50: Merchant Guild

Time flowed like water, passing silently. Deep within the Water Mansion, Gao De focused on his cultivation, continuously purifying his Bloodline and digesting his Legacy memories, causing his perception of time in the outside world to become blurred.

However, on this day, an unusual, vast, and chaotic fluctuation of Spiritual Pressure came from the distant horizon. Even hidden deep underwater, he could clearly sense it.

Gao De awakened from a deep state of meditation. His Divine Sense passed through the Water Mansion's Formation, quietly probing outward.

Above Dongting Lake, a massive fleet of flying ships was slowly passing by, casting enormous shadows below.

Leading the fleet was a giant multi-decked flying ship, its size far exceeding the norm. It possessed an ancient and majestic design, its entire hull shimmering with the light of complex runes. High upon its mast hung the joint flag of the Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce and the Tianji Sect, its aura grand and its spiritual light piercing the sky.

This was clearly the main force of the joint investigation team sent by the two giants to investigate the crash of the "flying ship"!

Following behind this flagship were several slightly smaller but equally sophisticated escort and auxiliary flying ships.

Even more eye-catching was that not far behind this official fleet trailed a large crowd of private or small-power flying ships of various shapes and sizes. Altogether, there were likely dozens of them!

They were like a school of fish that had caught the scent of blood, closely following the joint investigation team, the "lead fish." Clearly, they intended to hitch a ride and head to that new area to seek opportunities.

This mixed fleet did not stay long in the Dongting Lake area. The joint investigation team's flagship didn't even land; it only slowed down slightly, seemingly conducting some form of scanning or information gathering. Then, under countless reverent gazes, it flew straight toward the depths of the Yunmeng Great Marsh in the general direction of the "Pioneer Ship" crash site, its posture resolute and efficient.

However, most of the merchant groups and private flying ships that followed chose to land and dock along the shores of Dongting Lake, particularly at the main market now controlled by the Lin Family and the floating platform market previously left behind by the Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce.

For a moment, the Dongting Lake area, which had been somewhat tense due to the Lin-Zhu war and the ruins incident, suddenly became incredibly lively.

These merchant groups from the heartlands of Yizhou Province and Jingzhou Province brought with them a large quantity of local specialty goods and resources.

There was Jiannan Spiritual Tea and Thousand Bamboo Spiritual Liquid from the Shu Region, both containing pure Spiritual Qi. There was Yunmeng Crystal, produced in abundance in Jingzhou and used for refining water-attribute Magical Artifacts, and Yuanzhi Talisman Paper used for drawing Talismans. There were also various Spiritual Plants, minerals, and Yao Beast Materials unique to the two provinces, and even some local Jade Slips of Cultivation Techniques and diagrams for Magical Artifacts.

The dazzling array of goods and the vastly different styles immediately caught the eyes of many local Cultivators and the Yao Race.

These merchant groups quickly took action. Wealthy and overbearing, they leased or purchased shops, hung up their respective banners and signs, set up stalls, and shouted loudly. They contacted local powers, attempting to open trade routes and establish long-term trade nodes.

The markets, which had previously been dominated by the Lin Family, the Green Wave Sect, and a small number of local Loose Cultivators, were instantly injected with powerful external vitality. It became a mixed bag of people, but it was also full of new opportunities.

Gao De observed all of this calmly through the tianji mirror and the reports from Turtle Three Thousand.

"The joint investigation team is heading straight for their goal; it seems they place great importance on the 'crashed ship' and the matter of the Mythical Dragon Son. As for these merchant groups that followed... they are an unexpected pleasant surprise."

He keenly realized that the arrival of these external merchant groups could be an excellent opportunity for him!

First was information. These merchant groups came from different regions and were well-informed. In particular, intelligence regarding Yizhou, Jingzhou, and even the more distant Yangzhou was part of their merchandise.

Gao De could use the tianji mirror or have Turtle Three Thousand find a way to make contact to obtain more information about the outside world, especially regarding Dragon ruins and rare Dragon-Blooded Creatures.

Second was resources.

These merchant groups brought resources that might be scarce in the Dongting Lake area.

For example, Yizhou was mountainous and might have special Spirit Medicine for strengthening the Physical Body or aiding Body Refining. Jingzhou had developed water systems and might have higher-grade water-attribute Artifact Refining Materials or treasures that nourish the Divine Soul. All of these could be helpful for his upcoming cultivation and preparations for Dragon Transformation.

Finally, there were the trade channels.

He still had some items that were inconvenient to sell directly, such as the metal fragments obtained from the Dragon Palace Barracks, the damaged Jade Slips recording water battle Formations, and even potential harvests of unknown use from the Yunmeng Great Marsh in the future.

Through these well-traveled external merchant groups with complex backgrounds, he might be able to trade them away more safely in exchange for the resources he urgently needed.

"Seeking stillness amidst the chaos, using the situation to my advantage." Gao De set his strategy.

He still would not show his face easily, but he could fully utilize the "window of opportunity" brought by the influx of external forces.

He instructed Turtle Three Thousand: "Keep an eye on the product catalogs and purchasing information brought by these merchant groups, especially anything related to dragon blood, lightning, the Divine Soul, or Body Refining, or any items and intelligence labeled 'Ancient' or 'from the Ruins.'"

"If there's a chance, you can anonymously contact a few chambers of commerce with decent reputations to test the waters."

"Yes, Master!" Turtle Three Thousand took the order. Its talent for scheming and gathering information finally had a place to be used.

Gao De himself once again turned his gaze toward the slowly rotating dragon pearl fossil within his body and the Legacy that was continuously Awakening deep within his Bloodline.

The external noise and opportunities were catalysts and resources, but in the final analysis, his own strength was the foundation.

He felt that his Bloodline was only a tiny bit of grinding work away from the 90% Dragon Transformation node.

And the newly awakened prototype of the [Dragon Might Domain] and the [Mirage Phantom] technique also required a lot of practice to master.

"When I undergo Dragon Transformation, I will truly have a place for myself in Dongting Lake, and even the Yunmeng Great Marsh."

Gao De focused his mind and sank back into cultivation. The clamor of the merchant groups outside was like background noise, and all of his concentration was placed on the Bloodline within his body that was undergoing a metamorphosis.

The wind and clouds gather as the hidden dragon waits in the depths. Once the Lightning Tribulation arrives, it shall soar to the heavens!

Inside the quiet room, Spiritual Qi was like mist, lingering and dense. Gao De was coiled at the core of the Spiritual Vein, the scales all over his body opening and closing as if he were breathing.

The Dragon Transformation Merit within his body operated at an unprecedented speed. His Demonic Power surged like a great river, repeatedly crashing against that invisible barrier.

In his Dantian, the dragon pearl fossil shimmered with light. Its resonance with Gao De's Bloodline grew stronger, continuously releasing pure Dragon Origin, like the most loyal subjects offering strength to their king.

The last trace of essence from that giant salamander spirit egg had long been thoroughly refined and integrated into the river of his Bloodline.

The accumulation of quantity finally triggered a qualitative metamorphosis.

He did not know how much time had passed; perhaps it was a moment, perhaps an eternity.

It was as if something inside Gao De's body let out a 'crack,' snapping crisply.