The seventy-year-old elder’s hair was silver-gray, his face wore a smile, and his features were covered with the traces of wind and frost left by the years, yet his pair of eyes were incomparably bright, like two stars in the night sky, glittering and shining, adding a few degrees of brilliance to the entire great hall.

His steps moved along the jade platform as if treading upon a calm water surface; a faint ripple could be seen spreading out from beneath his feet, drawing everyone’s gaze, and the last trace of liveliness in the hall gradually faded away.

"Everyone, welcome to the Business Alliance Hall. I am Hall Master Diao Chaoyuan. I believe many among you present already know me."

The silver-haired elder walked to the jade dais at the center of the platform, his gaze sweeping around the great hall, a smile on his face.

"Senior Diao is a man of great virtue and prestige; how could we possibly not know you?"

"Indeed."

"Five years ago, Senior Diao’s great battle with the Blood Demon Sect’s Bloodhand Demon General in the Red Flame Desert is a tale known far and wide."

As soon as the silver-haired elder finished speaking, responses rang out one after another throughout the great hall. Clearly he possessed extremely high prestige. Those who didn’t recognize him, upon learning of his identity from others, all had a start, their eyes filled with all sorts of respect and admiration.

Luo Feng sized up the silver-haired elder, his brows slightly furrowing. This person appeared amiable and kind, yet his aura was as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea. When Luo Feng’s Soul Power probed over, it was like a small leaf boat barging into a boundless ocean. Among all those he had seen, this was the strongest, even surpassing Yue Haitang’s father, Cold Moon Marquis, unfathomable in depth.

Yang Wanyi glanced at Luo Feng, as if seeing through his thoughts, the corners of her lips lifting in a faint smile.

"Senior Diao is the Hall Master of the Business Alliance Hall. In his youth he was also a renowned expert on the New Dragon List, and almost entered a Holy Land to cultivate. Forty years ago he was already a True Yuan Realm Martial Artist. Now, even if his cultivation has not stepped into the Yuan Sea Realm, it should be close. Within the entire Canglang Dynasty, those who can surpass him are extremely few. He has a nature of hating evil as if it were his personal enemy, and is known as the Red Blood Elder. Five years ago, when he was passing through the Red Flame Desert, he came upon the Bloodhand Demon General—ranked within the first seventy-two among the one hundred and eight Demon Generals—slaughtering Golden Palace disciples. He stepped in to save them, fighting alone against ten experts of the same level, and forced them to retreat, causing a huge sensation. The fact that Big Market City has enjoyed peace for these past decades is half thanks to him. He is also the referee of this Business Alliance Conference."

"An expert close to the Yuan Sea Realm!"

Luo Feng took a deep breath; no wonder the other party’s aura was so terrifying. Yet this also surprised him somewhat. Even such a powerhouse had failed to enter a Martial Arts Holy Land back in his youth—just how frightening must the geniuses of the nine great Martial Arts Holy Lands in the Hundred Nations Domain be?

When the noise in the hall gradually died down, the silver-haired elder raised his voice and continued:

"Today is the biennial Business Alliance Conference. This matter concerns all the merchant houses of our entire Canglang Dynasty and is no trivial affair. I have the fortune to once again serve as the referee of the Business Alliance Conference. Members of the four great commerce alliances, I will ask you one last time: do you still have any objections regarding this matter?"

"For Senior Diao to preside over the Business Alliance Conference is our honor. The Dayang Commerce Alliance has no objections." Yang Wanyi’s soft and tender voice was the first to ring out.

Luo Feng nodded inwardly. The Business Alliance Conference was tied to the fundamental interests of the four great commerce alliances; the person chosen as referee not only had to be impartial, but also possess sufficient prestige and discernment.

Senior Diao did not belong to any faction and was also the owner of the largest auction house in Big Market City; his eye for items was naturally beyond question, and there was no need to mention his cultivation. He was without doubt an excellent choice for referee.

The silver-haired elder nodded slightly, and his gaze turned toward the other merchant houses.

"The Massive Cauldron Commerce Alliance has no objections either." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Nor do I."

"No objections."

From the other three private rooms, affirmative answers came one after another.

Hearing this, the silver-haired elder cupped his fists and said, "Since everyone holds Diao in such regard, I will naturally do my utmost to host this Business Alliance Conference well and deliver a satisfactory result. All of you present shall be witnesses."

"Senior Diao is iron-faced and selfless, fair and strict. We naturally are convinced."

A middle-aged man in brocade clothes, who seemed to have some status, spoke up.

The silver-haired elder chuckled, then pressed his palm down in a calming gesture, and said:

"Today we will hold the first Treasure Gathering and Appraisal Conference. The third event, the arena matches, will be held tomorrow. After all three events are concluded, rankings will be decided according to each side’s victories and defeats. The commerce alliance that ranks first shall become the next First Commerce Alliance of the Canglang Dynasty, gaining the management rights to Big Market City and numerous other privileges."

"Alright, enough with the idle talk. The Business Alliance Conference now officially begins. We will start with the first Treasure Gathering. Please present the three treasures you have entered for the competition."

As the silver-haired elder’s voice fell, the atmosphere in the great hall suddenly became blazing hot. Countless people turned fiery gazes toward the private rooms where the four great merchant houses were located.

"Hmph, there’s no need to even carry out all three contests. Today, I will seize the seat of First Commerce Alliance!"

In the private room of the Heavenly Position Business Line, Zhouyan flicked his fingers, a proud smile on his face, and said to the black-robed elder behind him, "Elder Qi Yuan, take out the items."

At the same time, the beautiful maid who had just led Luo Feng and the other two into the private room was holding a gold-inlaid wooden tray in her hands, covered with a layer of golden silk.

Placing the gold-inlaid tray on the table, the beautiful maid smiled and said, "You three, please place the three treasures you are entering for the competition upon the tray."

Yang Wanyi lightly raised her Daimei brows and cast a glance at Luo Feng; a faint smile surfaced on her pretty face, enchanting yet not losing its elegance, her splendor peerless. Even though they were both women, the beautiful maid was stunned for an instant by that faint smile, absent‑minded for a heartbeat, and while secretly envious, she could not help but marvel in her heart that there could be such an unrivaled beauty in this world...

With jade‑white fingers stroking across her storage ring, Yang Wanyi took out the three treasures she had long since prepared.

A fourth‑grade treasured sword, the Red Cloud Sword; a crystal jade bottle filled with Thousand Fierce Ten Thousand Poison Liquor; and a volume of Profound Level supreme Cultivation Technique, Yan Body Break Mountain Power.

Placing the three treasures on a wooden tray, Yang Wanyi nodded toward the maid. "I’ll trouble you."

The beautiful maid’s face flushed slightly; she saluted, then covered the treasures with fiery red silk, and with slender hands carefully lifted the gold‑inlaid wooden tray.

The fourth‑grade treasured sword, Red Cloud Sword, weighed a thousand jin, yet the beautiful maid’s expression was incomparably relaxed as she raised the tray, swaying her fragrant hips, slowly backing out of the private room, then placing it on the jade platform in front of the room.

Seeing this scene, Luo Feng was not surprised. He had long since seen through it: the beautiful maid appeared delicate and weak, but her cultivation was by no means low; she was a Martial Artist at the eighth level of the Meridian Wheel Realm, capable of toying with ten thousand jin as if it were nothing.

"I wonder what treasures the Four Great Commerce Alliances will bring out this year."

"Since they’ve taken them out to participate in the Business Alliance Conference, they definitely won’t be simple. It’s always been this way at every previous Business Alliance Conference. This concerns not only the outcome of the conference, but also the face of the Four Great Commerce Alliance Halls. If the Four Great Commerce Alliances were to take out a first‑grade Spirit Weapon, wouldn’t they be laughed to death?"

"That’s true. I hope there’ll be a volume of Profound Level supreme Cultivation Technique; that’s exactly what I came for this time."

"Cultivation Techniques have always been precious; even Martial Artists of the True Yuan Realm would be moved by a Profound Level supreme Cultivation Technique. Even if one appears, there will definitely be many Martial Artists here vying for it. To obtain it will likely not be easy."

"What’s there to fear? I’ve been preparing for this day for years. These past years I’ve taken on all kinds of dangerous commissions, ventured into deep mountains, entered ominous lands, even delved deep into the Demon Realm of the West Desert to assassinate experts of the Demon Sect, experiencing countless brushes with death, all to earn Yuan Stones for the sake of a high‑level Cultivation Technique. I, Li Tianyi, will never live an ordinary life in this lifetime. Even if I have to stake everything I own this time, I must obtain a high‑level Cultivation Technique!"

As one gold‑inlaid wooden tray after another appeared on the jade platforms, the atmosphere of the entire great hall was driven to its peak. Countless pairs of eyes all fell respectively upon the trays on the jade platforms in front of the four great business houses, blazing heat flickering in their gazes.

It had to be known that the vast majority of people had come precisely for these treasures. At every Business Alliance Conference, treasures that exceeded everyone’s expectations would appear.

Feeling the fiery atmosphere within the hall, the silver‑haired elder’s face broke into a smile. There were unexpectedly many experts who had come this year; the auction that would follow the Business Alliance Conference would surely be extremely lively. This was a chance to make the name of his Business Alliance Hall resound.

"Alright, present the three treasures of the Black Wind Commerce Alliance."

The silver‑haired elder spoke, and a beautiful woman standing to the side of the Black Wind Commerce Alliance’s private room stepped forward, jade hands supporting a gold‑inlaid wooden tray. With graceful steps she walked to the center of the jade platform and placed the tray on the jade stand before the silver‑haired elder.

Instantly, the noise in the great hall vanished, and all gazes converged on the wooden tray covered with red silk.

Luo Feng gave a wry smile. This Senior Diao was truly a master at stirring up the atmosphere; every gesture and movement tugged at everyone’s heartstrings. If it were a confrontation, crossing hands with someone like this would be terrifying, for your every move would fall within the other party’s control.

After waiting for three breaths, the silver‑haired elder finally lifted the fiery red silk.

At once, the three treasures appeared within everyone’s sight, their radiance blazing and dazzling.

On the gold‑inlaid wooden tray lay a Spirit Pill that was entirely crimson; beside it, a completely crystalline, sword‑shaped fruit that emitted a faint golden gleam. The space around the fruit twisted slightly, and one could vaguely see threadlike sword‑shaped currents of air swirling about it, as if suffused with an invisible power. The third treasure was a battle armor that exuded a faint fluctuation of Yuan Qi, its flowing lights splendid and pleasing to the eye.

The silver‑haired elder’s gaze swept across the three treasures, one brow arching as he spoke:

"The three treasures from the Black Wind Commerce Alliance are: a fifth‑grade high‑level Spirit Pill, the Prohibited Yuan Dan; one set of fourth‑grade low‑level armor for women; and one Sword Heart Crystal Scale Fruit. Allow me to give a brief introduction here: the Sword Heart Crystal Scale Fruit is extremely rare, with a twenty percent chance of helping a Swordsman comprehend Sword Intent. For Swordsmen who have already comprehended Sword Intent, using it in cultivation can also solidify their Sword Intent. Generally, it is regarded as a sixth‑grade elementary Spiritual Medicine."

Because the Gathering Treasure Meet was a contest of treasure quality and not a formal auction, the silver‑haired elder did not give detailed introductions to each treasure. But as his words fell, the entire great hall immediately erupted.

In particular, some Swordsmen, upon seeing the Sword Heart Crystal Scale Fruit, had their eyes turn red, expressions incomparably agitated.

Countless Swordsmen had proven that Swordsmen who comprehended Sword Intent would walk much farther along the Sword Dao; one could say that Sword Intent was the dream of innumerable Swordsmen. That the Sword Heart Crystal Scale Fruit could grant a Swordsman a twenty percent chance to comprehend Sword Intent—though only twenty percent—was enough to drive countless Swordsmen mad.

"Damn it, no matter what, I have to obtain this Sword Heart Crystal Scale Fruit."

"So long as he comprehends Sword Intent, Han’er’s potential can advance one step further; he might even have the chance to become a peerless Swordsman. I absolutely cannot miss this opportunity."

"A fourth‑grade battle armor can raise my strength by twenty percent..."

"The Black Wind Commerce Alliance actually has a Sword Heart Crystal Scale Fruit, such a treasure. I wonder what kind of treasures the other commerce alliances have prepared."

Countless Martial Artists, as well as Clan Leaders of major powers, looked at the three treasures on the tray, their gazes flickering as they calculated silently.

And with the Black Wind Commerce Alliance, ranked last among the Four Great Commerce Alliances, taking out a treasure like the Sword Heart Crystal Scale Fruit, everyone’s expectations for the treasures to come grew even stronger.