Chapter 215: Heavenly Venerable Draws the Boundary

"Friend Jiao, what exactly is the origin of this Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce? 'Myriad Techniques' – that's quite a bold name! Could it be that this chamber truly possesses tens of thousands of cultivation techniques?" Li Fan immediately asked.

"Speaking of the Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce, its origins can be traced back to the period after the Great Carnage, before a new order was established," Jiao Xiuyuan explained to Li Fan.

"This period is commonly referred to as the Wasteland Era."

"At that time, the number of cultivators had dwindled to its lowest point. Those who survived the catastrophe were true loners, solitary figures who trusted no one but themselves."

"Cultivators took refuge in the wilderness, exploring ruins and seeking opportunities."

"With limited individual energy, cultivators sometimes found techniques they couldn't practice. Naturally, they considered exchanging these techniques with other cultivators for something useful."

"However, in that era, mutual trust among cultivators had plummeted to near zero. To facilitate successful transactions, a trusted middleman became essential."

"The Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce was one such middleman, and it remains the only organization from that period to endure after the establishment of the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Council of Five Elders."

"During the Wasteland Era, cultivators were scarce, but cultivation techniques were not. A single cultivator often carried several techniques, either plundered or acquired through fortuitous encounters."

"It was then that the Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce amassed an unimaginable number of techniques. This is why it has stood for a thousand years and still thrives today."

Jiao Xiuyuan slowly recounted the history of the Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce.

Upon hearing this, Li Fan couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that a supreme expert from the Longevity Realm is behind this Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce? An ordinary Dao Integration cultivator probably wouldn't be able to safeguard so many techniques."

Jiao Xiuyuan nodded. "Most cultivators think the same. The Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Council of Five Elders currently tolerate the Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce's existence. For these two behemoths to make concessions, the cultivator behind it certainly can't be weak. However, the true identity of such a powerful individual is far beyond the knowledge of small fries like us."

Li Fan subtly flattered him, "Friend, with your Thousand Miles Hall's business spread throughout the cultivation world, you are by no means a small fry."

He then asked with some confusion, "According to you, the Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce's business is acknowledged by the Myriad Immortals Alliance. Yet, why have I never seen them within the Alliance's territories? Even for the Myriad Splendor Chamber of Commerce, which deals with mortal affairs, I've only seen their itinerant vendors, never their actual shops."

"Haha, the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Council of Five Elders each have their own independent and robust trading systems. Why would they let the Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce come in and steal business? Although the Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce is now acknowledged by the two giants, its scale is much smaller than before, barely surviving in the cracks," Jiao Xiuyuan chuckled.

"The Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce now only operates in the border regions between the territories of the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Council of Five Elders. These areas are complex and chaotic, with weak control from both sides, and are heavily populated by rogue cultivators. A neutral organization like the Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce conducting business there actually instills more trust."

"Furthermore, both the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Council of Five Elders have a wide variety of special products within their respective territories. Although there is official trade between the two entities during non-war years, crucial strategic materials are typically not included in the exchange registry."

"However, there is indeed significant demand for these materials. Therefore, using the Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce as an intermediary has become a solution."

"Naturally, the prices for these goods are considerably higher, sometimes several times their original cost, which is normal."

"For example, over at the Council of Five Elders, there's a medicinal pill called the Dao Comprehension Pill. It's said to be a secret transmission from an ancient Grand Dao Sect. After consumption, it increases one's affinity with the Grand Dao's laws, significantly reducing the difficulty of comprehending the Dao and accelerating cultivation speed."

Li Fan paused, then asked, "Isn't that similar to the Enlightenment effect of the Heavenly Profound Mirror?"

"Precisely. What's even more remarkable is that the Dao Comprehension Pill's effect perfectly stacks with Enlightenment. Enlightenment enhances one's own comprehension, while the Dao Comprehension Pill lowers the difficulty of comprehending the Dao. When combined, complementing each other internally and externally, cultivation speed becomes astonishingly fast," Jiao Xiuyuan exclaimed in admiration.

"The Alliance has coveted this Dao Comprehension Pill for a long time, but all attempts to decipher it have failed. Thus, only a limited batch can be imported annually through the Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce."

"Over at the Council of Five Elders, each Dao Comprehension Pill reportedly costs only fifty low-grade spirit stones, which is equivalent to fifty contribution points here. It's practically being given away for free. However, at the Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce, due to high demand and limited supply, the price skyrockets tenfold, typically around five hundred contribution points per pill."

"Even at that price, countless cultivators are willing to buy it. There's no helping it; the item is simply too useful!" Jiao Xiuyuan lamented.

Li Fan's clone pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, "I once overheard a Core Formation cultivator mention the Immortalfall Realm and the Vanguard Realm. It seems anonymous transactions are possible within the Vanguard Realm. Can't cultivators from the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Council of Five Elders do the same?"

Jiao Xiuyuan was slightly surprised. "You even know about the Vanguard Realm?"

After a moment of thought, he quietly explained, "Previously, that was not an issue."

"However, later on, such convenient and clandestine trading methods gave rise to widespread speculative and profiteering activities, causing prices within the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Council of Five Elders to spiral out of control. Furthermore, spies exploited the opportunity to cause trouble, stealing and transmitting large amounts of confidential intelligence."

"Subsequently, two great powerful beings from both sides acted simultaneously, each drawing a great chasm."

"Since then, cultivators from the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Council of Five Elders have been unable to exchange goods through the Vanguard Realm."

"If a cultivator from the Myriad Immortals Alliance attempts to enter the Vanguard Realm, whose spatial coordinates are located within the Council of Five Elders' territory, their divine sense will be blocked by the two great chasms. The same applies to cultivators from the Council of Five Elders."

Li Fan slowly nodded.

"I understand. So, if I want to purchase cultivation techniques through the Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce, I'll have to go there myself?"

"Yes. The Myriad Techniques Chamber of Commerce's closest outpost is located in Jiushan Prefecture, near Yongliang Prefecture," Jiao Xiuyuan further advised. "Jiushan Prefecture isn't exactly peaceful. If you truly intend to go, you might consider teaming up with other Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators."

"That way, you can look out for each other on the journey."

"Thank you for your guidance. The journey is long and somewhat risky. I'll give it more thought!" Li Fan replied.

Meanwhile, Li Fan's true body searched the Heavenly Profound Mirror for information on traveling from Congyun Sea to Jiushan Prefecture. Indeed, there were quite a few cultivators recruiting teammates.