The Grand Secretary, seeing that Emperor Mingxiang had an unsuspecting expression, immediately shifted the topic.
After all, the cab’s term in office was limited, whereas the Imperial n had a lifelong inheritance; in terms of individual power, the Grand Secretary could notpare to the Emperor.
"The reason I invited you both here today concerns the future of the Imperial Court,"
the Grand Secretary said solemnly, "The path of immortality possesses aplete set of cultivation methods. Even if the number zero elixir matures, it can’tpare. To ensure that the power of the Imperial Court doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, we must seek an alternative."
A light shed in the eyes of the Red Alliance Hierarch, a vague guess forming in his heart.
Emperor Mingxiang asked in confusion, "Could there be anyone in this world who can prevent the prosperity of the path of immortality?"
"Kunlun!"
The Grand Secretary spoke softly, "In this world, the only ones who can check and bnce the sect of one qi, and who do not interfere with secr power, are those monks from Kunlun Wondend!"
"Kunlun..."
Emperor Mingxiang mumbled to himself. The rise of the Zhu family was deeply rted to Kunlun, and to this day, the first portrait worshipped in the ancestral temple was still the one of the Kunlun immortal, personally drawn by Ancestor Zhou.
As Ancestor Zhouid on his deathbed, he left a will stating that if a new sessor of Kunlun were encountered, the Zhu family must fulfill any of their demands, even if it were the throne!
Because of this, when the Red Alliance triggered a revolution, the Imperial n announced their abdication almost without any resistance.
"I still hold the handwritten letter from the ancestor in my hands, the primary heirloom meant for the inheritance of the Imperial n, it’s a pity, however, that no one in this world has been able to find Kunlun!"
"Your Majesty is mistaken,"
the Grand Secretary said. "There are people in this world who have found Kunlun, and even have a way to enter the Immortal Realm. Leader Zhang, there’s no need to hide any longer; this matter concerns the future of the National Dynasty!"
Leader Zhang shook his head slightly. The registry of immortals was the Red Alliance’s top secret, known to only a few.
A century had passed, and someone had eventually changed their true heart, after all, the members of the Red Alliance were no longer the country bumpkins they once were!
"The Red Alliance indeed has a method to open the gate to immortality, only the key is missing... the hardest substance in the world."
"There is already a clue to this matter."
The Grand Secretary said, "That object, even with the utmost pinnacle of technology in this world, can’t be damaged in the slightest!"
Emperor Mingxiang snapped out of his shock from the mention of Kunlun Wondend, his face showing a puzzled look, "Why does this matter concern me if it is something for you two to discuss?"
"The emperor’s ancestor once entered Kunlun, and there’s also his dying handwritten note; by the time we enter the Immortal Realm, it can be considered a courtesy of incense affection."
The Grand Secretary exined, "Moreover, such an object is not easy to obtain; it is enshrined in the Golden God Cathedral, where countless masters stand guard. No weapons can be brought inside, and we will need to request Mr. Wei Zheng’s assistance!"
When Wei Zheng cultivated martial arts, he was considered a prodigy and was promoted to innate grandmaster in the age of thestw. When he shifted to cultivating the path of immortality, his superior spirit root advanced his strength further, making him one of the decisive powers in the world.
Emperor Mingxiang pondered for a moment, seeming to find no reason to refuse.
"This matter requires discussion with my uncle as well."
...
Xianjing.
Top Schr Street.
Even busier than a year ago, the streets were bustling with people, the sounds of bargaining never ceasing.
Zhou had the most advanced technology, and with a perfect informationwork, a vast amount of money was spent, quickly spreading the cultivation techniques throughout Cloud Continent.
At first, Top Schr Street grew quiet for a long time since everyone could cultivate; with money, they would buy elixirs and magic artifacts, perhaps even living longer than antiques in the future.
The shopkeepers were anxious and frustrated, yet helpless to do anything.
The antique industry was rtively lightly affected, but the real copse was in the hospitals and medical businesses.
It goes without saying that after cultivating immortality or martial arts, one would almost never fall ill; diseases that were formerly incurable, once treated with Marrow Cleansing Pills or Body Tempering Pills, would improve by ny percent almost instantly.
Just as everyone was panicking and preparing to sell their shops to return to their hometowns for cultivation, the situation took another turn.
A disciple of the One Breath Sect was browsing Top Schr Street and bought an iron can from an antique stall, which turned out to be an ancient Magic Artifact.
Even though it had lost all Spirit Energy and had degraded to scrap metal, its essence remained. It could be nurtured back to power with Mana, or melted down to refine its materials.
At the beginning of the Spiritual Energy revival, there were no Spirit Mines in the world, only beginner-level Artifact Refining materials such as Iron Essence and Copper Essence.
After the news spread, the flow of people in Top Schr Street even surpassed that of the past.
The antique dealers introduced counterfeit ancient Magic Artifacts in timely fashion, and even without a teacher, they learned to forge them on their own, for example, by inviting cultivators to imbue the fakes with strands of Mana and traces of restrictions.
"Isn’t this the embryonic form of the Marketce?"
Zhou Yi returned from the Northern Border, strolled around the street for a couple of turns, and found that mostly they were fakes.
Now and then there was one or a half genuine pieces, but the prices were sky-high. Even if they could be nurtured back to power, they were still only Magic Artifacts, so Zhou Yi couldn’t be bothered to take advantage of the younger generation’s opportunities.
This trip to the Northern Border was to seal off Spirit Veins. He had checked all the locations where ghostly entities had appeared at the Investigation Bureau. In the preceding year, he had virtually flown a circle around Cloud Continent.
"The archives record that newly formed Spirit Veins will have apanying Spiritual Objects, but after sealing off more than thirty Spirit Veins, why haven’t I seen anything?"
"Could it be that it’s too early, and the Spirit Veins are too weak?"
When Zhou Yi conversed with Heavenly Monarch Yuanling, he learned from the other party that after the revival of heaven and earth, Spiritual Energy was pure and active, and opportunities were everywhere. This was the most rapidly developing phase of the Cultivation World.
The Innate Spiritual Objects born with the Spirit Veins had infinite marvelous uses, and could even be used for ascension to revert to the void.
"Now with the formations monitoring, if anything unusual really urs, I’ll immediately sense it. If I still can’t obtain any apanying Spiritual Objects, then it’s simply not meant for me. I might as well wait for the next era!"
Lost in thought, he arrived at the pawnshop.
Zhou Yi took out the key to unlock the door, while the shopkeeper of the store next to his, Boss Xu, was respectfully seeing off a customer.
n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Has Manager Bai returned?"
"Just did."
Zhou Yi smiled and pointed to the signboard of his Antique Treasure Pavilion, puzzled, "The Collection Pavilion has been around for a hundred years, why did you change its name?"
"I had no choice but to change," said Boss Xu. "People have to keep up with the times."
"On this day and age, the hottest topic is cultivation. In our antique business, it’s all about ancient Magic Artifacts. All that elegance and virtue stuff is outdated!" Discover exclusive tales on empire
Zhou Yi’s Divine Sense swept over Antique Treasure Pavilion, which was full of newly forged goods. He gave a neighborly reminder, out of consideration.
"The external officialwork issued a warning, thews can’t control cultivators; they don’t need to be at the scene to kill. Boss Xu, when doing business, you should be cautious, and avoid provoking cultivators!"
"Manager Bai, your words trulye from the heart," replied Boss Xu.
ncing left and right, he whispered, "We only deal with ordinary people. If a cultivator really steps in, we’ll provide the best service, with whatever they desire at cost price, and we certainly wouldn’t dare to deceive them!"
Zhou Yi expressed his surprise, "What would ordinary people want with a Magic Artifact?"
"Looking for a chance at immortality," exined Boss Xu. "Also, who knows who started the rumor that ancient Magic Artifacts contain the marks of sages that can break through the limitations of the Spirit Root. Regardless of whether the news is true or false, people will believe it, and after all, it’s about cultivation!"
There are plenty of rich people in the world who pour vast amounts of money into ethereal scientific research to extend their lifespan, no different from an old man spending his savings on health supplements.
Between life and death lies great terror; the pursuit of longevity and eternal life stems from our genes.
Now that cultivation is possible, true life extension is usible; reaching the first level of Qi Cultivation and living up to 150 years is already considered living a long life, but unfortunately, it’s limited by one’s Spirit Root.
Longevity is within sight, yet unattainable, which drives countless wealthy people crazy, thus birthing various rumors about breaking through the Spirit Root limitations, such as legacy imprints, Spirit Root transnts, Soul Snatching, Bone Transfer, and so on.
Zhou Yi heard plenty of news while outside. These days, the talk of cultivation is explosive.
From octogenarians to preschool children, there is no one who isn’t discussing the mysterious ways of Dao.
Even the mightiest era of the Cultivation World hasn’t seen the spectacle of universal cultivation!