Chapter 130: Deepwater City

'City of Radiance', 'Crown of the Northern Lands', 'Pearl of Sword Bay'. The countless titles hanging over Deepwater City proclaim its status as Frelen's number one city in the world.

After meeting Xia Nai, the group arrived in Deepwater City a day later.

This grand, awe‑inspiring city is enormous in size, comprising nine districts: the Castle District, Dock District, Wild District, Northern District, Southern District, Commercial District, Sea District, Sub‑Cliff, and the City of the Dead.

Most native locals understand the layout and characteristics of each district, but for outsiders, few can navigate without getting lost.

Deepwater City's area is more than three times that of the Butu Royal Capital, meaning its size can be compared to some small nations.

In fact, it is true: Deepwater City, as an independent city, is a member of the Lord Alliance in Sword Bay.

The so‑called Lord Alliance is an organization formed by many independent cities in Sword Bay to resist the kingdom.

Renowned Deepwater City, Bode Gate, Silver Moon City, and others are all part of the Lord Alliance.

But do not assume the Lord Alliance is a unified nation; in reality, the relationships among its cities are looser than the EU on Earth, and only in life‑or‑death crises or major interests do they ever cooperate.

This, in fact, gives the Am Empire a chance to stir trouble within the Lord Alliance.

The Am Empire is a parliamentary state; even without a sole ruler like an emperor or prime minister, it possesses greater cohesion than the Lord Alliance, and with its deep wealth and powerful navy, the near‑sea region of Sword Bay is essentially controlled by the Am Empire.

Even such a powerful nation courts Deepwater City, because the city houses many nobles of high status; according to incomplete statistics, at least 75 named noble families are stationed there.

Here, a lavishly dressed noble you pass by could be a prince of a small nation, and even great nobles from within the Am Empire have relocated to Deepwater City.

The reason Deepwater City is so popular is, of course, its great power and long, unique history.

Four hundred years ago, after the Saint's Cataclysm, the deities cast down to the mortal world returned from Deepwater City to the divine realm; Deepwater City not only possessed powerful magical forces but also a thriving church presence, with most well‑known benevolent god churches having built temples there for worshippers.

Under these circumstances, more nobles were drawn in, gathering in Deepwater City like a rolling snowball.

These people, who hold the continent's greatest wealth, lead the city's trends with haughty attitudes and lavish spending, causing the fashion, weapons, accessories, music and other styles of the entire western coast to shift in the blink of an eye, prompting nouveau‑riches from other cities to squander money in pursuit of them.

For example, now Naimi Xisi stands on a street in Deepwater City's Commercial District, where humans, otherworldly beings, and even monsters passing by wear various splendid clothes and ornaments; Deepwater City's aesthetic influences not only humans but all creatures that enter.

"Wow, boss, look at that guy—his head looks like yours!"

Peng Peng, perched on Naimi Xisi's shoulder, pointed a long finger at the assorted creatures, and a humanoid with a dragon‑like head and body covered in amethyst‑like scales caught its attention.

"Interesting, a violet‑crystal dragon descendant." Naimi Xisi looked over and was surprised to find the creature was a very rare gemstone dragon descendant, specifically the most powerful violet‑crystal dragon among them. Beside them, Xia Nai smiled and explained, "In Deepwater City's Commercial District you can almost see every race except demons and devils; even disguised demons and devils may not exist here."

"Of course, prices here are a bit higher than elsewhere, but trust me, everyone who shops here thinks it's worth the money."

After speaking, Xia Nai left; she planned to procure some spell materials and research supplies herself.

Naimi Xisi let the Bronze Dragon Gonde wander at will, then headed toward a shop called "Osweide's Curious Little House".

With a pointed roof that looked like a fairy‑tale witch's cottage, the house sensed someone approaching and instantly lit two pale‑blue flames at the door; a red carpet appeared on the path before the entrance, welcoming guests.

"Ah, honored guest, honored guest, welcome to Osweide's Curious Little House~"

An extremely aged woman whose face resembled a blooming chrysanthemum lit up upon seeing Naimi Xisi, greeting with an almost unbearable enthusiasm.

Naimi Xisi furrowed his brow and bluntly exposed her identity: "A Yao Gui Po?"

The old lady kept smiling and humbly said, "Yes, yes, mighty True Dragon, I am indeed a Yao Gui Po, and also the proprietor of this shop."

Naimi Xisi looked left and right, noticing the shop mostly stocked herbs, Scrolls, potions, and scarcely any Magic Items.

Legend has it that Yao Gui Po, being one of the strongest types of Gui Po, cannot enchant items at all, which leads them to often disguise themselves as noble beauties without any binding power to swindle Magic Items from Mages.

The 14‑level Yao Gui Po before him did not evade Mind Power detection; Naimi Xisi had already seen through her identity.

"I want to buy a Mage Tower Construction Guide," Naimi Xisi said bluntly after finding nothing else of interest.

The Yao Gui Po was startled: "This thing is very expensive, and Deepwater City has a rule that any knowledge item beyond low‑ and mid‑level Spell Models must be bound by a non‑disclosure treaty. Are you sure you need it?"

"What?" Naimi Xisi frowned so hard he could crush a fly; why sign a contract? He had planned to resell it for profit.

Seeing Naimi Xisi hesitate, the Yao Gui Po almost slapped herself, blurted out the truth, fearing that a dragon who looks foolish but rich might back out. "Wait, although the Mage Tower Construction Guide cannot be resold, it still has value—each copy comes with a ten‑centimetre‑diameter Mumu, which is the essential carrier for creating a tower spirit. On the market, such a Mumu costs at least 80,000 gold coins!" she quickly added.

Naimi Xisi's eyes lit up at the mention of Mumu; this gem turns red or brown after being buried for ages, and if near bronze items, the buried jade also turns green.

Green Mumu is even more valuable; its ability to host various spirit attributes makes it the necromancer's most coveted top‑tier magical gem. A one‑centimetre‑diameter Mumu costs at least 1,500 gold coins on the market, and its price rises with size.

If the book truly includes a ten‑centimetre Mumu, that's at least a partial return.

(End of Chapter)