Marco Polo had a distinctly Western face—bearded, carefree, carrying the unmistakable aura of a poet and traveler. His every move conveyed freedom and detachment, the kind of spirit only a true adventurer possessed.
His presence naturally drew people in. That relaxed charisma, that wandering soul—the very essence of a bard.
One could hear from his songs that he had indeed traveled far and wide, witnessing scenes and peoples far beyond the reach of the common man. No wonder the crowd that had gathered around him now wore expressions of deep longing.
It was only after the final note faded that people gradually dispersed.
"Mr. Marco truly lives up to his name," Yi Tianxing stepped forward and nodded."Your songs carry such rich experience. It stirs admiration."
"You flatter me," Marco Polo smiled modestly."Wandering, exploring lands and peoples—that's my passion, nothing more. I record what I see so others may share in the wonders of the Eternal World."
For him, this wasn't about prestige or performance—it was joy.
He wanted his music to connect the world, to let listeners feel the same awe and reverence he had felt when standing before the wonders of creation.
"To remain true to one's heart is rare among cultivators.That alone is worthy of respect," Yi Tianxing said with a calm smile."There's a tavern in town. What say we share some wine and food? I'd love to hear more of your stories."
"Of course."
Marco agreed easily. He had never kept his stories to himself. To share was joy—to let others partake in his journey.
At the tavern, master chefs had prepared dishes using rare and exotic ingredients, brought by wandering merchants from across the Eternal World.
Even Yi Tianxing, with all his experience, tasted flavors he had never encountered before.
The food not only satisfied his palate but also greatly enhanced his body cultivation, his physical power surging again.
As they ate and drank, their conversation flowed freely. Marco's tales of strange lands and magical peoples were so vivid, it felt as though Yi Tianxing were there himself, walking those same roads.
Thus passed half a month aboard the Wandering Bird.
Along the journey, they passed by villages and tribes of many kinds, engaging in trade, exchanging goods that brought prosperity and relief.
Wandering merchants truly were living bridges—their presence ensured the flow of vital resources and cultural exchange.
Without them, many regions would have withered in isolation.
"Daoist Yi," Zhen Deqiong approached with a grin,"remember that place Marco sang about in his song? Mulberry Ridge? That's where we're headed next. And trust me—it's full of treasures."
Below the Wandering Bird stretched a vast mountain range, lush and rich in ancient trees.
What stood out was that the entire forest was filled with mulberry trees—golden sun mulberries, icy snow mulberries, jade mulberries, sea blue mulberries, and purple moon mulberries.
Almost every species imaginable.
This was Mulberry Ridge.
And it belonged to the Silkworm Clan.
"So this is the place Marco mentioned," Yi Tianxing said thoughtfully."What do we know about the Silkworm Clan?"
Zhen Deqiong's eyes lit up. He clearly loved sharing tales.
"The origin of the Silkworm Clan is quite fascinating.It's said that their ancestor was the Nine-Colored Heavenly Silkworm King (九彩天蚕王)."
"One day, the Silkworm King accidentally consumed a drop of blood from a Human powerhouse.The blood was so powerful that even the King couldn't fully absorb it."
"Instead, it fused into his bloodline and caused a mystical mutation."
"When the Nine-Colored Silkworm King reproduced, it didn't lay eggs—it created hundreds or thousands of silken cocoons, each nurturing a new Heavenly Silkworm."
"These silkworms spun genuine heavenly silk, the kind that's nearly impossible to purchase."
True treasures of the world.
But that wasn't the most extraordinary part.
"Eventually, the King underwent a final metamorphosis and became the Heavenly Silkworm Empress (天蚕母皇).After that, some of her cocoons began to hatch not just silkworms, but Silkworm Girls (蚕女)."
"These Silkworm Girls grew like human children within the cocoons. The first generation took ten months to hatch."
"They emerged fully formed—youthful maidens, all around sixteen years of age."
"Every one of them is born dexterous and graceful, naturally gifted in weaving."
"More importantly, their bodies produce a superior material called Broidered Heavenly Silkworm Silk (锦绣天蚕丝)."
"It far surpasses ordinary heavenly silk and is classified into three tiers—Hundred-Pattern, Thousand-Pattern, and Ten-Thousand-Pattern."
Even the lowest tier, Hundred-Pattern, was a top-grade Profound-level spiritual material.
The Thousand-Pattern reached the peak of Earth-grade, and Ten-Thousand-Pattern entered the realm of Heaven-grade divine materials.
Silk of this quality could:
Be immune to blades and fire
Block spiritual detection
Hide the wearer's presence
Naturally gather ambient spiritual energy
At higher grades, it functioned like a permanent spirit-gathering array, accelerating cultivation, aligning with natural laws, and enhancing comprehension.
A walking treasure.
"These Silkworm Girls became the foundation of the Silkworm Clan," Zhen continued."They avoid conflict and prefer living in places filled with spiritual mulberry trees."
"To them, mulberry leaves, berries, and dew are both food and delicacy. They also craft incredible dishes from them."
"Once we arrive, Daoist Yi, you'll experience cuisine like never before."
Yi Tianxing nodded slowly, absorbing the information.
"So... in a way, the Silkworm Clan carries human blood, thanks to that drop of essence. They may not be human, but they're kin-adjacent."
The implications were profound.
Who had provided that drop of blood? A human cultivator of tremendous power—whose legacy now lived on in an entirely new race.
These Silkworm Girls likely carried human traits because of that fateful mutation.
"And since they resemble humans," Yi Tianxing noted,"we can approach them with diplomacy and cooperation. First impressions matter."
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.
"Zhen, look—something's wrong down there. Some of the mulberry leaves are wilting."
Sure enough, what should have been a thriving forest showed signs of decay.
This was no small matter. In Mulberry Ridge, the health of the mulberry trees was vital to the Silkworm Clan's survival and future.
Any change would demand immediate investigation.
At the heart of Mulberry Ridge stood a massive mountain, covered in the finest spiritual mulberry trees.
Among them, elaborate treehouses had been built, elegant yet practical, forming a majestic aerial settlement.
At the very center, two ancient trees dominated the ridge:
a Golden Sun Mulberry and a Purple Moon Mulberry.
Between them stood a grand royal treehouse, clearly the most sacred place.
Inside, seated with poise and grace, were several Silkworm Girls—each bearing great status within the Silkworm Clan.