Swallowed Star: Lord of the Wolf

Uto walked around the table and came to greet him.

His movements contrasted sharply with his physique, making him appear quite agile.

"Hahaha, Brother Chigu!" Uto opened his arms wide, his face beaming with a smile like a blooming chrysanthemum. "We've been waiting for you! I heard you displayed your might and killed a Void Peak Earth Dragon? Good heavens! I'm so excited just hearing about it."

As he spoke, he gave Akaya a solid bear hug with practiced ease, his large, jade-like hands slapping Akaya's broad back with heavy "thump-thump" sounds, showing that the two were indeed very close friends.

Akaya was quite burly, but he was still knocked off balance by the fat man's enthusiasm. He could only helplessly endure it, while a genuine smile involuntarily appeared on his face: "Uto, be gentle! All those treasures of yours are hurting my back."

Uto laughed heartily, released Chigu, and then turned his gaze to Xu Yang and Guji. A glint flashed in his eyes, but his enthusiasm did not diminish in the slightest. Instead, he clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Oh dear, forgive my poor eyesight, but who are these two extraordinary brothers...?"

Chigu quickly stepped aside to let Xu Yang and Guji stand in front of him, and said solemnly, "Uto, I was just about to introduce you! This is Brother Gu You, and this is Brother Gu Li! To tell you the truth, we encountered the Earth Dragon Earthworm yesterday. If it weren't for Brother Gu You's timely rescue, my brothers in the hunting team and I would probably be in grave danger, let alone bring back that Earth Dragon Earthworm! Brother Gu You and Brother Gu Li are my Chigu, and also the saviors of my Yongzan tribe!"

"Oh—!" Uto nodded solemnly upon hearing this. To be able to save the elite hunting team of Chigu and even kill the Void Peak Earthworm... this strength is by no means ordinary!

His smile became even more genuine: "My apologies, my apologies! So it's Brother Gu You! Brother Chi Gu's savior is my most honored guest in Utopia!"

Xu Yang returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute: "Wu Tuo is too kind. It's nothing to mention when you're traveling."

"Gu You, you're too modest! To be able to kill a Void Peak Earth Dragon Earthworm, that kind of strength is top-tier among the dozen or so tribes around West Mountain!" Uto's smile bloomed again, like the most radiant sunflower. "Apart from the Eternal God-King, there really aren't many Void True Gods who can kill an Earth Dragon Earthworm!"

"Your presence is an honor to this humble abode. Please, have a seat. Shi Fu? What are you waiting for! Bring out my treasured 'Azure Pool Dew'! And serve our honored guest with the finest 'Jade Cup'!"

Uto greeted them warmly as he led Xu Yang and Chi Gu toward the large bone chairs covered with thick animal hides.

Guji also found a seat without any hesitation.

Soon, Shi Fu carefully carried in a tray with four jade cups that were entirely emerald green and shrouded in a cold aura. Inside the cups was a semi-transparent liquid that looked like melted jade and emitted a refreshing fragrance.

“Brother Gu You, Brother Gu Li, have a taste! This is spiritual dew collected from the depths of ‘Cold Moon Pool’, combined with dozens of rare spiritual herbs. It is the best for calming the mind and nourishing the soul!” Uto smiled and pushed the cup over.

Xu Yang picked up the cold jade cup. It was icy cold to the touch, and a pure, cold energy intertwined with vitality spread along his arm—it was indeed extraordinary. He took a small sip; it was clear, sweet, and melted in his mouth, transforming into a gentle warmth that flowed into his divine power, making him feel invigorated.

nice one!
The value of this "Azure Pool Dew" probably far exceeds that of ordinary Chaos Crystal drinks, and it even has an effect on him, the eternal true god.

Guji drank it all in one gulp, then smacked his lips and muttered, "It's cool and a little sweet, but... it's not filling."

Uto was taken aback upon hearing this, then gave an awkward smile and quickly instructed Shi Fu, "Go quickly! Cut the best two pieces of the 'Honey-Roasted Golden Feather Bird' wings that were just delivered this morning. Also, bring some 'Fire Dates' and 'Jade Marrow Fruits' so that Brother Gu Li can have a taste."

"Yes, sir!" Shi Fu quickly responded and withdrew.

Xu Yang rolled his eyes at Guji and scolded, "Second brother, don't be so presumptuous."

“Hey, Brother Gu You. It’s alright, it’s alright,” Uto said before Guji could even speak.

Guji was about to apologize, but seeing that Uto had come to his rescue, he was so happy that he just sat there grinning foolishly. However, his impression of Uto was much better than when he first came in.

No wonder he's in business; he's able to manage such a branch all by himself.

Uto's few words made people feel an involuntary sense of closeness to him.

While Shi Fu went to get food, Xu Yang put down his cup and turned his gaze to the smiling Wu Tuo.

"Regarding the Utah issue," Xu Yang got straight to the point, "to be honest, my second brother and I come from the due south and have drifted to the Western Mountains area. We are quite unfamiliar with the surrounding environment. I wonder what the price would be for a detailed map of the surrounding wilderness?"

Utopia slapped his thigh enthusiastically, "Maps? These are one of the foundations of our Hundred Treasures Pavilion! The masters of the 'Star Gazing Department' have spent years venturing deep into the Great Wilderness to draw star maps, survey the terrain, identify the chaotic tides, and organize the lairs of ferocious beasts... They have devoted countless efforts to creating a precise map covering the two southwestern continents!"

He leaned forward slightly, with the pride of someone promoting a rare item: "In my Hundred Treasures Pavilion, maps are naturally available! Moreover, they are divided into several levels according to the size of the area and the level of detail of the information, to meet the needs of different distinguished guests."

Uto counted on his chubby fingers, adorned with jeweled rings, and began to speak:

“First, the ‘Western Mountain Boundary Map’.” He held up one finger. “This map covers an area centered on Western Mountain, extending 30 billion li in each direction, encompassing 23 surrounding tribes of varying sizes. It marks major mountain ranges, rivers, forests, lakes, mineral veins, and the known ranges of powerful alien beasts. This map is detailed and practical, an essential item for traversing the Western Mountain wilderness. As for the price,” he paused, then stated a figure, “it can be acquired for only 45,000 Chaos Crystals.”

This price isn't cheap for a Void God, but it's definitely within a reasonable range.

After all, when venturing into the wilderness, the most important thing is a map.

“Secondly, the ‘Qingmiao Eight Domains Map’!” Uto raised his second finger, his voice rising a few decibels with a hint of solemnity. “This map encompasses a much larger area, tens of thousands of times larger than the Xishan Boundary Map! It covers a depth of nearly a trillion miles! This map contains an immense amount of information and is far more valuable than the ‘Xishan Boundary Map’. Its price is fifty grains of cosmic sand.”

Fifty grains of cosmic sand are an amount that would bankrupt a Void True God. Fifty grains of cosmic sand are equivalent to 500,000 Chaos Crystals. The Qingmiao Eight Domains Map is only slightly more than ten times more expensive than the Xishan Territory Map, suggesting that its level of detail is far inferior to that of the Xishan Territory Map.

“Thirdly…” Uto drawled, raising his third finger, “that is the top-tier ‘Wine Soul Continent Map’!”

He paused for a moment, then said, "Only headquarters has these kinds of maps; my branch doesn't have the authority to sell them."

"However, we Void Gods don't need such a large diagram. The Pure and Mysterious Eight Domains alone are enough to trap us for a lifetime."

"Unless one breaks through to the Divine Lord realm..."

Having said that, Uto said no more and left the decision to Xu Yang.

If possible, Xu Yang would definitely want to buy the Wine Soul Continent Map, but as Uto said, a Void True God, regardless of whether he has the money to buy it, would be too conspicuous.

"I want to buy the illustrated catalog of the Eight Realms of Pure Wonder, but I don't have enough money on me. I need to pawn some treasures first," Xu Yang said.

Upon hearing this, Uto immediately burst into laughter: "Of course, of course. My Hundred Treasures Pavilion has no taboos in buying and selling. As long as you can provide the treasures and the price... we can even capture a god for you."

When he got to the second half of his sentence, Uto lowered his voice.

Xu Yang's heart skipped a beat. Could it be an organization like the Dark Hall of the Flamewind Guild? But before he could ask, Uto remained silent, his words dripping with cryptic meaning. Indeed, mentioning it to someone like him, a 'Void True God,' was already a generous gesture; how could he possibly go into detail…

On the continent of origin, there were countless Void Gods. It was only from the time of the Eternal Gods that their numbers decreased sharply. To join such a large organization, one had to be at least an Eternal God.

Shi Fu soon came in carrying a huge roasted bird wing with a fragrant aroma and two plates of spiritual fruits full of spiritual energy.

The honey-roasted golden pheasant wings were roasted until golden brown and glistening, with a crispy skin. The rich, sweet aroma mixed with the meaty fragrance instantly filled the air, stimulating the most primal appetite.

With a cheerful shout, Guji was the first to grab his share. The enormous wings, about the length of a blade, looked particularly exaggerated in his hands. Without any hesitation, he opened his mouth wide and took a big bite of the crispy skin and flesh. Hot juices splattered, and the rich, sweet flavor of oil and honey exploded in his mouth, making him squint his eyes in bliss and let out a satisfied "mmm." He instantly transformed into a glutton, burying his head in the food and no longer caring about anything else.

Akaya also smiled and picked up his own portion, chewing it heartily.

Uto slowly and methodically cut the steak with a knife, his movements quite refined and elegant.

Xu Yang took a bite.

The meat is tender and flavorful with a honey aroma; it is truly exceptional.

As everyone enjoyed the food, they chatted and laughed about interesting things.

After a long while, Uto finally put down his knife and fork and looked at Xu Yang, who was wiping his mouth: "Brother Gu You, what treasure are you selling?"

Xu Yang had long wanted to sell, and immediately a thought struck him: "Please take a look at the matter of Wu Tuo."

hum!
An invisible spatial fluctuation spread throughout the room.

On the huge dark gold stone table in front of Xu Yang, the food disappeared, and then several items appeared out of thin air.

These items varied in shape and aura, but without exception, they all emitted powerful energy fluctuations, clearly indicating that they were not ordinary items.

These are all treasures obtained from the Cosmic Sea. He re-verified them after arriving on the Origin Continent, so he would not make the foolish mistake of using a true god-level 'supreme treasure' as collateral.

They are all Void True God-level treasures.

Uto stood up, walked to Xu Yang's desk, and carefully searched and examined the items.

half an hour.

He breathed a sigh of relief and praised, "Brother Gu You, these treasures of yours are all exquisite, but they are not well preserved and have some hidden damage."

Akaya patted Uto on the shoulder, "Uto, you can't lie to us. These treasures look great to me! Where did these hidden injuries come from..."

Uto pretended to be angry and nudged Akaya with his elbow: "I'm a professional at this. Do you think I'd ruin my own reputation?"

"Back then, I, Uto, was one of the top 100 weapon-refining talents in the 'Yanzheng' department of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. If it weren't for... humph!"

Clearly, this was Uto's lifelong pride. Even though he had been reduced to a minor manager here due to unforeseen circumstances, he remained highly authoritative when it came to weapon forging.

"Hey, just kidding, just kidding." Chi Gu knew when to stop, so he put his arm around Uto's shoulder and said, "A little hidden injury is nothing, you can fix it easily, just don't try to get Brother Gu You to lower the price."

Uto took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and refocused his attention on the treasures on the stone table, reverting to his shrewd businessman nature.

"Hmph!" He gave a mocking snort, picking up one of the items—a rhomboid crystal radiating a chilling, dark blue aura, with liquid seemingly flowing within it: "For example, this 'Frosty Marrow Soul Crystal' is an excellent vessel for the essence of the Water Law, capable of crafting top-tier armor or aiding in enlightenment. But look here,"

He pointed to a tiny, almost invisible crack inside the crystal, "It once suffered an extremely violent soul impact, and its original imprint has been slightly damaged. If it is used directly without repair, its power and load-bearing capacity will be greatly reduced."

He then picked up a short spear with an ancient design, whose blade faintly emitted spatial-tearing fluctuations: "This 'Sky-Rending Spear' is made of excellent material, and even contains a trace of the original essence of the space-tearing law. However, the divine patterns on the spear tip are severely worn, obviously it has experienced an extremely fierce battle, and the excessive consumption has prevented it from being properly nurtured, greatly reducing its power."

Uto reviewed each item one by one, speaking rapidly and using precise terminology.

He didn't deliberately belittle it; every hidden injury was explained with evidence, even pointing out its cause and its impact on the treasure's actual effectiveness. He demonstrated a terrifyingly profound foundation in weapon crafting, far exceeding that of a mere manager of a remote tribal branch!

Xu Yang listened from the side. Although he did not understand the details of weapon refining, he could indeed detect a trace of disharmony or decay in the flaws that Uto pointed out when he carefully sensed them.

Most of these treasures were obtained in the cosmic sea, and it was difficult to find even a peaceful environment for them to exist, let alone nurture them.

Even if the perilous terrain of the Cosmic Sea is not enough to destroy Void True God-level treasures, the wear and tear over countless epochs, like water dripping on stone, is enough to ruin them.

“What Steward Wu says is quite right.” Xu Yang nodded in agreement. “These treasures are indeed somewhat damaged. In your opinion, Steward, what is their value?”

Uto put down the last treasure, took out his small and exquisite golden abacus, and his fingers began to move like butterflies flitting among flowers, producing a continuous clattering sound.

This time, his expression was much more serious; he was clearly assessing the situation.

A moment later, the sound of the abacus stopped.

“Brother Gu You, Uto doesn’t deny that the materials used in these treasures are top-notch. But as I just said, the hidden damage cannot be ignored. Repairing them will come at a cost, and even after repair, it will be difficult to restore their peak power. After deducting repair costs and risk premiums…”

He paused, then announced a number: "Total price... thirty-five cosmic sands!"

Thirty-five grains of cosmic sand!
Upon hearing this, Akaya frowned immediately and couldn't help but exclaim, "Utopia! Thirty-five? That's too much..."

He wanted to help Xu Yang get more, but when he thought of Uto's incredibly professional analysis, he couldn't bring himself to say the second half of the sentence, "a little too little."

After all, Utopia's analysis was all reasonable and not malicious price-cutting.

Uto gave a wry smile and shrugged. "Chigu, I've already given you the highest premium because Brother Gu You saved you and is my honored guest! If anyone else took it to headquarters or other branches for appraisal, they probably wouldn't even get thirty! Repairing these hidden injuries, especially the damage to the soul imprint and the wear and tear on the divine runes, requires extremely high material and labor costs! Only by personally handling it and not charging labor fees can I achieve this." (End of Chapter)