The Spirit Realm Sea Region.

Star Moon Marketplace.

In the southern sea region ruled by the Spirit Control Sect, the ocean currents were unpredictable and the shipping lanes countless. As a result, there was no single, universally recognized trading hub like Weiyuan Immortal City.

But demand could not be suppressed.

Thus, on numerous islands with prime geographical locations, cultivation marketplaces were established—some officially designated by the Spirit Control Sect, others jointly built by multiple cultivation families—to amass wealth and foster commerce.

During the temperate season, when the currents were calm and relatively stable, commerce association spirit vessels, traveling merchants, and countless Loose Cultivators from across the seas flocked to these marketplaces like migratory birds to trade.

Then, as the temperate season drew to a close and the hurricane season loomed, these cultivators and spirit vessels from all corners would raise their sails and depart from the marketplaces once more!

During this cycle, merchant ships from the Outer Sea would also arrive in the Spirit Realm Sect’s Sea Region.

These ships, hailing from the distant Outer Sea, would bring exotic local specialties to trade, using their novelty to turn a handsome profit.

And among these Outer Sea commerce associations, the most popular one right now was none other than the one from the Cyan Profound Sea Region—the Nanyaoguang Corporation!

「Inside the marketplace.」

The Nanyaoguang Corporation’s Hundred Treasures Tower.

Cultivators clutching their Storage Pouches formed a long line that snaked down the marketplace street.

"Five portions of Black Jade Dew at sixty Spirit Stones each. With your Bronze Member Token, that’s a five percent discount... for a total of two hundred eighty-five Spirit Stones."

"Alright."

He paid the Spirit Stones without hesitation.

The richly dressed cultivator placed the five portions of Black Jade Dew into his Storage Pouch.

He was about to leave but turned back to say something.

"Oh, right, Shopkeeper! If your sect’s Spirit Plant masters cultivate any new types of Spiritual Objects, you have to let us loyal customers know!"

"It’s all thanks to this Black Jade Dew that I managed to advance to the fourth level of Qi Refining before that punk. Even my senior sister is looking at me in a new light..."

"Don’t you forget to tell me!"

The Spiritual Objects from the Far South Continent sold by the Nanyaoguang Corporation were selling extremely well in the Spirit Realm Sect’s Sea Region!

These Spiritual Objects from the Far South Continent were a new variety.

Their resistance didn’t stack with that of the conventional Spiritual Objects from the Yaoguang Islands; it was calculated separately!

This meant one thing.

—Paying for power really worked!

As long as one was willing to spend the money on Nanyaoguang Corporation’s goods, they could significantly increase their cultivation speed!

Of course, one could achieve the same effect using Spiritual Objects from the Yaoguang Islands.

However, that required rare Spiritual Objects!

Yet, as the saying goes, rarity begets value...

Rare Spiritual Objects, as the name suggested, were limited in quantity, making the competition for them exceptionally fierce!

Take a cultivator like the one in fine robes: his parents were at Late-stage Qi Refining and held managerial positions with some authority within the Spirit Control Sect.

Compared to a Loose Cultivator, such a background—with both parents alive and a wealthy family—was leagues better.

However... with his family background, could he really compete for rare Spiritual Objects against the families and heirs of high-level elites at the Foundation Establishment or Crystal realms?

Obviously not.

The result of failing to recognize one’s own limitations and forcing the competition was to be utterly crushed.

Even worse...

High-quality Spiritual Objects were never even available for ordinary cultivators to compete for. Like AIDS, they were transmitted only through maternal inheritance, bloodlines, and sexual partners.

Therefore, once the Nanyaoguang Corporation’s products entered the market, they quickly cultivated a following of loyal supporters with the ability to pay!

Spirit Stones, after all, treated everyone equally.

Thus, in every marketplace, the Nanyaoguang Corporation’s tower was always bustling with customers.

The customers obtained Spiritual Objects and improved their cultivation.

The corporation obtained Spirit Stones and accumulated wealth.

Each got what they needed.

It was a perfect arrangement.

As for the fact that the Nanyaoguang Corporation’s cost of acquiring Spiritual Objects from the natives of the Far South Continent was only a fraction of the selling price...

Ahem.

Shipping costs were costs, too!

’The profit margin is only a dozen-fold or so. That’s not particularly high, is it?’

...

By monopolizing trade with the Far South Continent, the Nanyaoguang Corporation amassed wealth and reaped profits within the Spirit Realm Sect’s Sea Region.

However, on this very day, at this very moment...

"The Spirit Control Sect’s Law Enforcement Team is on official business! All unrelated personnel, leave the area within ten breaths."

"Violators will be sentenced to up to three years of detention and fined."

The cultivators in line exchanged glances before quickly scattering and clearing the area.

THUD.

Heavy boot steps sounded one after another.

Dressed in black trench coats, their faces grim, the Law Enforcement Team cultivators, representing the will of the Spirit Control Sect, stormed into the Nanyaoguang Corporation’s tower.

The Shopkeeper’s eyelid twitched. A bad feeling welled up in his heart at the sight.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

The Law Enforcement Team’s captain got straight to the point.

"The Spiritual Objects sold by the Nanyaoguang Corporation contain a hidden toxin. Long-term consumption will cause irreversible damage to a cultivator’s Dao Body."

"This has been verified and confirmed by a Crystal-realm master of my sect."

"Now, by order of the Spirit Control Sect, I am sealing this shop, confiscating all Spiritual Objects, and detaining all cultivators!"

the Law Enforcement Team captain declared.

His eyes were ice-cold, glinting with a righteous fury.

"That’s impossible..." the Shopkeeper was stunned.

The Spiritual Objects sold by the Nanyaoguang Corporation had been inspected by the Cyan Profound Sect; there were absolutely no problems.

’So... what are they trying to do?’

’The Spirit Control Sect is fabricating charges and looking for trouble... Are they trying to start a war with the Cyan Profound Sea Region?!’

"You can’t do this! Our corporation is a commerce association directly under the Cyan Profound Sect..."

"Seize him. Take him away... Or would you like to try resisting arrest?"

The Law Enforcement Team captain sneered.

HISS... The Shopkeeper was horrified.

A short while later, the shop was sealed by the Spirit Control Sect.

Over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones’ worth of goods and sixty-seven of the corporation’s cultivators were all detained.

And at the same time, scenes just like this were playing out in multiple marketplaces throughout the Spirit Realm Sect’s Sea Region!

...

「Several months later.」

The Cyan Profound Sect.

An auxiliary island off Jade Dew Island.

"This is a provocation," the handsome, black-robed cultivator stated flatly after listening.

"No, this is not a provocation."

Wuying, who wore a conical hat and looked like a traveling merchant, spoke with easy confidence.

He had come this time as a diplomatic envoy representing the Spirit Control Sect!

"This is merely... a small warning..." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"After all, my fellow Daoist, you must know that there is indeed a problem with the Nanyaoguang Corporation’s goods..."

"Of course, I’m not referring to their quality. In fact, these Spiritual Objects are excellent. But... what about their origin?"

"Heh..."

"Spiritual Objects from a secret realm?"

"I find that hard to believe... I think there’s a better explanation."

"For example... the Mist Sea?"

"Am I right?"

Wuying smiled.

His eyes held the arrogance of someone who was sure of his victory.

His eyes narrowed as he sized up the impossibly handsome, black-robed cultivator sitting across from him.

He tried to catch a flicker of panic in the man’s expression.

Unfortunately, he found none.

’Very calm. Very young,’ Wuying couldn’t help but think.

’Judging by his life force, he’s probably... only around sixty years old.’

’Mid-stage Crystal at such a young age... Is he one of the Cyan Profound Sect’s Golden Core candidates?’

’Truly... enviable.’

’But in the face of an absolute gap in strength... what good is talent?’

Their Supreme Elder was already at Tier Four Mid Stage.

Once she emerges from seclusion, sweeping across the Cyan Profound Sea Region will be a trivial matter!

’Even though we’re both at the Mid-stage Crystal realm, my foundation is deeper, and with my life-bound spirit beast, I could easily suppress this black-robed cultivator!’

’Heh... he would never guess that I can unleash the power of a Tier Three Late Stage cultivator, would he?’

Wuying thought with no small amount of malice.

Then, he prepared to end the conversation.

As he had said, this was just a warning.

Besides, Wuying didn’t think this young Mid-stage Crystal cultivator before him could make the decision anyway.

"Well then..."

"In any case, my side is acting in good faith. We are willing to jointly develop this new continent with your esteemed sect."

"I hope that your sect, after some consideration, will make the right choice..."

Wuying said contemptuously.

He rose into the air and began to fly away.

This island was just one of the many auxiliary islands of Jade Dew Island.

It was only protected by a Tier One Array.

With Wuying’s cultivation level, he could undoubtedly come and go as he pleased. This crude Array posed no hindrance to him whatsoever!

However, in that instant...

The space around him... froze!

"What?!"

Wuying’s expression changed abruptly.

Just then, a calm voice sounded in his ear.

"This is a provocation."

"And provocation..."

"is something I will not tolerate!"

Su Ye said.

Then, he raised his hand.

Aiming it at Wuying.

He brought his five fingers together.

BOOM!