"Excellent! This is exactly what I've been hoping for."Magneto's face lit up with joy."If I can obtain a large number of war soldiers from Emperor Yi, I can give them powers—even if they don't possess any initially, I can use the Life Evolution Instrument to awaken their mutant abilities.They'll become true brothers—one of us."
It was a golden opportunity.
After all, Great Yi had never been known to attack other war cities, so trading with them was safe and reliable—a reputation that made them the most desirable trading partner in the Eternal World.
"Great Yi doesn't offer war soldiers for free," Charles said with a soft chuckle."According to prior intelligence, they require rare treasures or precious resources in exchange.The greater the value, the more soldiers you can obtain. I doubt it'll be any different this time.Erik, have you made your preparations?"
Naturally, nothing comes without a price.
Fortunately, Magneto had plenty of valuable items to offer in trade.
"Let's go, Charles. Care to meet this Emperor Yi with me? He's practically a legend."Magneto smiled broadly.
"Of course," Charles replied.
He had no fear—after all, he had nothing to request. As the saying goes, a man without desire is unshakable—that was exactly his mindset.
Soon after, White Crow City arrived, and Magneto and Professor X were granted entry.They were received at the City Lord's Mansion, a rare exception made only because Yi Tianxing had taken an interest in them personally.
"Magneto, Professor X—your reputations precede you.Meeting you both today, I can see the legends were not exaggerated."Yi Tianxing welcomed them in the garden and nodded subtly when he saw them—especially when his gaze landed on Charles.
Bald!
Good. Strong. Noble.
He had originally expected only Magneto, but seeing Professor X here as well was a pleasant surprise.
"Compared to Emperor Yi, what reputation do we really have?"Professor X smiled warmly. His tranquil aura made him difficult to dislike.
"No need for formality," Yi Tianxing replied with a faint smile."You've come to exchange for war soldiers, yes? As long as the terms are met, you may have as many as you need."
He didn't present himself as the one seeking trade—instead, he firmly took the initiative, never even hinting at his own intentions.
"Exactly what we're here for," Magneto replied without hesitation."I've brought treasures for the exchange—these should be of sufficient value."
He placed far more importance on obtaining war soldiers than he did on the treasures he offered.
With a flick of his hand, a variety of rare items appeared.
Among them:
A rare metallic treasure material known as Vibranium (振金), classified as Heaven-grade.This metal was incredibly tough, able to absorb energy and force, making it both an unparalleled defensive material and a deadly sharp weapon when forged. Truly, a divine-grade material.
A formula for synthesizing the legendary Adamantium Alloy (艾德曼合金).
A unique Cosmic Cube, not the one containing the Space Stone, but rather a spatial treasure filled with pure space energy—capable of opening portals, forming transit nodes, and potentially, with upgrades, establishing inter-realm gates. Though still limited in current form, it had great potential.
"Interesting," Yi Tianxing thought to himself."This Cosmic Cube might yield unexpected results."
All of the items Magneto had brought were excellent.
Vibranium was never in excess; its utility was vast.
The Adamantium formula was perhaps even more valuable. With it, Great Yi's blacksmiths and dwarven artisans could mass-produce virtually indestructible weapons. It would drive them mad with excitement.
"The Vibranium is worth one million war soldiers.The Adamantium formula—also one million.The Cosmic Cube is worth two million.Four million in total.Does that sound fair to you?" Yi Tianxing said after a brief pause.
"Four million?"Magneto was startled by the number, but after exchanging a glance with Charles, he nodded."Agreed. But—I want Western-race war soldiers. Even if they're weak or have no cultivation, I prefer quantity if possible."
He specifically requested weaker soldiers in greater numbers.
"Oh?"Yi Tianxing raised a brow."Why?"
"There's no need to hide it, Emperor Yi.In our Brotherhood Alliance, even ordinary people can be awakened using our methods.Their initial power doesn't matter.What matters is their potential after transformation," Magneto replied confidently.
He had already made it known that he possessed a method to awaken latent abilities.
Anyone attempting to steal this method would find it impossible—it was bound to him by nature.It was his lifebound treasure.
"I've heard you can awaken such abilities," Yi Tianxing nodded."But from what I've learned, what you call mutation is simply life aperture awakening, similar to our Eastern cultivation systems—just different terminology.Why continue to distinguish mutants from ordinary people?"
It was a genuine question.
At their level, Magneto and Professor X should recognize the underlying similarities. So why enforce this dividing line?
"Your Majesty," Charles explained,"Erik possesses a treasure called the Life Evolution Instrument.When activated, it emits a light of evolution.Under its glow, people awaken special abilities—even ordinary humans."
"Each person may awaken one to four powers—though never more than four.These awakened abilities are essentially life apertures.However, once a person undergoes this evolution, they can never awaken additional apertures, nor can they cultivate a life map like your Eastern practitioners."
"They can only refine their existing powers and elevate their tier.It is a non-reversible transformation, and it can only be performed once in a lifetime."
"That's why Erik still refers to us as mutants.We walk a different path—one that's narrower, but often more direct."
A touch of regret lingered in his tone.
Indeed, a single-focused path might lead to explosive growth, even superior battle power in some cases.But the inability to diversify or adapt created vulnerabilities—ones that only overwhelming strength could overcome.
"So the Life Evolution Instrument can only be used once per person…And after that, no new life apertures can ever form?"Yi Tianxing frowned.
This instrument was undeniably precious—a top-tier artifact.It was the very foundation of the Brotherhood Alliance's existence.
But the price it demanded was steep.
Great Yi's cultivation path emphasized balance, flexibility, and eventual mastery of the Life Map.Compared to that, the mutant path seemed too limited—and far too costly.
For Yi Tianxing, such a trade-off was unacceptable.He would never let his people walk a path with so little future.
"What if the Life Evolution Instrument was upgraded? Could it overcome this limitation?" Yi Tianxing asked after a moment of thought.
"We don't know," Magneto replied."At its current Black Grade, such a change is impossible."
To Magneto, the limitation wasn't a big deal.
He was chasing battle strength above all else—and this artifact had delivered results.