Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Without hesitation, Meng Tingyi swore a great oath, putting Li Ji’an’s mind at ease.

Especially because he swore on the bloodline of the Meng Family, leaving Li Ji’an with no reason to doubt.

Moreover, the Ascendant Tributor behind him had a Spirit Contract with the Five Blessings Commerce Association and would not go against Meng Tingyi’s will.

”President Meng is considerate.” Nodding with satisfaction, Li Ji’an did not rush to leave.

Instead, he had Meng provide a detailed account of the forefathers and ”Master.”

Without any hesitation, Meng Tingyi revealed the story of Meng Family’s ancestor Meng He encountering an elder from the Taihao Realm.

...

After a while, Li Ji’an remained expressionless, though inside, he was overjoyed.

His yearning for the Taihao Realm grew stronger.

According to the descriptions by Meng Family’s ancestors, it’s evident that the elder from the Taihao Realm practiced the legendary ancient Taoist techniques, the law of the initial strength of the Human Race.

The practice focused on comprehending the Great Way, sensing the heavens, and responding to humanity.

It was the foundation of later practices for Soul Cultivation.

If he had a choice, he would naturally wish to cultivate this Method, given his robust Divine Soul that surpasses ordinary people over multiple lifetimes and his profound life experiences, enabling him to perceive and comprehend the essence of the world.

Perhaps achieving Foundation Establishment in a hundred days and Ascension overnight was not just a dream.

Unfortunately, in the current Great Marsh Cultivation Realm, the Celestial Dao has collapsed, and the Law is shattered, with no such Cultivation Methods remaining.

However, Meng Tingyi also revealed another untold secret this time.

According to the last will of the Meng Family’s ancestor, the elder from over two thousand years ago likely came from the Abyss beneath the Floating Immortal City here.

This cavern was also constructed by some of the Meng Family over generations, aspiring to reach the Taihao Realm.

This information further excited Li Ji’an.

If the Meng Family’s ancestor’s words were true, there was likely a Grand Array beneath this Abyss similar to the one beneath the Cangyun State of the Celestial Cyan Domain.

If one could delve deep into the Abyss, there might be hope of rebooting the Grand Array and heading to the Taihao Realm.

However, there were still too many uncertainties, and it wasn’t time yet.

After all, if Li Ji’an could gain the combined support of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association and the Five Blessings Commerce Association in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, reaching the late-stage Golden Core was not out of reach.

Moreover, he felt more at ease here.

Li Ji’an did not disclose much, using some external secrets he learned from Wutong Fairy to completely bluff Meng Tingyi.

Then the four returned from the cavern to the Commerce Association.

That same day, at Li Ji’an’s urging, Meng Tingyi sent an apology to the Business Alliance.

He stated that Meng Tingzhen of the Five Blessings Commerce Association was instigated by Cyan Feather Ascendant of Fierce Tiger Commerce Association and Nine Foolish Ascendant of Taian Commerce Association to conspire against the Nine Tripods Commerce Association’s Tributor within the Five Blessings Commerce Association.

Fortunately, he discovered their plot in time, and righteously eliminated his second brother Meng Tingzhen.

During this time, Cyan Feather Ascendant and Nine Foolish Ascendant attempted to kill him to support Meng Tingzhen as the head of the Five Blessings Commerce Association, and were killed by the Five Blessings Commerce Association’s Tributor.

Meng Tingyi, on behalf of the Five Blessings Commerce Association, apologized to the Nine Tripods Commerce Association and the Chang’an True Man and voluntarily compensated with one million Spirit Stones.

Simultaneously, he challenged the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association and Taian Commerce Association to provide an explanation to the Five Blessings Commerce Association, the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, and the entire Business Alliance.

The issuance of this apology sent shockwaves throughout the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.

The Fierce Tiger Commerce Association and Taian Commerce Association, which were actively preparing for the Alliance Leader election, suddenly became targets of public criticism.

And besides pushing blame onto the deceased Ascendants, both associations raised no objections.

After all, both had sent Ascendants to recruit the Five Blessings Commerce Association.

Moreover, there was also an intent to kill Li Ji’an within the Five Blessings Commerce Association to force a rupture with the Nine Tripods Commerce Association and sway them to their side.

Three days later, Tong Yaoyao of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association made an official statement, pursuing the matter to the end to provide justice for the Chang’an Tributor and the Business Alliance and the entire Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.

Her stance was exceedingly firm this time.

Besides publicly declaring their stance, she immediately summoned all Nine Tripods Commerce Association members to return to headquarters, appearing intent on waging war against the Fierce Tiger and Taian Commerce Associations.

Two months later, Li Ji’an, ”recovering from severe injuries,” was escorted back to the Nine Tripods Commerce Association for further healing by two Ascendant Tributors.

Meanwhile, Tong Yaoyao led other Tributors and elders of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association to the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association.

On their way, she sent out hero invitations, condemning the actions of the Fierce Tiger and Taian Commerce Associations as betrayal of the Business Alliance’s ancestral rules, sabotaging the future of the Business Alliance, advocating for joint action from Business Alliance members.

Due to Li Ji’an’s previous performance during the Jinhua Commerce Association event, combined with the Five Blessings Commerce Association’s statement,

and Tong Yaoyao’s capture of evidence against the Fierce Tiger and Taian Commerce Associations.

It was unsurprising that nearly all Commerce Associations responded, except for the Fierce Tiger and Taian Commerce Associations.

Ultimately, the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association ventured a thousand miles, with the old president sacrificing himself for the family, assuming all blame, and compensating the Chang’an True Man with a million Spiritual Talent as penance, buying a reprieve for the association.

On the day of the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association’s penance, the Taian Commerce Association experienced internal turmoil.

The other two surnames within the association overthrew the ruling Gu family and knelt outside the city, waiting for the arrival of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association’s troops.

All blame was shifted onto the Gu family.

Eventually, Tong Yaoyao accepted the reparations from the newly appointed President Xue.

Fifty thousand Spirit Stones plus the Earth Element Immortal Scripture Li Ji’an specifically requested.

At this point, the grand situation within the Business Alliance was settled, with Tong Yaoyao unsurprisingly assuming the Alliance Leader position.

Moreover, the formerly threatening two major commerce associations to the Nine Tripods Commerce Association had completely declined, unable to return to their peak for a thousand years.

The previously neutral Five Blessings Commerce Association, for unknown reasons, had wholly allied with the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, positioning themselves as friendly.