Fifty guards, all elite warriors, were stationed there, overseen by a Domain Level powerhouse.
This outpost at the mouth of the valley alone was a testant to the might of the Giant City-State.
Wuba was clearly an old acquaintance of theirs. He stepped forward, tilted his head back, and bood with laughter.
"Brother Barto! It’s , Wuba! Here for the market!"
The Giant leader, who was called Barto, recognized the newcor, and his stern expression imdiately lted into a warm smile.
"Haha, Brother Wuba! Your tribe is early this ti. Who are the two new faces behind you? They’re quite the size."
His gaze fell upon Raylo and Kado.
"Oh, these are kin we t on the road, Carlo and Kado. They’re wanderers. I figured I’d bring them to the city-state to let them see the sights and find out if any tribe is willing to take them in."
Ug jumped in to answer, anxious not to neglect his new friends.
Barto’s gaze lingered on Kado for a mont. Sensing an aura that was of the sa origin, yet exceptionally powerful, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad. A capable one. Since you brought them, Wuba, there’s no problem. Go on in! Rember the market rules—no trouble in the city!"
"You can count on us, Brother Barto!"
Wuba smiled and waved, leading his group through the camp.
The whole process was unobstructed; they even skipped the inspection of their goods.
After passing through the checkpoint and stepping into the gorge, the sight before him took Raylo’s breath away.
Inside the valley was a completely different world.
Towering trees, each a hundred ters tall, grew along the mountains ringing the valley. Their imnse canopies joined together, nearly obscuring the sky and allowing only dappled light to filter down.
The air was filled with the rich aroma of damp earth and the sweet fragrance of unknown flowers and grasses, an utterly refreshing scent.
At the bottom of the valley lay a boundless, lush prairie.
The erald grass grew with astonishing vigor. Even the shortest blades ca up to a Giant’s waist, while the tallest could swallow half their body.
In the distance, herds of Magical Beasts grazed leisurely on the prairie.
Raylo recognized a few species, including the Giant-Horned Rhino, whose body was the size of a small hill, and the docile Long-Haired Mammoth. Here, they were like common cattle and sheep, showing none of the ferocity of Magical Beasts in the outside world.
This place was a paradise for Giants, a perfect, self-sufficient ecosystem.
"So, Brother Carlo, blown away, huh?"
Seeing the surprise on Raylo’s face, Ug puffed out his chest with pride.
"This is our holand! Only in the valley can you find the best ga and the finest herbs!"
Raylo admitted with genuine admiration.
"It certainly is a fine place."
Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps ca from the paths behind and to their side.
Soon, two more groups of Giants, also carrying enormous wicker baskets on their backs, ca into view.
"Hey! It’s the guys from the Stone Fist Tribe!"
Ug shouted to one of the groups.
The leader of that group spotted them and imdiately called back with enthusiasm.
"Hey! If it isn’t Ug! Your tribe’s early again this year! How was the haul?"
"Not bad! You?"
"Haha, we brought plenty! We’ll be able to trade for a lot of good wine this ti!"
The other group ambled over, and the three parties naturally rged. The Giants greeted each other warmly, slapping shoulders, comparing who had brought the most valuable goods, and chatting about their expectations for the market.
The boisterous yet vibrant sounds echoed through the valley.
They walked for about another hour until, at the far end of the prairie, a vast lake appeared.
Under the daylight, the lake was a turquoise blue, its surface as calm as a giant Sapphire.
And beside that massive lake, a majestic city-state stood silently.
It was built entirely from colossal, irregular stones. There were no exquisite carvings, no ornate decorations—only the most primitive, rugged sense of Power.
The city walls were a hundred ters high, looking like a mountain range that had grown directly from the earth.
The massive city gates stood wide open, revealing more Giants coming and going within.
The entire city-state was built by the lake and backed by the mountains, blending perfectly into its surroundings. It exuded a profound, ancient aura, as if weathered by millennia of wind and rain.
This was the heart of the Hill Giants, the origin of all their tribes.
The Giant City-State.
The closer they got to the lake, the more humid and fresh the air beca.
The Giant City-State did not hold its market within the city walls, but rather in an open area outside, near the lakeshore.
Hundreds of Hill Giants from different tribes jostled shoulder to shoulder, their massive bodies making the clearing seem incredibly crowded.
They spread their wares out on enormous Beast Hides, creating a dazzling display.
There were ores glinting with a tallic sheen, Magical Beast Materials radiating fluctuations of Magic Power, and so strange plants and fruits that Raylo couldn’t na.
"Get everything out! Move it!"
Wuba directed his tribe’s Giants with practiced ease, having them spread out their goods.
Soon, Giants from other tribes gathered around. With hands as large as palm-leaf fans, they would pick up a piece of dried Dragon Beast at to sniff its aroma or heft a piece of ore to judge its quality, haggling in booming voices.
The thod of trading was simple and direct.
A huge block of salt could be traded for two complete Tier Four Magical Beasts Hides.
An entire barrel of strong liquor cost a full wicker basket of ore.
Wuba’s tribe quickly traded their goods for daily necessities, and the Giants’ faces bead with the joy of a successful market day.
"Brother Carlo, Brother Kado, feel free to look around! If you see anything you like, just tell !"
Wuba shouted heartily, patting a barrel of wine he had just traded for.
Raylo nodded and began to wander through the market with Kado.
The variety of the Giants’ goods wasn’t extensive. They were mostly raw materials, and any finished products looked extrely crude.
Just then, Ug’s excited shout ca from nearby.
It was a Weapon stall, and the proprietor was a bare-chested Giant whose muscles were as gnarled as rock.
His stall displayed several Stone Axes, Bone Spears, and, in the very center, an enormous black iron hamr.
From the mont Ug saw the hamr, his eyes were glued to it.
He pushed through the crowd in a few large strides and carefully picked up the Giant Hamr.
It was a two-handed Giant Hamr of extrely crude design.
The head was an irregular block, still bearing the rough marks of the forge. Its surface was pitted and uneven, clearly the product of subpar refining and casting techniques.
The handle was an unpolished length of incredibly hard wood, and its connection to the head was crudely bound with beast sinew and strips of iron hide.
"Now this is sothing! This is a real man’s weapon!"
Ug gave it a couple of swings. The heavy head cut through the air with a WHOOSH, and his face was a mask of pure fascination.
"Good eye!"
The stall owner rumbled, revealing a set of yellow teeth.
"A fine eye! That there is the ’Skullcrusher,’ forged from the finest Wute Ore by the best smith in the city-state! Took him three months to make it! You won’t find another one like it in this whole market!"
"What... is the trade for it?"
Ug’s voice was a bit hoarse. He was completely enthralled by the hamr.
The stall owner extended one thick finger.
"Not expensive. Ten complete sets of Tier Four Magical Beast Materials. Or, a single Tier Five Magic Core."
The excitent on Ug’s face instantly froze.
Ten sets of Tier Four Magical Beast Materials was no small price. His father, the tribal chief Wuba, would never agree to him paying such a hefty cost for this exchange.
After all, the tribe still had many of its own goods to trade for necessities with other tribes.
As for a Tier Five Magic Core, Ug hadn’t been promoted to the Domain Level for long and didn’t yet have the ability to hunt a Tier Five Domain Level Magical Beast.
"This..."
Ug’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He reluctantly placed the hamr back where he found it, his eyes filled with disappointnt.
Kado, who was standing not far away, curled his lip in disdain.
’To him, that so-called "treasure" was just a piece of scrap iron that barely had the shape of a weapon.’
’Whether it was the center of gravity, the balance, or the refinent of the material, everything about it was abysmal.’
’Compared to the Wolf Fang Club my lord had custom-made for him, there was simply no comparison.’
’He wouldn’t even use such a thing as a throwing stone; it would feel too awkward in his hand.’
Kado clapped Ug on the shoulder and said,
"Brother Ug, next ti, I’ll get you a better one!"
Ug just assud Kado was trying to comfort him and forced a smile.
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