Free Web NovelChapter 555: Chapter 2: Pillar of the Sect
The reason the Five Blessings Commerce Association was able to be founded was due to an opportunity encountered by the Meng Family ancestor over two thousand years ago.
At that time, the Business Alliance had already been established, while the ancestor of the Meng Family was merely a destitute and downtrodden junior cultivator in the Qi Cultivation stage, earning spiritual resources through guiding in Fuyun City.
The turning point of fate occurred on that sunny afternoon.
Meng He met that dusty traveler, an old man.
The old man was simply dressed, with a rustic style that at a glance seemed like a rural wanderer, but Meng He, due to professional habit, observed many details and found that although the appearance was simple, the craftsmanship was exquisite. There wasn’t a single trace of shabbiness, not even a wrinkle could be found.
Upon closer observation of the old man’s features and expression, from afar he seemed like an aged individual worn by time, but when up close, it was startling to find the old man’s complexion rosy, his skin like jade.
Among his neatly groomed hair and beard were streaks of silver, yet there wasn’t a hint of decay; instead, it added a touch of warmth and harmony.
The distant appearance of age was but a manifestation of the aura of time emanating from him.
Moreover, Meng He could not sense any trace of magical power from the old man. This feeling was distinctly different from the Qi Concealment Techniques commonly used by Core Formation True Men he occasionally encountered.
Thus, Meng He proactively engaged in conversation; the old man was warm and gentle, his speech and behavior naturally harmonious and kind, possessing a charisma that one couldn’t help but be drawn to follow.
Henceforth, Meng He constantly accompanied him, explaining the local customs and leading him to visit the spiritual workshops within the domain.
In return, the old man expounded upon the grand principles of heaven and earth daily.
Though not involving any cultivation methods, without realizing it, Meng He, who originally required a Breaking Rank Pill to breakthrough, seamlessly overcame the late stage of Qi Cultivation without any obstacles; it came to fruition effortlessly and quietly.
During this time, the old man never displayed any magical powers or divine abilities, and his travels within the domain were always with Meng He aboard the Escort Spirit Boat, not to mention he consumed three meals a day like a commoner who hadn’t abstained from food.
What was different was the spiritual resources he carried seemed like a bottomless pit; he would purchase anything that caught his eye across the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, whether it was mundane items of this realm or Tier Four treasures, they seemed like fresh playthings to him. However, after playing with them for a few days, he would lose interest and casually gift them to Meng He.
In just ten short years, Meng He amassed nearly a million spiritual stones; afterwards, he used this as a foundation to establish the now renowned Five Blessings Commerce Association.
Master Meng eventually stopped at the middle stage of Core Formation, and a hundred years before his death, he began to secretly search for the old man, all in vain. He left a last wish, passing on this matter to his descendants.
He clearly informed his descendants that the old man claimed to come from the Taihao Realm, where cultivation civilization is thriving, adhering to ancient heritage, and unlike the Great Marsh Cultivation Realm, hasn’t suffered from an apocalyptic disaster.
However, the old man also plainly stated that an insurmountable gap separates the two realms, making travel between them nearly impossible. Even if one was lucky enough to succeed, a tremendous price had to be paid.
Meng He’s last wish was merely hoping that if his descendants had the chance to find the old man, they would serve and respect him, but after generations of succession in the Meng Family, their thoughts had long changed.
Now, the upper echelons of the Five Blessings Commerce Association are convinced that the old man has long since passed away, and that the spiritual resources he left behind must equal the wealth of a domain, all thoughts focused on finding this legacy.
They have even speculated on whether he had taken disciples to pass on his legacy.
Ten years ago, when it became known to the Meng Family that Huang Jie’s master was proficient in at least two high-tier skills, they suspected whether Huang Jie’s master was the old man’s descendant.
Last year, when Huang Jie attained the Golden Core, the Meng Family’s suspicions were confirmed.
In the entire Celestial Cyan Domain, only the old man’s legacy could possibly allow a Foundation Establishment cultivator with average magical power and middle-tier talent to form a Golden Core.
Regrettably, Huang Jie attracted too many big figures; the Meng Family couldn’t compare with those Ascendants, let alone obtain any trace of the old man’s legacy from there.
Hence, they could only pin their hopes on Huang Jie’s master.
Although the Business Alliance internal investigations had long uncovered the truth behind Huang Jie’s deliberate assistance to Guo Wanzhi, knowing they didn’t truly know each other before and were not true senior brother and sister, Huang Jie came from the Celestial Cyan Domain, and Guo Wanzhi happened to be an alchemist of the Biyun Sect, thus raised this question.
Upon hearing this query, Li Ji’an had already prepared a response: "Guo Wanzhi? A senior sister in my Biyun Sect goes by that name, though I’m not sure if they are the same person."
Upon receiving the answer, Master Meng nodded secretly, "Correct, she is indeed a disciple of your sect; however, she is now an honored alchemist of the Si Shui Commerce Association."
Li Ji’an nodded slightly, "That’s excellent!"
"May I ask True Man Li, regarding Fellow Daoist Guo’s master..." Master Meng immediately opened his mouth to inquire again.
"Hmm?" Li Ji’an’s brow instantly furrowed, turning his head with a somewhat peculiar look at Master Meng.
Master Meng hurriedly stopped, plastering a smile on his face, "Forgive me, True Man Li, I misspoke, I had no intention of prying into your sect’s secrets, nor any ill intentions towards Fellow Daoist Guo, please forgive me."
Li Ji’an shook his head, his expression slightly cold.
Master Meng hesitated for a moment, then decisively rose to take his leave, fearful of incurring Li Ji’an’s displeasure.
As he sensed Master Meng’s departure, Li Ji’an shook his head slightly, realizing that this time, the pseudonym "Huang Jie" had inevitably left some hidden dangers.
However, human capabilities are limited; Li Ji’an had only lived a little over three hundred years, experiencing three different societal environments, just an ordinary person. His journey to the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain was initially meant to escape war.
Unexpectedly, it later resulted in encountering the Core Formation shock of Feihong Dao Field, leading him to help Guo Wanzhi upon his departure on a whim.
He even more unexpectedly encountered Wu Weixiong on the Shadowless Grassland, leading to speculations about his master among the people.
