Chapter 720 - 104: Leading the Enemy Into the Trap

The Five Blessings Commerce Association, located in the northeast of the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, never participates in power struggles within the Business Alliance.

Yet their foundational strength is undoubtedly second to none among the Eighteen Merchants Associations.

In previous Business Alliance elections, they virtually always voted last, simply following the tide; whoever was likely to win, they voted for.

This time, however, with the strong rise of the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association and the Taian Commerce Association, who are evenly matched, their vote becomes crucial and affects all sides nervously.

If the Nine Tripods Commerce Association does not have the support of the Five Blessings Commerce Association, the result is still ambiguous.

Originally, Li Ji’an’s main purpose for leaving the Nine Tripods Commerce Association this time was to persuade the Five Blessings Commerce Association.

Jinhua Commerce Association, by chance, landed straight into his path, giving him a great opportunity to aid the Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

Now the residual power of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association has revealed its presence, stabilizing their basic position.

This likewise inevitably influences the Five Blessings Commerce Association’s decision, and it’s a positive influence.

The only deviation from Tong Yaoyao’s expectations is that, regardless of the Nine Tripods Commerce Association’s stance, the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association and Taian Commerce Association will undoubtedly fully guard against the Nine Tripods Commerce Association.

This has had a certain impact on Li Ji’an’s visit to the Five Blessings Commerce Association.

"Ping’an, the vice president of Five Blessings Commerce Association, Meng Tingzhen, has had multiple interactions with me before. He is straightforward, respectful to the wise and talented. If needed, Ping’an, I can send a message to contact him," Guo Wanzhi offered proactively on the Spirit Boat heading to the Five Blessings Commerce Association.

"Oh, sister is actually acquainted with the second-in-command of the Five Blessings Commerce Association?" Li Ji’an raised his eyebrow slightly, looking at Guo Wanzhi with some surprise.

Guo Wanzhi frowned with a smile: "Why? In Ping’an’s eyes, is senior sister so unremarkable? Do not forget that our master’s best skill is Alchemy Skill, and I have learned a third of it from him."

"Haha, sister you misunderstood, but, as far as I know, the two heads of the Five Blessings Commerce Association—Meng Tingyi is magnanimous and kind-hearted, while Meng Tingzhen is relatively arrogant and overbearing. I didn’t expect he would treat you with such respect." Li Ji’an had already explored most of the Eighteen Merchants Association’s situations during his first visit to the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.

"The rumors are indeed like this, but perhaps it is because he recognizes my Alchemy Skill," Guo Wanzhi nodded.

Li Ji’an smiled slightly, saying no more.

Back when he returned to the Celestial Cyan Domain under the name Li Ping’an from the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, it was still vivid in his memory that a True Man from the Meng Family inquired about Guo Wanzhi.

"Could it be that Meng Tingzhen is still unwilling to give up ’Huang Jie’?" Li Ji’an speculated silently but found it incredible.

After all, after a jiazi passed, almost everyone else in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain had given up hope on Huang Jie from the past.

But apart from Huang Jie’s identity back then, Li Ji’an couldn’t think of any other motive for Meng Tingzhen to approach Guo Wanzhi.

"Husband, this journey to the Five Blessings Commerce Association has some twists, but the outcome is a great blessing," Ning Sujin proactively used Divination and informed Li Ji’an of the result in no time.

Li Ji’an nodded in satisfaction, feeling more confident.

If not for Guo Wanzhi bringing up matters with Meng Tingzhen, Li Ji’an wouldn’t have let Ning Sujin expend Primordial Spirit for proactive Divination, as looking around the current Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, True Monarchs are hidden, Ascendants are imposing, with his current means, he shouldn’t be in any mortal danger.

Half a month later, the Spirit Boat reached the border of Treasure Bottle Continent and Fuyun State.

In the dense forest of that desolate mountain, Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin saw from afar the eight people hidden within.

Among them, three were mid-stage Core Formation, and five were early-stage Core Formation, deploying a Grand Array covering nearly the entire mountain.

Judging by its Array Base and Array Hub, it was a Ring Array.

The outermost layer was an Illusion Array, with a Killing Array inside.

Moreover, three mid-stage Core Formation were at the heart of the Killing Array, five early-stage Core Formation maintained the Array Base, exhibiting considerable power.

An ordinary mid-stage Core Formation True Man entering it would likely face disaster.

Even if someone like Master Chunyuan at the late stage Core Formation accidentally entered, they might die on the spot.

However, their setup might have been hasty, as its weaknesses were clear; Divine Sense stronger than mid-stage Core Formation could detect anomalies.

As for Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin’s Divine Sense, they perceived everything effortlessly.

Ning Sujin exchanged glances with Li Ji’an, the latter smiled faintly and immediately adjusted the direction of the Spirit Boat.

Regardless of whether the people were from the Fierce Tiger Commerce Association, Taian Commerce Association, or assassins from Yellow Springs Prison, he could understand—even though he felt confident in killing them, it was unnecessary.

After all, magical combat within the same realm, especially when they outnumbered him, would definitely result in losses.

Moreover, he could not, as in the case with the Jinhua Commerce Association, find someone to compensate for the damages.

As the Spirit Boat altered its course, narrowly flying past the edge of the temporary Grand Array, the eight lurking within the array all felt a shudder.

Watching the Spirit Boat depart into the distance, the eight people rapidly packed up the Array Base and left quickly.

Those who can form a True Pill are undoubtedly powerful figures in this domain, and except in situations of life and death or Dao path conflicts, they wouldn’t fight unless they have a huge advantage.

Li Ji’an’s actions had already indicated to them that he was aware of the array here, confirming that his Divine Sense surpassed theirs.

Combined with the strength and foundation he had shown earlier when penetrating the array at Jinhua Commerce Association, none of them dared to have other thoughts anymore.

A month later, Li Ji’an and his party smoothly reached the Floating Immortal City where the Five Blessings Commerce Association was located.

Revisiting the place, Li Ji’an wasn’t unfamiliar.

Ning Sujin, however, was captivated by the entire Immortal City floating high.

Compared to the Floating Dao Artifact used by the Si Shui Commerce Association in the Celestial Cyan Domain back then, Floating Immortal City differed.

The Dao Artifact from the Si Shui Commerce Association merely created a floating trading venue temporarily, with time limitations and no Spiritual Qi foundation.