Free Web NovelChapter 518: Chapter 28: The Debate Begins
Tong Liang’s strength is acknowledged across the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.
With his deep foundation, it is nearly impossible for cultivators below the True Man realm in the domain to not only kill but even defeat him.
Even True Core stage True Men find it almost impossible to thoroughly eliminate him without giving him a chance to activate the Soul Jade.
Thus, when the Nine Tripods Commerce Association discovered that Tong Liang’s Soul Lamp had extinguished two ten-days ago, they immediately suspected the Great Elders of other two major Commerce Associations in the Business Alliance.
However, after gathering information from spies spread throughout the domain, this possibility was ruled out.
They then began investigating information on Ascendants entering the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain from the Outer Domain.
Only after finding no traces of any foreign Ascendant did they start paying attention to Tong Liang’s movements and causation.
Only then did the public learn of his death.
Besides this matter, the conflicts between the Nine Tripods Commerce Association and the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association have become more apparent due to this incident.
Tong Liang fell at the junction of the White Deer Continent and Treasure Bottle Continent, and the last place he appeared was Tiger Roar Immortal City, where he accompanied Bai Cailin in the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association for several months.
The Nine Tripods Commerce Association naturally sought explanations from the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association.
Unfortunately, due to restrictions of the Spirit Contract, the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association could only disclose his personal movements, but could not reveal information related to Li Ji’an.
Bai Cailin was similarly constrained by the Spirit Contract and did not disclose information regarding Li Ji’an.
Both the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association and Yaochi Commerce Association are members of the Business Alliance, restricted by its regulations; not even the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, as the current top power in the alliance, can openly act against the two associations.
The Business Alliance was established initially to bundle up for survival, growing to this day as a relationship of shared prosperity and damage; normal business competition is permissible, but acts of true violation against the alliance’s rules, no commerce association dares to commit, unable to bear the consequences.
This is the biggest difference from the singular dominance of a major power like Celestial Cyan Domain.
Three months later, the Nine Tripods Commerce Association had fully swept clean the tribulation and evil cultivators at the junction of White Deer Continent and Treasure Bottle Continent.
Half a month later, a Fake Pill Steward finally located Li Ji’an who was cultivating in seclusion within the Jinhua Commerce Association.
Using the Secret Technique of Divine Soul Inquiry Heart, he briefly questioned Li Ji’an about his whereabouts during that period and then said no more, having discerned at a glance that Li Ji’an’s Magical Power was not as profound as his own Young Master’s, and being a fleeing foreign cultivator to this place, he couldn’t possibly believe that Li Ji’an had means comparable to a Core Formation Ascendant.
As the Flying Crane Dao Discussion formally began a month later, the fervor over Tong Liang’s death was overshadowed.
However, rumors circulated around that the Nine Tripods Commerce Association seemed to have crossed paths with an Outer Domain Ascendant, and Tong Liang’s death most likely was related.
During this period, Li Ji’an stayed in the Dao Field, guarding Gugu to stabilize the realm within the cave mansion below.
His Dao Field is merely Lower Grade Tier Three, with spiritual qi sufficient for one person to cultivate, but since he had long reached Foundation Establishment Perfection, he did not need to expend spiritual qi, leaving enough for Gugu.
Until the Flying Crane Dao Discussion formally began, Li Ji’an was summoned by the Jinhua Commerce Association, joining the other nine Immortal Seedlings to head to Feihong Immortal City.
The Eighteen Merchants Association, ten spots per commerce association, totalling one hundred eighty Immortal Seedlings, adopts a draw-and-group mode.
First, they split into ten groups for the elimination matches.
The top three from each group proceed to the semi-final.
However, to avoid strong matches in the elimination, the alliance took measures for prioritized grouping rights, basically distributing the ten most formidable Immortal Seedlings known in this term to each group.
This time, Li Ji’an rode a small Spiritual Ship from Jinhua Commerce Association, crossing over three states in just two months to arrive at Feihong Immortal City at the core of the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.
As the headquarters of the Business Alliance, it is also the location of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, being truly the commerce center of the eastern Great Marsh Cultivation Realm.
Those who come from the Outer Domain to do business generally head straight to this city.
The decennial Flying Crane Dao Discussion further draws champions to this immortal city, bustling more than ever.
The Business Alliance Headquarters houses the stations of all Eighteen Merchants Association, each association’s Immortal Seedlings gather here.
"Esteemed individuals, in this Flying Crane Dao Discussion, I sincerely hope you exert your utmost, our commerce association’s promise will not be reneged upon," said Wu Yishan earnestly in worship to the ten Immortal Seedlings upon arriving at the Business Alliance Headquarters in Feihong Immortal City.
"Rest assured, President, we shall strive our utmost to make the semi-final!" The ten people echos.
"Good! Once the Dao Discussion is finished, I, Wu, shall personally host a grand banquet for your celebration."
Afterward, cautioning them to maintain restraint during this period, not rashly act.
Besides avoiding injury affecting the discussion, also to prevent easily having one’s true capabilities probed.
In magical combat among cultivators of the same rank, when the magical power and treasure differ not significantly, taking by surprise often leads to an advantage.
"Brother Liu, come, I’ll take you to wander around Feihong Immortal City, the largest in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain. Here, you can virtually see the most superior spiritual talent in the eastern Great Marsh Cultivation Realm."
Once settled, Wu Yehua invited Li Ji’an to venture out.
Li Ji’an had long heard of Feihong Immortal City, always planning to seize the chance to trade for some high-tier spiritual materials here, so he readily nodded to agree.
"Such folly, competition imminent, why venture out at needless risk," came Wu Chengzhi’s cold voice as they were about to leave.
Upon hearing, Wu Yehua sneered: "Who dares conjure mischief in this Feihong Immortal City? Second brother, your timidity might make our Jinhua Commerce Association a laughingstock, indeed."
Since the assassination attempt by an Earth-level assassin, Wu Yehua’s attitude toward Wu Chengzhi had been openly exposed, ever dismissive given any opportunity.
"Wu Yehua, do you really think I, your brother, dare not act against you?" Wu Chengzhi frowned deeply.
"Haha, I’ve never thought so. If you could hire an Earth-level assassin from Yellow Springs Prison to kill me, why would you dare not act against me?" Wu Yehua chuckled coldly.
"I have already made a Great Heart Demon Oath before our father, the alleged assassin was absolutely not hired by me." Wu Chengzhi’s gaze was clear.
"Then you must have instructed others to hire them," Wu Yehua persisted, entirely disbelieving.
Besides his second brother, competing for the position of president, he couldn’t think of anyone else who would spend a fortune of Spirit Stones to hire Yellow Springs Prison assassins to kill him.
"Words are of no use, think as you will." With a darkened expression, Wu Chengzhi stopped explaining.
Wu Yehua, meanwhile, assumed a winner’s stance, following Li Ji’an out of the station.
Just reaching the Business Alliance entrance, they spotted two groups clashing in argument from afar.
The two groups were not unfamiliar.
One was led by Yuan Jingzhu with seven members of Si Shui Commerce Association, while the other, led by Bai Cailin, had ten members from Yaochi Commerce Association.
Wu Yehua took immediate interest upon seeing this.
The Si Shui Commerce Association was trailing as the lesser of the Eighteen Merchants Association, and the Jinhua Commerce Association was no better off in comparison, whereas the Yaochi Commerce Association ranked mid-to-low tier, stronger than both other associations.
Logically, Si Shui Commerce Association ought not clash with Yaochi Commerce Association.
Of course, the most pressing was Wu Yehua’s dissatisfaction with both commerce association’s leaders.
He walked over swiftly, eager to fan the flames.
"Si Shui Commerce Association is too oblivious to its place, dare show disrespect to Fairy Bai?" Wu Yehua chuckled lightly from a distance.
"Hm?" The two opposing parties promptly looked over.
Initially, just a minor misunderstanding; a Si Shui Commerce Association Immortal Seedling didn’t recognize Bai Cailin, was attracted by her wild aura, emitting slight aggressive intent, Yuan Jingzhu had been defusing the situation, Bai Cailin’s temper already somewhat calmed.
Upon seeing Wu Yehua approach, especially noting Li Ji’an behind him, Bai Cailin’s resentment dissipated, replaced by a trace of uncertainty and wonder.
She first suspected Li Ji’an in Tong Liang’s death.
For she knew Tong Liang harbored greed for Li Ji’an’s Vermilion Toad, having even warned him of this.
But judging from sparse information later gathered from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, their elders confidently concluded Tong Liang at least died by the hands of a Core Formation Ascendant, or maybe inadvertently by a passing Nascent Soul True Monarch.
Refusing to believe he was killed by a cultivator below the ascendant level.
This made Bai Cailin increasingly baffled; was she mistaken, or did this hefty cultivator possess hand a lethal as a Core Formation Ascendant?
Meanwhile, two people in Si Shui Commerce Association also focused on Li Ji’an.
One was Yuan Jingzhu, the other, Yao Rui.
They were among the few who knew "Liu Qingyun’s" identity information, Master Yuxiao had gathered through spies a year ago about this new joiner’s capabilities in the Jinhua Commerce Association, subsequently dispatching Li Ji’an to Golden Radiance Immortal City for contact.
But throughout the year, Li Ji’an only sent a handful of transmissions, all failures of engagement.
Now, with him indisputably representing Jinhua Commerce Association, Master Yuxiao shelved thoughts but sought certainty whether he was another disciple of that gentleman.
Guo Wanzhi paid special attention.
Yuan Jingzhu’s gaze toward Li Ji’an offered a hint of goodwill.
Yao Rui, on the other hand, revealed hostility.
At this moment, Li Ji’an under the guise of Liu Qingyun, ignored everyone, passing indifferently before the two parties.
