Translator: CinderTL
In the era when the False God Realm covered the entire Human Territory, no one's movements within Human territory remained secret unless they were specifically excluded from the False God Realm's surveillance system.
Li Chunjun and Wu Chen, the two Supreme Sages, had barely stepped out of the super star gate when Jin Huaiyu, a woman who appeared to be in her late twenties, arrived to greet them. Her every gesture and smile exuded an irresistible charm.
"The legendary Li Chunjun, whose name echoes across the three hundred realms of the southwest!" she greeted with a smile that seemed to convey unspoken affection, instantly putting people at ease. "I am Jin Huaiyu, vice guild master of the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's star ring main guild. We are honored that Swordmaster Li has chosen to participate in our trade conference. Please do not hesitate to convey any requests through me. The Creation Fortune Merchant Guild is dedicated to serving every Honored Guest to the best of our ability."
Her smile deepened, her words carrying an unusual weight: "Especially a Void Refining legend with such boundless potential as Swordmaster Li."
The term "Void Refining" here referred to the entire Void Refining Realm, not merely the initial stage.
The instant, instinctive warmth radiating from her expression and demeanor compelled Li Chunjun to glance at her involuntarily.
Not for any particular reason.
He simply wanted to discern whether Jin Huaiyu, the Supreme Sage of the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild, known as "Jade-Embracing Virtue," was employing enchantment techniques.
But...
Even with his Mind Realm at the ninth layer peak, he couldn't detect any trace of such magic.
Yet the inexplicable warmth he felt remained undeniably real.
He remained silent, while Wu Chen, standing beside him, remarked with some emotion, "For Guild Master Jin to personally greet us and present such meticulous arrangements, perfectly tailored to the cultural system of our Profound Yellow Great World, is an honor for Swordmaster Li and the Profound Yellow Sect."
His words were undoubtedly presumptuous.
Why would the vice guild master of the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's star ring main guild personally welcome a Supreme Elder from the Profound Yellow Sect?
However, the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's members were renowned for their diplomatic finesse, never offending potential clients.
Even though Wu Chen's remark bordered on overstepping, Jin Huaiyu refrained from showing any displeasure.
After Wu Chen's reminder, Li Chunjun finally understood why Jin Huaiyu, despite not using any charm techniques, had evoked such a strong sense of goodwill in him.
Jin Huaiyu's appearance...
It wasn't aligned with the cultural norms of the Profound Yellow Great World.
Her hairstyle, hair ornaments, earrings, clothing, accessories, bracelets, and even her facial features and body proportions perfectly matched Li Chunjun's aesthetic preferences.
He wondered where the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild had obtained this information.
But at that moment, Jin Huaiyu appeared to be a meticulously crafted image designed specifically for him.
While transforming into any form was trivial for a Supreme Sage who had mastered the Dao, for such a being to show him such favor...
No wonder he felt an instinctive sense of closeness and goodwill.
No wonder Wu Chen had pointed out that Guild Master Jin Huaiyu had shown him the utmost sincerity in welcoming him.
Li Chunjun hadn't initially recognized this, not because his cultivation was lacking, but because he simply lacked experience.
"For a distinguished and special guest like Swordmaster Li, no amount of sincerity from the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild would be excessive."
Jin Huaiyu responded with a warm smile.
Now understanding the reason for this favor, Li Chunjun didn't dwell on it further. He stated directly, "I need to sell a batch of materials. I'll only accept Void Dao Pills and Destruction Dao Pills in exchange."
He added, "This includes a set of Array Flags, led by one Top-Tier Dao Artifact and eleven Superior Dao Artifacts."
"A Heaven-Piercing Flag and eleven Desolate Earth Flags?" Jin Huaiyu asked with a radiant smile. "Thank you, Swordmaster Li, for your trust in us. We'll ensure you receive a price that meets your satisfaction."
"I need this done as quickly as possible," Li Chunjun emphasized.
"I understand. Your needs are our top priority," Jin Huaiyu replied, fully aware of Li Chunjun's insistence on urgency.
She had no intention of deliberately delaying the process to create an opportunity for a Quasi-Tenth-Tier member of the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild.
As Li Chunjun had made clear, he needed this done quickly, and she would expedite the sale of his materials, Dao Artifacts, and resources accordingly.
Even if a Quasi-Tenth-Tier expert from the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild were to intervene, they would never allow such a battle to occur within the Star Ring Great World.
Order!
This has always been the guild's highest principle.
It's not just a Quasi-Tenth-Tier expert—even a Dao Unification cultivator who dared to undermine the guild's foundation by disregarding order would face the thunderous wrath of the guild's highest echelons.
This unwavering commitment to order is precisely why the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild has established branches across all the Human Race's Great Worlds and enjoys an impeccable reputation throughout Human Territory.
Currently, Jin Huaiyu was leading Li Chunjun directly to the venue hosting the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's exchange conference.
This grand event occurs once every thousand years, and the participants are primarily Void Refining cultivators.
Of course, some Void Refining cultivators bring their most promising Primordial Spirit or even Nascent Soul Realm juniors to broaden their horizons.
However, these younger disciples typically remain in the shadows behind their Void Refining or Dharma Aspect Realm seniors, lacking even the authority to speak up or take the stage. As Li Chunjun surveyed the scene, he saw a constant flow of Void Refining and Dharma Aspect Realm cultivators, with occasional glimpses of Supreme Sages who had cultivated into Lawful Lifeforms.
The appearance of each Supreme Sage was invariably accompanied by murmurs of awe and astonishment.
"The saying 'Conversing with learned scholars, no commoners allowed' fits perfectly here," Li Chunjun remarked, surveying the scene. "Though we should replace 'learned scholars' with 'Void Refining' and 'Dharma Aspect'."
Void Refining!
These were often the Overlords of entire Realm Regions.
And how many Lesser Thousand Worlds did a single Realm Region govern? More than a hundred thousand!
Larger Realm Regions could oversee millions, even tens of millions, of Lesser Thousand Worlds.
This alone demonstrated the immense power and influence wielded by those in the Void Refining Realm.
Yet here, Void Refining cultivators moved through the trading fair like ordinary people, indistinguishable from the crowd.
"That's because you've reached such a high level, Swordmaster Li," Jin Huaiyu said with a smile. "Naturally, you're surrounded by peers of similar or comparable standing."
"I remember back when I was a little girl," she continued, "if even one person from our county managed to pass the entrance exam for an Elite Dao Academy, the entire region would celebrate with jubilation. But once I actually entered the academy, I discovered that everyone around me was a Heaven's Chosen from all corners of the world."
She didn't mind sharing a bit about her childhood to build rapport. "After graduating from the Elite Dao Academy, I interned at a branch of the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild. All the interns were graduates from Elite Dao Academies of the same caliber as mine, including some from even more prestigious institutions. Yet even at a branch of the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild, they were just ordinary members."
This revelation surprised Li Chunjun.
So the guild master didn't come from a prominent cultivation clan? She rose to this position through her own efforts?
Just as Li Chunjun was about to respond, he noticed a significant increase in the number of people observing him.
Some of their gazes held undisguised disbelief.
"It's Li Chunjun from the Profound Yellow Great World!"
A Void Refining cultivator with limited Mind Realm cultivation suddenly activated their Divine Sense, confirming the news, which was then intercepted by other cultivators.
In an instant, not only the other Void Refining and Dharma Manifestation cultivators, but even the Supreme Sages, who had previously been the center of attention, were swept by emotional turmoil upon confirming Li Chunjun's identity.
"Li Chunjun! I saw his records half a year ago. He's a formidable existence with combat power approaching Quasi-Tenth-Tier! What's truly astonishing is that he displayed such near-Tenth-Tier combat power while his cultivation was merely at the Dharma Manifestation Realm!"
"The Dharma Manifestation Realm is nothing! What's truly astonishing is that he's cultivated for less than a century! If he's reached this level in just a hundred years, imagine how powerful he'll become in another hundred, or a thousand!"
"I've seen reports about him too. Apparently, many major powers are scrambling for information about him. Even a friend of mine in the Immortal Alliance, whose sect is located in the Northeast Starfield, was asking me about him. Has his reputation really spread this far? To have his name known throughout the entire Human Territory in just a year or two? That's unbelievably fast!"
"Why is it spreading so quickly? It's not just his Quasi-Tenth-Tier combat power or his less-than-century-long cultivation that has made Li Chunjun known to nearly every major power in the Human Race within a year or two. The real reason for all the attention is how he achieved this! Even Special Life forms can't reach 500,000 combat power in a century. The only explanation is that he was born embodying the Dao itself..."
"Silence! Such matters are beyond the grasp of ordinary Supreme Sages like us. Don't dwell on what you shouldn't, and don't speak of what you shouldn't. Beware of letting words bring disaster!"
The crowd buzzed with speculation.
Although none of the Supreme Sages present dared to act overtly, some quickly lowered their heads in guilt, averting their gazes.
Yet their attention remained secretly fixed on Li Chunjun.
A torrent of inner turmoil—burning desires, insatiable greed, and bitter resentment—surged forth.
This was especially true for Dharma Manifestation Venerables with lower Mind Realms, whose avarice nearly overflowed from their bodies.
Wu Chen turned to Jin Huaiyu. "Guild Master Jin, if you wish to avoid any incidents during this auction, you must expedite the process."
"Sage Venerable Wu Chen, please trust in the capabilities of the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild," Jin Huaiyu replied with a slight nod. "And rest assured in our strength. No matter who attempts it, we will ensure the safety of every Honored Guest throughout the auction."
"Let us hope so," Wu Chen said.
Jin Huaiyu quickly led Li Chunjun to a cluster of over a hundred floating islands, ranging from small islets a few dozen miles across to massive landmasses spanning thousands of miles.
The island where they landed was one of the largest, stretching six thousand miles in all directions. Suspended above the earth, it orbited the world like a celestial satellite.
Jin Huaiyu handed Li Chunjun a token that controlled the island's Array Formation. "Swordmaster Li, you may rest in this Immortal Abode. We will immediately inform you of any transaction activity among buyers and sellers, and you will have the final say on all decisions."
Li Chunjun accepted the token. "Then I shall await the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's efficiency."
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (MI) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c496. [+3.8k]
🔑Early Access at $5.
✍Translated (6) Series, (4.1K+) Chapters, (5.8M+) Words.