Chapter 353: Body Integration-Grade Exchange Meeting

Before visiting the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union, which hosted the Integration-grade exchange meeting,

I adjusted my aura using the Infinite Void Formless Robe.

Reaching the 2nd layer of the Unity stage in just a few decades was too excessive, so I decided to hide it.

And when I visited the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union, Elder Seomun Yeong, with whom I had traded in the past, came out to greet me in person.

Dressed in a red palace robe, she welcomed me with a smile, and the silk hem that swayed with her every step was truly magnificent.

Wearing silk clothes so splendid that they brought to mind the imperial family of the mortal world, she bowed politely.

“It has been a long time since you visited.”

“Glad to meet you.”

“You must have come for the exchange meeting. I have prepared a seat for Cultivator Jin.”

Hearing that they had prepared a seat for someone who might not even come, it made me feel good, even if it was just empty words.

“Thank you for your kindness. Ah, by the way, what happened to the things I requested?”

When I first visited the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union twenty-five years ago, I had put out a reward.

Saying that I would give a Dao Integration Pill to anyone who reported a secret realm that was effective for Unity stage cultivators.

Quite some time had passed since I put out the reward, so I was curious if there were any results.

“If you are speaking of the information on the secret realms, some good news has just come in.”

When I injected my Divine Sense into the jade slip she handed over, a very detailed map was contained within it.

The Hollow Bell Marshland in the region called Hwangseol Province.

The Warm Wilderness Region located in the Lake Rock Realm in the southern part of the Xuanhuang Realm.

I spoke while examining the maps of the two regions.

“Could it be that secret realms have been discovered in both of these regions?”

“Yes. Fortunately, reports came in twice. Though it must be thanks to Cultivator Jin offering the Dao Integration Pill as a reward.”

“Oh…”

The power of the Dao Integration Pill was greater than expected.

I had thought it would be a relief if even one was found, but to think there were two.

It was joyful news that made me nod my head naturally.

She said that once the Dao Integration Pill was announced as a reward, several times more Void Refinement stage cultivators than usual set off for the unpioneered territories.

Originally, for a Void Refinement stage cultivator to rise to the Unity stage, they had to go to the unpioneered territories.

Unless one had a great background, that was the most realistic method.

In such a situation, what would have happened when Jin So-myeong offered the Dao Integration Pill as a reward?

The Void Refinement stage cultivators who had been planning to go to the unpioneered territories,

And who dreamed of the Unity stage, moved in large numbers, leading to this result.

“The secret realm discovered in the Warm Wilderness Region will open in 68 years, and the secret realm discovered in the Hollow Bell Marshland will open in 172 years.”

“Sixty-eight years later… That is not bad.”

The timing was not bad.

It would take time to reach the Warm Wilderness Region as well. It would be perfect to set off after finishing various preparations.

As I smiled with satisfaction, Seomun Yeong coughed dryly and said,

“However, there is something you must be careful of.”

“Hmm?”

“As you know, since it is a secret realm that no one has entered yet, we do not know what can be obtained. It might not be of help to an Unity stage Dao Sovereign.”

“Since it is a secret realm that has just been discovered, that is only natural.”

“Thank you for your understanding. Still, I do not think you need to be too disappointed. Judging by the level of the restriction blocking entry to the secret realm, there is a high possibility that it will be helpful even to an Unity stage Dao Sovereign.”

Listening to her gentle words, a question suddenly came to mind.

“By the way, how did you grasp the opening time of the newly discovered secret realm in such detail?”

“It is a conclusion reached by those skilled in astronomy and divination. There might be an error of a few years, but it will not deviate greatly.”

“I see.”

I kept the jade slip in which the locations of the secret realms were recorded safely, and handed over 100,000 high-grade immortal stones inside a storage pouch.

“This is a token of my appreciation for the trouble the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union took.”

“Thank you.”

To her, who received the immortal stones with a bright smile, I handed over two more storage pouches.

“And please deliver these to the ones who reported the secret realms.”

Checking the storage pouches containing 200,000 mid-grade immortal stones and the Dao Integration Pill, she froze.

“Um… Will this be alright? It has not been revealed yet whether the secret realm is valid for an Unity stage Dao Sovereign or not.”

“Could I not get trapped or face problems after entering the secret realm? So, let us give the immortal stones in advance first, and then give the Dao Integration Pill later once the secret realm is clearly verified.”

“The ones who reported the secret realm are Void Refinement stage cultivators. You do not have to be so considerate.”

“I think it will just be more convenient to give it in advance. I am sorry, but I would like the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union to take some trouble.”

Was I not in a state where I had picked fights with all kinds of bastards right now?

I did not want to make time to give the Dao Integration Pill later.

I said so because I did not know when or how the situation would get tangled, and she, wearing a strange expression, bowed her head deeply.

“Understood. We will deliver the immortal stones immediately, and we will keep the Dao Integration Pill in our custody before delivering it in the future.”

“Thank you. And what happened to the other spiritual objects I was looking for?”

“I am sorry, but we have not been able to obtain the Golden Blood Wood fruit and the Forgetful River Flower yet.”

Perhaps because they were spiritual objects that had practically gone extinct, even the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union, which possessed massive power, could not easily obtain them.

“I see. Since the exchange meeting will be held soon, I should look for them there. In that case, I would like to purchase the Cloud Scale Stone, the Flame Red Flower, and the Black Underworld Blood Herb. Would that be possible?”

“Of course it is possible, but… Purchasing in large quantities is…”

“A little at a time is fine. The age does not matter either.”

“Understood.”

After purchasing small amounts of the minor cultivation resources that I usually needed,

I stated that I would attend the exchange meeting, and they assigned a maid to me.

She was a girl with round eyes, and her slightly protruding canine tooth was impressive.

“It is an honor to serve you.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Following her, who was at the Soul Formation stage, a room filled with luxurious decorations appeared; the area was roughly one hundred pyeong, and various facilities such as a bedroom and a cultivation chamber were provided.

It was a room good enough to stay in for quite a while, but no matter how I looked at it, it was not a place where an exchange meeting would be held.

“Could it be that the exchange meeting is conducted here?”

“No. This cave dwelling is the room assigned to Senior Jin, and the exchange meeting will be held in a different location.”

The girl, who bowed politely saying she would take her leave, pointed to a disc in the center of the room.

“If you infuse your Divine Sense into that disc, a part of your consciousness will be moved to the venue where the exchange meeting is held. It is a method where your physical body remains in this room and only your consciousness is moved.”

“Only the consciousness?”

“Yes. You can retrieve your consciousness at any time. It is basically safe, but if you do not feel at ease, you may install additional formations.”

As I examined the blue-green disc, she gave various explanations, and contrary to her youthful appearance, she was clear-headed and smart.

“I will wait outside the door, so if there is anything you need, please call me at any time.”

Bowing once again, she quietly withdrew, leaving me alone in the spacious room.

“Baek Gwang-il, Cheon Jin-il.”

After checking if there were any problems in the room, I summoned my clones and entrusted them with guarding and installing formations.

Around the time I considered security to be roughly secured, I infused my Divine Sense into the disc.

Flash!

I felt a sensation as if a part of my consciousness was sucked in somewhere, and at some point, the surrounding scenery completely transformed.

No, to be exact, my vision was split into two.

My physical body remained in the room lent by the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union, but only a part of my consciousness had arrived in an unfamiliar space.

‘Is this the exchange meeting venue?’

The first thing I perceived upon entering was the refreshing air that could only be felt deep within a forest.

While savoring the cool wind that brushed past my lungs, I examined the surroundings and saw a vast square and a trickling stream.

Exotic flowers and rare herbs of various colors were blooming in profusion, eliciting admiration just from a passing glance.

It felt like looking at a well-maintained garden or botanical garden.

‘The participants… are quite numerous.’

Even counting roughly, there were over several thousand people. Perhaps because the Dao Sovereigns from all over the Xuanhuang Realm had gathered, the number was considerable.

‘What race on earth is that lump of lava?’

There were unfamiliar races whose names I could not even guess, and there were also quite a few who resembled the human race.

About half of the people in the exchange meeting venue were shrouded in a thick mist, which had the effect of blocking Divine Sense, making it difficult to guess their identities.

It was the same for Jin So-myeong.

From the moment he entered this place, his entire body was wrapped in a thick mist.

It was not particularly intended, but was a consideration from the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union for those who did not wish to reveal their identities.

Perhaps because of that, the mist allocated to each person could be dispersed at any time.

‘Should I change my appearance?’

While tapping the scabbard and contemplating, I decided to just go as my usual self.

It was because I needed to sound out whether there were any enemies currently targeting me.

As I dispersed the surrounding mist and openly revealed my true appearance, gazes instantly focused on me.

The pouring gazes quickly dispersed, but a few individuals were different.

A woman wearing a ghost mask, a young man staring intently with his hands behind his back, an old man slumped on the dirt floor…

The gazes sent by a few people were uniquely piercing.

Facing their distinct gazes, I became certain. All of them knew who he was.

While keeping in mind those who showed unusual reactions,

I chose one of the pavilions installed in the exchange meeting venue and sat cross-legged.

How much time had passed?

Around the time about a thousand more Dao Sovereigns entered.

An old man about two meters tall climbed onto the platform set up in the center of the exchange venue and lightly bowed his head.

“I am Cho Hwang, an elder of the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union. I have come to host this exchange meeting, so please look after me.”

When Elder Cho, who had hard skin like tree bark, snapped his fingers, a disc about 50 cm in diameter was provided to each of the Dao Sovereigns.

“If you infuse your Divine Sense into the disc just distributed, you can announce the required spiritual objects or initiate requests. Please use them freely.”

It was a kind of bulletin board.

It was a structure where if one registered a post on the disc, others could see it.

“You may trade through the disc, or you may announce the necessary spiritual objects from the platform I am currently standing on.”

While everyone listened intently, the old man’s calm voice continued.

“However, since objects cannot be exchanged here in the venue, the actual transactions must be made outside.”

Since those currently at the venue had only their consciousness moved, it was a natural statement.

“Do not worry even if you have to trade with someone who is so far away that meeting in person is difficult. The Myriad Spirits Merchant Union will take responsibility to intermediate.”

I naturally admired the calm confidence, but of course, it was not free.

Depending on the value of the spiritual object to be transported, a considerable intermediation fee had to be paid.

“You may also decide on a meeting place and trade privately. However, in this case, the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union will not take responsibility regardless of what problems arise.”

The old man, who finished the announcement, bowed once more and stepped down from the platform,

And a middle-aged man who climbed the platform without giving anyone time to breathe shouted loudly,

“I am looking for someone to refine a Rank 7 peak-grade Longevity-Extending Pill.”

“Are the ingredients prepared?”

“Yes. The compensation will be generous, but the pill quality must not be lacking. It must absolutely be peak-grade.”

“Hmm… Good. Let us discuss the detailed terms.”

Starting with the middle-aged man who left to find an elixir refiner, numerous people went up and down the platform.

“I want to purchase a large quantity of spiritual objects that help in breaking through major realms at low-level stages.”

“If you mean low-level stages, which stages are you talking about?”

“Nascent Soul stage and above, and Void Refinement stage and below. As long as the quantity is sufficient, anything is fine.”

There was someone purchasing low-level resources in large quantities, perhaps intending to give them to descendants, and there was also someone looking for a bizarre cultivation method whose name was unfamiliar.

‘Most of them want something related to lifespan.’

As I watched quietly, the trend of what the Dao Sovereigns desired became visible.

What kind of realm was the Unity stage?

Although there might be various opinions, the Unity stage thought of by the people of the world was the ‘end.’

Peak that a cultivator could reach. That was precisely the Unity stage.

Needless to say, the realm called True Immortal was a stage that not a single person in history had reached,

And the Great Ascension stage was equally impossible.

Was that why?

The purposes of the cultivators who reached the Unity stage were mostly similar.

Lifespan extension, preparations for descendants, or pleasure.

It was not that there were no oddballs who pursued things other than those, but they were an extreme minority.

‘Or they might just not be revealing it.’

Would they not just become targets even if they rushed aiming for the Great Ascension stage?

There would also be those who practiced quietly and slowly without making a show of it.

Leaving behind the Dao Sovereigns shouting on the platform, I examined the disc distributed by the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union.

[I want to exchange a Rank 7 Fire Crystal for a strand of Wind Spirit True Sand.]

[I am looking for a fellow Daoist who possesses a Hundred Fragrance Pearl.]

…

After scanning through the posts written by various Dao Sovereigns, I wrote a post saying that I was seeking the Golden Blood Wood fruit and the Forgetful River Flower.

At that moment, while waiting for a response.

A woman covering half of her face with a ghost mask approached, and the red lips revealed beneath the mask drew an arc.

“Fellow Daoist Jin, it has been a long time.”

From her, who had erected a barrier to block gazes, a familiar voice was heard.