CH 422

This time, the gathering would be held on a small hill that was 5 miles away from the foot of the Yuxi Peak. 

The arrangements might seem a little too simple, but from what Shang Xia could tell, the key locations were manned by the organizers of the gathering. Even though the place wasn’t as secure as any fortified city, it was good enough for what they were about to do.

That wasn’t all. When Shang Xia released his divine sense earlier to take a look around, he could faintly feel a powerful aura surrounding them. He didn’t know where it was coming from, but he knew it was somewhere close to where they were.

Clearly, there was a Martial Extermination Realm expert presiding over the event.

After thinking about it, Shang Xia realized that that was the way to go. For gatherings at that standard involving high-level Martial Intent Realm experts who were gathering resources to break through to the Martial Extermination Realm, there was no way for precautions not to be taken. Moreover, the four great clans had to be pulling the strings behind the exchange. For a huge event like that, there was no way it could be successfully carried out with the Tongyou Institution’s approval.

Not to mention the fact that they were currently in the battlefield between the two worlds. The experts of the Azure Spiritual World were lurking about. Even though they were currently in a ceasefire, that didn’t mean that the Tongyou Institution would let their guards down.

For such a massive event to take place at the foot of the Yuxi Peak, there was no way they could hide it successfully from the experts of the Azure Spiritual World.

If there wasn’t a Martial Extermination Realm expert present to stabilize the situation, who knew what might happen? If those experts from the four great races of the Liao Continent or those freaks from the Changbai Holy Land discovered a chance and decided to send a huge attack over, the promising experts of the You Continent who had hopes of entering the Martial Extermination Realm in the future would be killed in one fell swoop. That would be the greatest joke that would be played in the history of the Tongyou Institution.

Before entering the venue, Shang Xia seemed a little distracted. He was trying to communicate with his Crimson Soul Tablet. He thought back to the time he just saw the Yuxi Peak and recalled the feeling when the tablet wanted to leap out from his sea of consciousness.

That feeling caused some fear to linger in Shang Xia’s heart. If the Crimson Soul Tablet were to really charge out from his sea of consciousness… 

That was something Shang Xia hoped he never had to see. 

After a heart-stopping experience, a question formed in his mind: What in the world is on the Yuxi Peak to induce such a strong reaction from the Crimson Soul Tablet?

It had to be world origin, but for the Crimson Soul Tablet to react so strongly, it had to be an astronomical amount of world origin.

Shang Xia basically discovered the answer himself. But that begged the next question. What was he supposed to do? Was he going to have to get closer to the Yuxi Peak?

Shang Xi and Shang Jian, who noticed his abnormal reaction before, didn’t know the true reason behind it. His absent-minded behavior only reinforced their assumption that he expanded too much of his divine sense when he crafted talismans. They couldn’t help but feel that their decision to bring him over to the gathering was the right one.

As the time of the gathering drew closer, several figures started to gather around them.

Shang Xia’s attention only returned to the gathering when they had all entered the venue but looking around, only a third of the seats present were taken. Everyone was still slowly streaming in from all different directions.

The number of cultivators who showed up was pretty impressive. Most of them hid their appearances and concealed their aura. Clearly, some of them didn’t wish for their identities to be revealed.

“Oh? Are there really so many Martial Intent Realm cultivators who completed their third divine sense transformation in our You Continent?” Shang Xia gasped.

“The moment we stopped fighting in the battlefield between the two worlds, the news of this gathering had been spread around. The news reached those outside the battlefield, and there were even some cultivators who left the You Continent a long time and made their way over from all over the Azure Origin World.” Shang Jian replied.

Even after hearing what Shang Jian said, Shang Xia couldn’t help but look at the number of experts who were present. He used his divine sense to probe those present and muttered softly, “Second Uncle, I don’t think only members of our You Continent are present, right?” 

Shang Jian chuckled without answering the question directly. “It’s the first time we’re holding such a large-scale gathering. We’re most afraid of it being a flop. Even though that’s not really likely to happen, as a precaution, all four clans reached a silent agreement that the first few items we bring out have to be a hit. Anyway, just bid on whatever you want as long as they bring out any item you require. As long as the price is right, they’ll probably agree.” 

Shang Xia was slightly taken aback. Was that the legendary back door? 

From the way Shang Jian put it, that was what it sounded like!

After Shang Jian, Shang Xi, and Shang Xia entered the venue, it didn’t take long for the venue to pretty much fill up. Seeing as the time had arrived, a thin barrier covered the venue. The moment it appeared, a small portion of cultivators who were present immediately became alert.

“Everyone, please relax.” A voice rang from the center of the venue as a middle aged cultivator. His face was slightly yellowish in color, but other than that, there was nothing special about him. His voice covered the entire area the next moment. “This is just an ordinary formation we’re using to hide this location. It will not affect anyone who wishes to leave. If you don’t believe me, feel free to check.” 

Shang Xia recognized the person immediately. He was Ji Min of the Ji Clan, and he was also the person who was hosting the gathering.

His cultivation had already reached the large completion stage of the Martial Intent Realm. He might not be the strongest or have the highest cultivation realm among everyone who was present, but he was someone who could call the shots in the Ji Clan. His status alone was more than enough to qualify him to be the host of the gathering.

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After all, everyone present knew that there was a Martial Dipper Realm ancestor standing behind Ji Min.

In fact, Ji Min didn’t need to explain himself. Not too long after the formation was activated, many people could feel that they weren’t restricted in any way. The peaceful atmosphere was quickly restored.

Ji Min nodded slightly before cupping his fists and greeting everyone who came. “I am glad everyone can make it today. I shall not waste any time and we’ll get right into it! Please allow me to start things off.” 

After he spoke, he took out a formless object and placed it on the jade platform in front of him. 

The moment it appeared, Shang Xia discovered that several experts recognized the treasure and had sucked in deep breaths.

“I believe some of you here recognize this.” Ji Min paused for a second before he continued, “This is a rank four treasure, the Formless Yarn. I hope to trade it for a piece of rank four Seven Aperture Copper or Scale Gravel.” 

He swept his gaze across the venue and hoped for someone to speak up. Unfortunately, the silence descended on the lands.

“Haha! If you're staring off with something so precious, how are we supposed to proceed from here? The rest of our items will never be able to match up to it!” A sneer rang through the skies and brought about a wave of discussions.

Shang Jian grumbled softly, “Shit! We thought that we should start off with a bang. We forgot that this is a trade gathering, not an auction! Now that we brought out a rank four treasure, to start, many people might not be willing to show off their items.”

Shang Xia understood what had happened. Even though the gathering was mainly for those gathering herbs to craft their rank four advancement medicine, there would only be several rank four treasures up for grabs. Most people would be dealing with rank three herbs or treasures.

Shang Xia’s advancement medicine, the Four Seasons Samsara Wine, might require a lot of rank four treasures, but a large part of those he required at the moment were rank three ingredients. 

As for other cultivators, most of them only required rank four herbs as the main ingredient. Most of the time, they would be looking for rank three stuff!

Every cultivator wanted to maintain their reputation. For Ji Min to throw out a rank four treasure at the very start, most people wouldn’t be able to bring out anything that outshined it in the future. Those who wanted to trade for rank three herbs might be too embarrassed to continue.

Even if the gathering could continue as planned, the number of items that were put up for trade would be greatly reduced.

When the various organizers were cursing their lack of thought, a voice rang through the air. “I don’t have any Seven Aperture Copper or Scale Gravel. However, I have a piece of Violet Crow Blood Rune Steel. Will you accept it?” 

The Violet Crow Blood Rune Steel threw the venue into another round of chaos. After all, it was also a piece of rank four treasure.

Shang Xi’s whisper entered Shang Xia’s ears. “That should be someone from the Liu Clan…”

In order not to destroy the atmosphere entirely, the four clans had come to an agreement on how they should proceed.

Ji Min seemed to be slightly taken aback as he thought for a second before replying, “Fellow cultivator, the Violet Crow Blood Rune Steel might also be in the fourth rank and extremely valuable, but it’s not something I need. I would still like to see if there is anyone with Seven Aperture Copper or Scale Gravel in the crowd.” 

The person who spoke paused for a second before he continued, “What if no one has it?” 

Ji Min replied helplessly, “The Violet Crow Blood Rune Steel might not be what I need exactly, but I still have uses for it. If no one has the items I want, I will agree to your trade.” 

Ji MIn looked around expectantly and asked, “Is there anyone who wishes to trade with me?” 

Shang Xia noticed the silence that filled the air and knew that from how things were progressing, the Liu Clan was probably going to take home the Formless Yarn.

Shang Xi’s voice rang in his mind once again. “I’m afraid the Violet Crow Blood Rune Steel is something the Ji Clan actually needs too. Now that Ji Wenlong has entered the Martial Dipper Realm, they’re definitely thinking of crafting a new weapon for him.” 

“Are they planning to make a divine weapon?” Shang Xia asked.

Before Shang Jian could say anything, a foreign voice rang through the crowd. “I have some Scale Gravel with me. I wonder if it’s enough to complete the trade?”