappeared. Anyone can enter. If we leave just like this, what if others break into our territory?”
The Yanmo Tribe had not yet been established, yet this woman already treated this region as her own territory.
Suo Mo said, “Rest assured, this region has already become synonymous with death. The vast majority of people will not approach it. The surrounding tribes, even when hunting, will stay far away from this region, roughly a hundred li.”
Though he said this, Lanling still needed to occupy this land as soon as possible and establish his own tribe. Otherwise, once others learned this region was no longer a death forbidden zone, they would definitely bring powerful armies to occupy it.
Once occupied by others, wanting to take it back would be nearly impossible.
Not to mention, this region of roughly a hundred li in radius was absolutely a land of feng shui treasure. Not only did it have astonishing treasure, but also astonishing food reserves.
“Uncle, we need to quicken our pace toward independence. At the latest within two months, we must establish our own tribe and bring all the brothers of the Foreign Legion here.” Lanling said, “Once others discover this place, it will truly be too late.”
Suo Mo nodded and said, “After your duel with Du Yan, we will immediately plan independence and establish our own tribe!”
…
Leaving the former territory of the Mirror Demon King.
Suo Mo, Lanling, and the three of them ran desperately, heading toward the Ghost Market over two hundred li away.
Amo was that near-human woman. She was thirty-seven years old this year. Perhaps due to her race, she was younger than a thirty-seven-year-old human woman.
Seeing her wearing branch armour and leaf clothing was very improper, Suo Mo gave her his outer coat to wear.
Then, the way she looked at Suo Mo became incomparably passionate, not concealing her affection in the slightest.
Or rather, from the first moment she saw Suo Mo, she had been attracted by the righteous, powerful, warm energy aura about him.
She had already said she had no interest in a life of glory and wealth. She only wanted to bear children and raise a family. So her fiery gaze was fixed on Suo Mo at every moment, wishing she could have children with him at any time. This made Suo Mo very uncomfortable.
The three of them ran without sleep or rest for nearly a full day and night, finally arriving at the Ghost Market over two hundred li away.
Lanling noticed that this Ghost Market was in the eastern direction, near the sea, because the land here was scarred and ravaged. There were very few trees, flowers, or grass, almost no wild beasts.
The entire southern Savage Wilderness seemed to have experienced something terrible. Within several hundred li of the seaside, it was all this kind of lifeless land.
The entrance to the Ghost Market was a great fissure.
That’s right, a fissure in the earth, several thousand metres long, over ten metres wide.
At the great fissure, several dozen Savage cavalry stood guard. Seeing Lanling’s group of three, they did not speak, simply extending their hands.
Suo Mo counted out nine gold coins and placed them in his hand.
Instantly, the several dozen Savage cavalry left, roaring, “Lower the bridge!”
Then, amid a series of creaking sounds, a wooden drawbridge was lowered.
Along the drawbridge, Lanling’s group of three walked into the great fissure.
Steps had already been carved out here, winding continuously downward, deep into the underground city ruins. Lanling could already faintly see lights inside.
One had to be very careful when walking the steps. Once you fell, it was a bottomless abyss.
After walking several thousand metres of steps, the three of them finally entered the famous Ghost Market.
Each person took a simple mask to wear. The masks only exposed the eyes and nose, painted with fierce ghost faces.
This was also the origin of the Ghost Market’s name.
Every person who entered the Ghost Market to trade did not show their true face.
After entering the Ghost Market, Lanling discovered the area was very large.
After all, this was once the ruins of an ancient city, with broad streets. On both sides of the streets were deep, dark houses, and these shops were inside these houses.
Of course, there were also people setting up stalls.
Some people had accidentally obtained a treasure and ran to the Ghost Market to sell it. After paying the three gold coin entrance fee, they set up stalls on the streets. Whether they could sell it, and at what price, completely depended on luck.
Suo Mo led Lanling into the first shop.
The houses here were so old their history could not be told. Rather than houses, they were more like stone caves.
Inside, dim candlelight burned. One could not see how many things there were. Only a hunched Savage old man sat there dozing.
These shopkeepers, some were not the true owners. Because these shops were usually opened by the power holders of surrounding tribes.
Every tribe had more or less some treasures, or wanted to purchase some things. So they permanently opened a shop in the Ghost Market for trading, and the people watching the shops were usually the chiefs’ trusted confidants.
Once, Gou Fu had been sent by Constantine to manage a shop in the Ghost Market, but because he had embezzled for personal gain, he was stripped of this cushy job.
Although these shops were permanently stationed in the Ghost Market, they did not necessarily have things for sale.
For example, this shop before them was completely empty.
“Beast Origin Pills, do you have any?” Suo Mo said.
That dozing old man shook his head, not answering.
“Price is not a problem.” Suo Mo patted the gold coins on his back.
That old man opened his eyelids, a greedy glint flashing through, but still shook his head.
Suo Mo led Lanling into the second shop. This shop had some weapons, armour, and some clothing displayed inside.
Suo Mo bought some clothing. The prices were all very expensive, much more expensive than in the human kingdom.
“Do you have Beast Origin Pills?” Suo Mo asked.
“No.” The shopkeeper said.
Suo Mo said, “Price is not a problem.”
The shopkeeper said, “No.”
…
Third shop, fourth shop…
Suo Mo led Lanling walking all the way down, finishing one street. The answer he received was the same: no Beast Origin Pills.
Truly strange. Beast Origin Pills were very precious, but it should not be that after coming to the Ghost Market, not a single one could be bought. What exactly was going on?
At the seventeenth shop, Suo Mo finally got the answer at the cost of two gold coins.
A few days ago, a mysterious person had bought out all the Beast Origin Pills in the entire Ghost Market, and at one thousand six hundred gold coins per pill.
When these words came out, Suo Mo was instantly astonished.
The entire Ghost Market’s Beast Origin Pills, there should be at least over a dozen or more. That would be over twenty thousand gold coins.
Who exactly was it? Such a massive hand?
Not a single person among the surrounding dozen or so tribes could possibly have such a massive hand.
Twenty thousand gold coins, Constantine could grit his teeth and take it out, but it would be impossible to spend it all on Beast Origin Pills.
The effect of taking the first pill was very great, the second pill’s effect was very weak, and the third pill had completely no effect, instead posing a life-threatening risk.
And every chief had at least a dozen or so Beast Origin Pills in stock, as rewards for the tribe’s warriors. It was impossible to spend so much money to buy them.
Then, was he targeting Lanling?
Even more impossible. Lanling was somewhat of a figure in the Chimera Tribe, but placed among the surrounding dozen or so tribes, besides the Wild Horse Tribe and the Ankara Tribe, who knew who Lanling was?
Walking through all the shops in the entire Ghost Market, not a single Beast Origin Pill could be found.
Lanling’s luck was truly at its worst.
Seven-star Demon Warrior was the baseline. Without reaching this cultivation level, he might as well not duel Du Yan. It would be certain death.
And at this moment, there were only four days left until the duel. The Beast Origin Pill was the only opportunity to break through cultivation level in a short time.
Without the Beast Origin Pill, breaking through to Seven-star Demon Warrior was fundamentally impossible.
Just then, Lanling suddenly felt someone had been following him all along. Closing his eyes to sense this person’s energy aura, it was actually somewhat familiar.
Instantly, he could not help but turn his head sharply.
He immediately saw a figure, completely shrouded in a black cloak, face wearing a ghost mask.
Seeing that she had been discovered by Lanling, this person was not alarmed either. After slight hesitation, she stepped forward and said, “You want Beast Origin Pills, right?”
That’s right, it was her!
Although she used a man’s voice, Lanling still immediately sensed that this was a woman.
And a familiar woman at that, the daughter of the Wild Horse Tribe chief, Duo Ning!
He had never expected that she would actually be inside the Ghost Market.
The Wild Horse Tribe had already perished, conquered by the Ankara Tribe. Chief Duo Duo had led several hundred surviving people to flee the battlefield, their fates unknown.
Over a month had passed now. No one knew where the Wild Horse Tribe’s remaining forces were, or how many were still alive.
“You want Beast Origin Pills, right?” Duo Ning asked again in a hoarse voice.
“That’s right, do you have any?” Suo Long asked.
“Yes, but the price is very expensive.” Duo Ning altered her voice.
“How much?” Suo Long said.
Duo Ning said, “How much money do you have?”
Her gaze fell directly on the large bag of gold coins on Suo Mo’s back.
She was completely asking for an exorbitant price.
The normal price of a Beast Origin Pill was around one thousand to one thousand one hundred gold coins.
And the bag of gold coins on Suo Mo’s back was a full two thousand plus.
Suo Mo did not bargain, saying, “Money on one hand, goods on the other!”
Duo Ning was startled. She had asked for an exorbitant price, originally still waiting for the other side to bargain. But she had never expected Suo Mo to be so direct.
She took a deep breath, then looked around in all directions, taking out a box from her bosom and opening it.
Inside, there was a blood-red glowing pill.
That’s right, this was the Beast Origin Pill.
Suo Mo handed over the entire bag of gold coins, then took her Beast Origin Pill.
Finally bought it!
For Suo Mo, these gold coins meant nothing at all. As long as it could let Lanling survive the duel, as long as it could let him break through in cultivation level, let alone over two thousand gold coins, even ten thousand gold coins and he would not blink an eye.
“Farewell!” Duo Ning carried the heavy gold coins on her back and disappeared from Lanling and Suo Mo’s field of vision.
Lanling had no intention of conversing with her at all.
Although Lanling wanted to subjugate the Wild Horse Tribe, they were not miserable enough yet.
However, it was evident they were not far from being at the end of their rope. This Beast Origin Pill was probably the only thing Duo Ning could take out to sell.
These over two thousand gold coins, perhaps she would buy weapons, buy grain, buy meat, buy war horses.
But…
Relying on these things, how long could the Wild Horse Tribe’s several hundred remaining forces hold out?
Savage people who lost their tribe basically had only one outcome: death!
“Let’s go, immediately find a place to take the Beast Origin Pill, then undergo a blood bath, tempering bones and tendons!”