Published: February 12, 2025
CHAPTER TEXT:
The night in Black Dragon City is bustling.
In a city equipped with special weapons, the restrictions on lighting at night are not as severe, especially since, in the absence of a beast tide, eighth-level life forms can provide significant protection, allowing people to rest easy. Ninth-level creatures are still rare, and unless necessary, they won't attack human cities, as it would provoke endless retaliation.
However, if a beast tide occurs, the difference between having light and not having light is minimal.
Ye Zhongming strolled through the streets of Black Dragon City, feeling an illusion similar to being in Ying City or West Asia Holy City—if only it weren’t so cold.
In the apocalypse, such flourishing places are rare.
Surprisingly, he encountered one amidst the icy landscape.
Nevertheless, compared to the Holy City and Ying City, the prosperity here is tinged with a hint of bloodshed.
When the wind blows in from the north, it brings a bloody and rancid scent, emanating from the city's center where humans and various mutated life forms engage in life-and-death struggles at all times.
A saying circulates among the evolvers in Black Dragon City: "Rich center, dead center." This means that evolvers who frequent the city center either become wealthy by hunting mutated life or die there, leaving behind countless white bones.
This reflects the complex feelings the people of Black Dragon City have towards the city center.
Ye Zhongming, along with Xiao Peng, Xia Bai, and Red Hair, wandered around, enjoying the northern region's unique charm. The bustling commercial streets were quite appealing.
Amidst the ruins of the city, people have constructed various dwelling spaces using materials like wooden planks, iron sheets, beast bones, and even ice blocks. For evolvers, as long as they are not exposed to the harsh weather for extended periods, they generally face no significant issues, at most feeling a bit uncomfortable.
Moreover, the people of Black Dragon City are adept at utilizing local materials; trees, bones of mutated life forms, and furs are all used to keep warm. Some are used to ignite bonfires, while others are fashioned into leather clothing or bedding to help them withstand the long, cold winters.
Brother Hei once mentioned that there are over three million evolvers in Black Dragon City, which is a terrifying number, making it a super city in the apocalypse.
This isn't due to an exceptional living environment but rather because survivors in the northern region are relatively concentrated.
With a larger population, there naturally comes more business. Besides dedicated merchants, the evolvers here mostly fall into the category of warriors when they are out and merchants when they return home. After hunting, they simply display their unwanted items at their doorsteps, bargaining with anyone interested before selling, and with the money earned, they go shopping elsewhere, haggling for what they need.
This also contributes to the bustling night scene in Black Dragon City, as many people go outside to hunt during the day, avoiding the terrifying cold storms.
Ye Zhongming and his companions wandered through two streets, encountering various fascinating items, all unique to the area.
However, there was almost nothing that caught Ye Zhongming's eye. After walking two streets, he only bought the fur of a fifth-level snow fox, planning to return and make a shawl or scarf for Xia Lei, Liang Chuyin, and Miya, who hadn't come along this time.
The fur of a snow fox is quite substantial and enough to make three pieces.
Although the numerous stalls were appealing, the lack of good items diminished their interest. After a while, they learned from local information that there was a commercial street in the city, vastly different from the small stalls scattered everywhere.
This commercial street is filled with large shops, each backed by the powerful forces of Black Dragon City, and some are directly operated by them. It is said that there are quite a few good items inside.