Chapter 492: Chapter 17: Leading Figure (2)
Not long after, Wu Yehua brought Li Ji’an to the headquarters of the Commerce Association.
Among the ten participants from the Jinhua Commerce Association, besides the second young master Wu Chengzhi and Li Ji’an, all had signed a focused cultivation Spirit Contract with the association. Five of them were juniors nurtured by the Commerce Association, and only three were Immortal Seedlings discovered by the association from the outside.
Among the three Immortal Seedlings, there was one with a Celestial Spirit Root, and two with Earth Spirit Roots.
Of the five nurtured by the association, most had Upper Grade Spirit Roots, with even one Middle Grade upper-tier Spirit Root.
Overall talent-wise, they were not considered outstanding.
It’s not that the Jinhua Commerce Association is xenophobic, but rather it’s difficult for them to sign those with higher talent.
After all, those with talents above Earth Spirit Root are rare gems, and once an Immortal Seed emerges in the domain, other associations swarm in. Compared to those top-tier associations, the Jinhua Commerce Association and Si Shui Commerce Association don’t have much competitive power.
The Jinhua Commerce Association has been trying to unearth Immortal Seedlings from the Outer Domain, but they can’t compete with the Sect’s Holy Lands there.
As a result, the Jinhua Commerce Association wasn’t very hopeful about the Flying Crane Dao Discussion; they just wanted to outperform the Si Shui Commerce Association.
"Qingyun, how is your recovery?" Wu Yishan maintained a warm smile as he gently inquired.
"Thank you for your concern, President. I have already adapted."
"Good, good, let me introduce you all. This is Fellow Daoist Liu Qingyun. He will be fighting alongside you this time, and we hope to achieve good results in the Flying Crane Dao Discussion..." Wu Yishan introduced each of them.
Then, everyone greeted each other.
"Fellow Daoist Liu, I’ve heard that although you have Wood Magic Power, it’s profound and enduring, with defenses not inferior to Earth Element Magic Power. I, being rather untalented, have cultivated the most aggressive Gold Element Magic Power, and I dare to ask for some pointers." After everyone got acquainted, one person stood up, looking at Li Ji’an expectantly.
Wu Yishan was slightly surprised but then said, "Qingyun, this is definitely not a test from the Commerce Association. Xiao Hu is an Immortal Seed we discovered in the mundane world, with an Upper Grade Gold Spirit Root. He heard about your formidable magical power and was itching for a challenge. You can certainly refuse."
"Nonetheless, with the elimination event starting officially in half a year, it’s good for you to hone yourselves against each other."
"You also don’t have to worry. If you spar, True Man Lanting will be there to protect you, ensuring your Dao Foundation remains unharmed."
Li Ji’an scanned this genius named Wang Hu with his Divine Sense, then nodded.
Previously, in the Biyun Sect, Li Ji’an had specifically sought out people for Magical Combat and honing his skills. Later, even the Fake Pill Elders were unwilling to accompany him. Such a safe Magical Combat was exactly to his liking.
Even though the Little Fire Spirit constantly refined his magical power, more sparring and honing is naturally better.
In this life, to achieve a high-quality Core Formation, it’s essential to be meticulous within one’s capabilities!
"Thank you, Brother Liu, for allowing this!" Wang Hu was overjoyed and immediately led Li Ji’an to the Magic Battle Arena of the Commerce Association.
Through Wu Yehua, Li Ji’an had learned quite a bit about this Wang Hu over the past three months. He had a Celestial Grade Gold Spirit Root and was the finest Immortal Seed discovered by the Jinhua Commerce Association in the last century.
The cultivation contract he signed was also quite generous. After his Celestial Grade Spirit Root was detected at the age of fourteen, he was brought back by the Jinhua Commerce Association, which not only promised to support his breakthrough to the Golden Core but also nurtured him as a future Nascent Soul True Monarch.
Everything, from his cultivation techniques, heritage, early training, to mental refinement, was meticulously attended to.
His Foundation Establishment stabilized ten years ago, and after another decade of accumulation, his magical power should not be underestimated.
Before long, the group arrived at the Magic Battle Arena.
A Tier Three Array provided protection within.
Soon after everyone arrived, True Man Lanting, who was currently guarding for the Jinhua Commerce Association, was already seated above the Magic Battle Arena.
True Man Lanting was also an investment target of the Jinhua Commerce Association back in the day. After advancing to the Middle Stage of Core Formation, according to the Spirit Contract, he only needed to guard the association for thirty years. However, when his potential faded after advancing to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, with nearly no hope of becoming a Late-stage Core Formation Ascendant, he ultimately chose to stay as an Honored Guest Elder of the association.
This is the final destination for most of the association’s investment targets.
Unless the potential is immense and they receive the favor of the Central Ten Domains Holy Sect, after fulfilling the Commerce Association’s Spirit Contract, they remain to cultivate in the Central Ten Domains.
For those besides that, many, after traveling a round in the Cultivation Realm, choose to return to the Commerce Association in the end.
This was Li Ji’an’s first time facing True Man Lanting up close, yet he felt no worry.
He was currently disguised as Liu Qingyun not using ordinary Disguise Techniques, but by altering the root and bones with Martial Dao Qi Blood changes. Unless someone was a High Tier Body Cultivator skilled in Qi and Blood Dao, they couldn’t see through it.
Moreover, his current magical power aura wasn’t concealed; it was his own aura, so he wasn’t afraid of those with Divine Sense higher than his detecting anything unusual.
"Brother Liu, in this World’s Flying Crane Dao Discussion, our Commerce Association’s apparent leader is my second brother, but in truth, it’s Wang Hu. If you can beat him, the Commerce Association certainly has rewards in store!" Wu Yehua whispered to Li Ji’an before he went onto the stage.
"What kind of reward?" Li Ji’an continued his act of playing small.
"Our Commerce Association has a Seventh Grade Magical Treasure. In this Flying Crane Dao Discussion, whoever emerges as the leader can temporarily borrow its use, and if able to advance to the semifinals, it can be completely awarded as a reward!"
The Commerce Association indeed had Magical Treasures, and not a shortage of High Tier ones. However, those that a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator could utilize were at most third-grade or lower Magical Treasures.
And the most superior among the Jinhua Commerce Association’s lower third-grade Magical Treasures was a Seventh Grade Magical Treasure.
"Alright!" Li Ji’an’s eyes instantly turned solemn.
Then, the two took the stage, and the Magical Combat began.
Worthy as the hidden leader of the Jinhua Commerce Association, his Gold Element Magic Power was incomparably sharp. When Li Ji’an faced Wu Chengzhi, he could withstand it with at most stacking three layers of Magical Shields.
