The night sky above Cang Yue City glittered with countless lights.
Flying ships continuously descended from every direction.
Some resembled floating palaces.
Others resembled enormous spirit beasts soaring through the heavens.
The protective formation surrounding the Imperial Capital had already opened completely.
Streams of cultivators entered endlessly.
At this moment—
the Merchant Organization Headquarters had become the center of the entire Da Cang Empire.
Perhaps even the entire Tian Yuan Continent.
Lin Shuan stood amidst the sea of people.
His white robes fluttered gently beneath the night wind.
The white mask concealed his face completely.
Han Qing Li stood beside him.
Behind them were the nine surviving warriors of the Wanling Empire.
Everyone stared toward the enormous golden headquarters before them.
The scene was simply too magnificent.
Thousands of spirit lamps illuminated the sky.
Floating pavilions drifted among the clouds.
Golden formation lines flowed through the air like rivers of stars.
Even the surrounding buildings appeared insignificant before the headquarters.
It resembled an immortal palace descended from heaven itself.
"Unbelievable..."
Xue Han Yue muttered softly.
Lei Hao Tian nodded.
"This is larger than the Imperial Palace of Wanling."
Even Yan Feng Luo was temporarily speechless.
The atmosphere here was unlike anything they had ever experienced.
Everywhere they looked—
there were powerful cultivators.
Powerful clans.
Powerful merchants.
Powerful sects.
The weakest people present were Meridian Tracer cultivators.
Soul Spark experts could be seen everywhere.
Even Form Shaper cultivators occasionally appeared among the crowd.
The Merchant Organization's influence was terrifying.
Han Qing Li spoke softly.
"The Merchant Organization has existed for more than one hundred and fifty thousand years."
"It controls countless trade routes."
"It possesses influence across multiple continents."
"It is said even Emperors treat them respectfully."
Lin Shuan nodded.
He understood.
Money was power.
Resources were power.
Information was power.
And the Merchant Organization possessed all three.
Suddenly—
the crowd ahead became restless.
People began moving aside.
An enormous golden carriage approached.
Eight Spirit Flame Lions pulled the carriage through the air.
Golden fire illuminated the surrounding streets.
"The Golden Jade Pavilion!"
Someone shouted.
"The wealthiest merchant family of the Eastern Region!"
"They've arrived!"
Countless gazes turned toward the carriage.
Moments later—
a handsome young man stepped out.
Golden robes.
Elegant smile.
A jade fan in his hand.
His cultivation was merely Energy Core Rank.
Yet nobody dared underestimate him.
Because behind him stood two Immortal Seed guards.
The young man calmly observed the crowd.
Then—
his gaze landed upon Lin Shuan.
Only for a moment.
Yet his eyes paused.
A strange smile appeared.
Then he entered the Merchant Headquarters.
Inside the Dragon Pendant—
Tian Wuchen suddenly laughed.
"Interesting."
Lin Shuan raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"That boy noticed you."
Lin Shuan remained calm.
"Many people notice me."
Tian Wuchen chuckled.
"No."
"His bloodline is special."
"He possesses Heavenly Insight Eyes."
Lin Shuan became slightly surprised.
A rare ocular bloodline?
Before he could ask further—
the temperature suddenly dropped.
Whoooooosh!
Snowflakes began falling from the sky.
The crowd immediately looked upward.
A gigantic ice ship descended from the clouds.
The ship was entirely constructed from mystical frost crystals.
Cold mist flowed from its surface.
Its appearance immediately attracted everyone's attention.
"Xuan Yun Sect!"
"The Frost Veil City's Xuan Yun Sect!"
"They're here!"
The excitement within the crowd exploded.
At the front of the ship stood a familiar young man.
Mo Xiao Lan.
His white-blue robes fluttered in the wind.
Behind him stood an elderly expert.
An Immortal Seed aura radiated from his body.
The elder's presence alone caused countless cultivators to lower their heads.
The crowd erupted.
"Mo Xiao Lan!"
"The second-ranked warrior of the Empire Warriors Tournament!"
"A true genius!"
"Xuan Yun Sect is rising!"
"With him around, their future is limitless!"
Lin Shuan smiled beneath his mask.
"So you came too."
Han Qing Li blinked.
"You know him?"
Lin Shuan nodded.
"He was second place during last year's Empire Warriors Tournament."
Han Qing Li immediately became curious.
"Second?"
"Then who was first?"
Before Lin Shuan could answer—
someone nearby suddenly overheard.
An excited middle-aged cultivator immediately joined the conversation.
"Miss, you don't know?"
"The champion was a monster!"
"A true monster!"
"He saved Da Cang Empire from defeat against Yue Sha Empire!"
"His frost power was absolutely terrifying!"
Lin Shuan instantly felt danger.
Very bad danger.
The middle-aged cultivator continued excitedly.
"His name was Shuan Hao!"
The moment those words appeared—
Han Qing Li froze.
Xue Han Yue froze.
Lei Hao Tian froze.
The other nine survivors froze.
Every single one slowly turned toward Lin Shuan.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Lin Shuan suddenly felt an invisible pressure surrounding him.
Behind the mask—
his expression became awkward.
The middle-aged cultivator continued enthusiastically.
"He wore a mask too!"
"Nobody knew his identity!"
"But during the final battle his face was revealed!"
"He had a mysterious mark on his forehead!"
The surroundings instantly became quiet.
Han Qing Li slowly looked at Lin Shuan.
"...What a coincidence."
Lei Hao Tian nodded seriously.
"A very suspicious coincidence."
Yan Feng Luo crossed his arms.
"Extremely suspicious."
Lin Shuan coughed.
"I think many people have forehead marks."
Nobody believed him.
Even Tian Wuchen burst into laughter inside the pendant.
Before Lin Shuan could defend himself further—
another commotion erupted.
BOOOOOOM!
A gigantic sword descended from the sky.
The crowd gasped.
More than thirty cultivators stood atop the sword.
All wore blue robes.
All carried swords.
All radiated sharp killing intent.
"Sword River Sect!"
Someone shouted.
"The strongest sword sect of the Northeast!"
The flying sword landed.
The disciples stepped down proudly.
Leading them was a young woman.
Long black hair.
Cold expression.
Sharp eyes.
She resembled an unsheathed sword.
Dangerous.
Beautiful.
Deadly.
Even the welcoming elders of the Merchant Organization received only a brief nod from her.
Lin Shuan narrowed his eyes.
Her cultivation wasn't what caught his attention.
It was her aura.
Han Qing Li noticed.
"You know her?"
Lin Shuan shook his head.
"No."
Yet for some reason—
he felt certain.
Their paths would cross again.
And when they did—
it would not be peaceful.
However—
before anyone could focus on the Sword River Sect for long—
the atmosphere changed again.
A terrifying pressure suddenly descended.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
Ice began forming across the stone streets.
Sword intent filled the heavens.
Snowflakes appeared from nowhere.
Even many cultivators involuntarily stepped backward.
"What is this pressure?!"
The crowd became alarmed.
Above the city—
another flying ship emerged.
Unlike the others—
this vessel was entirely white.
Every disciple aboard wore white robes.
Every robe carried a silver sword insignia.
Every disciple wore a white mask.
Every disciple carried a sword.
And every disciple radiated frost energy.
At the front stood an elderly man.
His white hair danced wildly within the wind.
A terrifying Form Shaper aura erupted from his body.
Seven-Star Form Shaper.
The pressure instantly covered the surrounding area.
Many younger cultivators turned pale.
"LinJian Sect!"
A shocked voice echoed.
"The newly emerged sect!"
"It appeared only one and a half years ago!"
"How can they already possess such strength?!"
The crowd erupted into discussion.
Everyone was curious.
This mysterious sect had appeared suddenly.
Yet it had risen faster than almost any faction in recent history.
Lin Shuan stared at the elder.
A strange feeling appeared within his heart.
Something felt familiar.
Very familiar.
At the same moment—
the elder suddenly turned his head.
His eyes swept across the crowd.
Then stopped.
Directly upon Lin Shuan.
For a brief moment—
both stared at each other.
The elder's pupils contracted slightly.
As though he had sensed something impossible.
Something hidden deep within Lin Shuan's existence.
Then—
he calmly looked away.
The moment his gaze disappeared—
Lin Shuan frowned.
Why...
did he feel as though he had seen that man before?
Han Qing Li and the others remained shocked.
One powerful faction after another continued appearing.
Only now did they truly understand the depth of Da Cang Empire.
The Empire was far larger than they had imagined.
Far stronger than they had imagined.
And tonight—
all of those forces had gathered together.
Suddenly—
DONG!
A gigantic bell echoed across heaven and earth.
DONG!
DONG!
DONG!
Its sound spread for hundreds of kilometers.
Instantly—
the crowd became silent.
Everyone looked upward.
Above the Merchant Headquarters—
a massive golden platform slowly rose into the sky.
Golden light illuminated the entire city.
A white-bearded elder appeared.
His beard reached his waist.
Golden coins were embroidered upon his robes.
His cultivation was unfathomable.
The moment he appeared—
even the surrounding Form Shaper experts became serious.
The elder smiled.
Then his voice echoed throughout Cang Yue City.
"Welcome."
"To the Grand Merchant Gathering."
The crowd erupted.
Cheers shook the heavens.
The elder raised one hand.
Silence returned immediately.
"For seven days and seven nights..."
"Trade shall continue."
"Auctions shall continue."
"Competitions shall continue."
"Opportunities shall continue."
The atmosphere exploded.
Countless cultivators became excited.
Countless merchants revealed eager expressions.
Then the elder smiled again.
"Tonight..."
"We shall begin with the Grand Opening Auction."
"Anyone possessing an invitation token may participate."
"May fortune favor all of you."
The crowd erupted once more.
Meanwhile—
far away inside the Imperial Palace—
Protector Yi stood beneath the moonlight.
Her crimson robes fluttered softly.
Her crimson eyes gazed toward the Merchant Organization.
Toward the countless geniuses.
Toward the countless factions.
Toward the countless pieces gathering upon the board.
A faint smile appeared upon her lips.
"The first move has finally been made."
Far beyond the stars—
destiny had already begun turning.
And none of them yet realized—
that this Merchant Gathering would become the beginning of the Age of Alliances.