Chapter 456: Chapter 50: Overlord of the Business Alliance

The sudden move by the Jinhua Commerce Association to openly target the Five Blessings Commerce Association suggests that Master Meng of the Five Blessings Commerce Association has tacitly agreed to Supervisor Liu’s intentions.

If the Si Shui Commerce Association cannot provide a reasonable explanation to prove their identity, they might indeed be unable to board the Spirit Ship.

As for those rejected from the ship causing a scene or reporting to the Holy Palace?

The Spirit Ship of the Business Alliance is not worried at all; the fact that it dares to bring people onboard so openly is naturally because they have the implicit approval of the Holy Palace.

Supervisor Liu looked at Li Ji’an and his group of three with ill intentions.

Li Ji’an smiled faintly and revealed a Black Gold Identity Token.

"Hmm? An Inheritance Token!" Chief Steward Liu’s eyes opened wide, carefully sensing the aura on it.

Upon close inspection, it was indeed one of the Inheritance Tokens equally distributed among all Commerce Association members when the Business Alliance was founded. Though no longer universally respected and revered within the Business Alliance, it still remains very precious.

Moreover, with this token, navigating within the Business Alliance is relatively hassle-free.

"Friend’s luck is truly extraordinary! Please, go ahead." Despite cursing internally, Chief Steward Liu maintained a facade of respect, offering a polite gesture.

Li Ji’an put away the token and took a step toward the Spirit Ship.

"You two, wait!"

"Hmm? Can I not bring a maid?" Li Ji’an turned to look at Chief Steward Liu.

Under everyone’s gaze, Chief Steward Liu was momentarily at a loss for words.

However, after a quick mental calculation, he steadied his voice using his Dantian: "Since the friend holds a Business Alliance Inheritance Token, there is no problem, and bringing a maid is reasonable. However, even Master Meng from our Five Blessings Commerce Association only brought one maid, while you bring two, occupying precious quota spots. Isn’t that somewhat unfair?"

That statement was loud and clear, allowing all present cultivators to hear.

Those left behind, already frustrated from failing to get tickets, were incited as if their inability to board the Spirit Ship was due to these two maids occupying the slots.

When Yao Rui heard this, she immediately stepped back, recognizing the disguised beggar’s identity upon close contact.

The herbal smell and the Soul Jade peeking from their waist unmistakably pointed to Guo Wanzhi.

Previously, while Li Ping’an was in seclusion, Yao Rui had several friendly chats with Guo Wanzhi, Li Ping’an’s senior sister, and got along quite well.

Now, with the Jinhua Commerce Association targeting them and only one maid slot available, she resolutely ceded the opportunity to Guo Wanzhi.

After all, although she was also in the late Foundation Establishment stage, her skills in alchemy meant her defensive and offensive abilities were lacking.

Yao Rui believed that even crossing the Spirit Starved Land on her own might not be without hope.

However, as she stepped back, a hand reached out and grabbed her.

"Shhh!"

Li Ji’an caught Yao Rui’s wrist, glanced at Supervisor Liu, and then pulled another item from his storage pouch to hand to Guo Wanzhi.

"Friend misunderstood, I only have this one maid, and as for this Pill Master, I don’t have the stature to receive her as a maid."

"Hmm? Not a friend’s maid, then who is she?" Supervisor Liu squinted, trying to probe the item in Guo Wanzhi’s hand with his Divine Sense.

Guo Wanzhi, momentarily stunned, raised the item with joy.

"What!"

"This is... a Guest Official Token from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association!"

"Wow, even a Guest Official from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association seeks help from the Si Shui Commerce Association, this..."

The moment the token appeared, everyone from several major commerce associations on the Spirit Ship showed shock.

The token Guo Wanzhi produced was quite ordinary, a typical Guest Official Token, unlike the sovereign power of an Inheritance Token. Compared to Li Ji’an’s Inheritance Token from the Si Shui Commerce Association, this was just a common method for a commerce association to attract skilled personnel, not worth mentioning.

However, because it belonged to the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, it made this ordinary token exceptionally noteworthy.

The greatest power in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain is the Business Alliance, composed of commerce associations from eighteen states. Presently, the overlords within the Business Alliance are the Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

The current Business Alliance Leader is none other than Tong Shangren from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association!

"Elder Huang, is this... really a Guest Official’s Jade Token from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association?" Yuan Yishui trembled violently, quickly stepping forward for a closer look at the jade token in Guo Wanzhi’s hand.

"Indeed, indeed, this is certainly a jade token from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association!"

Instantly, Yuan Yishui’s gaze at Li Ji’an was filled with shock.

Because he had just seen clearly that the jade token was given to Guo Wanzhi by Li Ji’an.

"It was that gentleman..." He quickly realized the source.

At the same time, his gaze at the jade token burned with intensity.

"If this could help us connect with the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, our Si Shui Commerce Association would no longer need to fear the targeting by the Jinhua Commerce Association!"

"Hahaha, Supervisor Liu, you are indeed noble and righteous, pushing forward a Guest Official from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association to secure a quota for the cultivators here, your high righteousness, Yuan so admires!" With a loud voice, Yuan Yishui praised Supervisor Liu.

"Nonsense, utter nonsense, Liu has absolutely no such intention, this... please forgive me, Fairy, I certainly did not mean that, regardless, our Jinhua Commerce Association has always been the most loyal supporter of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, please quickly board the ship!" Supervisor Liu’s face drastically changed as he hurriedly explained.

The moment he saw the emblem of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, Supervisor Liu was taken aback.

A thousand years ago, the Jinhua Commerce Association was merely a caravan under the Nine Tripods Commerce Association. Its rise to becoming a prestigious association respected by countless itinerant merchants in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain naturally relied on the support of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

He was most familiar with the emblem of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

Just one glance was enough to confirm the authenticity of the jade token.