The six Gongjia members were led around the streets of the trading point to familiarize themselves with the place.
Although the scale of the trading point could not be compared to the famous cities on the other side of the sea, it was still much better than the smaller cities that were built later on. It was clear that the Yanjiao people had put in a lot of effort to build this trading point.
However, this was not the end of the Flaming River Trading Point. According to the Yanjiao people, they would continue to expand. Now that the land had been fenced, it was hard to say how big the trading point would be.
Even though it was similar to a city, the environment here was obviously different from the other side of the sea. The shops here were not complicated and there were not many types of products. It was obvious that they were built in a tribal style. Other than the resting inns, the shops selling fearsome beast meat, horns and fangs were the most crowded places. The place was filled with a more primitive and wild atmosphere.
"This is unbelievable. I can't believe it's like this," exclaimed the oldest of the six, Gongjia Kan.
Although the Yanjiao people had introduced them to the trading point on the way here, they were still shocked when they saw it for themselves.
It really was different from the rumours!
"Looks like we made the right choice," sighed Gongjia Ren.
The others nodded in agreement. This place was much better than they had imagined. They were willing to start a new life in a place like this.
"They don't have a unified currency here. That's right, metal wares are rare here so they barter with other things." Gongjia Kan observed their surroundings carefully.
One of the Yanjiao warriors couldn't help but say, "Actually, the Grand Elder has the idea of a unified currency but he hasn't implemented it yet due to certain reasons."
"Oh?" Gongjia Ren's interest was piqued. He asked, "Then did the Grand Elder mention anything about the currency? Shells? Animal bones? Or animal fangs? "
The Yanjiao warrior kept quiet. Before the Grand Elder made the decision, they would not reveal too much.
Gongjia Ren could only give up. These Yanjiao people were very stubborn. If they did not want to talk, it would be hard to pry them out of them. However, Gongjia Ren kept this question to himself.
While Gongjia Ren and the rest were being led around the trading point, Shao Xuan carried the coffin-like wooden box to the secret underground room.
He wouldn't bring something that he wasn't sure if it was a threat to the headquarters, so he could only leave it here.
"This is very similar to the monsters in the desert," Zheng Luo said after opening the lid and taking a look.
Similar but different. Zheng Luo remembered what the weirdo from the Hui tribe looked like. Although this one was similar to those shriveled weirdos, there were many differences.
"Are they complete?" Zheng Luo asked.
Although the person inside was shriveled, there were no wounds on his body. His abdomen was deeply sunken, but unlike those strange people who only had a layer of flesh and bones left, there were still things inside. Perhaps they were shriveled organs. Just like the shriveled flesh on this person's body, those organs might also be shriveled up.
"He hasn't been controlled yet? Or is there another reason? " Zheng Luo was puzzled. "According to what you said, there must be a reason why the slave owner brought him along."
"I think it's because the person who controlled the weirdos couldn't control this one." Shao Xuan wouldn't bring this corpse into the trading point without any clues. He had tested it several times on the way here.
"This person must have been strong when he was alive, no weaker than you and Ao. His bones are very hard. You know, for Yanjiao's totemic warriors, the stronger they are, the harder their bones are."
Of course, Zheng Luo knew this. If a beginner totemic warrior and an advanced totemic warrior hit a stone of the same quality, the former would be injured but the latter would be able to shatter the stone directly. Increasing one's strength would strengthen one's body and bones would be a part of it.
This person's bones were very hard. Even if he wasn't outstanding in other aspects when he was alive, just the toughness of his bones was enough to measure his strength.
"This person must have been dead for a long time." Shao Xuan pinched the unrecognizable ornaments on the corpse's body. With just a little force, a cracking sound could be heard.
"These ornaments should have been very hard when they were made, just like the bones and teeth of the fearsome beasts we use. It's just that some other things happened and a long time has passed, so they've become fragile. Even so, they're still harder than the bones of normal beasts, "Shao Xuan explained.
Zheng Luo understood what Shao Xuan was trying to say. These ornaments were probably made from fearsome beasts' bones and were very hard when they were first made. In other words, those fearsome beasts were not easy to deal with. How could the people who hunted them be weak?
Yes, different species of fearsome beasts had different degrees of hardness. Perhaps a weaker fearsome beast had tougher bones but Zheng Luo and Shao Xuan believed in their guesses. They were also a tribe that focused on hunting so they understood how tribesmen thought. As for ornaments, they preferred the more dangerous and aggressive fearsome beasts. That was the best way to show off their strength and status.
"The people of Rock Hill City liked to find strong totemic warriors or slaves to make into strange puppets. This one might be one of their targets, but this one is different from the others." Shao Xuan pointed at the person lying in the box. "There's some residual power in his bones, similar to the power of the monsters we met in the desert. But it's too little. It can't even control a small piece of bone, let alone a whole person. The residual power must have been left behind by the people of Rock Hill City when they tried to control it. They failed so they left it until now. "
Ever since they left the desert, Shao Xuan had not sensed any signs of life from this wooden box. This person should be dead. But how could a lifeless corpse that was not frozen, treated with medicine, or controlled by other forces be preserved in such a state without rotting?
Back then, the pterosaur and the other insects had been preserved for so long because they were frozen. So how did this corpse, which looked like it had been dead for a long time without rotting, stay in this state? He did not have the bone ornaments worn by Yanjiao's ancestors.
"Shao Xuan, have you tried to control it?" asked Zheng Luo. He knew that Shao Xuan could imitate the people of Rock Hill City and use a similar method to control a corpse.
Shao Xuan shook his head. "I tried once on the way back but it didn't work. But I was in a rush and had limited time so I didn't take it seriously. I'll try again after I settle the Gongjia people down. "
Zheng Luo also hoped that Shao Xuan could control this shriveled monster. If he succeeded, they would have another ally.
"Should we send someone to guard this place today?" asked Zheng Luo.
Shao Xuan was going to bring the six Gongjia people to the headquarters so he couldn't stay here forever. When Shao Xuan left, they still had to send someone to guard this place just in case.
"Do you want me to do it myself?" asked Zheng Luo.
"No, no need. I have someone more suitable."
Seeing that Shao Xuan had rejected his suggestion, Zheng Luo was curious about who Shao Xuan was referring to.
Shao Xuan opened the door to the secret room and walked out to wait for a while. Someone came over. It was the guard at the top of the Flaming River Tower. The pterosaur was perched on his shoulder.
"You've gained weight." Shao Xuan compared the pterosaur's appearance before he left to its current appearance. This pterosaur had been living a carefree life while he was gone.
Shao Xuan could now control the pterosaur at the headquarters. Although it wasn't as precise as when he was close to the headquarters, it was enough to make the pterosaur fly over obediently.
No matter how impudent the pterosaur usually was in front of the Yanjiao people, it was very obedient now. It raised its head to look at Shao Xuan, then lowered its head as if it didn't dare to approach.
A while ago, when Shao Xuan wasn't around, the pterosaur couldn't be controlled due to the distance. Every day, the pterosaur would lead the group of ill-trained bitter leaf birds to steal food from the patrolling soldiers. It would even throw fish bones at them. However, everyone knew that this pterosaur belonged to Shao Xuan. The two retired shamans also valued the pterosaur so no matter how angry they were, they couldn't do anything to the pterosaur. All they could do was scold it. At first, it was useful. Later on, they used words to scare it. Forget about the pterosaur, it didn't even care about the group of birds.
Shao Xuan already knew this from the people on duty at the trading point.
"This is the one you said is more suitable?" Zheng Luo looked at the chubby pterosaur in disbelief. What else could it do?
"It's more suitable than the others." Shao Xuan walked over and grabbed the pterosaur's wings. He carried the unwilling pterosaur into the secret room. He pointed at the cage that hadn't been used for a long time. "You'll sleep here tonight."
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