Chapter 217: The Celestial Venerable Divides the Great Chasm

"Fellow Daoist Jiao, I wonder what exactly is the background of the Myriad Law Trading Company? 'Myriad Law'—what an audacious name! Could it be that this trading company really possesses over ten thousand Cultivation Techniques?" Li Fan immediately asked.

"Speaking of the Myriad Law Trading Company, its origins can be traced back to the period after the Great Slaughter ended, before the new order was established," Jiao Xiuyuan explained to Li Fan.

"This period is commonly known as the Wasteland era."

"At that time, the number of Cultivators dropped to its lowest point. The Cultivators who survived the calamity were true lone wolves—solitary individuals who trusted no one but themselves."

"Cultivators hid in the wilderness, exploring ruins and seeking opportunities."

"With limited personal energy, sometimes they would find surplus Cultivation Techniques they couldn't practice. Then they would naturally think of exchanging those techniques with other Cultivators for useful items."

"But in that era, the trust between Cultivators had approached zero. To successfully conduct trades, a trustworthy intermediary was essential."

"The Myriad Law Trading Company was one of those intermediaries. It was also the only organization that could still exist after the establishment of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association."

"During the Wasteland era, Cultivators were scarce, but Cultivation Techniques were not. Often, a single Cultivator would carry several techniques—either looted or gained through fortuitous encounters."

"It was at that time that the Myriad Law Trading Company amassed an unimaginable number of techniques. This is the reason it has stood for a thousand years and still thrives today."

Jiao Xiuyuan slowly narrated the full story of the Myriad Law Trading Company.

Upon hearing this, Li Fan couldn't help but ask, "Does that mean the Myriad Law Trading Company is backed by a supreme being of the Longevity Realm? An ordinary Dao Integration Cultivator would hardly be able to protect so many techniques."

Jiao Xiuyuan nodded: "Most Cultivators think the same. Now, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association both tacitly allow the Myriad Law Trading Company to exist. For these two behemoths to make concessions, the Cultivator behind it must be formidable. However, the true identity of such a powerhouse is far beyond the knowledge of small figures like us."

Li Fan flattered him subtly: "Fellow Daoist, your Qianli Hall's business spans the entire Cultivation World; you can hardly be called a small figure."

Then, with some confusion, he asked, "According to you, the Myriad Law Trading Company's business has been recognized by the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. But why have I never seen them within the Alliance's territories? Even the Wanhua Merchant Guild, which deals with Mortal affairs, I've only seen their traveling merchants, never their shops."

"Hehe, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association each have their own independent and complete trading systems. Why would they let the Myriad Law Trading Company in to compete for business? Although the Myriad Law Trading Company is now acknowledged by the two giants, its scale is far smaller than before, surviving only in the cracks," Jiao Xiuyuan said with a smile.

"The Myriad Law Trading Company now operates only in the border regions between the territories of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association. These areas are a mix of dragons and snakes, where both sides have weak control and are home to many Loose Cultivators. As a neutral organization, the Myriad Law Trading Company is actually more trustworthy for doing business."

"Moreover, each territory of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association has its own diverse specialties. Although there is official trade between the two sides in non-war years, important strategic materials are generally not included in the exchange lists."

"Yet these materials are in considerable demand. So, using the Myriad Law Trading Company as a 'transit' point becomes a solution."

"Of course, the prices are naturally much higher. Sometimes they increase severalfold, which is normal."

"For example, on the Five Elders Association side, there is a Medicinal Pill called the Enlightenment Pill. It is said to be a secret formula from the ancient Great Dao Sect. After ingestion, it can increase one's affinity with the Laws of the Dao, greatly reducing the difficulty of comprehending the Dao and accelerating cultivation speed."

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

"Exactly. What's more remarkable is that the effects of the Enlightenment Pill and Enlightenment can perfectly stack. Enlightenment enhances one's Comprehension Ability, while the Enlightenment Pill reduces the difficulty of comprehending the Dao. Combined, they work internally and externally, making cultivation frighteningly fast," Jiao Xiuyuan praised.

"The Alliance has coveted this Enlightenment Pill for a long time. But despite trying various methods, they couldn't replicate it. So every year, they can only import a limited batch through the Myriad Law Trading Company."

"On the Five Elders Association side, each pill is said to cost only fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, which is about fifty Contribution Points here—practically a giveaway. But at the Myriad Law Trading Company, due to high demand and low supply, the price skyrockets tenfold, usually around five hundred Contribution Points per pill."

"Even so, countless Cultivators are willing to buy. There's no choice; this thing is just too useful!" Jiao Xiuyuan sighed.

Li Fan's Clone pondered for a moment and tentatively asked, "I once heard a Golden Core cultivator casually mention the existence of the Realm of Fallen Immortals and the Vanguard Realm. It seems anonymous trades can be conducted within the Vanguard Realm. Can't Cultivators from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association do that?"

Jiao Xiuyuan was somewhat surprised: "You even know about the Vanguard Realm, Fellow Daoist?"

After thinking for a moment, he lowered his voice and explained, "In the past, it was fine to do that."

"But later, such convenient and secretive trading methods bred rampant speculation and profiteering, causing prices in both the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association to spiral out of control. Spies also took the Opportunity to steal and transmit large amounts of classified intelligence."

"Afterward, two great Cultivators from both sides acted simultaneously, each creating a 'Great Chasm.'"

"Since then, Cultivators from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association can no longer trade with each other through the Vanguard Realm."

"Whenever a Cultivator from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance tries to enter a Vanguard Realm with spatial coordinates in the Five Elders Association's territory, their Divine Sense is blocked by the two Great Chasms. The same applies to the other side."

Li Fan slowly nodded.

"I understand. So, if I want to purchase Cultivation Techniques through the Myriad Law Trading Company, I have to go there in person?"

"Yes. The nearest stronghold of the Myriad Law Trading Company is in the Nine Mountains Province, near Yongliang Province," Jiao Xiuyuan added, "The Nine Mountains Province isn't very safe. If you really decide to go, you can team up with other Cultivators from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance."

"That way, you can look out for each other on the road."

"Thank you for the advice, Fellow Daoist. The journey is long and risky. I'll think it over!" Li Fan replied.

Meanwhile, Li Fan's main body searched the Tianxuan Mirror for information on traveling from Congyun Sea to the Nine Mountains Province.

Indeed, there were many Cultivators recruiting teammates.