Chapter 703 - 95: Holding the Commerce Association Accountable

On the spirit boat traveling from Linchun Immortal City to Golden Radiance Immortal City, Li Ji’an closed his eyes to rest.

Wu Yehua was bound by magical power and thrown to one side, with anger burning in his eyes.

Meanwhile, his protective tributor looked conflicted, still trying to resolve the situation.

However, he was quite angry at the overbearing tributor from Nine Tripods Commerce Association before him.

Just because he had already lowered his stance and apologized in Linchun Immortal City, and Wu Yehua wasn’t truly incompetent, immediately agreeing to his words to offer an apology, even preparing to pay a heavy price.

Yet, this Chang’an True Man showed no mercy, not only refusing Wu Yehua’s apology but also capturing him in front of everyone.

He even intended to take him back to the Jinhua Commerce Association to have him punished by the president!

This is sheer audacity.

Essentially, he’s just a tributor, and he’s at the same mid-stage Core Formation level, truly treating him like dirt.

"Fellow Daoist Chang’an, no matter how you put it, it’s just a minor flaw in our Jinhua Commerce Association young master’s personal virtues, with no substantive consequences.

As for the disrespect towards you, it’s just not knowing any better.

Even if it goes to our commerce association’s president, it’s just our young master apologizing to you.

Your actions seem excessive, don’t they?"

"Oh?" Sensing the other party’s impatience and with the Two States border approaching, Li Ji’an slowly opened his eyes, a trace of smile on his lips.

"I have to thank you for reminding me; indeed, going to Jinhua Commerce Association isn’t enough to draw your president’s attention, so I’ll rely on you."

"It’s good that you understand... Hmm? What do you mean?" The Jinhua Commerce Association tributor, thinking Li Ji’an was swayed, faced surprise as his voice was barely finished before Li Ji’an suddenly took action.

A blood light shot forth, carrying the might of mid-stage Core Formation, surprisingly a tier three mid-stage blood killing talisman.

Surprised, the tributor didn’t dare to take the hit, appearing in mid-air in the next moment.

Li Ji’an smirked: "If, additionally, you brazenly attack midway and disparage my Nine Tripods Commerce Association, and I’m forced to kill you for this crime, surely your president can’t ignore it, right?"

The old tributor’s face tightened, realizing that the other truly intended to use Jinhua Commerce Association as a target.

However, the next moment, he looked at the five people on the spirit boat.

Wu Yehua had already fainted, with Guo Wanzhi, an early-stage True Pill alchemist with weak magical power, as well as Yao Rui and Ning Sujin at the Foundation Establishment Stage, the strongest combatant was still only Li Ji’an.

He couldn’t help but feel puzzled, not knowing where Li Ji’an’s confidence came from.

As both are mid-stage Core Formation True Men, not only is it impossible to kill the other, but it’s also difficult to even hold the other.

"Hmph, Chang’an True Man, such big talk! Today’s matter, our Jinhua Commerce Association definitely demands justice from Nine Tripods Commerce Association."

Seeing that he didn’t intend to flee yet, Li Ji’an chuckled, then his figure flickered, moving into midair.

Without further words, he unleashed his magical power, attacking fiercely.

"Does you truly think I’m afraid of you?" The old tributor, stifled for a long time, also went all out.

In an instant, a mid-stage Core Formation True Man battle commenced.

Spiritual Qi surged tens of miles around, chaotic and shrouded in clouds and mist, impossible to see clearly.

"This... Senior Brother truly intends to kill that True Man? That’s an old generation mid-stage Core Formation True Man, does Senior Brother have confidence?" Yao Rui was stunned, instinctively wanting to help, but intimidated by the vastly superior strength of both parties, fearing she’d be a burden to Li Ji’an.

"Ping’an, why is he so brave now? Being the same mid-stage Core Formation True Man, he could only possibly succeed with a treasure granted by Nine Tripods Commerce Association?" Guo Wanzhi looked incredulously at the direction of the battle.

Only Ning Sujin remained calm and composed.

Ten breaths later.

"Pfft~" From afar, the violent Spiritual Qi suddenly contracted, the old tributor from Jinhua Commerce Association flew back several feet, blood spilling into the sky.

"You... You actually..."

Not allowing him to express his shock, amidst the drifting green leaves, behind him a leaf revealed Li Ji’an’s figure, piercing his Dantian with a punch.

Ten breaths to slay a True Man of the same realm!

Guo Wanzhi and Yao Rui were even more astounded.

When Li Ji’an returned to the spirit boat with the corpse whose Divine Soul had vanished and Dantian obliterated, the two hadn’t yet recovered from the prior shock.

"Senior Sister, Junior Sister."

"Ping’an! You actually have such capability."

"Senior Brother!"

After coming to their senses, the two looked at Li Ji’an with eyes suddenly sparkling.

Li Ji’an gave a faint smile, then cupped his hands towards the direction of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association: "Thanks to the substantial support from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association."

Guo Wanzhi and Yao Rui instantly understood, confirming their suspicions.

Otherwise, how could the magical combat between True Men of the same realm be so swift and defy heaven?

"Ping’an, after all, this person is an honored alchemist of the Jinhua Commerce Association. Given the current situation, are you aware?" Guo Wanzhi quickly reacted and asked.

Li Ji’an’s actions were naturally assumed to be for her, so she felt a bit worried.

"Sister, don’t worry. The honored alchemist of the Jinhua Commerce Association attacking me, a tributor of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, is a disrespect to the Nine Tripods Commerce Association. Naturally, Junior Brother needs to seek justice at the Jinhua Commerce Association." Li Ji’an said with a smile.

"This..." Guo Wanzhi was shocked by Li Ji’an’s words that inverted right and wrong.

She also heard that Li Ji’an planned to use the Nine Tripods Commerce Association’s powerful backing to face the Jinhua Commerce Association.

"Ping’an, if it were before, the Jinhua Commerce Association would undoubtedly retreat before the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, but now... will the Nine Tripods Commerce Association truly stand up for you?"

Li Ji’an laughed boldly: "Sister, just follow Junior Brother to hold them accountable. Junior Brother is confident."

"Alright... alright then!" Seeing Li Ji’an’s confidence, Guo Wanzhi gritted her teeth and stopped doubting, knowing that this matter originated because of her and naturally couldn’t back down.

This was also why Li Ji’an initially hadn’t intended for her to accompany him in Linchun Immortal City, yet she insisted on going along.

Yao Rui, on the side, was already captivated by Li Ji’an’s fearless stance.

The conflict between the Jinhua Commerce Association and the Si Shui Commerce Association had deeply affected her for years, often venturing out to guard caravans, engaging in life-and-death struggles with cultivators masquerading as tribulation cultivators from the Jinhua Commerce Association.

She had long been wary of the venerable commerce associations within the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.

And now, Li Ping’an, once a fellow entry disciple and True Inheritor, dared to seek accountability from the Jinhua Commerce Association alone.

Just imagining this scenario sent shivers through her body.

A month later, the flying boat crossed the boundary of Treasure Bottle Continent, arriving at Golden Radiance Immortal City, home to the Jinhua Commerce Association.

Although this place was within the same state as Cold Smoke Immortal City, home to the Si Shui Commerce Association, it was a forbidden area for them—Guo Wanzhi and Yao Rui had never ventured here.

As for Li Ji’an, before his Core Formation, he had meditated here for two years, so he was familiar with the place.

However, this time he wasn’t merely revisiting; as soon as he arrived above Golden Radiance Immortal City, his magical power surged, his voice like thunder: "Where is the person in charge of the Jinhua Commerce Association? Allowing your descendants to offend allies, inciting your subordinates to assault this tributor—is it true you disregard the Business Alliance covenant and the Nine Tripods Commerce Association?"

"You must provide an explanation to Li, an explanation to the Nine Tripods Commerce Association today!"

...

Almost instantly, the once bustling Immortal City paused.

Countless cultivators looked up at Li Ji’an, his magical power erupting, furious and sky-reaching.

The next moment, astonishment and debate erupted across the Immortal City!

"Is someone seeking accountability from the commerce association?"

"A tributor from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association? Wow, the people from the Jinhua Commerce Association attacked him? No wonder he’s so furious."

"This is a major problem now—how will President Wu handle this?"

Compared to the uninformed loose cultivators, the branches and spies of other commerce associations within the Immortal City were quick to relay this information back to their associations.

The incident in Linchun Immortal City a month and a half ago was already known by the major commerce associations.

It was the Fifth Prince of the Jinhua Commerce Association provoking an honored alchemist from the Si Shui Commerce Association, who coincidentally turned out to be the sister of a Nine Tripods Commerce Association tributor, sparking a conflict.

The matter was initially thought to conclude with an apology.

Unexpectedly, during the journey to the Jinhua Commerce Association a month ago, a tributor from the Jinhua Commerce Association clashed with a tributor from the Nine Tripods Commerce Association and was slain.

This instantly drew the attention of all the commerce associations, with more detailed information about Li Ping’an being uncovered.

The things about Li Ping’an, a former member of the Biyun Sect in Cangyun State, who had little to no reputation before joining the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, indicated he had received significant support from them and put other commerce associations on alert.

"Now, how will President Wu decide? Will the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association step in? Will the Taian Commerce Association take the opportunity to undercut?"

"How much authority does the once quiet Nine Tripods Commerce Association still have? What attitude will it take with other commerce associations?"

"This matter is truly delicate—it subtly influences the entire Business Alliance situation and perhaps directly relates to the pending Alliance Leader election outcome!"