Chapter 680 - 75: The Enfeoffment Ceremony

Just like Master Chunyuan’s use of the bronze mirror previously, a flash of light passed by, and Li Ji’an’s dantian had already been projected onto the bronze mirror.

"How marvelous, it can actually reflect the dantian," murmured Ascendant Fuxiang as he slightly raised his eyes to the bronze mirror displaying the cyan pill.

"Hmm~" Master Chunyuan also subconsciously murmured a soft exclamation.

Tong Jiesheng, on the other hand, suddenly widened his eyes, feeling quite disappointed, his entire momentum weakened.

Because at this moment, the dantian projected in the bronze mirror was evidently a superior-level magical pill exuding the aura of a Core Formation Ascendant, and not a Golden Core!

"This..."

"Hmph! Now, shouldn’t you give this old man an explanation?" Li Ji’an slowly raised his eyes, narrowing them slightly as he stared directly at Tong Jiesheng.

"Calm down, Fellow Daoist," Tong Jiesheng subconsciously stepped back, aligning himself with Master Chunyuan.

Earlier in the bronze mirror’s projection, Evergreen Ascendant’s dantian magical power was far stronger than his, qualifying him as a powerful ascendant; naturally, he was not his match.

"Did you forget what was said just now so quickly?" Li Ji’an ignored him completely, stepping further forward.

Tong Jiesheng immediately showed panic on his face, involuntarily glancing at Ascendant Fuxiang behind him and the two Joyful Union Sect ascendants in the sky.

"Calm down, Daoist Evergreen, it was my fault, I apologize, and I’m willing to take responsibility for my mistakes. Please name your price." He quickly calmed down; to him, everything in the world was up for transaction.

His urgency this time had led him to a loss in the gamble.

A willing loser pays up. Resolving this quickly would allow him to continue searching for that little thief.

"Hmph, as I said, if it is not, then you owe your life!" Li Ji’an snorted coldly.

Seeing Li Ji’an was only pushing verbally, with no substantial action, the now calm Tong Jiesheng had deciphered his intentions.

He once again lowered his posture, sincerely apologizing, then earnestly said, "Daoist Evergreen, it’s better to settle enmities rather than form them. I was at fault, please feel free to name your price, and if it’s within my means, I’ll make every effort to fulfill it.

Additionally, if Daoist Evergreen doesn’t mind, from now on, our Ten Thousand Merchants Domain Business Alliance will regard you as an honored guest. You can command us for any spiritual trade at any time."

Seeing him no longer panicking, Li Ji’an too stopped bluffing.

After all, his magical power was only at mid-stage Golden Core, which would be exposed once he acted, and Ning Sujin’s efforts would be wasted.

This time he could deceive the Dao Artifact bronze mirror entirely relying on Ning Sujin’s Primordial Spirit power, though it consumed significantly.

After the ancient cataclysm, Dao Artifacts appeared, but up to this day, the rules contained within the discovered Dao Artifacts couldn’t affect Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

Most believe that Nascent Soul True Monarchs nurture Dao seeds, already connecting with the great Dao, immune to ordinary laws.

Thus, prior, Li Ji’an borrowed the bronze mirror and experimented several times, only to discover the plan of masking with Ning Sujin’s Primordial Spirit power.

"The Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Merchants Domain?" Li Ji’an found a timely step down.

"Indeed, though I am unworthy, I am the Commerce Alliance Leader," Tong Jiesheng also took a long breath.

"Daoist Evergreen, if you have any needs, please feel free to ask!"

Li Ji’an feigned hesitation but finally changed his attitude: "Well, this old man does need several pieces of high-tier spiritual materials, I wonder if Fellow Daoist Tong could assist in procuring them."

"Daoist Evergreen is too polite, it was my mistake first, whatever you need, just say it, I will immediately send a message to the Business Alliance to deliver it as compensation!" Tong Jiesheng, seeing Li Ji’an genuinely in need, showed a pleased expression.

Thus, not only was a conflict resolved, but the Business Alliance also befriended a powerful ascendant.

Of course, only when the other truly accepted his apology could he find peace.

Otherwise, if the other temporarily spared him due to the three Joyful Union Sect ascendants, he would be in constant trepidation afterward.

Li Ji’an was also unceremonious, immediately requesting tier-three advanced talisman materials.

Tier-three advanced spiritual materials, whether talisman, artifact, or medicinal, are peak treasures in the eastern part of Great Marsh Cultivation Realm, exceedingly rare.

Typically, such spiritual materials only circulate amongst ascendants, hard for outsiders to obtain.

Yet Li Ji’an was aware of the Business Alliance’s capabilities in this area.

Tong Jiesheng heard tier-three advanced talisman materials and that Li Ji’an was asking for three sets, which was indeed quite a bold demand, causing his eyelid to subtly twitch.

However, within a single breath, he wholeheartedly accepted.

Though tier-three advanced talisman materials were precious, it was not difficult for the Business Alliance.

For the almost only hope of forming a Nascent Soul in this life, paying extra was acceptable.

"Good! Daoist Evergreen, rest assured, this old man will soon instruct the Business Alliance to prepare, and if without accident, at most within a year, three sets of Biluo Celestial Heart will be delivered," Tong Jiesheng assured.

Li Ji’an’s face revealed a hint of delight, and he no longer kept a stern face, smiling slightly: "Since it’s so, then let this misunderstanding pass, Fellow Daoist Tong should act with more caution in the future."

"Thank you, Daoist Evergreen for your forgiveness, this old man is taught a lesson, and will certainly be more careful henceforth," Tong Jiesheng’s heart was completely at ease.

"Fellow Daoist, you’re too kind." Li Ji’an nodded in salute.

Thus, the small incident was settled, and Tong Jiesheng dismissed the possibility of Evergreen Ascendant being the Golden Core-formed "Huang Jie" or Biyun Sect’s Li Ping’an.

On that day, the restrictions of Funiu Mountain were lifted, and the three Joyful Union Sect ascendants departed.

Tong Jiesheng also left.

Before leaving, he solemnly invited Li Ji’an to Wind Moon City where the Joyful Union Sect resides to attend Tong Yaoyao’s appointment as Saintess ceremony.

The ceremony was scheduled for a year later, with the Joyful Union Sect hosting a grand feast for three months, inviting cultivators from across the domain to witness.

In celebration of the Joyful Union Sect’s grand occasion, and to turn foes into friends, the Business Alliance also offered substantial support, promising to bring abundant spiritual talent for domain cultivators’ trade before the ceremony, hinting that superior spiritual talent for the Core Formation Stage would not be lacking.

Before leaving, he also requested Chunyuan to accompany him to Wind Moon Immortal City, but Master Chunyuan declined, citing concerns about Joyful Union Sect’s past grudges against Ten Thousand Laws Palace, which did not cause Tong Jiesheng suspicion.

However, Tong Jiesheng took the bronze mirror with him, hoping to find that Golden Core thief at the large trade fair the Business Alliance intended to host under its name.

After all, resources in Yellow Heaven Domain are scarce, and the magical resources required for cultivation at the Golden Core Stage must be lacking, hence potentially taking risks.

Li Ji’an accepted the invitation wholeheartedly.

Not for anything else, but for Tong Yaoyao.

There’s a tradition in the Joyful Union Sect where the Saintess must serve as a cauldron, bearing the Sect Leader’s absorption, and only surviving the absorption leads to reinvigoration.

Tong Yaoyao, with her innate Taiyin body, is an excellent furnace for the Joyful Union Sect’s absorption.

She has been detained within the Joyful Union Sect for many years, previously due to the strong resistance by the Tong Family and her incomplete split soul within the clan, Huang Qiyu was unable to ensure perfect absorption.

But now, Tong Jiesheng, for his Nascent Soul ambition, did not hesitate to cooperate with Huang Qiyu, handing over Tong Yaoyao’s split soul to Huang Qiyu.

Huang Qiyu can then perform absorption on Tong Yaoyao’s Taiyin body after the ceremony, with hopes to advance to the True Monarch Realm if all goes well.

With Li Ji’an’s understanding of Tong Yaoyao, she would never agree to such a beastly act by Huang Qiyu, even if it means her death.

Nor could he possibly watch Tong Yaoyao suffer this calamity.