Welcome to Ability Store-Chapter 86 - 85: Diplomatic Negotiations

The so-called Barbarians’ Residence is essentially an area surrounded by several streets, forming a compound. Upon arrival, the foreign presence significantly increases, with almost everyone exhibiting some exotic features. The officer led the envoy team into the Barbarians’ Residence, immediately met by specialists who handled the handover, tallying numbers, assets, and weapons, while also arranging accommodations and meals professionally.

Chen Xuan leaned against the railing of the second-floor corridor, overlooking the lively scene in the courtyard. The courtyard he was in comprised five double-story buildings, housing not only the French envoy team but also several other foreign business teams. For instance, he witnessed over ten Western beauties wearing veils and dressed in golden silk garments passing through the courtyard, one of whom locked eyes with him and threw a seductive glance.

"What are you looking at?" Liu Shuyue approached from behind.

"Of course, it’s the exotic charm." Chen Xuan replied calmly, "Although such scenery is something I often witness, no matter how many times I see it, it still sparkles brilliantly."

She mimicked Chen Xuan’s posture, leaning over the railing, "...sometimes I truly envy you. I’ve never seen it in person; the continent is so vast that even flying through the skies for many days still doesn’t reveal its end. One must admit, it’s a world that evokes longing."

"Actually... areas beyond the Six Kingdoms must also be quite expansive; we’ve just never explored them."

After all, everyone is on Earth; who’s significantly lesser than whom?

"Maybe so, but for me now, the Six Kingdoms is its entirety. Moreover, conflicts between nations never cease; sect disciples are like splashes falling into the Abyss Sea; no matter what changes they make, they get swallowed by time." Liu Shuyue murmured, "Sometimes I truly want to let go of my so-called responsibilities and stake my life to see what the world is like beyond the Abyss Sea."

"This can definitely be realized." Chen Xuan replied without hesitation.

"Really?"

"One hundred percent real, I’ll take you to see it."

Because whether climbing over Wanshan Wilderness from the west or traversing the Abyss Sea from the east, Chen Xuan sees it as goals not beyond reach.

Especially when Hot Pepper Village fully grows, with an army entirely composed of cultivators and equipped with Lin Qing’s envisioned gear, what demon fiend could stop them on the way?

Liu Shuyue stared at him for a moment before smiling and nodding, "Mm!"

"Should we go for a stroll later?" Chen Xuan suggested. This is Chang’an City, and moreover, the evolved Chang’an; not exploring it thoroughly would be a missed opportunity. "Exploring beyond the Six Kingdoms takes some effort; strolling here just requires stepping out."

Liu Shuyue paused, then her eyes shimmered with eager anticipation.

"Divine Envoy, sir!" Just then, Baron Milton rushed up to the second floor, "The Immortal Alliance sent someone to receive you; they said you could meet now!"

The envoy team had just finished unpacking, yet they’re ready now?

They were too efficient!

Chen Xuan looked at Liu Shuyue, who shook her head with a smile, saying, "It’s okay, business is what matters. I’ll wait for your good news back at the shop."

It’s the only option... Chen Xuan said somewhat reluctantly, "If that’s the case, let the envoy team head over."

...

The meeting location arranged by the Immortal Alliance is in a high tower within the city.

Compared to the surrounding three or four-story wooden houses, it resembles a skyscraper, compelling one to look up. Naturally, Chen Xuan didn’t find the tower particularly astounding; after all, buildings in the Celestial Ridge District have over twenty stories, towering even higher than the current structure. Yet, in the eyes of Milton and Marina and others, it absolutely rivals the Heaven-Reaching Tower.

Moreover, its design is quite imposing; the entrance to the first level isn’t flush with the ground but suspended in mid-air—entering the tower requires climbing a high platform composed of hundreds of white jade steps. A red carpet is laid in the center of the staircase, seemingly guiding everyone on a path to ascend to heaven; its visual impact alone is extraordinary.

"There are many stairs; everyone, be careful not to fall." The guide’s voice carried undisguised pride, "This Moon Gazing Tower is the tallest building in Chang’an City, with sixteen levels. A banquet hall is on the top floor, allowing you to overlook the entire view of Chang’an from the window. You’re quite fortunate to meet the Immortal Alliance Governor there... not every envoy team gets this privilege."

Chen Xuan had heard from the Tea Master that the Immortal Alliance doesn’t have a fixed alliance leader or, rather during usual times, the position of alliance leader is vacant.

Only when facing a strong enemy invasion in the Central Plains or during a rare millennium disaster does the Immortal Alliance choose a sect leader from major sects as an alliance leader to command all sects to resist the enemy or disaster.

Normally, the highest official in the Immortal Alliance is the Governor.

Moreover, the Governor is not fixed.

The position changes every five years to prevent power stagnation, with selections coming from major sects.

Usually, the person serving as Governor isn’t a sect leader.

After all, sect leaders are more concerned with their own forces’ development; no one wants to leave their territory for five years just to run to Chang’an City dealing with Immortal Alliance matters.

Hence, the position is typically held by high-level elders of the sect.

"Which eminent figure is currently serving as the Immortal Alliance Governor?" Chen Xuan asked while walking.

The guide, surprised at his calm demeanor despite the tower’s grandeur, responded, "Uh... it’s the Unclear Wine Hermit Xu Yuanqing from Ascension Platform. It seems you’re not completely unaware of the Immortal Alliance’s situation."

"Of course, one must do some homework before visiting."

Cultivators from Ascension Platform... then this Governor belongs to the local faction of Chang’an City.

The group stepped onto the high platform and entered the tower, and a familiar mechanism appeared before Chen Xuan—a central elevator in the hall.

"Everyone, come in. This mechanism can transport fifty people at a time."

Once everyone had stepped onto the circular platform, the guide officer closed the entrance gate. The guards stationed at the first floor knocked on the bell on the wall, and the six magic-reinforced ropes pulling the platform emitted a tense creaking sound, after which the platform began to slowly rise.

Chen Xuan noticed that each floor of the tower had at least two corridor-like walkways extending that could connect to the platform at any time.

However, there were no buttons to control the floors on the platform.

It seemed that deciding which floor to stop on was determined by the bell-ringing guard.

"Is there a deep vertical shaft set below this elevator? Like the kind where if you step wrong, you’d have no chance of climbing out?" he couldn’t help but ask.

"Of course not," the guide officer said in astonishment, "Who would build such a thing under their own feet?"

"Then I’m relieved."

"Please don’t worry, the ropes of the Moon Gazing Ladder are reinforced with magic, impervious to water and fire, extremely tough, as long as you stand steadily, there will be no risk of falling," the guide officer thought Chen Xuan was worried about the elevator malfunctioning and immediately explained enthusiastically, "If any of you feel scared, you can crouch down or close your eyes, this can alleviate the fear."

Though the group’s translator repeated the words verbatim, no one responded.

After all, everyone had already experienced the thrill brought by helicopters.

A flying altitude of two hundred meters or a stationary ascent of seventy meters simply weren’t on the same level.

Chen Xuan even yawned.

The guide officer’s face instantly turned somewhat pale.

Once the platform steadily docked at the top, he merely gestured towards the entrance of the banquet hall and no longer wanted to converse with the envoy.

Chen Xuan was the first to step into the hall.

The view opened up astonishingly.

The structure here was actually semi-open. Rather than calling it a banquet hall, it would be more accurate to say it was a balcony with unobstructed views!

The wooden flooring underfoot occupied less than half the area, while the other half consisted of fine pebbles and artificial mountains paired with flowers and grass, forming an "aerial garden." Not only were the plants growing here vibrant, but there were even streams trickling between the artificial mountains. In terms of artistic level and landscape complexity, this garden-inspired hall far surpassed the elevator in brilliance.

A dozen or so people from the Immortal Alliance also attended.

Sitting centrally was a middle-aged man, likely the Unclear Wine Hermit Xu Yuanqing that the guide officer mentioned.

"Welcome, esteemed guests from afar, please be seated."

Xu Yuanqing chuckled and said leisurely, stroking his beard. He was not like the cultivators mentioned by the Tea Master, who always had their eyes fixed on their foreheads.

From the looks of it, Unclear Wine Hermit appeared to be in his early fifties. His black and white hair was simply tied behind him, and he had a goatee, giving off a sense of unkempt laziness. Moreover, while everyone else’s tables had tea cups, in front of him was clearly a gourd wine bottle.

Chen Xuan attempted to sense with the Celestial Mist Skill and discovered this person had the most abundant spiritual qi among all attendees, about three to four times stronger than himself.

The guests were seated in the center of the hall, geographically one step lower than the hosts to highlight the Immortal Alliance’s status. However, compared to meeting with the emperor, where one might still have to kneel, this kind of slightly lower seating treatment was already quite gracious.

Next came a series of fixed diplomatic procedures, like introducing the envoy team members, showcasing gifts, and presenting national letters, which Chen Xuan knew nothing about, so he merely sat quietly in the Eight Immortals chair watching the twenty diplomats bustling about.

Once everyone had returned to their seats, Xu Yuanqing sighed and set down the national letter, saying, "This is the first time I’ve heard the name France. From the map, it seems to be even further than the Western World. You’ve surely endured many hardships bringing so many gifts to the East. I will mark France’s location on the Complete Map of Mountains, Seas, and Lands, so your Kingdom won’t remain obscure."

"That would be excellent," Chen Xuan replied with feigned sincerity.

After the previous introductions, he had already appeared in the eyes of the Immortal Alliance as a youth who had wandered to the Western World in childhood and now, after achieving success, was seeking his roots.

"So what kind of help is the envoy team from France seeking from the Immortal Alliance, having arrived in Chang’an after enduring countless hardships?" Xu Yuanqing asked, "I heard from subordinates that you seem to be here with a request."

Chen Xuan shot a glance at Marina.

The witch, somewhat nervous, stood up from her seat and began narrating the wars and transformations that had occurred over the English Channel.

She was one of the parties involved, making her more suited to answer this question.

With the help of translation, Marina spent roughly thirty minutes clearly conveying France’s situation and the envoy team’s intentions.

"...Nowadays, demons can be seen all along the coasts, and I reckon it won’t be long before these unsinkable fleets invade the Eastern World. Before the flames of war spread to every corner of the continent, His Majesty Charlie earnestly pleads for help from Eastern cultivators, hoping to use unique spells to deal with demons, driving mankind’s enemy back into the depths of the Abyss Sea."