Chapter 217: The Heavenly Venerable Establishes a Rift

"Friend Jiao, I wonder what the origin of this Wanfa Commerce Guild is? Wanfa, such a grand name! Could it be that this guild really has over ten thousand techniques?" Li Fan immediately inquired.

"When it comes to the Wanfa Commerce Guild, we have to trace it back to the time after the Great Fratricidal War, before the new order was established," Jiao Xiuyuan explained to Li Fan.

"During that period, it is usually referred to as the Wasteland Era."

"At that time, the number of cultivators had plummeted to its lowest point. The cultivators who survived the calamity were true lone wanderers. They were alone, not trusting anyone other than themselves."

"Cultivators took shelter in the wilderness, exploring ruins, seeking opportunities."

"An individual's energy was limited, and sometimes, even if they found extra techniques, they couldn't cultivate them. At such times, they naturally thought of using techniques to exchange for other useful items with other cultivators."

"However, during that era, the trust between cultivators had almost approached zero. To successfully trade, a trustworthy middleman was naturally indispensable."

"The Wanfa Commerce Guild was one of these former middlemen. It is also the only organization that could still exist after the establishment of the Wanxian Alliance and the Five Elders Council."

"In the Wasteland Era, the number of cultivators was scarce, but techniques were not in short supply. Often, a cultivator could carry several techniques obtained through robbery or fortuitous encounters."

"The Wanfa Commerce Guild seized an unimaginable number of techniques during that time, and that's why it can stand for a thousand years without falling, still existing today."

Jiao Xiuyuan slowly explained the background of the Wanfa Commerce Guild.

Li Fan, upon hearing this, couldn't help but ask, "Does that mean the Wanfa Commerce Guild is backed by a supremely powerful expert in the Lifespan realm? Ordinary Dao cultivators probably cannot protect so many techniques."

Jiao Xiuyuan nodded, "The majority of cultivators think the same. Nowadays, both the Wanxian Alliance and the Five Elders Council have acknowledged the existence of the Wanfa Commerce Guild. To make these two giants make concessions, the cultivator behind it is naturally not weak. However, the true identity of these powerful individuals is far beyond what small figures like us can know."

Li Fan casually praised, "Friend Jiao's Qianli Hall business spreads across the cultivation world. You can't be considered a small figure."

Then, he asked with some confusion, "According to what you said, the business of the Wanfa Commerce Guild has been recognized by the Wanxian Alliance. But why have I never seen them in the Wanxian Alliance headquarters? Even for the Wanhua Commerce Guild, which involves mortal business, I've only seen their transactions, not their shops."

"Hehe, the Wanxian Alliance and the Five Elders Council each have their independent and complete trading systems. How could they let the Wanfa Commerce Guild come in and compete for business? Although the Wanfa Commerce Guild has received recognition from these two giants, its scale is not as large as before. It can only survive in the crevices," Jiao Xiuyuan chuckled.

"The Wanfa Commerce Guild is currently active in the border areas between the territories of the Wanxian Alliance and the Five Elders Council. These places are chaotic, with weak control from both sides and a large number of independent cultivators. In these neutral areas, an organization like the Wanfa Commerce Guild doing business is more reassuring."

"Moreover, the Wanxian Alliance and the Five Elders Council each have various specialties on their territories. Although there is official trade between them in non-conflict years, many critical strategic resources are not on the exchange list."

"These resources indeed have considerable demand. Therefore, by using the Wanfa Commerce Guild as a 'transit,' it became a solution."

"Of course, the prices naturally increased significantly. Sometimes, they even tripled, which is normal."

"For example, on the side of the Five Elders Council, there is a pill called the 'Enlightenment Pill.' It is said to be a secret transmission from an ancient Grand Dao Sect. After swallowing it, one can increase the affinity of the Grand Dao laws to oneself, significantly reducing the difficulty of enlightenment and improving cultivation speed."

Li Fan was stunned, "Isn't that similar to the Enlightenment effect of the Tianxuan Mirror?"

"Yes. What's even more ingenious is that the effect of the Enlightenment Pill can perfectly stack with the effect of Enlightenment. Enlightenment enhances one's own perception, while the Enlightenment Pill reduces the difficulty of enlightenment. The combination of the two mutually reinforces each other, making cultivation incredibly fast," Jiao Xiuyuan praised.

"This Enlightenment Pill has been envied within the Alliance for a long time. However, despite trying various methods, it has been impossible to crack the formula. So every year, we can only introduce a limited batch through the Wanfa Commerce Guild's channel."

"This Enlightenment Pill, on the side of the Five Elders Council, reportedly costs only fifty low-grade spirit stones per pill, which is equivalent to our fifty contribution points. It's practically a giveaway. However, on the Wanfa Commerce Guild's side, due to the scarcity of resources, the price has skyrocketed tenfold, reaching five hundred contribution points per pill."

"Even so, there are countless cultivators willing to purchase it. There's no help for it; this thing is just too useful!" Jiao Xiuyuan sighed.

Li Fan's avatar pondered for a moment and tentatively asked, "I heard from a Golden Core cultivator before that there is a realm called the Fallen Immortal Realm and a place called the Pioneer Realm. In the Pioneer Realm, it seems possible to conduct anonymous transactions. Can't cultivators from the Wanxian Alliance and the Five Elders Council do that?"

Jiao Xiuyuan was a bit surprised, "Even the existence of the Pioneer Realm is known to you, friend?"

After some thought, he explained in a low voice, "In the past, it was fine to do so."

"But later on, this convenient and secretive means of trading gave rise to a large number of malicious activities, such as speculation, profiteering, causing the prices in the Wanxian Alliance and the Five Elders Council to spiral out of control. Spies took advantage of the situation to create trouble and stole a considerable amount of classified information."

"Later, the two powerful figures from both sides simultaneously took action and each drew a Great Rift."

"Since then, cultivators from the Wanxian Alliance and the Five Elders Council can no longer exchange information through the Pioneer Realm."

"Once a cultivator from the Wanxian Alliance wants to enter the Pioneer Realm with coordinates located in the territory of the Five Elders Council, their divine sense will be obstructed by the two Great Rifts. Similarly, it works the same way on the side of the Five Elders Council."

Li Fan nodded slowly.

"I understand. So, if I want to purchase techniques through the Wanfa Commerce Guild, I have to make the trip myself?"

"Yes. The latest outpost of the Wanfa Commerce Guild is located in the Jiushan Province, near the Yongliang Province," Jiao Xiuyuan advised, "Jiushan Province is not considered very peaceful. If friend decides to go, you can make arrangements with other Wanxian Alliance cultivators to go together."

"It's good to have mutual support on the road."

"Thank you for your guidance. The journey is long, and the risk is a bit high. I'll consider it again!" Li Fan responded.

On the other side, Li Fan's main body was searching for information on the route from the Cangyun Sea to Jiushan Province using the Tianxuan Mirror.

Sure enough, many cultivators were recruiting teammates for the journey.

(End of this chapter)