"President Lord, what is the deal?" Xiao Ye asked without a change in expression.
Seeing this, a hint of admiration appeared on Ji Hong’s face.
Qingming Commerce is a big commerce guild in Black Dragon Country, and even some sect disciples would be tempted by its resources.
Yet Xiao Ye was able to stay clear-headed and undisturbed in the face of such temptation, which is not something an ordinary person could do.
"You should know that in Red Sun City, besides our Qingming, there are two other commerce guilds of similar scale," Ji Hong said slowly.
"The three big commerce guilds compete with each other. In order to compete for the operating rights in other county cities of Black Dragon Country, conflicts often arise with heavy casualties."
"Therefore, the three commerce guilds have set a rule. Every five years, there will be a martial battle. The guild that wins will obtain the operating rights for five years. This is also the main reason why I am recruiting guest elders everywhere."
"I see." Xiao Ye nodded, understanding that the deal Ji Hong wanted to make with him was related to the martial battle with the three big commerce guilds.
Sure enough, Ji Hong continued, "A year ago, Gao Feng Commerce enlisted a young talent from the Hidden Dragon List as a guest elder through some means. With only three months left to the guild martial battle, I was almost in despair, but luckily you appeared."
Ji Hong said this, staring intently at Xiao Ye.
"This young talent from the Hidden Dragon List, what is his cultivation level?" Xiao Ye asked.
"This person, named Wu Feng, possesses the cultivation of the Innate Realm Ninth Layer Middle Stage and is ranked fiftieth on the Hidden Dragon List," Ji Hong said casually.
However, his words made Xiao Ye’s expression change slightly.
"A cultivation of the Late Ninth Layer of the Innate Realm is only ranked fiftieth on the Hidden Dragon List? Then, wouldn’t the top twenty have the cultivation of the Innate Limit?" Xiao Ye muttered.
Ji Hong laughed and said, "Haha, it’s not that exaggerated. The rankings on the Hidden Dragon List of Black Dragon Country are not very accurate. Some young talents have the strength to break into the top ten but are ranked lower because they keep a low profile."
"Like Wu Feng, he definitely has the strength to break into the top thirty of the Hidden Dragon List."
Xiao Ye suddenly realized, wasn’t he just like that?
"However..." Ji Hong paused, then suddenly changed the topic, "As far as I know, every time the Heavenly Pride Battle of Black Dragon Country opens, many young talents with the cultivation reaching the Innate Limit will appear, and the competition will be very fierce."
Xiao Ye nodded solemnly.
With almost two years until the next Heavenly Pride Battle of Black Dragon Country opens, all major forces would surely increase their disciples’ cultivation madly. It wouldn’t be surprising for them to reach the Innate Limit by then.
However, the strength displayed by those reaching the Innate Limit would be vastly different.
For instance, him, once his Physical Body Four Cauldrons Power reaches great success, coupled with the cultivation of the Innate Limit, he would definitely be the top person below the Mystic Martial Realm.
"I currently can’t utilize the Physical Body Power, but once my cultivation breaks through to the Innate Realm Ninth Layer, combined with the Perfection Level of Silent Annihilation Hand and Martial Arts True Intent, I should be able to defeat Wu Feng," Xiao Ye started pondering.
Now, he was being pursued by the Sun and Moon Sect, and the Sun and Moon Seal Technique couldn’t be used as it would definitely be discovered.
Although Wu Feng’s cultivation was the same as Kuang Wu’s, the former is a young talent. Probably ten Kuang Wus couldn’t defeat one Wu Feng; otherwise Ji Hong wouldn’t be so worried.
Thinking this, Xiao Ye looked up at Ji Hong and said, "President Lord, I accept your conditions, and my condition is that you help me collect these ten kinds of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, plus two thousand Primordial Stones."
After saying that, Xiao Ye passed over a list he had already prepared.
"Two thousand Primordial Stones? You sure are demanding," Ji Hong said with a frown as he took the list, inhaling sharply.
Each of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures listed was extremely precious, not to mention all ten.
"These Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures are too precious. Even if I can obtain them, the cost will be huge, and two thousand Primordial Stones is too much," Ji Hong shook his head.
Hearing this, Xiao Ye’s heart skipped a beat; from Ji Hong’s tone, he could tell that the other party could collect these treasures, but was unwilling due to the great cost.
"President Lord, these ten kinds of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, along with two thousand Primordial Stones, should be negligible compared to the operating rights for five years," Xiao Ye said with a light smile.
Ji Hong’s expression changed. He was silent for a long time before he finally gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, as long as you can help me defeat Wu Feng, I agree. But two thousand Primordial Stones is too much; I can give you at most fifteen hundred."
"Deal!" Xiao Ye nodded decisively.
Two thousand was just a number he had initially thrown out casually; now that Ji Hong was willing to give him fifteen hundred, it was already beyond his expectations.
"Don’t worry, that Wu Feng is no match for me," Xiao Ye declared proudly, filled with immense self-confidence.
Ji Hong was shocked; the confidence emanating from Xiao Ye was not something a weak person could feign.
"I’m really curious who this kid is," Ji Hong thought to himself.
After settling the matter of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and the Primordial Stones, Xiao Ye returned to his residence in high spirits.
"Fifteen hundred Primordial Stones are enough to elevate my cultivation to the Innate Limit," Xiao Ye was extremely excited.
"Once the Primordial Stones and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures are in hand, I will leave Qingming Commerce and travel," Xiao Ye planned his next steps.
To refine the Ten Treasures Pill, besides the ten kinds of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, he also needed the blood of a Ferocious Beast at the Innate Limit.
After displaying his strength, Xiao Ye’s days passed very peacefully, and other guest elders were also very courteous to him.
The only thing that troubled Xiao Ye was that Ji Ruyue came to his courtyard every few days, often leaving him at a loss. In the end, he had to use the excuse of closed-door cultivation to send her away.
One and a half months later, a powerful wave of energy burst out from Xiao Ye’s room, sweeping in all directions instantly.
"This guy Wang Lin has improved his cultivation again!" Many guest elders were speechless; this was too demoralizing, was this guy pretending to be a tiger by acting like a pig all this time until now?
Xiao Ye was naturally unaware of what others were thinking; he was immersed in excitement.
"Finally, the Early Stage of Innate Realm Ninth Layer!" Xiao Ye opened his eyes, his gaze nearly materializing, piercing through the void and leaving two small holes in the wall.
Feeling the surge of Innate True Qi within his body, Xiao Ye’s face was filled with excitement.
Xiao Ye took out a purple leaf that he kept close to his body, his eyes burning intensely.
Ever since he obtained the Bodhi Leaf, he had been enduring until now to use it.
"I wonder to what level my Martial Arts True Intent can progress when my perceptivity increases tenfold?" Xiao Ye’s face was full of anticipation.
His Flame True Intent had improved to 40%, but it had been a long time since it made any progress.
Xiao Ye greeted Ji Hong to prevent being interrupted during his comprehension.
Then, Xiao Ye sealed the doors and windows before finally placing the Bodhi Leaf in his mouth and gently holding it there.
In an instant, Xiao Ye felt a roaring in his head; his consciousness trembled inexplicably, and his senses rapidly enhanced.
Perceptivity enhanced tenfold!
"What a marvelous feeling!" Xiao Ye was shocked to his core, but he quickly woke up, "The effect of the Bodhi Leaf only lasts for three days!"
Firstly, Xiao Ye’s consciousness sank into the Time Tower, starting to cultivate the Lonely Moon Seal from the Sun and Moon Seal Technique.
"In the second layer of the Time Tower, time is slowed down by twenty times, enough to successfully cultivate the Lonely Moon Seal," Xiao Ye said to himself.
Known as the strongest Combat Technique in the Innate Realm, the power of the Lonely Moon Seal was immense—the threshold for cultivation alone required one to be at the Early Stage of Innate Realm Ninth Layer.
Once he could successfully cultivate it, his strength would multiply!
As he cultivated, countless insights continuously surged into his mind, his progress advancing at a terrifying speed.
Xiao Ye stood in the second layer of the Time Tower, surrounded by countless swirling starlights.
Xiao Ye roared, forming complex Seal Techniques with his hands; suddenly, a moon-like disc appeared between his hands, emitting a serene glow.
However, the seemingly beautiful serene light was a lethal weapon.
The moment the Lonely Moon appeared, countless serene lights shot out like sword qi, exceptionally astonishing.
"This Lonely Moon Seal is the best Combat Technique for large-scale attacks!" Xiao Ye retracted the Seal Technique, his face filled with excitement.
With the Lonely Moon Seal, it was as if he had the power of a million floating corpses.
With his current perceptivity, plus the aid of the Time Tower, he had practiced for a full twenty days, bringing it close to perfection.
Probably not many Direct Disciples of the Sun and Moon Sect could cultivate the Sun and Moon Seal Technique to this extent.
"Anyway, the Lonely Moon Seal is almost perfected; it’s not worth wasting more time on this. I should focus on comprehending the Martial Arts True Intent," Xiao Ye thought.
To reach the Mystic Martial, mastering one type of Martial Arts True Intent to perfection was crucial, so the importance of Martial Arts True Intent was self-evident, and he could not miss such a rare opportunity.
Since it was the second layer of the Time Tower, only one day had passed on the outside.
Taking advantage of the remaining two days of the Bodhi Leaf’s effect, Xiao Ye took out the Flame Saber and then entered the world of the Flame Saber.
"What a pity the Flame Saber can’t be brought into the Time Tower; otherwise, these two days would be equivalent to forty days," Xiao Ye felt quite regretful.
The world of the Flame Saber was aflame with fire; although not real, it still gave Xiao Ye a burning sensation.
Each flame was like rolling sword lights.
Clearing his mind of distractions, Xiao Ye began to focus on comprehending, his tenfold increased perceptivity causing his Flame True Intent to soar at an alarming rate.
Just after two hours, his Flame True Intent reached 50%!
From Xiao Ye, a strong burst of Martial Arts True Intent erupted, filled with a scorching sensation.
That 50% of Flame True Intent materialized into Flame Lotuses surrounding Xiao Ye’s body, and they were still multiplying.
When the second day passed, Xiao Ye’s Flame True Intent grew even stronger, causing the temperature where the Guest Elders resided to spike dramatically, making it uninhabitable.
"What is this kid up to!" Ji Hong was alarmed and quickly sent people to seal off the area.
Three days later, the effect of the Bodhi Leaf finally wore off, and Xiao Ye simultaneously opened his eyes.