Chapter 460: Chapter 51: Setting Sail Once Again (Part 2)

"Then it’s better to comply than to refuse!" Li Ji’an accepted with a natural demeanor.

"Greetings to Master Meng!" At this moment, Yuan Yishui hurriedly returned.

He initially thought that Chief Steward Liu of the Jinhua Commerce Association was causing trouble for Li Ji’an and his companions again, but as he reached the doorstep, he heard that Master Meng was actually addressing Elder Huang as a brother!

This made him let out a long breath of relief.

"Old Yuan, my junior sister and I will temporarily stay on the first layer. If you need anything, come find me." Li Ji’an greeted him with a word.

"Junior sister?" He looked at Guo Wanzhi with suspicion.

But before he could think further, Yuan Yishui immediately bowed and saluted, "Farewell to Elder Huang!"

He was overjoyed inside, secretly thinking that he had indeed made a significant contribution this time.

Although he didn’t know why Master Meng of the Five Blessings Commerce Association was so respectful towards Huang Jie, he could guess that it was most likely because of his mentor, that gentleman.

This indicated that the value of that gentleman, and even Huang Jie, was much higher than he had anticipated.

With this, the Si Shui Commerce Association genuinely had hope of firmly establishing itself.

In an instant, Yuan Yishui was eager to fly back to the commerce association and inform the president of this matter.

...

Yao Rui followed Li Ji’an and Guo Wanzhi, arriving in disbelief at the top cabin of the spirit ship.

The guest room was located on the topmost layer of the spirit ship, not only offering a large space but also a broad view, with the surrounding scenery visible at a glance.

The most critical aspect was that on such a cross-domain spirit ship, there was an environment with such a rich Upper Grade Second Tier Spirit Vein.

"Truly extravagant!"

Not only Yao Rui, but even Li Ji’an, who was well-informed about the Wan Shang Domain, was astonished by the spirit vein environment of the elegant cabin on this spirit ship.

The fundamental difference between the Wan Shang Domain and ordinary cultivation domains like the Celestial Cyan Domain lies not in the external situation, but in the core ideology.

Traditional cultivation domains like the Celestial Cyan Domain prioritize the powerful, with cultivation, magical power, secret techniques, and divine abilities as the standards of evaluation.

However, the Wan Shang Domain differs in this regard.

The majority of the Wan Shang Domain consists of merchants, whether itinerant merchants, ordinary merchants, or cultivators who have established a commerce association, all uphold spiritual resources as the highest value.

In their value system, as long as there are sufficient spiritual resources, even a Nascent Soul True Monarch can be slain at will.

That is why, despite years of interaction between the Wan Shang Domain and the Celestial Cyan Domain, the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Laws has never violated the business alliance’s rules due to his cultivation prowess, aside from wanting fresh spiritual resources imported by the commerce associations of the Wan Shang Domain and a certain fear of the business alliance.

Despite the highest cultivation level in the entire Wan Shang Domain being just a Core Formation Stage Ascendant, with no True Monarchs present, over the course of several thousand years, not fewer than three Nascent Soul True Monarchs have perished at the hands of the Wan Shang Domain.

The saying remains true: as long as there are sufficient spiritual resources, they believe that they can achieve anything!

The most recent incident was 800 years ago in the southwest of the Wan Shang Domain, in a large cultivation domain where a Nascent Soul True Monarch, relying on his True Monarch power, scorned the business alliance. Not only did he forcibly seize a pivotal opportunity that the alliance had accumulated over years, but he also almost annihilated the alliance leader’s family.

Although the alliance leader’s family lost power, the entire business alliance united in common purpose.

Every merchant and itinerant merchant relying on the business alliance contributed funds and efforts.

Ultimately, the Elder Council of the business alliance made avenging the former alliance leader a selection criterion for the next alliance leader.

In the following century, the entire business alliance schemed and planned for this.

Ultimately, the Nine Tripods Commerce Association conducted a transaction with a certain existence in the Central Ten Domains using a legendary item possibly a spiritual treasure.

Several years later, the Nascent Soul True Monarch who had killed the former alliance leader was decapitated, his Primordial Spirit captured, and confined within a Soul Banner, suffering for eternity, never reincarnating!

Some speculated that the Taiyi Immortal Domain, led by the Taihua True Monarch of the Central Ten Domains, was responsible; otherwise, the Nascent Soul wouldn’t have been unable to escape.

Others guessed that it was done by the True Monarch’s junior brother, who took advantage of his unpreparedness and administered a Tier Four poison.

There are countless theories, none with a definitive answer to this day.

However, the authority of the Wan Shang Domain was once again indisputably demonstrated.

Besides the core ideology of prioritizing spiritual resources, their consensus also lies in lavish expenditure of spiritual resources.

In the Wan Shang Domain, a saying prevails: only the spiritual resources traded away truly belong to you!

However, Li Ji’an believed that this saying was clearly propagated by the high ranks of the business alliance to deliberately promote the flow of spiritual resources within the domain. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Li Ji’an carefully examined the array enveloping the spirit ship, estimating that the daily consumption of the spirit ship alone was at least several hundred spirit stones.

Notably, in this world, the primary use of spirit stones initially was for cultivators to refine and absorb spiritual qi or as a source of energy to power arrays, magical artifacts, and puppets.

The true establishment of a common currency is owed to the itinerant merchants of the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain who traverse various domains.

All along, the Spirit Stone reserves of the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain have been the highest in the entire Great Marsh Cultivation Realm.

They never economize on Spirit Stones either.

They believe that the most valuable spiritual talent is the various treasures from ancient times.

"Brother Huang...this..." With a gentle wave of her hand, Guo Wanzhi closed the guest room door and secretly communicated with Li Ji’an with a cautious expression.

Li Ji’an casually took out a Spirit Talisman and activated it in front of Guo Wanzhi: "Don’t worry, this is a detection talisman, temporarily no one is eavesdropping."

In fact, his mid-stage True Core divine sense had already swept through the area.

At that moment, in the first layer of the entire Spiritual Ship, Master Meng was in the cabin at the forefront, calming his mind and carefully considering his words, preparing to report to the higher-ups of the Five Blessings Commerce Association.

In the next cabin were Master Chunyuan’s kin, Sima Yu, along with two close attendants with fake pills.

"Fellow Daoist Huang, this lie upon lie will one day be exposed. You help me with good intentions, but I do not wish to harm you.

No matter how that jade token from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association came to be, once we reach the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, it will surely attract the attention and even an invitation from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

We must make plans early." Hearing there was no eavesdropping, Guo Wanzhi immediately suggested nervously.

Li Ji’an shook his head with a smile: "The origin of this jade token, I have already explained. Just stick to the story, that our master has passed away, leaving the two of us fellow disciples to rely on each other!"

"..." Guo Wanzhi stared gravely at the grinning Li Ji’an, and Xu Xiaochun’s image involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

"Then why don’t you say I’m also your junior sister? Why insist I’m your maid?" At this moment, Yao Rui stood in front of Li Ji’an, hands on her hips.

Li Ji’an leaned against the bed, while Yao Rui stood there, towering over him, exuding pressure.

"Our master has always been low-key and steady, as well as meticulous. You don’t quite fit that image; claiming you are our junior sister might easily give us away!"

"So you mean I’m not steady enough, not meticulous enough?" Yao Rui’s eyes narrowed.

Li Ji’an didn’t want to engage with her further, so he deliberately changed his expression and secretly communicated: "Someone’s watching, be careful!"

"Swish!" Hearing this, Yao Rui’s figure instantly flickered, then crouched at Li Ji’an’s feet, attentively massaging them.

At the same time, her expression was very serious, appearing quite professional, evidently rebutting Li Ji’an’s earlier assessment of her.

Upon hearing this, Guo Wanzhi hurriedly refrained from further communication and closed her eyes to ponder alone.

A smile appeared at the corner of Li Ji’an’s mouth as he openly took out several Communication Talismans and began writing.

Who knows when he’ll return after this departure?

Having lived three lifetimes in the Celestial Cyan Domain, over two hundred years, he naturally developed an affection for the Celestial Cyan Domain, considering it half a hometown.

Of course, the key point is that he was quite satisfied with the cultivation environment within the domain, if not for the Demon Realm invasion.

Especially after becoming part of the vested interests group, he could truly thrive within the domain.

Additionally, the strict hierarchical advancement system in the domain kept the societal system stable, likely without external forces continuing indefinitely.

Even the safety of Rejuvenation made him very satisfied.

At least, unlike other cultivation realms where large-scale magical power and secret techniques often cause disasters to innocent bystanders.

Besides, today’s Celestial Cyan Domain also gave him some personal emotional attachments.

The first person he sent a message to was Ning Sujin, signaling openly with magical power inscriptions and secretly with divine sense refinement.

Ning Sujin and Ning Yutan were two souls in one body. Back then, for the sake of preserving Ning Yutan’s physical body—and to strengthen her own primordial spirit—Ning Sujin bound her divine soul with the Odd Stone Forest spirit vein.

Later, as her physical body was taken by the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, she was unable to stray far from the Odd Stone Forest.

Fortunately, with Xiaoqiao on the forefront, the very low-profile Ning Yutan was never affected by war.

Given the prevailing strength of the Demon Dao, Li Ji’an was uncertain about the fate of the Odd Stone Forest.

However, should the Demon Dao truly invade the Odd Stone Forest, Ning Sujin’s current primordial spirit pressure should go unmatched.

Additionally, in recent years, she finally advanced the Puppet Control Technique to the late stage of the third tier, barely capable of controlling that Invisibility Puppet.

It has about 10% of its power.

"It should be enough for self-preservation!"

After communicating with Ning Sujin, Li Ji’an immediately sent messages to Xiao Changfeng, the Sect Leader, Xiaoqiao, and Yan Qingwan, informing them that he was now boarding the Spiritual Ship headed for the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.

Before long, with a crisp sound, the massive cross-domain Spiritual Ship finally set sail.