Chapter 1048 - Spiritual Talisman Assessment

The commerce fair was only halfway through, and the Pavilion couldn't let the Yuan Clan's pride derail it. They had lost the wager. Now, they had to face the consequences. They had already been humiliated. What difference would a little more make?

"Bow and apologize!" The cry echoed from all directions, growing louder and more synchronized with every chant.

Impatience swept through the plaza. By late afternoon, the fair still hadn't reached its final segment. In past years, the event would have already concluded by now. Such a delay was unheard of.

"Patriarch!" The Yuan Clan's elders turned to Yuan Huaiguang, their expressions twisted in fury, eyes burning with shame. Their teeth clenched, barely restraining their anger. If it came to it, they would rather withdraw from the fair entirely than suffer this disgrace.

All Four Great Clans had taken losses, so why did everyone demand that only they apologize? Bowing would mean publicly admitting fault, and that was something none of them could stomach.

"Patriarch Yuan, you'd better think this through," Elder Long Chen warned calmly. "If you refuse to apologize now, the Yuan Clan will lose all opportunity to partner with the Spirit Jade Pavilion."

Everyone could see that Long Chen was siding with the Heavenly Dao Society.

With access to pills bearing purple pill runes and godly artifacts, the Spirit Jade Pavilion stood on the edge of massive profits. He was eager, or rather desperate, to secure a deal with the Heavenly Dao Society, and he wouldn't let the Yuan Clan stand in the way.

His words struck the Yuan Clan like a blow to the chest, plunging them into despair.

Though they had lost the artifact segment, it didn't mean their blacksmithing was subpar. Their products were still excellent. It was just their misfortune to have encountered the Heavenly Dao Society on this day.

However, if they lost the Spirit Jade Pavilion as a partner, it would be a crippling blow. The Pavilion remained one of their fastest, most profitable distribution channels. Sales through their shops couldn't compare in scale or speed.

"Apologize!" Yuan Huaiguang finally roared the word torn from him like blood from a wound. With his face ashen and fists clenched, he turned and led the entire Yuan Clan toward the edge of the plaza.

There, at the edge of the plaza, stood the elderly, the women, and the children of the Liu Clan, who had lost their loved ones in the conflict. Their gazes were heavy with sorrow and hatred as they stared at the Yuan Clan, the very people responsible for killing their husbands, their sons, and their fathers.

The Spirit Jade Pavilion's guards chose not to stop them. They stood aside and allowed the moment to unfold.

Over a hundred members of the Yuan Clan stood rigidly in place, their faces pale and stiff. Then, one by one, they bowed.

The humiliation was unbearable. Each bow landed harder than a slap, each movement like a dagger stabbing into their pride. It was a slow, agonizing death of dignity.

Tears slid silently down Yuan Ziping's cheeks, not from grief, but from pure rage. Powerless to act, he seethed at his failure to strike down Liu Wuxie.

Nearby, the elders bit down so hard on their teeth that several cracked, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.

Yuan Huaiguang, standing at the front, felt nothing but bitter regret. If he had known it would come to this, he would've instead slapped himself and admitted he was an idiot rather than face the shame of bowing to the Liu Clan.

"Dear, can you see this? Your killer has apologized to you," cried a young woman, holding a baby in her arms. Her voice cracked, and grief rippled through the crowd like a wave.

The scene was unbearable.

"Liu Wuxie, are you satisfied now?" Yuan Huaiguang asked, his voice devoid of emotion. All resistance had left him. He just wanted the commerce fair to end, hoping it would hasten the collapse of the Heavenly Dao Society.

Liu Wuxie looked at him, eyes calm yet filled with a cold glint of murderous intent.

"Do you have something to say?" he asked flatly.

Though his expression remained composed, everyone could sense it; the confrontation was far from over.

"You'll pay for everything today!" Yuan Huaiguang snapped, then turned and returned to his seat with the rest of his clan.

No one had imagined the farce would end like this.

And no one could deny it now; many had begun to fear Liu Wuxie.

If he could survive the combined suppression of the three clans, then the Heavenly Dao Society would surely rise as a giant in the shortest time imaginable.

"Right back at you," Liu Wuxie said coldly. "And to anyone plotting against the Heavenly Dao Society, be prepared to pay the price."

No one needed to say a word. They could sense that the actual contest had only just begun.

"Young Master Liu, perhaps we can work together in the future?"

An elderly man approached Liu Wuxie, his tone courteous and flattering.

"And you are?" Liu Wuxie asked, raising a brow. He did not recognize the newcomer.

"He's Shopkeeper Tan," Fan Zhen informed. "He runs one hundred and seven large stores in Astral Glory City. His sales don't match the Spirit Jade Pavilion's reach, but they are impressive."

"Ah, forgive my oversight." Liu Wuxie clasped his fists in respect.

A merchant of Shopkeeper Tan's stature offering goodwill was a gesture Liu Wuxie had no reason to refuse.

"I'm genuinely impressed by the Heavenly Dao Society's display today," Shopkeeper Tan said. "I hope we can collaborate in the future."

"Absolutely," Liu Wuxie replied with a measured smile.

At that moment, Elder Long Chen's voice cut through the crowd. "Now, let us proceed to the third segment."

His displeasure was unmistakable. He had heard every word of the brief exchange.

The Tan Clan Merchant Guild had long vied with the Spirit Jade Pavilion, and its recent growth had only deepened that rivalry. Though it posed no immediate threat, the Pavilion couldn't ignore the guild's steady erosion of its market share. Elder Long Chen's raised voice was an apparent attempt to reassert control and disrupt the alliance forming before his eyes.

"We'll speak again when the opportunity arises," Shopkeeper Tan said, offering a polite bow before returning to his seat.

He was one of the guests present, rumored to possess immense wealth, though he typically kept a low profile.

The crowd's attention soon returned to the ongoing commerce fair.

Two segments remained: spiritual talismans and spiritual arrays. While neither was as dazzling as pills or weapons, both were indispensable to cultivators. Communication Talismans and Memory Talismans fell under the category of spiritual talismans.

As for spiritual arrays, their importance was equally self-evident. What sect didn't rely on teleportation arrays or defensive formations?

The Yuan Clan, renowned for their blacksmithing, had been completely humiliated by the Heavenly Dao Society. Now, it was time for the third segment: spiritual talismans.

This was the Wang Clan's home turf, and judging by their eager expressions, they had been waiting for this moment.

The Heavenly Dao Society had dominated the first two segments, and its name was now bound to sweep across the entire Central Plains.

Many turned to observe the Society's next move. Could they continue their overwhelming performance?

It was finally Song Ling's turn. He had waited long enough, and the moment his plump figure stepped forward, all eyes turned to him.

"The Heavenly Dao Society sent a fatty? What a joke," someone in the crowd scoffed.

In the earlier rounds, Bi Gongyu had shown composure and poise, while had Hu Shi displayed seasoned expertise. But now, Song Ling's appearance drew chuckles and murmurs. It wasn't just his size. His round, cartoon-like face created a comical contrast that undercut the tension.

Everyone knew the rules. Each participant would present one spiritual talisman they considered their finest. They would then infuse true essence into it to reveal the spiritual runes hidden within. Judging would be based on the quality and complexity of those runes.

The second-tier sects were first to present, knowing they had little chance of winning. Still, they went through the motions, infusing their talismans with true essence.

Spiritual light burst forth—some strong, some faint. The judges didn't need to score it formally. Anyone with experience could tell which talismans stood out.

"The Huo Clan's spiritual talismans aren't bad," someone in the crowd commented, nodding in approval.

"The Nine Profound Sect isn't bad either. They might even surpass the Wang Clan this year."

For years, the Wang Clan had secured first place in the spiritual talisman segment, with the Nine Profound Sect consistently ranking second. But after a decade of research, the Nine Profound Sect had elevated their craft.

Everyone in the plaza had a general sense of where each faction stood. The Liu Clan, for example, had always been weak in this segment due to their lack of spiritualist talent. Even with recent guidance from the Heavenly Dao Society, their progress remained limited, and few expected them to score well this round.

Still, thanks to their dominance in the first two segments, the Liu Clan had already outshone the other three major clans.

One after another, spiritual talismans were activated across the stage, each radiating with energy, though the disparities in quality were immediately apparent.

Suddenly, a brilliant burst of light erupted from the Nine Profound Sect's talisman, causing a collective gasp to ripple through the crowd.

"What powerful ripples! I knew the Nine Profound Sect would shine in this round!" Their supporters stood up with praise ready on their lips.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Don't get ahead of yourself," a Wang Clan supporter retorted. "The Wang Clan hasn't gone yet. They're still the best when it comes to spiritual talismans."

Opinions clashed across the crowd. It was impossible to determine who was truly superior without a head-to-head comparison.

The Nine Profound Sect's talisman glowed steadily for five whole minutes before the light finally began to fade.

Next came the Wang Clan's turn. One of their elders stepped forward and poured his true essence into his talisman, which burst into a radiant blaze that surged into the sky.

"What a surge of spiritual runes! It's slightly stronger than the Nine Profound Sect's," someone exclaimed.

The Wang Clan's spiritual talismans remained top-tier; they still refined talismans better than most forces. Even so, the Nine Profound Sect had come close, far closer than previous year.

Roughly five minutes later, the talisman's light dimmed and disappeared.

"Compared to the last commerce fair, the overall quality of this year's spiritual talismans has improved greatly," someone remarked.

The Nine Profound Sect had outdone their performance from the previous fair, and the Wang Clan had also shown significant progress over the past decade.

A dozen more factions followed, but their talismans were average at best. Some were even half as effective as those of the Wang Clan, drawing little attention to themselves.

Finally, only one contestant remained: Song Ling.

He had deliberately placed himself last. Though no one commented, the other sects had once again overlooked the Heavenly Dao Society, relegating them to the final spot.

Interest in the segment had waned after the showings from the Wang Clan and the Nine Profound Sect. Now, all eyes shifted to Song Ling. Everyone was curious whether the Heavenly Dao Society could pull off another surprise.

From the smug expression on Song Ling's round face, it was clear he hadn't been impressed by any of the talismans so far.

As the hundred participants completed their demonstration, Song Ling finally stepped forward. He reached into his robe and pulled out a spiritual talisman.

"What kind of talisman is that? Why is it so small?" someone asked, bewildered.

It was common knowledge that the more powerful the talisman, the larger it typically was. The talismans presented by others were all substantial in size.

Yet, the one Song Ling held was barely palm-sized.

"What kind of trash is that? He dares bring that out?" someone from the Wang Clan scoffed.

Everyone dismissed Song Ling's talisman as a joke.