Heilong-kou (Black Dragon-Mouth/Pass)
Heilong-cheng (Black Dragon-City)
Heilong-yuan(Black Dragon Wall)
Heilong Bay (Black Dragon Bay)
Heilong Ridge (Black Dragon Ridge)
Censorate (Supervisory Court)
Yuling City (Jade City)
Jingui Town (Golden Turtle Town)
Xuanwu City (Black tortoise City)
Qinglong (Azure Dragron)
…
With all the cities of the Black Dragon Clan now connected by roads, a new item appeared on the dining tables of Black Dragon City—seafood.
After the demon citizens of Heilong Bay no longer had to worry about food, they found themselves full of boundless energy. Upon hearing that the Queen loved seafood, they often sent over black boxes filled with sea creatures for her enjoyment.
The demons of Heilong Bay seized the opportunity. After each low tide, they would capture and pen up the low-tier aquatic beasts that washed up on the riverbanks.
These "low-tier beasts" would be considered monstrous delicacies in the modern world—giant king crabs the size of truck tires, lobsters nearly two meters long, oysters as big as pot lids, and a variety of scallops and fish.
At first, they didn't know what to feed them. When the beasts went too long without food, they began to fight and devour each other. Unexpectedly, those that survived ended up with firmer, tastier meat.
And so, their crude, trial-and-error method of "aquaculture" began.
After the roads opened, the city lord selected a few young demons—both male and female—to go study in Black Dragon City.
The literacy program in Black Dragon City had since been renamed to "Night School," and due to the increasing number of students, it was relocated to the dormitory area of the now-vacated mines outside the city.
Black Dragon City's night school only admitted local demons, all from the Black Dragon Clan. As such, the location of the mines remained undisclosed.
Besides, the mines had already been sealed off by the Demon King. Unless a demon more powerful than the King actively searched for them, ordinary demons would never discover the existence of the demon crystal mine.
With the latest batch of students, the night school welcomed even more newcomers. Though they studied different subjects, all of them started with basic literacy and arithmetic.
At the same time, construction had begun on the new school in Black Dragon pass.
Several Xuanwu-clan merchants had already opened shops in Black Dragon pass. With their keen commercial instincts, they'd investigated the school's planned location and were rushing to open stores nearby.
Though Black Dragon pass was not as bustling as Black Dragon City, it had surged in importance due to its role as Black Dragon City's logistics hub and its nickname, "Black Dragon City's backyard."
Any merchant leaving Black Dragon City would pass through Black Dragon pass, where they'd watch their goods be shipped away by truck with their own eyes.
Those merchants with more money had already bought houses in Black Dragon pass. It had become their second home.
Though sandstorms still swept across the land outside the city, the sturdy buildings and tightly sealed glass windows blocked out the wind and sand completely.
Even in winter, these well-built homes stayed warm and cozy.
Everything sold in Black Dragon City could also be found in Black Dragon pass—and in stock, too. The quantities were limited, but if one needed something urgently, they might find a hidden gem in Black Dragon pass. This was a well-kept secret among seasoned merchants, one they would never share with outsiders.
Now that the Black Dragon Clan was preparing to develop three more cities, merchants from other clans were full of envy.
Even at the peak of its prosperity, the Xuanwu Clan had never managed to bring prosperity to its four satellite cities through Xuanwu City alone.
Of all their cities, only Xuanwu City was truly developed. The others—Yuanxu City, Yuxu City, Yuling City, and Bairuo City—lagged far behind.
Yuxu City ranked second in last year's internal evaluation. It bordered Xuanwu City and had once produced demon crystal mines. Thousands of years ago, it experienced a golden age, with many of its residents reaching the basic standard of living.
Don't let the Xuanwu Clan's storied reputation fool you—plenty of low-tier demons still struggled to survive outside the cities. If the Xuanwu Clan had been thriving, would there still be such a stark divide between high- and low-tier demons?
The city closest to Black Dragon pass, Yuling City, had ranked dead last in last year's evaluation. Once a straggler, it now prospered by buying goods from Black Dragon pass thanks to the new road—its residents were counting money even in their dreams.
Xuanwu merchants began to think: If only we were citizens of the Black Dragon Clan. Would making money still be a concern?
They used to think wealth meant simply having enough food and not freezing to death. Never had they imagined wealth could lead to such a life of comfort and luxury.
Now, the first thing these merchants did upon arriving in Black Dragon City was soaked in the hot springs at the resort, check into the luxurious Fortune Inn, and then spend the evening dining with friends at the revolving restaurant. Such was the extravagant lifestyle of today's merchants.
Those flush with cash who had bought houses outside the city and even cars in Black Dragon City had even more reason to stay.
Now, ask them to return to their hometowns and they'd find every excuse to delay for days.
Just like young people in the modern world who've made a life for themselves in big cities, the idea of returning to their rural hometowns filled them with hesitation.
With this "talent drain," the Xuanwu Clan's Elder Turtle finally sensed something was wrong.
Merchants from their cities had rarely returned after leaving. Goods kept arriving, but not the familiar faces who usually brought them.
If it had only been a few who hadn't returned, that would've been understandable. Major trading caravans usually only ventured out once a year, and upon return would rest for months.
But this time, it had been far too long. The goods came back, but not the merchants. Something was amiss.
The elder reported this to the Xuanwu Demon Lord.
The Xuanwu Demon Lord was a middle-aged demon with a commanding yet kind aura.
Perhaps it was his gentle appearance paired with an air of authority. When serious, he could be terrifying; when smiling, approachable. This contradiction somehow fits him perfectly.
He closed his eyes and made a quick divination, then opened them. "They're in Black Dragon City. They won't be coming back for a while."
The elder was stunned. "Black Dragon City? Have they been kidnapped by local demons?"
The Demon Lord raised a hand, casting a holy light upon the elder's forehead. Instantly, the elder saw a vision of modern-day Black Dragon City.
Was this bustling, crowded place truly Black Dragon City?
"I warned you not to judge the world from the bottom of a well. Let them stay there for now."
The elder was baffled. "How did Black Dragon City transform overnight like this?"
"You really ought to get out more. Black Dragon City has been developing for quite some time. The Xuanwu Clan hasn't been prosperous for centuries—you old folks just refuse to accept reality. This time, come with me to visit the Black Dragon Clan."
In Jingui Town under Xuanwu City, the golden turtle merchants were equally confused.
"Why are our goods selling for such low prices?"
"I asked around. The merchants haven't come back yet—probably didn't find anything worth buying."
But the golden turtles, sensitive to money matters, refused to sit idle. "Something strange is going on. I'm going to see the Demon Lord."
When he heard the Demon Lord was preparing to visit Black Dragon City, the golden turtle applied to go with him.
The Golden Turtle Clan had contributed greatly to the Xuanwu Clan. It was thanks to them that the Xuanwu Clan had spread its commercial network across the demon world.
They had originally modeled themselves after the human realm, but since no other demon clan had done so, they became pioneers among demons.
This golden turtle was the fourth-generation leader of the Golden Turtle Clan, and the title of "chief" had been passed down hereditarily. By his generation, the clan no longer carried ancestral bloodlines.
Within the Xuanwu Clan, the Golden Turtle Clan held a position similar to that of the Night Demon Tribe within the Black Dragon Clan. Only because of their immense contribution were they permitted to live outside Xuanwu City and form the Golden Turtle Clan from what was once a mere tribe.