Yi Tianxing and Huang Chengyan both narrowed their eyes sharply.
"It really is a giant bird!!" Their expressions turned extremely serious.
"On alert!!" Wang Dahu sounded the alarm. A large number of soldiers rushed up onto the wooden wall. Some drew their bows, eyes filled with killing intent, fixated on the distance, ready to fire at a moment's notice. Even with fear in their hearts, their bodies stood tall and firm atop the wall, guarding the front line of the village.
A bird!!A giant bird!!
This bird was truly massive—exceptionally so. Its wingspan stretched over three to four li. Its broad back loomed like a floating blue cloud as it flew. The strange cry it let out was from this bird—it sounded almost like a person softly saying the word "you."
To the ear, it was like: "You~ You~"
Its blue feathers radiated a pure, natural aura that instilled a sense of calm and intimacy in those who beheld it. It was almost impossible to feel hostility toward it. In fact, it made people instinctively lower their guard. Most curious of all was its head, which resembled a baby's face. Though covered in fuzz, it bore an uncanny resemblance to a human child.
It truly looked like a wanderer of the skies, drifting from place to place.
"What kind of bird is this? I've never seen anything like it before. It's huge, and that face… it really looks like a child's. Makes you feel pity just looking at it."
"How did something this big get here safely? The skies are incredibly dangerous. We've seen terrifying birds of prey battling midair just over territory. Yet this one made it through untouched? That's unbelievable."
"Look! On its back—there's a house! That bird is carrying a whole building on its back! What in the world?!"
Even some villagers, now strengthened through cultivation, stood atop the wall with enhanced vision and gaped in astonishment. Although they'd seen many bizarre creatures and horrors since the apocalypse began, this was their first time seeing a giant bird with a three-story house on its back.
Yi Tianxing pulled out the Wordless Heavenly Tome, and text began appearing, revealing an entry on this extraordinary creature.
"Wandering Bird (Yuanyou Bird): A mysterious species of the Eternal Continent. From birth, it roams the world, experiencing different lands and cultures. It possesses a unique innate divine ability that evokes a sense of peace and goodwill from most lifeforms, allowing it to pass through dangerous zones unimpeded. Often considered a messenger of peace, it brings tidings from afar. A unique profession evolved around it: the Traveling Merchant (You Shang), who journeys across the lands trading goods and news using the Yuanyou Bird as transport."
This bird wasn't a bringer of destruction—it was a magical being that wandered freely, seemingly immune to attacks from other monsters. In a world as deadly as the Eternal Continent, this was a nearly divine power. The benefits it could bring were unimaginable.
Legend had it that Traveling Merchants were powerful individuals with mysterious connections. No one dared rob them. They traded in rare and exotic goods, buying and selling items from across the realm. Thanks to them, items from the southernmost regions could end up in the north. They often brought incredible opportunities.
Whoosh!!
As if it had spotted Xuanhuang Village from above, the Wandering Bird began its descent. Moments later, it landed in the clearing before the village, its massive form stirring awe and pressure in those who beheld it.
And yes, it really did carry a massive building on its back.
This building resembled the mansion of a noble family. Upon closer inspection, it was a three-story pavilion, not an ordinary structure by any means. Yi Tianxing couldn't even identify the material it was made from.
"The wanderer roams the world; every place is home.To the kind people of this village, I offer humble greetings. Forgive this uninvited guest."
The front doors of the pavilion opened swiftly. A man stepped out—tall and reed-thin, wearing a sea-blue robe. His head, however, was round as a full moon and beaming with joy. The contrast was striking—it looked as though a mushroom cap sat atop a bamboo stalk. The sight made it impossible to forget him.
His eyes were narrowed into slits from his wide grin.
"This fellow is joking. Xuanhuang Village may be small, but we warmly welcome any honored guest. There's no talk of disturbance," Yi Tianxing replied with a smile.
"No need for titles. I'm merely a merchant, a Traveling Merchant. The name's Jia Chengxin. If you'd like, just call me Old Jia," the man said cheerfully.
Jia Chengxin (lit. "Fake Sincerity")?
Yi Tianxing and Huang Chengyan exchanged a quick glance, a trace of surprise in their eyes. They could tell this man wasn't just stopping by for tea. As a merchant, he was clearly here to trade with the village.
Straight to the point—he wanted to do business.
"I wonder what kind of treasures Old Jia has brought with him this time. Would you allow us a look?" Yi Tianxing asked with a grin.
"A merchant opens doors to do business—why would I refuse esteemed customers? Of course, you're welcome. Please, come in!" Jia Chengxin responded, eyes nearly vanishing into his ever-present smile.
"Then allow me to admire the wares of Old Jia," Yi Tianxing said, nodding to Huang Chengyan as the two exited the village to approach the Wandering Bird.
The great bird gazed curiously at the village, its childlike eyes filled with innocence and wonder, purifying the hearts of all who looked upon it.
Its wings served as a staircase.
Climbing up, Yi Tianxing and Huang Chengyan reached the entrance to the pavilion.
Above it, a sign read:
Wandering Pavilion (Yuanyou Pavilion)
"Come in, come in! I've roamed many places in recent days. The world has changed—the Eternal Continent is vast beyond measure, full of wonders. Though I haven't traveled far yet, I've gathered quite a few interesting items from my trades. I've seen many humans struggling for survival in the harshest of lands—it's no easy task to live in this chaos," Jia Chengxin said warmly as he led them inside.
"What does Old Jia think of my humble village?" Yi Tianxing asked casually.
"Heh, Village Chief Yi, your place is far from humble. Of all the villages I've seen so far, yours ranks among the top five. Your future looks bright—your fortune burns like a blazing sun," Jia Chengxin replied, his tone meaningful.
Huang Chengyan's eyes flickered subtly at those words but remained silent.
"Old Jia, you're well-traveled. These days, we live in fear—fighting monsters day and night. We've gathered here from all corners of the world, and to be honest, we can't even leave this valley. We'd be wiped out before we got three li away. We don't know what the world outside is really like…"
"Does humanity… still have hope?"Yi Tianxing asked, taking a deep breath. He didn't expect an answer—but there was no harm in asking.
"Hehe… Since the fusion of the myriad worlds into this Eternal Continent, no one knows just how massive this world really is. What you think is vast land is actually nothing more than a small island in the middle of an endless sea."
Jia Chengxin chuckled mysteriously.
"Also, Village Chief Yi, you're not alone in this valley. You have neighbors—and it seems they're not doing too well."
With that, he said no more, only smiling as he led them deeper into the Wandering Pavilion.
Inside the first floor, it looked even larger than it appeared from the outside. Shelves lined the room, packed with countless treasures, dazzling to the eye and tempting to the soul.
"Though my stock isn't huge yet, the variety is all here. No matter what kind of item you're looking for, I should have one or two of it. Of course, I don't have anything too extravagant—most of these were obtained through trades during my travels."
That much was believable. After all, the Eternal Continent had only fully formed less than a month ago. Even a Traveling Merchant couldn't have gathered too much in that time. Still, to have shelves this full spoke to extraordinary ability and connections.
Pills, potions, spirit herbs, rare fruits, mystical materials, clothing, axes, tools, weapons, armor—everything was here. From the mundane to the magnificent.
It was overwhelming.