Magnificent cities stood like continuous mountain ranges between heaven and earth. These cities were incredibly broad and tall, resembling colossal beasts sprawled across the land, their metallic and jade structures shining brilliantly under the light of nine suns.

This star was orbited by nine suns and six moons. Days were scorching, and nights were bitterly cold, yet regardless of the time, Jūnlán Star was perpetually bathed in light, knowing no darkness.

In the south lay a city named Black Iron City, constructed from the inky, mysterious metal salvaged from beyond the stars. Black Iron City held a significant place among the nine cities of Jūnlán Star.

In the forests outside this city corresponded to a teleportation array on Jūnlán Star known as “Xuán.” Martial artists from outer realms arriving via “Xuán” often made Black Iron City their first stop.

The nine cities on Jūnlán Star all served as trade hubs, filled with countless shops of varying sizes. At least half of these establishments belonged to the Jūnlán Merchant Guild, with the other half affiliated with various other powers.

Jūnlán was clearly the most renowned trading star in the universe. Here, one could purchase nearly every material needed for refinement, available in all grades, with even Primordial-grade materials being far from rare.

It could be said that any cultivation material unobtainable on Jūnlán Star was almost guaranteed to be the rarest of commodities on any other star.

The nine cities of Jūnlán Star were scattered across every corner of the planet. Each city was grand and magnificent, attracting large numbers of extraterrestrial martial artists, either to sell materials or to purchase them.

On Jūnlán Star, one could not only buy cultivation materials but also mines, mining slaves, and even entire living planets.

Rumor had it that entire star sectors had once been up for sale on Jūnlán Star!

In a peculiar secret chamber within a martial arts training ground in Black Iron City, two figures were cultivating profound truths.

The ceiling of the chamber was inlaid with numerous multi-colored divine crystals, arranged in a special formation. Upon closer inspection, these crystals formed the character for "Water," emitting waves of energy that calmed the mind and focused the spirit.

The chamber floor was not stone, but a pool of water, crystal clear to the bottom. The gentle murmur of the liquid had a marvelous effect, enhancing the spiritual comprehension of those who practiced the Water Profound Truth.

This was a Water Profound Truth training ground, custom-made by the Jūnlán Merchant Guild and leased to visiting martial artists for cultivating profound truths during their leisure. Similar training grounds existed for Fire Profound Truth, Ice Profound Truth, Thunder Profound Truth, encompassing all commonly used profound truths.

These specialized training grounds were tailored for martial artists practicing different profound truths across various races, capable of accelerating cultivation speed and profound insight.

These profound truth training grounds were further divided into different tiers, with corresponding fee structures, all established by the Jūnlán Merchant Guild. The wealth generated annually from these venues was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Within this Water Profound Truth training ground, various Heart Water Crystal—crystals shaped like hearts—floated in the pool, emitting soft ripples.

A captivating woman practiced silently within the pool, absorbing the energy of the Heart Water Crystals to temper her nascent Divine Body. She merged perfectly with the pool water, as if becoming an intrinsic part of the training ground, embodying the very essence of the Water Profound Truth.

At the edge of the pool, a woman with silver hair sat motionless, her eyes closed as if asleep.

After an indeterminate amount of time, she opened her eyes. Her gaze was dim, suggesting deep contemplation. She looked at the dissolving Heart Water Crystals in the pool and spoke, "That is enough. Your nascent Divine level is now stable."

The alluring woman in the pool was Cicephia. After being violently expelled from the Barrens, she had immediately come to Jūnlán Star to see her master. She had intended to settle her affairs quickly and proceed to the Mǎyà Star Sector, but her master, Lena, had detained her, ordering her to use the Heart Water Crystals immediately to temper her realm and advance to the nascent Divine level.

When Cicephia entered the Barrens, her cultivation stood at the third heaven of the Void God realm. After ten years of tempering within, her state of mind, willpower, and comprehension of the Water Profound Truth had reached a bottleneck for a breakthrough. Furthermore, she had fortunately obtained the Primordial-grade Water Divine Crystal—the Heart Water Crystal—so all prerequisites for a breakthrough were met.

Lena strictly commanded her to seize the opportunity to advance, compelling her to stay. Under her master’s protection, and utilizing this highest-grade Water Profound Truth training ground, Cicephia broke through to the nascent Divine realm in one leap.

Lena had already gathered all the necessary marvelous materials on Jūnlán Star for stabilizing the nascent Divine realm. After a recent period of refining and absorbing the divine power of the Heart Water Crystal, Cicephia’s nascent Divine realm had finally settled, alleviating fears of mental disorientation.

"Master, now that my nascent Divine realm is stable, can you finally let me leave?"

Cicephia smiled seductively, her shapely body rising from the pool. Her skin was as white as jade, her enchanting eyes captivating souls, like a perfectly ripe peach that quickened the blood.

"You want to go to that Mǎyà Star Sector to find that young man named Shi Yan?" Lena snorted. "I worked hard to trade for a World Guide Fruit for you. I expected you to help me retrieve the remains of that person. You failed to accomplish your task, and instead, you became entangled with him. Now you still want to find him? Do you pay no mind to your master's affairs at all?"

"No, Master. I am going to find him to inquire about that matter," Cicephia quickly explained. "We were lost together back then. Afterward, I was inexplicably flung out of that strange world, but he should have remained. Then... a series of events occurred, and by the time I saw him again, I had no chance to ask. This continued until I was thrown out of the Barrens."

"You mean you were ejected, but he... was not?" Lena’s expression shifted.

"I can confirm it." Lena looked seriously at Cicephia. "When he dueled Hassen, he manifested the Void Realm. That Void Realm was actually seventy to eighty percent similar to the world I entered. I believe..."

"He integrated that world into his Void Realm!" Lena was deeply shaken.

Cicephia nodded.

Lena suddenly fell silent, pondering something seriously. After a long pause, she said calmly, "Then you don't need to travel to the Mǎyà Star Sector. The various factions that assisted him in attacking the Divine Race in the Mǎyà Star Sector are currently being suppressed by the Divine Race. Their leaders have all come to Jūnlán Star. The person you speak of will undoubtedly come to Jūnlán Star as well."

"Why come to Jūnlán Star?" Cicephia asked, surprised.

"Because Jūnlán Star is the safest place. For tens of thousands of years, although the Four Great Races have been locked in endless conflict, this star has never been affected by the ravages of war. Whether it was the Undying Demon Race, the Nether Emperor Race, or the Divine Race, even the Bloodthirsty lineage back in their prime, none dared to attack Jūnlán Star directly. If smaller factions wish to hold secret discussions elsewhere, they might be wiped out by the Divine Race in one sweep. Only on Jūnlán Star, even if word leaks, will there likely be no massive invasion."

Lena explained.

"Master, you have met the President of the Jūnlán Merchant Guild. What exactly is their identity? Why does even the Divine Race dare not provoke the Jūnlán Merchant Guild?"

"The Jūnlán Merchant Guild runs deep, and its President is unfathomably mysterious. Even I cannot guess what marvel he conceals."

"If Shi Yan comes to Jūnlán Star, how do I find him?"

"Go find Sha Zhao and the others from your Gu God Sect. They are all in Black Iron City now. If you find them, you will naturally find the person you wish to see."

"Ah, then I should look for Master Xiao Ba."

In a manor within Black Iron City.

Sha Zhao of the Gu God Sect, Wu Feng and Wu Pai of the Wu Family, Jiao Shan and Jiao Hai of the Jiao Family, Mo Jian, Fuller, and others were gathered. Alongside them were the leaders of various other major factions. The modest manor held powerful figures from numerous star sectors.

An elder dressed in a cyan brocade robe, whose hem was embroidered with scattered stars, arrived at the manor. He had long, dark-green hair falling past his shoulders and was followed by several martial artists.

"Tie Dun, the person in charge of the Jūnlán Merchant Guild in Black Iron City, requests an audience," a martial artist at the third heaven of the Void God realm behind him announced loudly at the manor gate, with an undisguised hint of arrogance in his voice.

As a guard of the Jūnlán Merchant Guild in Black Iron City, he commanded deep respect wherever he went in any star sector. Even regional overlords from other sectors would treat him with courtesy because he was associated with the Jūnlán Merchant Guild, a fact he took immense pride in.

The Jūnlán Merchant Guild had stood in the sea of stars for tens of thousands of years, growing from a minor star sector to an influence that gradually spanned the entire cosmos—the most peculiar power in the universe. Even at the strongest periods of the Four Great Races, they would not lightly provoke it. This was the foundation of the Jūnlán Merchant Guild and the honor of every one of its members.

Upon hearing that Tie Dun, the person in charge of Black Iron City, sought an audience, the leaders of the factions within the manor stirred.

Mu Wei, the Grand Elder of the Gu God Sect, who had a hooked nose and a sinister expression, frowned deeply. He looked toward the people conferring in the secret room and asked, "Which one of you contacted Tie Dun? How does he know we are gathered here?"

Bai Yefeng, sworn brothers with the Black Wind Old Monster from the Black River Star Sector, naturally replied, "You underestimate the Jūnlán Merchant Guild. On Jūnlán Star, how could they not be aware of the slightest disturbance? Few secrets in this world can be hidden from the Jūnlán Merchant Guild, much less from that mysterious President."

Jiao Mu of the Jiao Family’s expression changed. "If the Jūnlán Merchant Guild knows we are here, does that mean the Divine Race knows too? Rumor has it that the mysterious President’s relationship with the Divine Race is ambiguous. If he were to ally with the Divine Race to strike us down, wouldn't we be walking straight into a tiger's den?"

Bai Yefeng waved his hand and chuckled. "If the Jūnlán Merchant Guild were allied with the Divine Race, the star sectors the Divine Race has invaded over the last ten thousand years would certainly not be limited to the current ones. To put it bluntly, if the Jūnlán Merchant Guild joined forces with the Divine Race, the star sectors you all belong to would likely already be vassals of the Divine Race."

At these words, everyone fell silent, seriously considering the implication of Bai Yefeng's statement.

After a pause, they nodded one after another, clearly agreeing that Bai Yefeng’s words were not an exaggeration.

Because the Jūnlán Merchant Guild truly possessed that level of influence!

"Stop being so suspicious. We will know once we hear what Tie Dun has to say." Bai Yefeng rose, flashed out of the secret room, and actively moved toward the outside of the manor, shouting, "Old friend Tie Dun, long time no see."

The remaining occupants of the secret chamber hesitated briefly, then also emerged, walking with Bai Yefeng to welcome the newcomers.

Meanwhile.

Shang Chen and Shi Yan stood before a city gate in Black Iron City, paying the required entrance Divine Crystals. Having presented the crystals, the two stepped into the city.

"So bustling!"

As soon as Shi Yan entered the city, he looked around and couldn't help but exclaim softly.

"Of course. Jūnlán Star has been unaffected by war for tens of thousands of years, accumulating immeasurable wealth and prestige. It is the heart of the universe; how could it not be prosperous?"

Shang Chen laughed.

PS: Monthly tickets are doubled! It’s been such a long time since I asked for monthly tickets. Today, I shamelessly beg for your favor and ask my brothers and sisters to cast their monthly tickets for Xiao Ni! I implore you!! (To be continued.)