Chapter 694 - 86: Linchun Immortal City (Part 2)

"The very top." Li Ji’an affirmed.

"Then we must trouble the senior to move to Simurgh Phoenix Hall; it is a property directly managed by the Yaochi Commerce Association. Whether in melody or dual cultivation, it is naturally the best place in this city." The welcoming maid suggested without hesitation and actively pointed the way.

Li Ji’an nodded and headed to Simurgh Phoenix Hall with the maid’s respectful farewell.

Before long, on the main street outside the Yaochi Commerce Association’s territory, a nine-story jade tower came into view.

"What a grand gesture."

Indeed, it was the emblem of the Yaochi Commerce Association. Even Li Ji’an, with his current status, could feel a touch of extravagant grandeur upon seeing this nine-story jade tower.

All the jade was extraordinary jade, all spiritual jade.

One could sense threads of spiritual qi wafting from afar.

Li Ji’an entered with Ning Sujin, and after confirming their needs, they were taken directly to the seventh floor by a maid.

The lower three floors of Simurgh Phoenix Hall are for ordinary dual cultivation, the next three floors are for the melody area, and the top three floors are the VIP area.

Li Ji’an’s mid-stage Core Formation cultivation, along with possessing a Tributor Identity Token from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, naturally made him a distinguished guest.

"Wan’Er greets the senior. May Wan’Er play a piece for the senior to cleanse the dust?" Within a refined chamber, the female cultivator bowed and inquired.

Li Ji’an’s divine sense swept over the other party. An early Core Formation cultivator with a bone age close to four hundred years.

"Much obliged!" Judging by the age, her skill in the melody likely wasn’t too shabby.

Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin sat on the couch as the sound of the qin had already started to play.

The refined chamber was enveloped with several arrays that not only isolated the melody from radiating outward but also had the effect of focusing and calming the soul.

As the qin music gracefully turned, Li Ji’an did not calm his mind to accept the cleansing but rather carefully sensed the state of Ning Sujin beside him.

Unfortunately, the effect on Ning Sujin’s Sea of Consciousness was minimal with the early-stage Core Formation Sound Master’s performance.

As the piece ended, it did not have much effect on Ning Sujin.

After all, with a Nascent Soul level Sea of Consciousness, early-stage Core Formation melody was still a bit weak.

"Does the hall have a Quasi-fourth order Music Master?" Li Ji’an asked after paying the spiritual talent.

The female cultivator looked slightly ashamed, naturally understanding that the previous melody did not achieve the desired effect for Li Ji’an.

She slightly bowed, "It’s this junior’s lack of skill, disappointing the senior. Currently, the hall does not have a Quasi-fourth order Music Master. The highest skill level in melody here belongs to Wutong Fairy, Tier Three peak skills."

"Tier Three peak." Li Ji’an nodded, this must be effective for Ning Sujin.

"Is Wutong Fairy available?"

"In response to the senior’s inquiry, Wutong Fairy has been in a semi-retired state for years; she no longer entertains guests as she did before," the female cultivator explained.

"Oh? Then what is required to have an audience?" Li Ji’an asked.

"Wutong Fairy mentioned that after retiring, she plays only for kindred spirits. Now she often resides at the pinnacle of this hall, and today there happens to be an opportunity to open the chamber. If the senior is interested, he may ascend the tower and try." The female cultivator confessed.

Li Ji’an slightly raised an eyebrow, "Kindred spirits?"

"Haha, that’s quite amusing. Thank you for informing me, Fairy; however, can Fairy reveal a hint about Wutong Fairy’s notion of kindred spirits?" While speaking, Li Ji’an handed over a pouch of spirit stones.

The female cultivator was flattered, hurriedly thanked, and then hesitated slightly, "Wutong Fairy is skilled in the qin but has a particular fondness for the flute. This junior suspects that whom she seeks might well be either adept or knowledgeable about the flute."

"Thank you!" Li Ji’an smiled and nodded.

He then took Ning Sujin up to the pavilion.

Along the way, he gained some understanding of Wutong Fairy.

Allegedly, she came to the Yaochi Commerce Association approximately two hundred years ago and then became a pillar here as a Sound Master.

And very likely hailing from the Celestial Cyan Domain.

"Senior, please have a rest here while Wutong Fairy bathes and changes clothes, then opens the chamber to receive guests."

Upon reaching the top of the pavilion, the maid led Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin to sit in the hall.

At this moment, there were already two people waiting in the hall.

Two mid-stage Core Formation True Men.

"Fellow Daoist comes seeking Wutong Fairy? Pleasure meeting you." Just after taking a seat, the mid-stage Core Formation True Man opposite smiled and cupped his hand.

"Pleasure meeting you. Li has heard of Wutong Fairy waiting for kindred spirits and was curious, hence came to take a look." Li Ji’an returned the gesture.

Yet he felt slightly moved inside.

Because the person before him was not unfamiliar; he was someone he had met once at the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association when Gugu formed the core.

Observing his somewhat unstable aura with a slightly weak divine sense, Li Ji’an instantly understood his reason for seeking Wutong Fairy.

Before setting out, Tong Yaoyao had mentioned some situations from the past two years.

The Fierce Tiger Commerce Association and Taian Commerce Association were competing fiercely for Alliance Leader, but they absolutely dared not violate the Business Alliance laws at these crucial times.

Thus, most of the tactics involved secretive means.

And these were mainly aimed at causing trouble for the opponent in business.

During each temporary Alliance Leader term, both parties had to work for the common trade of the Business Alliance, while the other would lay a trap during this period.

The actual competition involved not many overt or covert strategies; rather, it consisted more of ambushes, raiding, and armed interceptions, so long as no obvious evidence was left behind.

Tong Yaoyao said that both sides had secretly clashed five or six times, yet these were all undertaken by tributors hiding their identities.

The Fierce Tiger Commerce Association’s tributor evidently sustained injuries, with his Sea of Consciousness harmed, thus coming here for healing.

In front of this person, Li Ji’an also saw another familiar face.

It was Tu Yifei, who had formed the core in the same year with him.

The Taian Commerce Association’s prodigy back then, Celestial Grade Spirit Root, who studied the Taian Commerce Association’s Earth Element Immortal Scripture.

He took the top spot at the Flying Crane Dao Discussion during his session.

Although he did not form a Golden Core as expected back then, forming an Upper True Pill already surpassed ninety-nine percent of the cultivators in the world.

Now seeing him again, he had already advanced to mid-stage Core Formation.

Apparently, Taian Commerce Association had not reduced its investment in him.

Certainly, such rapid cultivation efficiency should be related to the Immortal Scripture.

He remained concentrating the spirit throughout.

"Fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar, pardon this old fool’s poor eyesight, but which Commerce Association do you belong to?" The Fierce Tiger Commerce Association’s tributor became acquainted as soon as Li Ji’an responded.

Li Ji’an cupped his hands, revealing the Nine Tripods Commerce Association’s jade token, "Li first arrives in this domain, temporarily residing and cultivating at Nine Tripods Commerce Association."

The Fierce Tiger Commerce Association’s tributor saw the Nine Tripods Commerce Association’s jade token, his eyes showed a subtle trace of caution.

He then laughed and cupped his hands, "Hahaha, so you are the Chang’an True Man from Nine Tripods Commerce Association; old fool Celestial Wolf, serving Fierce Tiger Commerce Association, my apologies."

"Fellow Daoist Celestial Wolf, pleasure meeting you." Li Ji’an responded without any peculiar tone.

At this moment, Tu Yifei, who was concentrating his spirit at the front, also slowly opened his eyes and looked at Li Ji’an.

He cupped his hands from afar, "Fellow Daoist Chang’an, pleasure meeting you, I am Tu, a tributor of Taian Commerce Association."

Currently, the president of Taian Commerce Association is temporarily holding the Alliance Leader position and mainly working to prevent Fierce Tiger Commerce Association and other secretive Commerce Associations from causing trouble while trying to win over any Commerce Associations that can be roped in, excluding Fierce Tiger Commerce Association.

The Nine Tripods Commerce Association, as the previous leading Commerce Association of the Business Alliance, if truly uninterested in inheriting the Alliance Leader position, whichever side it supports, that side would hold greater odds of victory.

Thus, Tu Yifei proactively made acquaintances with Li Ji’an upon hearing he was a tributor of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

"Fellow Daoist Tu, pleasure meeting you." Li Ji’an treated them equally.

Subsequently, True Sky Wolf turned his head to exchange a glance with Tu Yifei, then both turned away.

"Fellow Daoists, Li first arrived and does not know much about Wutong Fairy; are there any secret insights?" Li Ji’an smiled inwardly at the two’s behavior and inquired further.

Having come to Linchun Immortal City, he hoped Ning Sujin’s mind could undergo an effective cleansing, which would greatly benefit her upcoming Core Formation.

"Fellow Daoist Chang’an, I heard you are from Celestial Cyan Domain?" True Sky Wolf eagerly spoke.

"Indeed, Li was once a disciple of Biyun Sect in the Celestial Cyan Domain." Li Ji’an revealed his identity.

"Haha, then perhaps indeed you might become Wutong Fairy’s kindred spirit this time." True Sky Wolf laughed.

"Could the rumor that Wutong Fairy hails from the Celestial Cyan Domain be true?" Li Ji’an asked with a smile.

True Sky Wolf nodded, "Indeed, Wutong Fairy truly came from the Celestial Cyan Domain, and I heard she also had someone in mind there back in the day. Her departure from Celestial Cyan Domain was related to that person."