495: Trading quota

"If you encounter a life-or-death crisis, crush this talisman."

The moment Xu Yuan took the jade talismans, the veins on his arms bulged. These three seemingly light jade talismans each weighed as much as a star!

He clearly felt the terrifying power contained within them, a destructive force capable of reducing a world to dust.

"Brother..." Xu Yuan's Adam's apple bobbed, "Are you sensing something?"

The secret chamber suddenly fell silent.

The flame of the bronze lamp solidified, as if even time had paused at this moment.

Xu Qing said, "This trip to Tianyang has brought our Xu Family great prominence. I don't know how many Southern Abyss races are watching us. I'll be fine, but as for you, you are too young. Without any surprises, you will dominate the upcoming Tianyang Competition!"

"This will undoubtedly infringe upon the interests of many, naturally making them want to eliminate you quickly! In Main City Number One, no one dares to touch you, but what about outside Main City Number One? So, it's better to be safe than sorry!"

"However, for the Xuanhuang Merchant Guild to develop, we cannot let these people seize the opportunity. So, we can only ask you to travel around and draw their attention!"

Xu Yuan said with a firm expression, "Big Brother, I understand! As a member of the Xu Family, I must pave a broad path for the Xu Family!"

"Good! That's the spirit of a Xu Family man!" Xu Qing's voice suddenly became incredibly distant, "This time, I need to enter seclusion. Although I have a Dao avatar, you must also remain vigilant!"

As he spoke, he suddenly pointed two fingers like a sword and touched Xu Yuan's glabella.

A brilliant Dao pattern merged into it, transforming into a protective Restriction.

"I have sealed a Chaos Dao avatar within your body." Xu Qing's figure began to blur, "Remember, once you encounter danger, do not hesitate; activate it directly."

Xu Yuan wanted to say more, but he found that his elder brother had already vanished.

Only the Myriad Sword Abyss Token in his palm was hot, and the three battle puppets stood silently behind him like loyal guards.

"A swordsman, rather break than bend; a Daoist, lives towards death."

"Big Brother, the Xu Family has me!"

After speaking, Xu Yuan walked out of the secret chamber.

Soon, he began his training in Main City Number One.

Inside the Zhan Tian Immortal Palace, Hongmeng Purple Energy swirled.

On an ancient stone table, two bronze wine vessels emanated a faint Dao charm. Xu Qing and Dao Ancestor Zhan Tian sat opposite each other, the wine in the vessels reflecting the flowing starlight on the palace ceiling.

"This kid has spirit! He's like me!"

Dao Ancestor Zhan Tian suddenly laughed heartily, his gilded halberd leaning beside him, nine fire dragons coiling around the halberd's shaft, dozing.

His gaze pierced through the Void Realm, landing on Xu Yuan, who was fighting fiercely in a Secret Realm somewhere in the Main City.

The young man, holding a long sword, faced the siege of three Chaos Vicious Beasts without retreating an inch. Wherever his sword edge passed, even space was torn into black cracks.

Xu Qing followed his gaze, saw the stubbornness in his younger brother's brows, and couldn't help but smile: "He indeed has the demeanor of Brother Zhan Tian back in the day."

"Hahaha!" Dao Ancestor Zhan Tian slapped the table, making the wine vessels clatter, "When I was surrounded and attacked by thirteen foreign Dao Ancestors in the Chaos Sea back then, I looked just like that!"

He tilted his head and drained the wine in his cup, and the phantom of past bloody battles appeared on his scarlet-gold battle armor.

Wine dripped down his bushy beard. Dao Ancestor Zhan Tian wiped his mouth, his voice like a thunderous bell: "Kid, go into seclusion with peace of mind! The Xu Family still has your reckless younger brother, and I, your elder brother, will look after him!"

Then he suddenly lowered his voice, "It's just right to use them as an excuse to stretch my muscles with those few races."

Xu Qing raised his cup in salute, Dao patterns flowing in his eyes: "Thank you, Brother Zhan Tian."

He lightly tapped the wine vessel with his fingertip, "When I come out of seclusion, I'll let you taste what good wine is."

This seclusion was for the purpose of absorbing Innate Hongmeng Primordial Qi. By then, his Origin Qi cultivation would be able to Breakthrough, and the System could also be upgraded; good wine would naturally not be lacking!

"Good kid! I, your elder brother, will wait!" Dao Ancestor Zhan Tian's eyes burst forth with terrifying brilliance, and the fire dragons on the gilded halberd all woke up, "I, your elder brother, will be right here in this Immortal Palace, waiting to drink you under the table!"

Xu Qing smiled, then stood up, his robes moving without wind, and solemnly cupped his hands towards Dao Ancestor Zhan Tian.

His figure gradually blurred, and only a wisp of Dao sound echoed in the Immortal Palace: "It's a deal."

Dao Ancestor Zhan Tian stood alone in front of the palace, looking at the thunderclouds in the sky, and suddenly grinned: "You stinky kid!"

The nine fire dragons let out a long cry in unison, tearing through the Void Realm and departing.

Inside the Immortal Palace, two empty wine vessels stood quietly on the table, reflecting the storm that was about to sweep across the Chaos Sea.

——

Main City, Nine Heavens Stargazing Pavilion.

This immortal palace, suspended ten thousand feet high in the clouds, was entirely forged from star essence gold. Wind chimes, condensed from the essence of the sun and moon, hung from its eaves, and when they gently chimed in the wind, the sound of the Great Dao resonated.

Today, the entire wine pavilion was booked by the Xu Family. Outside, various clan's flying boats and divine carriages were parked, each representing an ancient power.

Xu Song stood on the top-floor jade terrace, clad in a dark gold robe with the cloud pattern of the Xuanhuang Merchant Guild embroidered on its cuffs.

He smiled, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: there were patriarchs of ancient Human Race families, envoys from major clans, and even several City Lords from ancient Southern Abyss cities.

"Fellow Daoists, having traveled so far, I, Xu, am deeply honored."

He raised his hand and clapped lightly. Sixteen maidens, dressed in flowing cloud-patterned robes, gracefully entered, carrying jade plates. What was on the plates was not spiritual fruits or immortal wine, but ancient jade talismans!

"Palace Lord Xu, this is?"

A patriarch of a Human Race family asked.

"Everyone! Following the Clan Chief's decree, for the Number Two Xu River region, three thousand ruin river sand constitute one slot. There are twenty-six slots in total, and our Xu Family is making sixteen of them available for trade!"

Xu Song's tone was calm, yet his words were like thunder.

The representatives of various clans were visibly shaken. After all, ruin river sand was extremely precious. They had initially thought that the Xu Family offering five slots would be impressive, but they never expected sixteen.

But more than that, there was excitement, because more slots meant more opportunities for them.

As soon as his voice fell, an old man in a scarlet flame Daoist robe suddenly stood up. He was the Valley Master of the Blazing Heaven Valley in the Southern Abyss: "Palace Lord Xu, my Blazing Heaven Valley is willing to exchange three starfire ore veins for one slot!"

"Three ore veins?" On the other side, a Human Race family sneered, "My Wang Family offers ten 'Heavenly Craft War Puppets,' plus the operating rights to a Chaos Sea teleportation array!"

"My Heavenly Crystal Race is willing to offer three 'Chaos Heavenly Crystal Jades'!"

"My Heavenly Phoenix God Race can yield thirty percent of the profits from Fallen Phoenix Ancient City!"

The scene instantly erupted. Representatives of various clans scrambled to make offers, some even taking out Ancestor-level divine treasures on the spot. Amidst the flashing brilliance, rare treasures appeared on the banquet table.

Xu Song smiled without speaking. After the crowd quieted down slightly, he slowly raised his hand: "Everyone's sincerity is appreciated. However, for this allocation of slots, my Xu Family already has a decision—"

He waved his sleeve, and a golden scroll appeared in the Void Realm: "Ten slots will be given preferentially, in a cooperative form, to forces that possess cross-domain commercial routes."

At these words, representatives of forces skilled in commerce, such as the Profound Mechanism Pavilion and the Heavenly Craft Workshop, immediately showed joy, while other representatives had varied expressions.

"As for the remaining six slots..." Xu Song's lips curved slightly, "Three days later, at the 'Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion' in the Sky Dome Main City, they will go to the highest bidder!"

The entire hall was once again in an uproar!

An auction? This meant that ancient races without commercial foundations but with strong financial resources also had a chance to compete!

A Half-Ancestor of a Southern Abyss race, shrouded in shadow, spoke hoarsely: "Palace Lord Xu, what a brilliant scheme..."

Xu Song raised his cup and chuckled: "It's merely mutual benefit and win-win."

The banquet lasted until late night. Amidst the clinking of cups, Xu Song had reached preliminary agreements with all parties.

After the guests dispersed, he stood alone on the top of the Stargazing Pavilion, overlooking the entire Main City Number One, his eyes gleaming.

"The banner of the Xuanhuang Merchant Guild... will be planted all over the Chaos Sea."

The night wind swept by, and his figure gradually merged into the starlight.