183: Sorry, we've booked this entire route.

Inside the Spirit Frost Divine Hall.

Two golden flames burned in Wang Duojin's eyes.

A massive light screen constructed from ice crystals floated before him.

Upon the light screen, countless golden threads crisscrossed, outlining an incredibly complex Star Domain route map.

One of them was colored a striking blood-red.

"The Shattered Star Sea route!"

Wang Duojin's finger pressed heavily on that blood-colored route.

"The golden lifeline connecting the Immortal Realm's Western Region to the Central Region! It's also the deadliest slaughterhouse!"

His voice trembled with excitement, and as his fingertips flicked the beads of his abacus, they produced a series of rapid, explosive clicks.

"The value of goods flowing through this route every year is at least over a hundred billion High Grade Immortal Stones!"

"But among them, seventy percent! A full seventy percent! Is swallowed by the Star Pirates entrenched there and the Void Storms along the way!"

"To maintain this route, the Myriad Spirits Chamber of Commerce has to throw in over a hundred warships and several Golden Immortals as escorts every year. Even so, they're still losing money just to keep up appearances!"

Wang Duojin suddenly looked up at Su Linger on the throne, his gaze fanatical.

"Second Senior Sister! This is simply a gold mine tailor-made for us!"

Su Linger sat upright on her frost throne, her expression calm.

Her plain white dress flowed with a faint ice-blue divine light, merging as one with the entire hall.

She listened to Wang Duojin's analysis without speaking.

She merely picked up a cup of fragrant tea, condensed from Ten-thousand-year ice marrow, and took a light sip.

"So, what is your plan?" she asked.

"The plan?"

Wang Duojin chuckled and pulled a thick, gold-bound booklet from his robes.

"Second Senior Sister, please take a look! This is the 'Feasibility Report on Safety Governance and Commercial Operation of the Shattered Star Sea Route' that I rushed out overnight!"

"First step, we sail our fleet over and wipe out every single one of those blind Star Pirates!"

"Second step, our fleet will be stationed at the entrance of the route! We'll establish 'Myriad Dao Security'! Any merchant caravan that wants to pass through here will have to pay us a protection fee!"

"I've even thought of the fee structure! A percentage based on the value of the goods! Divided into three tiers: Standard, Express, and VIP!"

He spoke with great animation, as if he could already see countless Immortal Stones lining up to fly into his pocket.

Su Linger listened quietly.

Then, she shook her head.

"Third Junior Brother."

"Your vision is still too small."

Wang Duojin's smile froze on his face.

Su Linger slowly stood up and walked to the massive star map light screen.

She extended her slender jade finger and gently traced the blood-colored route.

"We won't collect protection fees."

"And we won't do any security."

Her voice was cold and firm.

"Every merchant ship that wants to take this path must switch to the flag of our Myriad Dao Merchant Guild and become a Franchisee of our 'Myriad Dao Express Delivery'."

"We will transport the goods."

"We will set the prices."

"As for those who are unwilling to join..."

A trace of bone-chilling coldness flashed in Su Linger's eyes.

"Then let them never leave."

Wang Duojin was stunned.

With a clatter, the golden abacus in his hand fell to the floor.

This... this wasn't just snatching business!

This was clearly intending to directly swallow the entire golden route!

Su Linger smiled.

She turned around and sat back on her throne.

A cold command issued clearly from her mouth.

"Pass down my order."

"Spirit Frost Divine Hall, set sail."

"Target: Shattered Star Sea, Eye of the Storm."

...Three days later.

Shattered Star Sea.

This was one of the famous forbidden lands in the Immortal Realm.

Space Laws were chaotic, and endless Void Storms tore at everything like enraged behemoths.

Massive meteorites streaked through the storms at high speeds.

Any Cultivator below the Profound Immortal realm who entered would be torn to pieces within half an hour.

At this moment.

At the entrance of the Shattered Star Sea.

A massive fleet composed of over a hundred giant merchant ships was slowly approaching.

In the center of the fleet was a flagship cast entirely from gold, inscribed with the words 'Myriad Spirits'.

On the flagship's deck.

A middle-aged man wearing golden battle armor, whose cultivation had reached the Middle Stage of the Golden Immortal realm, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the hellish, chaotic Star Domain ahead.

His name was Jin Qianwan, Chief Manager of the Myriad Spirits Chamber of Commerce's Shattered Star Sea route.

"Pass down my order!"

Jin Qianwan's voice was powerful and resonant.

"All warships, activate highest-Rank defensive Formations!"

"Escort team, form the 'Myriad Phenomena Golden Light Formation'! Prepare to counter any sudden attacks from Star Pirates!"

"Yes, Chief Manager!"

The command was quickly relayed.

The entire fleet immediately lit up with a brilliant golden light barrier, like a moving golden fortress.

Just then.

A scout rushed over from the lookout tower, stumbling and crawling in terror.

"Ch-Chief Manager! This is bad!"

"Ahead! Something... something is coming from ahead!"

Jin Qianwan frowned.

"What's the panic!"

"Which group of Star Pirates is it? Have they announced their name?"

"No... it's not..."

The scout's voice was distorted by fear.

"It's... a... a flying... iceberg!"

"What?"

Jin Qianwan took a step forward and instantly appeared at the bow of the flagship.

He circulated his immortal essence, golden light erupting from his eyes as he peered into the depths of the star sea.

In the next moment.

His pupils suddenly constricted to the size of needlepoints.

He saw.

Amidst that chaotic Void Storm.

An ice crystal divine hall, a hundred times larger than his entire fleet combined.

It ignored the terrifying storms around it that were enough to shred a Golden Immortal.

It sailed out slowly as if taking a leisurely stroll.

Surrounding the divine hall were hundreds of terrifying warships with menacing designs, radiating the aura of Immortal Kings!

On every single warship, a totem was etched that he could never forget in this lifetime.

The Ice Crystal Phoenix!

"Qionghua Heavenly Palace!"

Jin Qianwan cried out in shock, a chill rushing from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

"Have they gone mad?! They've brought their entire Sect's fleet here!"

However.

An even more inconceivable scene occurred.

That massive ice crystal divine hall actually positioned itself directly in front of their route.

Completely blocking their way.

A cold female voice, through some unknown Divine Ability.

Resonated clearly in every corner of every ship.

"The route ahead is under construction by the Myriad Dao Divine Sect."

"All vessels, please stop immediately and submit to inspection."

"Repeating once more."

"All vessels, please stop immediately and submit to inspection."

Jin Qianwan's mind buzzed, going completely blank.

Myriad Dao Divine Sect?

Construction?

Inspection?

Before he could react.

An even more arrogant voice, thick with the scent of money, followed immediately.

"Ahem! Bosses, friends, come take a look, come have a look!"

Wang Duojin's figure appeared in front of the ice crystal divine hall.

He held a voice-amplifying Magic Treasure crafted from immortal crystals, his face full of smiles.

"The Shattered Star Sea branch of Myriad Dao Express Delivery is officially open for business today!"

"To celebrate our opening, we are launching a grand 'Route Restructuring and Asset Optimization' promotion!"

"Now, right now, immediately! Join our Myriad Dao Express Delivery family! You can enjoy lifelong toll-free passage, plus a one-time full armed escort service for only nine-nine-eight!"

"Limited spots available! First come, first served!"

Jin Qianwan listened to this hawking, which sounded like a marketplace vendor in the mortal world.

Looking at that invincible fleet capable of crushing his entire fleet.

He only felt that this world was simply... too damn crazy.

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