"So you’re saying that under your stewardship, my Celestial Treasure Tower simply paved the way for the Seven Nations Ticket Shop, trained their personnel, and then was kicked to the curb?"

Li Xishan felt his mind go blank with a BUZZ. If not for his Golden Core Cultivation, a cold sweat would have instantly drenched his back.

"Young Master Sima... this..."

He wiped his forehead, mopping away sweat that wasn’t there.

"I had no other choice. With the Taichang Trading Company in the picture, if Celestial Treasure Tower hadn’t done so, they would have simply taken our entire share."

Sima Peng shook his head.

"I’ve heard of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator named Yang Jing who has been stirring up a storm. I’m told that even the very system for this Seven Nations Ticket Shop was his proposal."

Li Xishan steadied himself. It was clear from Sima Peng’s admonishment that he had sources in the Northern Domain other than Li Xishan himself. So, not daring to omit any crucial details, he recounted everything he knew.

"Sweeping through hordes of Demon Cultivators... somewhat interesting. It’s just that the Demon Cultivators of the Western Continent are a far cry from those of the Northern Continent, which makes it less impressive. If he had a similar record against Demons, I might actually give him a second look."

Sima Peng said, picking at his fingernails.

"Proficient in Swordsmanship and Thunder Techniques. At best, he’s just another Yan Bing. That Yan Bing’s Sword Dao Talent was astonishing, but he lacked a Divine Technique compared to the prodigies of my Central Continent. When he engaged in Magical Combat, it was as if he was missing a leg. He fought ten matches against cultivators from my Central Continent and only won two, yet the people of the Western Continent still praise him as a once-in-a-millennium genius. They’re nothing but frogs in a well."

Li Xishan was also from the Western Continent. Hearing Sima Peng’s derisive words, he could only force a smile and didn’t dare say a word.

Yan Bing was now the Hall Master of the Taixu Sword Sect’s Demon Slaying Hall. Sima Peng, a noble son from a Central Continent family, could get away with a few critical remarks. But if Li Xishan were to agree and the cultivators from the Taixu Sword Sect found out, he’d be in for a world of trouble.

If one of the Sword Sect’s "Sword Madmen" came looking for a round of Magical Combat, he would be completely outmatched.

This Flying Pavilion was Tier Three, and its flight speed was extremely fast. Before long, the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion and the headquarters of the Seven Nations Ticket Shop were already in sight.

While Golden Core Cultivators were permitted to fly in the airspace above the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion, large Flying Spiritual Artifacts with combat capabilities and large-scale Magic Arrays, such as Flying Boats and Flying Pavilions, were strictly forbidden.

The Flying Pavilion soon felt the constraints of the no-fly array and began to shake slightly.

"Young Master."

Li Xishan had an anxious look on his face. Piloting a large Flying Spiritual Artifact straight into the Governor’s Mansion’s airspace was a major taboo, even for a noble scion like Sima Peng.

Sima Peng raised an eyebrow. Although somewhat displeased, he still had the driver controlling the Flying Pavilion lower its altitude.

As the Flying Pavilion slowly descended to the ground, a Martial Might-level Flying Boat flew over to investigate.

A Yu Hou of the Foundation Establishment Realm flew over.

"I am Ji Yizong, serving as a Yu Hou in the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion. I request the master of the Flying Pavilion to come out and verify their identity."

Ji Yizong was one of the three Yu Hou assigned to Yang Jing. He had previously followed Iron Head to purge Tribulation Cultivators and Demon Cultivators, earning significant battle merits. He was a discerning man and knew that anyone whose transport was a heavy artifact like a Flying Pavilion was no ordinary person.

However, all the Nascent Soul True Monarchs who had come to the Northern Domain had sent their calling cards in advance to avoid any misunderstandings. He had no idea who was inside this Flying Pavilion.

Li Xishan hurriedly flew up.

"Ji Yuhou, inside this Flying Pavilion is an honored guest of my Celestial Treasure Tower from the Central Continent."

When Ji Yizong saw Li Xishan, he hurriedly bowed as well.

"I see, an honored guest from the Central Continent. Might we be permitted to enter the pavilion and meet this honored guest?"

Yang Jing had ordered them to ensure security for this grand event at all costs. Thus, even with Li Xishan’s guarantee, he didn’t dare allow the Flying Pavilion to simply remain here unchecked.

If the Flying Pavilion were to suddenly activate its Magic Array during the shareholder meeting, the casualties would be catastrophic.

Li Xishan’s face showed his hesitation, but Sima Peng’s clear, crisp voice traveled out from inside the pavilion.

"Don’t make things difficult for this Yu Hou. Let him come in."

Once Ji Yizong entered the Flying Pavilion, Sima Peng showed none of the proud aloofness of a noble son. Instead, he had the female attendants, warriors, and guards in the pavilion come out for Ji Yizong to inspect one by one.

Ji Yizong was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. He gave them a cursory glance and then asked to leave.

Not to mention the bald-headed old man among the guards, who had Golden Core Stage cultivation, Ji Yizong estimated he was no match for even a single one of the Foundation Establishment guards.

After the Flying Boat departed, Sima Peng revealed a disdainful smile.

"The Supreme Profound Upper Yang Sect was once such a glorious Major Sect that even my Sima Family had to tread carefully around them. To see their disciples reduced to such a pathetic state today... truly lamentable."

His Spiritual Sense was sharp, and he had recognized at a glance that Ji Yizong was practicing a Supreme Profound Upper Yang Sect cultivation technique.

The bald Golden Core elder also shook his head and said:

"That man’s Magical Power is shallow; in the Central Continent, he’d be an Outer Disciple at best. But the Six Sects still have some foundation, so they’re not all complete wastes of space. I sensed someone on that Flying Boat with a deep foundation and pure Magical Power. They would be on par with a True Disciple from one of the Central Continent’s Major Sects."

The old man said this specifically, fearing that Sima Peng was underestimating the heroes of the Western Continent too much.

That person’s presence had been locked onto the Flying Pavilion from the moment Ji Yizong stepped inside, ready to respond to any unforeseen events, and the old man had noticed it.

"Oh? Could it be that Yang Jing was on that Flying Boat just now?"

Sima Peng’s interest was immediately piqued. This old man was an Independent Cultivator named Sha Li who had pledged allegiance to his Sima Family. Even in the Central Continent, it was extremely difficult for an Independent Cultivator to reach the Golden Core Realm.

His experience in Magical Combat was far beyond what Li Xishan could compare to.

True Disciples from the Major Sects of the Central Continent varied in strength, but all of them had first-rate foundations. When they achieve Foundation Establishment, they condense at least twenty-seven drops of Magical Power.

Sha Li shook his head, his expression a little odd.

"That person was short, less than four feet tall. It couldn’t have been Yang Jing."

"That short? Is he a dwarf?"

Sima Peng found this hilarious. ’The Western Continent is truly bereft of talent if they’re letting a dwarf lord it over everyone else.’

Li Xishan quickly stepped forward to explain:

"Young Master, that Yang Jing took in four disciples who are transformed Demons. Because they are still young, they have the appearance of children after their transformation. The person Guard Sha sensed must be the first disciple, Yang Tietou. He is skilled with a Golden Spear and has been making quite a name for himself in the Northern Domain recently."

"So it’s a Demon. This Yang Jing is interesting, to actually debase himself by taking a Demon as a disciple."

Sima Peng said, shaking his head.

"In the Western Continent, Demons are a force to be reckoned with, much like us Human Race Cultivators are in the Central Continent. Since this Yang Tietou is from the Demon Race, he likely possesses an innate Divine Technique."

Sha Li spoke. He had originally just thought that Iron Head’s foundation was profound, but after learning he was a Demon, he raised his assessment. As an Independent Cultivator from the Central Continent, he was all too aware of how powerful Divine Techniques were.

No matter how vast his experience in Magical Combat, he would still be easily defeated when facing a scion of the Sima Family who was at the same realm and possessed an innate talent.

"A Demon cultivating our Righteous Techniques is simply playing to its weaknesses. This person is not worth worrying about," Sima Peng said with a shake of his head. "Hmph, for all we know, Yang Jing’s great reputation was earned for him by this disciple."

He turned his gaze to Li Xishan.

"Shopkeeper Li, over the next two days, invite all the sons of the Western Continent’s Noble Families here. I want to host a banquet for them."

Sima Peng was quite displeased that Celestial Treasure Tower had paved the way for the Seven Nations Ticket Shop, and he was preparing to employ some tactics to properly test Yang Jing’s mettle.

"Young Master, our mission on this trip is just to understand the regulations of the Seven Nations Ticket Shop..."

Sha Li hesitated for a moment before advising him. As a cultivator from the Central Continent, Sima Peng looked down on the people of the Western Continent. But having struggled his way up from the bottom as an Independent Cultivator in his early years, Sha Li didn’t dare to be the least bit careless.

He had joined the Sima Family in search of a secure place to call his own, so he just wanted to complete this assignment without any complications.

"Hmph, I’ll make my own decisions. You need not say any more."

Sima Peng said, somewhat displeased.