Chapter 452: Chapter 48: Cross-Domain Spiritual Ship (Part 2)

Even so, the entire Ten Thousand Merchants Domain Alliance has only built three such spirit ships.

The eighteen commerce associations under the alliance are all considered the owners of this spirit ship. However, the rights each can exercise are determined by factors such as the association’s contribution to the alliance and strength assessments.

This spirit ship, approved by the main leader of the alliance, travels back and forth to the Celestial Cyan Domain.

In the past, the Si Shui Commerce Association was the primary entity conducting significant trade with the Celestial Cyan Domain.

Therefore, when the Si Shui Commerce Association rejoined the alliance a hundred years ago, this spirit ship almost exclusively served them on every voyage.

Whether in terms of personnel quotas, cargo shipment quotas, or departure and arrival times, all were decided by the Si Shui Commerce Association alone.

However, in recent years, the Si Shui Commerce Association has been willing to introduce part of their business transactions in the Celestial Cyan Domain to other commerce associations of the alliance to gain more support.

Now, the Si Shui Commerce Association’s share in the Celestial Cyan Domain is decreasing, and their control over the spirit ship is diminishing as well.

Three days later, Li Ji’an gathered detailed information about the spirit ship.

This spirit ship has always been on a five-year round trip, with a two-year journey each way and a six-month stay on both ends. The planned departure time for this trip was theoretically four months later.

"Boom boom boom!" However, this day, as Li Ji’an was planning to visit the Si Shui Commerce Association to present the token, the sounds of drums suddenly erupted.

"By order of the Holy Palace, due to the war within the domain, our spirit ship needs to return to the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain three days later. We will not wait!" A towering, elegant middle-aged scholar stood floating in the air from the spirit ship, slowly saluting those around.

"That’s Master Meng from the Five Blessings Commerce Association!"

"Master Meng is the one who commands this spirit ship. Without his nod, no one can board!"

"Departing in three days? Send a message to Xiaoliuzi and the others, telling them to hurry back, or they might be left here forever."

...

With Master Meng’s ultimatum, the already small Qi Family Immortal City descended into chaos.

Employees of various commerce associations hurriedly called their respective people, and cultivators intending to blend in and escape did not dare to delay anymore, quickly seeking connections or giving gifts.

"Three days? If I hadn’t closely followed Sima Yu, I would have truly missed it!"

Li Ji’an also felt a bit more urgent and quickly found the temporary shop of the Si Shui Commerce Association.

"Fellow Daoist, what do you need from our commerce association?" The old steward of the Si Shui Commerce Association looked Li Ji’an up and down, already guessing his intentions.

"I plan to return to the commerce association and request help from fellow Daoist."

"Return to the commerce association?" The old steward was instantly surprised and scrutinized Li Ji’an again.

His Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivation did not reveal Li Ji’an’s disguise nor recognized him as being part of the commerce association before.

"Hmm?" However, in the next moment, the black gold token appeared in Li Ji’an’s hand.

"Your humble servant, Lao Shui, greets the Elder!" The old steward immediately held the token with both hands and bowed.

The old steward understood the special nature of this black gold token; only one had been issued in three hundred years, belonging to the mysterious Talisman Master.

And his position was as an Honored Guest Elder of the commerce association, considered second only to one!

The key point is, this token can be passed down, not only recognized for kin and disciples by the Si Shui Commerce Association.

"My old master didn’t lie to me; you indeed recognize it!" Li Ji’an said with a surprised smile.

"Recognize, of course, recognize. Not only do I recognize it, but our president will also surely recognize it, but... may I dare to ask, sir, he..." The old steward probed cautiously.

"Passed away peacefully, it was a Joyful Funeral!" Li Ji’an grinned.

"That’s good, that’s good." The old steward’s expression slightly darkened, clearly somewhat disappointed.

Although the commerce association has returned to the alliance, due to lack of foundation, it cannot attract top talents in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain. As a result, even in the talisman field, the Si Shui Commerce Association currently has negligible influence.

Seeing the black gold token just now, he thought he was in for a great merit.

In the end, it turned out to be just a Foundation Establishment middle-stage young fellow.

"Oh well, consider it buying a good name at a great cost. Perhaps with this young man’s promotion, masters within the domain might see our sincerity!" Sighing inwardly, the old steward warmly handed a jade talisman to Li Ji’an.

"Elder, this is the ticket for the spirit ship. Three days later, make sure not to miss the hour."

Li Ji’an accepted the jade talisman and found it unexpectedly smooth: "Thank you!"

Having secured the "ticket," Li Ji’an felt much more at ease and spent the waiting time doing some shopping in the Qi Family Immortal City.

Until three days later, when the spirit ship was about to set off, the entire square was teeming with people eager to board the spirit ship.

However, the first to board were nearly a hundred people led by Master Meng of the Five Blessings Commerce Association.

"Sima Yu!" Among those first to board the ship, Sima Yu was wrapped in a white robe, flanked by two attendants of fake pill cultivation on either side.

If it weren’t for Li Ji’an’s Core Formation middle-stage divine sense, he probably wouldn’t have been able to see through the white robe’s concealment effect. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"I wonder if the Pure Essence old villain is aboard?" Li Ji’an dared not inspect everyone closely, fearing exposure by that villain.

The key issue is that with his current divine sense, if the villain wished to hide, he couldn’t possibly detect it.

"Master Meng, I’m willing to add five thousand more spirit stones if you’ll take my grandson and me!" Unable to find the Pure Essence old villain, Li Ji’an unexpectedly intercepted a late-stage Foundation Establishment elder’s voice transmission to Master Meng.

"Too late, our Five Blessings Commerce Association can only take a maximum of a hundred people." Master Meng replied through transmission, ignoring him afterward.

Originally, they thought this trade tour would suffer greatly due to the great war between the righteous and the demonic factions, fearing massive losses.