Chapter 707 - 97: Press Forward with One Mighty Effort

The Jinhua Commerce Association used "piercing the array" to challenge, expressing its hard-nosed attitude towards the Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

It reinforced its determination to align with the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association.

This aligns with the current situation within the business alliance, as many people had anticipated.

However, Li Ji’an, a Tributor of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, boldly accepting "piercing the array," made everyone shocked.

Normally, unless there is core interest conflict between the two commerce associations, they wouldn’t resort to such aggressive means.

Everyone thought Li Ji’an would retreat, and then watch the stance of Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

This is also the key for many wavering commerce associations within the alliance to examine Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

If Nine Tripods Commerce Association appeases the matter silently or resolves it without impact, it will be considered that they have lost their authority, forfeited past glory, and indeed lost hope of being the Alliance Leader; they would completely turn to a new Overlord.

If Nine Tripods Commerce Association forcefully counterattacks, they can also assess the current heart nature of the new president of Nine Tripods Commerce Association based on the array stance and spiritual talent deployed by Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

The Taian Commerce Association, on the other hand, is looking forward to Nine Tripods Commerce Association to come forward, during which they would greatly assist, firstly to establish a cooperative relationship with Nine Tripods Commerce Association, and secondly to draw in commerce associations that originally followed Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

The Fierce Tiger Commerce Association likewise anticipates Nine Tripods Commerce Association to take action, so that they can strongly support Jinhua Commerce Association and admonish Nine Tripods Commerce Association for breaking the alliance agreement in front of the entire domain, highlighting their strong stance.

But, the result at this moment has caught everyone off guard.

"Chang’an True Man representing Nine Tripods Commerce Association alone to pierce the array?"

"He’s gone mad!"

"Piercing the array uses the space Dao artifact of the business alliance as the venue, once opened, only those entering the array will know the situation inside, the defending side has five barriers, does he intend to take on five alone?"

All previous array piercings between commerce associations had five people from each side, defending five barriers, the attacking side also five people, winning as long as one person breaks each array.

Inside the Nine Tripods Commerce Association, the executives were equally astounded.

"Everyone, there is no need to panic, trust Chang’an Honored Guest!" Tong Yaoyao appeared calm, conveying strong confidence.

In fact, when today’s matter was relayed back to the Commerce Association, she had immediately messaged Li Ji’an.

She was particularly not in favor of Li Ji’an piercing the array alone.

However, Li Ji’an messaged her back, telling her not to worry, claiming to have confidence.

He even instructed her in advance to prepare public statements, asserting that the Nine Tripods Commerce Association’s depth is beyond conjecture, having long bestowed upon him a large amount of high-tier spiritual talent, including but not limited to high-tier spirit talismans, array plates, magical treasures, and puppets.

Regarding Tong Yaoyao’s confidence, the executives of the Commerce Association glanced at each other, secretly speculating on what spiritual talent Tong Yaoyao might have privately given to Li Ji’an.

Meanwhile, none were more stunned than Wu Yishan of the Jinhua Commerce Association.

"Hmm?" He looked at Li Ji’an, somewhat astonished.

"You... what did you say? You alone to pierce the array?"

Li Ji’an stood tall and nodded affirmatively: "Why not?"

"This... have you thought it through? My Jinhua Commerce Association will adhere to the alliance rules, five people defending the array; if you alone pierce the array, you’ll face five True Men of the same realm!" Wu Yishan reminded again upon confirmation.

His intention was purely to scare off Li Ji’an and compel Nine Tripods Commerce Association to emerge.

He had no intention of getting entangled deeply with Li Ji’an personally; after all, as an association to an individual, they had already lost face.

"No need for nonsense, President Wu, please summon the array quickly!" Li Ji’an said calmly.

"You!" Wu Yishan took a deep breath, slowly calming his mind: "Fine, very well, in that case, don’t blame my Jinhua Commerce Association for acting according to the alliance agreement."

After speaking, he voiced to the high-levels and Tributors behind him: "A disgrace, it must be cleansed with his blood!"

Everyone behind him received the order together.

Then Wu Yishan took out the alliance order talisman and activated the universe within it.

The president of the Taian Commerce Association, temporarily in charge of the alliance, received the talisman request simultaneously, requesting the activation of Luminous Mountain and River Map projection.

The Luminous Mountain and River Map is a Dao artifact obtained by the alliance early on, having spatial effects, but limited to that; it harbors almost no spiritual Qi nor any time flow deviation, and other than being enterable, cannot be inspected with Divine Sense from outside.

Its greatest utility is that it can restore the interior mountain and water world to its original state regardless of destruction extent.

The alliance uses it as an internal site for magical combat.

Gu Tianfeng, upon receiving the projection request, did not agree immediately but messaged Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

He was even prepared to give Nine Tripods Commerce Association an out.

Should Nine Tripods Commerce Association express disapproval, he would use the pretext of Luminous Mountain and River Map having issues to refuse Jinhua Commerce Association’s request.

Interestingly to his surprise, Nine Tripods Commerce Association’s reply showed no hesitation and was very confident.

This stirred Gu Tianfeng’s heart, causing him to harbor some doubts regarding the intentions of Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

He even began worrying about the upcoming Alliance Leader election.

Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated, promptly agreeing to Wu Yishan’s request.

Luminous Mountain and River Map immediately trembled and cast a spatial projection over the location of Jinhua Commerce Association.

Buzz~

A spatial ripple quickly appeared above Jinhua Commerce Association.

As the ripple faded, a vortex-like portal emerged in mid-air.

"Chang’an Honored Guest, the rules of alliance array piercing, I will not repeat, merely remind you, once you agree to enter the array, life and death are without grievance, fate is as it comes." Wu Yishan gestured, and the five current Tributors of Jinhua Commerce Association stepped out.

Each one is at the Middle Stage of Core Formation cultivation.

Moreover, Wu Yishan publicly displayed the treasured items from the Commerce Association’s repository.