Streams of Tunneling Light, like a meteor shower, converged on the Western Continent.

Within the Tunneling Lights were those who piloted Flying Spiritual Artifacts, those who rode Flying Spirit Beasts, and those who flew directly on their own Magical Power. They were mostly Independent Cultivators, traveling in groups to attend this rare grand event in the Northern Domain’s Immortally Cultivation Realm.

In seven more days, the Seven Nations Ticket Shop would be issuing new shares. The Immortally Cultivation Clans and Independent Cultivators who had bought shares last time had all made a fortune. Some Independent Cultivators had even used their earnings to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill and reach Foundation Establishment.

Inspired by these examples, the number of Cultivators who came to purchase shares this time was more than ten times greater than the last.

High in the sky, Flying Boats tunneled through the air.

Immortally Cultivation Clans of some standing all brought their younger members out to broaden their horizons.

In the Western Continent today, while Tribulation Cultivators hadn’t vanished entirely, they were far less rampant than before. That was why these Immortally Cultivation Clans dared to bring out their juniors with low Cultivation.

This situation arose for two reasons. First, thanks to loans from the Seven Nations Ticket Shop, most Independent Cultivators now owned at least one Magical Artifact, meaning they were no longer as helpless against Tribulation Cultivators. Second, the Identity Tokens from the Seven Nations Ticket Shop left those same Tribulation Cultivators with nothing to steal.

Not to mention, the Divine Spear Child, Yang Tietou, who struck terror into the hearts of Tribulation Cultivators, had recently been patrolling the area in his Flying Boat. What reckless Tribulation Cultivator would dare to even approach?

In the Northern Domain Seven Kingdoms of today, Yang Tietou’s name alone was enough to make some of the more cowardly Tribulation Cultivators lose their nerve entirely.

Countless Demon Cultivators and Tribulation Cultivators who had been rampant for ages had died by his Golden Spear. He had even dismantled three branches of the Ghost Ruins Market, which had been entrenched in the Seven Kingdoms for nearly a thousand years.

If not for the fact that he looked like an eight or nine-year-old boy and was of Demon Transformation origin, the matchmakers proposing marriage would have already worn his doorstep flat.

A Flying Pavilion floated by, upon which stood gazebos. It was covered in rare flowers, exotic plants, and Jade Treasure Trees. Its glazed tiles glittered brilliantly in the sunlight.

These Flying Pavilions were similar to Flying Boats, both being large-scale flying magical artifacts. However, compared to the heavily combat-oriented Flying Boats, Flying Pavilions focused more on luxury and comfort, and their construction cost was often far higher.

Therefore, such Flying Pavilions were extremely rare in the Western Continent. Only a few top-tier Noble Families would build one for their patriarchs to travel in and to maintain appearances.

However, this particular Flying Pavilion was more luxurious than even the Flying Boats of those Noble Families. It belonged to the Celestial Treasure Tower’s main headquarters in the Central Continent and was for the exclusive use of its scions on their journeys.

The Celestial Treasure Tower was jointly run by several great Noble Families from the Central Continent. These families almost never lacked a Divinity Transformation Cultivator in their ranks, allowing them to maintain their prominent status indefinitely. The scions of these families naturally entered the Celestial Treasure Tower’s key positions, seizing control of its power.

Li Xishan, a Golden Core Cultivator, wore a sycophantic expression as he waited behind a silver-robed young man.

The young man’s Cultivation was only at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment, yet he accepted Li Xishan’s flattery with perfect composure, showing no sign of awkwardness. It was as if he had been the center of everyone’s world since birth and was meant to be served by others.

’What Golden Core Cultivator? He’s nothing more than a servant with a slightly higher status.’

"Bu Yanduan didn’t come?"

the young man said nonchalantly, gazing at the roiling sea of clouds and the vast Great Sun beyond the pavilion.

Even with his Golden Core Cultivation, Li Xishan’s nerves were constantly frayed when facing this young man. This youth was a scion of the great Sima Family, a Noble Family from the Central Continent. His name was Sima Peng, his Spirit Root was the Xunfeng Celestial Spirit Root, and he had Innately awakened the Wind Escape technique. Not yet twenty-five, his Cultivation had already reached the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment.

’His future prospects were far beyond anything a Golden Core Cultivator like me, whose potential is nearly exhausted, could ever compare to.’

’I’m not even a match for the Golden Core Cultivators guarding Sima Peng on this Flying Pavilion.’

In Li Xishan’s view, though the Six Sects were subtly building up Yang Jing’s reputation, calling him the number one of his generation in the Western Continent, when compared to Sima Peng, he was nothing special—just a mediocre talent.

He was utterly incomparable to a highborn scion like Sima Peng.

"True Monarch Bo is occupied with urgent matters and could not come to greet you. He specifically asked me to offer his apologies."

Li Xishan said with a deep bow.

Bu Yanduan was the general director for the Celestial Treasure Tower in the Western Continent, with a Cultivation at the Middle Stage of the Nascent Soul realm. He was part of the tower’s local faction in the Western Continent. A native of the Western Continent himself, he had advanced step by step to the Nascent Soul realm after joining the Celestial Treasure Tower.

But even with the revered status of a Nascent Soul expert, he still found it difficult to navigate his position when faced with a highborn scion like Sima Peng. He had simply chosen to avoid the meeting altogether, letting Li Xishan welcome the Noble Son from the Central Continent instead.

Li Xishan, of course, couldn’t be happier. ’If I can build a connection with Sima Peng,’ he mused, ’perhaps I could get transferred to the Central Continent one day. Wouldn’t that be far more promising than being a minor General Manager in the Northern Domain?’

"Hmph!"

Sima Peng snorted coldly. As a member of the local Western Continent faction, Bu Yanduan was often somewhat disrespectful toward noble scions like himself. However, they rarely visited a backwater place like the Western Continent, so things had remained peaceful over the years.

"I came this time because the main headquarters is very interested in the Seven Nations Ticket Shop’s business model. I’ve been sent to conduct a field investigation. You’re the one with the most intimate knowledge of the Ticket Shop, so tell me about it."

Li Xishan had long guessed that Sima Peng’s trip was about the Seven Nations Ticket Shop, and he had already prepared what to say. He spoke eloquently, recounting the Ticket Shop’s revenue changes over the past few months as if he were listing his own family heirlooms.

Sima Peng, however, remained noncommittal. ’A few Spirit Stones are fundamentally meaningless to me.’