191: The franchise fee doesn't seem to be enough.

In the Void Realm, the Spirit Frost Divine Hall floated silently.

Su Linger sat upright on the Ice Throne, her gaze piercing through the crystal wall and falling upon the Myriad Spirits Chamber of Commerce's flagship below.

The smile on Wang Duojin's face was as radiant as a blooming chrysanthemum.

The gilded Jade Slip in his hand, in the eyes of Jin Qianwan, was even more terrifying than a death warrant from the King of Hell.

"Chief Manager Jin, esteemed bosses."

Wang Duojin cleared his throat and carefully put away the contract that had just been signed.

He looked around at the group of Chamber of Commerce managers, who were trembling in silence, his smile becoming even more amiable.

"Just now, that was merely the preliminary intention for our cooperation."

"Now that my Second Senior Sister has returned, we need to discuss the formal franchise details."

Jin Qianwan's heart sank abruptly.

Discuss more?

Wasn't that bullying clause just now enough?

He gathered his courage and looked up, just in time to meet a cold, aloof gaze from the Ice Crystal Divine Hall behind Wang Duojin.

It was just a glance.

Jin Qianwan felt his Divine Soul, along with his blood, instantly freeze.

His body went limp, and he nearly knelt down again.

Wang Duojin seemed not to see his embarrassment and continued to click his abacus to himself.

The clattering sound was crisp and pleasant.

"That contract just now was our 'Myriad Dao Express Delivery' Bronze Membership package."

"Now, my Second Senior Sister has said that in order to celebrate our cooperation and to highlight the esteemed status of you bosses."

"We have decided to upgrade everyone for free to the latest 'Supreme Black Gold' package!"

His tone shifted, and his smile took on a hint of indisputability.

"Of course, since the package has been upgraded, this franchise fee..."

"Naturally, it must also reflect the value of our Supreme Black Gold membership."

...

Inside the Divine Hall.

Zhao Wuyou sat cross-legged, majestic Dragon Qi circulating around him, repairing his damaged dragon body.

Ye Wushang hid in the shadows, digesting the Origin he had devoured.

Ye Chenfeng stood beside Su Linger, his gaze calmly watching the sea of stars that had once been ravaged by storms.

"Second Junior Sister."

He spoke slowly.

"You have awakened the Empress's Legacy; have you thought about your path for the future?"

Su Linger withdrew her gaze from below.

She looked at her own hands; they were slender and fair, yet at this moment, they seemed capable of grasping the ice and snow Laws of the entire Immortal Realm.

Vast memories flowed through her mind.

That was the life belonging to Empress Lingshuang, containing the glory of ruling the world, as well as the sorrow of being betrayed by all.

"Revered Master said, one's perspective determines one's destination."

Su Linger's voice was cold and aloof, yet incredibly firm.

"Her Dao is conquest."

"My Dao is rules."

She stood up, walked to Ye Chenfeng's side, and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.

"Senior Brother, your sword is sharp for the sake of protecting the Sect."

"My ice shall establish order for the Sect."

Ye Chenfeng nodded, saying no more.

He understood.

"I am leaving."

Ye Chenfeng said.

"In the Sword Capital, there is a Senior whose Dao of the Sword I have yet to fully comprehend."

"Fourth Junior Brother, Sixth Junior Brother, what about you two?"

Zhao Wuyou opened his golden pupils, his Battle Intent rising.

"Those old Yao Race monsters in the Southern Wilderness Bone Mountain are not enough for me to fight."

"I'm going to the Yao Race's Myriad Dragon Nest to see if the dragons there have bones hard enough."

Ye Wushang's figure emerged from the shadows, bowing slightly to everyone.

"The Demon Abyss has opened a crack; I will go and take a look."

They all had their own paths to walk.

Their brief reunion was for the sake of a stronger departure.

"Take care," Su Linger said softly.

"Take care."

The figures of Ye Chenfeng, Zhao Wuyou, and Ye Wushang turned into three streams of light, tearing through the void and vanishing.

In the Divine Hall, only Su Linger and Wang Duojin remained.

"Second Senior Sister!"

Wang Duojin, having finished handling the matters outside, ran in excitedly.

"Done! Those guys even pawned their underwear just to scrape together enough for our 'Supreme Black Gold franchise fee'!"

He handed over a Storage Ring as if presenting a treasure.

Su Linger did not take it.

Her gaze looked toward the star map of the Immortal Realm.

"Third Junior Brother."

"This amount of money is not enough."

Wang Duojin was stunned.

"Still not enough? Second Senior Sister, this is enough to buy half of the Central Region!"

"I mean it is not enough for us to spread our rules across the entire Immortal Realm."

Su Linger extended her finger and tapped on the star map.

On it, densely packed, were all the golden shipping routes spread across the Nine Provinces and Four Seas of the Immortal Realm.

"Myriad Dao Express Delivery should not just be in the Shattered Star Sea."

"I want it to appear in every corner of the Immortal Realm."

Wang Duojin looked at the star map, his breathing gradually becoming rapid.

The greed in his eyes faded, replaced by a flame called ambition.

"Second Senior Sister."

His voice was hoarse.

"I need manpower."

"A lot of manpower, people who are proficient in business and dare to fight and kill."

Su Linger slowly sat back on the throne.

"Go to the Myriad Dao Pavilion."

"Tell them, it is the Pavilion Revered Master's order."

"All field deacons of the Myriad Dao Pavilion are to be merged into the Myriad Dao Merchant Guild immediately."

"You will have full authority to command them."

Wang Duojin trembled all over, his eyes erupting with unprecedented brilliance.

He bowed deeply to Su Linger.

"Yes! Second Senior Sister!"

...

Central Region, Sword Capital.

In the most remote alley, the furnace fire of the blacksmith shop remained.

Ye Chenfeng's figure appeared in the corner once again.

The old blacksmith seemed not to see him, still swinging his hammer, strike after strike, beating a piece of ordinary iron.

Ding! Clang!

The sound was monotonous, yet it contained a certain peculiar rhythm.

Ye Chenfeng watched quietly.

This time, what he saw was no longer the power to split the heavens and earth.

But a kind of protection.

A kind of persistence.

A kind of extreme focus, restraining all sharpness, solely for forging the most perfect object in one's heart.

His sword was too sharp.

So sharp that it was unstoppable and indestructible.

But because of this, it lacked a sense of weight.

It lacked a sense of depth.

"Do you understand?"

The old blacksmith didn't even turn his head, his voice hoarse.

"I understand a little," Ye Chenfeng answered respectfully.

"If you understand, then go do it."

The old blacksmith pointed to a pile of scrap iron beside him.

"There is a decent piece of material there."

"Go forge one yourself."

"Forge it until I am satisfied."

Ye Chenfeng was stunned.

He looked at the rust-covered pile of ordinary iron, then at the blacksmith's hammer in the old blacksmith's hand.

He understood.

This was the Senior guiding him.

Guiding him on how to forge an indestructible Sword Heart for his own sword.

He did not ask more.

He stepped forward, picked up a pair of iron tongs, and clamped out that piece of "decent material" the old blacksmith had mentioned from the scrap pile.

Then, imitating the old blacksmith, he took off his shirt and swung that heavy, ordinary iron hammer.

Clang!

A harsh, loud sound rang out.

Sparks flew in all directions.

Ye Chenfeng felt his hand go numb, and the hammer nearly slipped from his grip.

He had used enough power to split the heavens and earth, yet he couldn't even shake a piece of ordinary iron in the slightest.

The old blacksmith's voice drifted over slowly.

"A sword is not just sharp."

"Iron is not just hard."

"When your hammer sounds can merge with mine,"

"then you may leave."

...

Shattered Star Sea.

Wang Duojin left ambitiously, leading a caravan composed of elites from the Myriad Dao Pavilion.

Only Su Linger remained in the massive Spirit Frost Divine Hall.

She did not return to the Nine Heavens Divine City.

Instead, she controlled the Divine Hall and slowly sailed toward that massive spatial rift.

She sat on the throne and closed her eyes.

Her vast Divine Thought poured into that shattered world of ice and snow.

"From this day forth."

Her voice echoed throughout the entire shattered world.

"This realm shall be named the Lingshuang Realm."

"It shall be the Foundation for my Myriad Dao Pavilion."

As her voice fell.

The entire shattered world began to tremble violently.

Under her will, that hideous spatial rift began to slowly heal.

One by one, the collapsed ice crystal palaces were lifted and reshaped by an invisible force.

This Empress's Divine Kingdom, which had fallen for countless millennia,

on this day,

welcomed its new Revered Master.