Chapter 1038: Five Years of Change in the World

Nine Mountain Province.

After five years of development, Nine Mountain Province, the only free trade zone within the Myriad Immortals Alliance, has undergone a drastic transformation. It has changed from a desolate, uninhabited land to a flourishing and prosperous region. As far as the eye could see, the vast plains were occupied by cultivators' cave dwellings, surrounding and protecting the central Nine Mountain Trade City.

After several expansions, the trade city's size has increased by nearly tenfold compared to its original state. Yet, it still struggles to meet the ever-growing trade demands. Every new cultivator arriving in the city was filled with excitement and curiosity, lost amidst the dazzling array of goods.

Zhao Xian knelt on the ground, respectfully bowing to a faceless stone statue cloaked in shadow above him. He then exited the secret chamber, opened the shop door, and began his first sale after restocking. He didn't even need to advertise; soon, the shop was bustling with cultivators eager to make purchases. Product descriptions and prices were clearly marked, allowing cultivators to complete their purchases independently without the shop owner's direct involvement. There was no bargaining, as goods in Nine Mountain Province were often snatched up immediately after being displayed.

This was partly due to the fact that all products sold in Nine Mountain Province were rare specialties from various other provinces. But the most fundamental reason was...

Zhao Xian maintained a full smile on his face, sighing inwardly, "No wonder everyone wants to come to Nine Mountain Province now. They say even a pig can make a fortune just by lying around, and it's truly no exaggeration."

"Three years ago, the Heaven-Profound Mirror's trading function suddenly shut down, preventing cultivators from trading freely. However, the demand for trade could not simply vanish. Thus, within a short period, five major trade cities emerged across the land, barely taking over the Heaven-Profound Mirror's trading capabilities."

"Nine Mountain Province is the largest among them, with the greatest variety of goods."

"Not only do cultivators from various provinces of the Myriad Immortals Alliance come here to trade, but cultivators from the Five Elder Council also sell their specialties and purchase goods here."

Zhao Xian looked at the constant stream of people in his shop, his heart filled with gratitude. "It's all thanks to the Envoy's help. Otherwise, how could a mere Nascent Soul cultivator like me, from the small Congyun Sea, afford property here?"

Although half of the shop's profits had to be handed over, the rate at which he earned contribution points was still far faster than in his hometown. "If I save for just ten years, I'll not only clear all my debts, but I'll even be able to purchase Spirit Transformation cultivation techniques and Heaven and Earth's Birth Transformations at a discount from the Alliance!"

"If I can achieve Spirit Transformation, my status will be vastly different in the future!"

"Even if things don't go as planned, returning to Congyun Sea as a guest elder would be a sure thing. After all, the entire Congyun Sea only has two Spirit Transformation cultivators overseeing it."

Zhao Xian's eyes grew hotter as he envisioned a bright future in his mind.

After an unknown period, the successful sale of an item displayed in the shop suddenly jolted Zhao Xian awake. It was a seemingly ordinary white jade statue. A simple decorative piece, it had no special functions. If there was anything remarkable about the white jade statue, it was the sculpted image of the woman. She possessed unparalleled beauty, rendered so lifelike. However, due to its exorbitant price of two hundred thousand contribution points, it had remained unsold in the shop for over two years. Yet today, someone had actually taken the initiative to buy it. This statue was crucial to the task assigned by the Envoy!

Suppressing his excitement, Zhao Xian quickly stepped forward. "Fellow Daoist, please wait!"

A cultivator clad in black Daoist robes, hidden in shadow with an indistinguishable face, paused. However, he ignored Zhao Xian and walked straight out without looking back. Zhao Xian did not pursue him. He simply revealed a meaningful smile and quietly went to the underground secret chamber. He knelt before the faceless stone statue.

"Envoy, someone has bought the white jade statue."

Even though it wasn't his first time reporting to the Envoy, Zhao Xian still felt incredibly nervous. He held his breath and concentrated, not daring to entertain any stray thoughts. After his prayer, Zhao Xian waited patiently.

Before long, a cold voice resonated in his mind. "I know."

After that single sentence, there was only silence. But Zhao Xian keenly perceived the divine aura that had enveloped him arrive and then vanish. And his cultivation, without any warning, suddenly increased by a significant amount. Joy overflowed. Zhao Xian quickly knocked his head on the ground several more times.

"With the Envoy's bestowed grace, even with my aptitude, I might be able to achieve Spirit Transformation within a century."

"Even those so-called 'heavenly talents' who usually act so arrogantly are far inferior to me."

Zhao Xian was immensely proud, and he began to treat matters within the Alliance of Ten Thousand Realms with even greater diligence.

Spiritwood Realm.

Li Fan had already pinpointed the location of the cultivator who purchased the white jade statue.

"So it was him. He's still alive."

The cultivator's disguise naturally couldn't fool Li Fan's eyes. After comparing it with the list in his mind, Li Fan quickly identified the person: Jia Yiyuan, formerly an usher at the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters. He was on duty during the time of the unusual incident at the Alliance headquarters. After the incident, Jia Yiyuan's family was wiped from existence. All three hundred and forty-two cultivators above the Golden Core stage perished without exception. Jia Yiyuan himself had vanished without a trace. To his surprise, he had appeared in Nine Mountain Province today.

After a brief moment of thought, Li Fan understood why he had bought the white jade statue. This white jade statue was indeed crafted by Li Fan himself and had no special features. However, the figure carved into the statue was extraordinary; it was a very important person Li Fan had secretly investigated over the years.

After the anomaly at the Alliance headquarters that day, the Myriad Immortals Alliance launched a bloody purge. Countless cultivators were purged, and many innocent ones were tragically implicated. However, where there is oppression, there is resistance. Some cultivators within the Alliance did not stand by and watch this slaughter. Instead, they extended a helping hand to the innocent. They possessed great divine abilities and, despite the Alliance's high-pressure pursuit, managed to save a large number of cultivators' lives. The woman carved into the white jade statue was one of these "saviors."

She seemed to have appeared out of thin air; the Myriad Immortals Alliance knew nothing about her life. Yet, she knew the Myriad Immortals Alliance intimately, even privy to top-secret orders before they were issued. She would rescue people just before the slaughter began. The Myriad Immortals Alliance was furious and offered bounties for her capture, but they never succeeded. They couldn't even ascertain her appearance.

Li Fan, however, knew what she looked like because he had soul-searched a cultivator she had saved. Unfortunately, that person didn't know much about their savior either. In his mind, Li Fan had only seen a face of unparalleled beauty.