Chapter 1035 - Commerce Fair's Beginning

An attendant placed a freshly crafted golden invitation before Liu Wuxie. Its glow revealed that the pavilion had just created it.

Elder Qin waved dismissively. "Young Master Liu, I won’t see you out."

Although Liu Wuxie had secured the invitation, Elder Qin showed no pleasure. The young man had found a loophole and leveraged it, something the elder couldn’t openly oppose but also couldn’t celebrate.

"Farewell," Liu Wuxie said, clasping his hands in a polite gesture before turning to leave.

Outside the pavilion, Fan Zhen and Bi Gongyu still looked shaken. A chill lingered in the air around them.

"Wuxie," Fan Zhen said, breaking the silence. "Though we managed to secure the invitation, I’m sure the Spirit Jade Pavilion won’t be pleased with us."

He paused, furrowing his brow in concern.

"Do you think they’ll obstruct us during the commerce fair? They might even block our goods from being displayed on their counters."

It was a valid worry. After all, the invitation guaranteed their participation in the commerce fair, but it didn’t ensure the Spirit Jade Pavilion would sell their goods.

"They’ll make the right choice," Liu Wuxie replied calmly. "We’re not the only providers at this event, and cultivators have keen eyes for quality. Naturally, they’ll choose the better goods."

To him, Fan Zhen’s concern was unnecessary.

Even if the Spirit Jade Pavilion refused to cooperate, the Heavenly Dao Society’s name would still rise, as long as they had the chance to present their products. Once that happened, the Spirit Jade Pavilion would no longer be the only one interested in collaboration.

There were plenty of other merchant organizations. While none matched the Spirit Jade Pavilion in scale, they were far from insignificant.

Their goal at the commerce fair was simple: to get their goods recognized.

Liu Wuxie had never intended to form a long-term partnership with the Spirit Jade Pavilion. He wanted to use it as a stepping stone, a platform to promote the Heavenly Dao Society's name. Ultimately, they would have to rely on their strength to overcome their current predicament.

Fan Zhen nodded slowly, finally understanding why Liu Wuxie had gone to such lengths to obtain the invitation.

As long as the Heavenly Dao Society continued to grow, even a colossus like the Spirit Jade Pavilion couldn't suppress them.

When the trio returned to the Heavenly Dao Society and shared the news, the entire hall erupted into celebration. Their next step was clear: consolidate all available resources and prepare for the commerce fair in five days.

Wasting no time, Liu Wuxie summoned the Heavenly Dao Society's upper echelons for a meeting.

The Liu Clan had already delivered a large number of cultivation chambers, and the Heavenly Dao Society had bought them with their products.

"I want everyone to reach the Spirit Profound Realm within five days," Liu Wuxie declared to his in-laws, Fan Zhen, Bi Gongyu, and the others.

Though reaching the Spirit Profound Realm didn’t yet make one a true expert in the Central Plains, it was enough to be considered an elite.

When dozens of people entered the cultivation chambers, Liu Wuxie brought out vast quantities of spirit stones and spiritual herbs. With practiced precision, he refined them into a fresh batch of cultivation pills.

He dared to act so boldly only because of the immense reserves of Spirit Profound Realm laws stored within the Sky Devouring Divine Cauldron.

Over the past year, Liu Wuxie had slain countless cultivators at the Spirit Profound Realm. Though those laws no longer benefited his cultivation, he had sealed them within the cauldron, waiting precisely for this moment.

As for spirit stones, that wasn't a concern. He had just received thirty million from the Renowned Sword Manor, and without hesitation, he took out ten million solely to fuel this mass breakthrough.

Once the commerce fair concluded, a large-scale battle would be unavoidable. The only way to guarantee the Heavenly Dao Society’s survival was to raise their collective strength before that storm arrived.

......

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Days flew by, and in the blink of an eye, only two days remained.

Representatives from various sects and clans flooded into Astral Glory City, each bringing goods in hopes of forming a partnership with the Spirit Jade Pavilion.

That day, several unfamiliar faces appeared at the gates of the Heavenly Dao Society.

"We're here to visit Junior Brother," Yu Zhibai announced.

The three of them had been in seclusion for the past six months and had successfully cultivated to the pinnacle of the Spirit Profound Realm. They were just one step away from breaking into the Earth Profound Realm.

Initially, they had planned to reach the Earth Profound Realm before seeking vengeance for their fallen junior. But the moment they heard Liu Wuxie was alive, they rushed over without hesitation.

The reunion among martial brothers was every bit as spirited and raucous as one might expect.

"Junior Brother, we came the moment we received your message. What do you need us to do?" Jiang Le asked, patting Liu Wuxie on the shoulder.

"I'll need the three of you to help me set up a massive spiritual array," Liu Wuxie replied. "I can't handle it alone."

The Heavenly Dao Society had few cultivators at the Spirit Profound Realm. Most of the elites who came from the Southern Province remained in the Nascent Transformation Realm.

Moreover, Liu Wuxie had assigned a handful of True Profound Realm cultivators critical tasks.

What they lacked most was a defensive spiritual array. Once danger struck, only a powerful array could guarantee their survival.

It took a little over a day to complete the construction.

On the final day, Liu Feng and Liu Xin'er arrived to lend their support to the Heavenly Dao Society.

A subtle, simmering aura of murderous intent blanketed Astral Glory City.

"Wuxie, I heard Yuan Zilong will be attending, too. He's planning to target you at the commerce fair," Liu Feng said, his brow tightly furrowed.

The last time they met at the Sacred Ground, both Yuan Zilong and Luan Tianzhi had escaped. The enmity between them had only deepened since.

"That's perfect," Liu Wuxie replied, a grim smile spreading across his face as murderous intent surged from his body.

"Although the Heavenly Dao Society has grown stronger, it's still impossible for us to fight the three great sects head-on," Liu Feng sighed. "It'd make a world of difference if we had someone at the Earth Profound Realm among us."

Liu Wuxie had established the Heavenly Dao Society only a year ago. Compared to long-standing sects and clans with millennia of heritage, it still stood in its infancy.

Though Liu Wuxie was capable of slaying Earth Profound Realm experts, the three great clans had no shortage of them.

"We'll take it one step at a time," Liu Wuxie said, rubbing his temples.

No one could build a foundation in a day. To become a powerhouse, they would need to lay each brick steadily.

......

The day of the commerce fair had finally arrived.

Organizers hosted the event in the plaza in front of the Spirit Jade Pavilion, a massive, floating platform hovering in midair. It was vast enough to accommodate seventy to eighty thousand people.

Those without invitations could only hover outside the plaza and had no choice but to watch from a distance.

Hundreds of sects and clans had gathered to participate in the event. About half of them had already formed collaborative relationships with the Spirit Jade Pavilion, some lasting over a thousand years.

However, there were also a few newcomers, like the Heavenly Dao Society—first-timers hoping to capture the Spirit Jade Pavilion's attention with the strength of their goods.

If they managed to place their wares in the Spirit Jade Pavilion's distribution channels, it could virtually guarantee wealth.

The various forces consistently sold out products bearing the pavilion’s name, outperforming those in the open market.

That was precisely why so many factions were desperate for this opportunity.

"Let's get moving!" Liu Wuxie said once Xu Lingxue, Jian Xing'er, and the others arrived at the Heavenly Dao Society. They were here to stand by his side.

The four ladies had dressed meticulously for the occasion, looking like celestial maidens. Their presence drew countless admiring gazes from onlookers.

Meanwhile, Xu Yilin led the rest of the group, which included Fan Zhen, Bi Gongyu, Lan Yu, Song Ling, Hu Shi, Liu Dayue, Miao Feichen, Tian Xing, and others.

As the official leader of the Heavenly Dao Society, Xu Yilin led the delegation.

Liu Wuxie, in contrast, appeared more like a bystander within the group.

After five days of intensive seclusion, the strength of the Heavenly Dao Society had undergone a remarkable transformation.

Previously, Liu Feng had worried that they lacked anyone at the Earth Profound Realm. But now, that concern was no longer valid.

Miao Jianying, Xu Lingxue, Murong Yi, and Miao Feichen had all broken through to the Earth Profound Realm. On top of that, Liu Wuxie possessed the strength to slay cultivators at the fifth level of the Earth Profound Realm.

Their group now included over thirty elites at the peak of the Spirit Profound Realm. As they stepped into the streets in formation, their presence immediately drew attention from all directions on their way to the Spirit Jade Pavilion.

"Look! Isn't that the Heavenly Dao Society? Why do they seem so powerful now?" a merchant whispered in shock.

Those familiar with the faction couldn't believe their eyes. Liu Wuxie had founded the Heavenly Dao Society only a year ago. Yet, the aura they exuded now overwhelmed the surroundings.

Many still remembered how people like Bi Gongyu had once seemed no different from ordinary cultivators. But now, they had drastically transformed their cultivation in a short time.

Though they lacked the deep heritage of the older factions, the Heavenly Dao Society had grown into a force no one could afford to ignore.

With their current strength, even the average second-tier clan wouldn't dare to provoke them.

"Where are they headed? Could it be that they're also attending the commerce fair?" someone in the crowd asked in disbelief.

After all, invitations to the event were limited and reserved only for those of noble status. Ordinary people wouldn't even qualify to approach the fair.

"That's impossible! I heard that the Spirit Jade Pavilion only issued 100 invitations to suppliers this year. Even some ancient clans didn't make the cut. How could the Heavenly Dao Society possibly receive one?" sneers echoed from the crowd.

The surrounding murmurs naturally reached the ears of the Heavenly Dao Society's members, but no one paid them any attention.

Their party continued down the bustling streets, attracting curious stares and whispered speculations wherever they passed. With over a hundred people moving in formation, and four ethereal beauties leading the front, it was impossible not to draw attention.

An hour later, the Heavenly Dao Society arrived beneath the grand Spirit Jade Pavilion, where a dense crowd had already gathered.

The organizers required every participating faction to present its invitation before entering the floating plaza above. Guests carried red invitations, while suppliers received golden ones.

"Wuxie, look! Isn't that Elder Qu Su? What's he doing here?" Liu Xin'er pointed ahead.

An elderly man had just presented his invitation and was walking into the Spirit Jade Pavilion's passageway.

Liu Wuxie recognized him at once. Qu Su had been one of the examiners when he had first joined the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy. They hadn't interacted much afterward, nor were they close.

Anyone attending this event undoubtedly stood at the pinnacle of the Earth Profound Realm.

"Liu Wuxie? What are you doing here? Do you even have an invitation?" a mocking voice rang out nearby.

A large group of several hundred strong cultivators appeared in Liu Wuxie's line of sight, heading straight toward them.

"It's the Yuan Clan!" someone from the Heavenly Dao Society called out, recognizing the incoming group.

At the front stood Yuan Ziping, the younger brother of Yuan Zilong.

Yuan Zilong was also among the crowd, but when his gaze met Liu Wuxie's, he quickly looked away, unable, or perhaps unwilling, to meet his eyes.

The events at the Sacred Ground still haunted him. His dao heart had suffered a deep wound that would never fully mend unless he killed Liu Wuxie with his own hands.

That was likely his purpose for coming today.

Only by slaying Liu Wuxie with his own hands could Yuan Zilong restore his shattered confidence, mend his fractured dao heart, and ascend to even greater heights.

"Look who came crawling in! I heard the Heavenly Dao Society only peddles trash. And yet, you've got the nerve to show up here," another mocking voice called out from the crowd.

This time, Wang Yuanhou stepped forward with the Wang Clan's elites, quickly surrounding the Heavenly Dao Society's party.

Even before either side made a move, the air between them grew heavy with killing intent.

Liu Wuxie calmly swept his eyes across the Wang Clan's ranks and quickly spotted Wang Chen among them. Thanks to Ruan Ying's secret maneuvering, Wang Chen had already bribed several of the clan's top experts. In terms of strength, he was no weaker than Wang Yuanhou himself.

"Liu Wuxie, this place isn't meant for the likes of you. Get lost while you still can," came another voice from behind.

This time, it was the Liao Clan's people who stepped forward, their tone sharp and full of scorn.