For the best viewing experience, all cultivators chose to travel by Dharma artifacts, and some sects even deployed large carrier Dharma artifacts that could accommodate hundreds of people at a time.
Those with business acumen chose to sell tickets, seizing the opportunity to make a good profit.
Huai Wen, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, inherited a conch-shaped Dharma artifact. While its speed was slow, it was excellent for carrying. Huai Wen speculated that his ancestors might have been involved in the freight business.
Many Foundation Establishment cultivators had come precisely to witness potential clashes, hoping to glean some insights from their battles.
Some cultivators also harbored the thought of profiting from chaos, hoping to find scattered Dharma treasure fragments or cultivator corpses on the battlefield.
Although the battlefield was dangerous, fortune favored the bold.
Huai Wen summoned his conch-shaped Dharma artifact and shouted, "My spirit artifact can fly five thousand meters high! Those who wish to observe from high above, hurry aboard! Five spirit stones per person!"
"Five spirit stones, just for a ride? You're too greedy!"
"Yeah, normally hiring transportation Dharma artifacts costs about this much."
"This Dharma artifact of yours is not small; it can carry hundreds of people without issue. You actually want to earn five hundred spirit stones a day?"
"I think you've lost your mind!"
Criticisms and condemnations rained down from the surrounding crowd.
Huai Wen, however, remained unfazed. "Fellow Daoists, you are being short-sighted. This is not simply about flying; the higher you fly, the clearer you see, and the greater your chances of encountering opportunities! In the face of such opportunities, what are a mere five spirit stones? Have you forgotten why you came here?"
These people certainly knew.
But it would be even better if they could haggle.
However, seeing Huai Wen's firm stance, they could only grudgingly hand over five spirit stones to board this spirit artifact that could fly exceptionally high.
On the conch, a cultivator hesitated, "Do you think... they might not fight at all?"
"How is that possible? They've been bullied to this extent; will the Imperial Court not make a sound?"
"Not necessarily. The Imperial Court has always been low-key, and Floating City also favors a path of peace."
"What do you mean?"
The cultivator said sheepishly, "I was once robbed by people from Floating City. All my spirit herbs and elixirs were plundered, but they didn't touch my more valuable spirit artifacts or talismans. They even allowed me to copy the cultivation technique books and gave me many delicious foods that could increase spiritual energy reserves as I left."
Had they developed feelings after being robbed?
Was this Stockholm Syndrome?
However, they did sound like a group with principles. If one were to put themselves in that position, they might not even leave their opponent with their undergarments, possibly even taking their life to prevent future retaliation.
But regardless of principles, this world speaks through strength. It all depended on the situation today!
At this moment, a sharp-minded cultivator, emulating Huai Wen's approach, pulled out a crystal-like Dharma artifact.
"This item is known as a Thousand-Mile Mirror. It can absorb light sources and magnify them, making a hundred miles appear as if it were right before your eyes. If you wish to seek opportunities, you must see clearly."
"So, how much do you plan to charge?"
"Not expensive, five spirit stones."
"Damn it, you profiteer!"
Although the crowd grumbled, they still paid the spirit stones; one could not afford to lose out over small matters.
On the Thousand-Mile Mirror, Xi Feng stood proudly above Floating City, exuding an air of dominance!
"Who is this person? He truly has a spirit of high aspiration!"
"This is the supreme leader of all merchants. He holds an extremely high position within Floating City!"
"It is rumored... his name is Xi Feng!"
"Look, the Empire's forces have emerged! Hiss~ Flying through the air, covering a hundred miles in an instant. They are all Nascent Soul stage cultivators!"
Nascent Soul stage! That was the founding ancestor of a sect!
They were dense, and their numbers were so great!
As expected of those who had controlled the empire for so many years; their foundation was indeed profound.
Before this, most people had favored Floating City. After all, the Imperial Court had been dormant for thousands of years, their status akin to that of the Zhou Dynasty during the late Spring and Autumn period. Many sects no longer respected the Imperial Court's commands, yet the Imperial Court remained silent.
As long as no one interfered with the resources controlled by the Imperial Court, they acted like a dead man with no reaction.
Furthermore, the Imperial Court's resources were protected by mountain-guarding formations, far superior to those of half the sects. They also placed great emphasis on signal alerts, making infiltration difficult.
Additionally, a starving camel is still larger than a horse. Even small sects would not dare to provoke the Imperial Court too much.
The Imperial Court's lineup was chilling to all the sects. With such a formation, so many Nascent Soul cultivators, would Floating City not find it challenging?
Huai Wen said solemnly, "According to past intelligence, most of those responsible for external resource collection in Floating City are Nascent Soul cultivators, and they are peculiar body cultivators. As everyone knows, body cultivators are more powerful at lower realms, and their combat effectiveness greatly diminishes after reaching the Core Formation stage."
"In that case, Floating City's pride, its numerous Nascent Soul cultivators, would not have an advantage against the Imperial Court?"
"No, today it seems like a balanced match. If conflict erupts, it will truly be an unprecedented bloody battle!"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding people either trembled in fear or buzzed with excitement!
The more intense the battlefield, the more dangers there were, and the more resources one could scavenge.
If one were fortunate enough to find the corpse of a Nascent Soul cultivator...
Hiss~
The benefits were unimaginable!
Moreover, those who came here to scavenge had already prepared themselves for death!
"Look, Xi Feng is appearing!"
"The one opposite is the Imperial Court's Prime Minister!"
"Strange, where is Emperor Nuo Lan?"
"You wouldn't understand! Although Xi Feng is powerful, Floating City also has a City Lord of unfathomable strength. It's king against king, general against general. Facing Xi Feng's status, it would be beneath Emperor Nuo Lan to personally intervene."
"That makes sense!"
"Now, let's see how the Prime Minister responds."
Xi Feng's resonant voice carried clearly from hundreds of miles away, "The three-day deadline has arrived. What is Nuo Lan Imperial Court's decision?"
The Prime Minister's voice was equally clear, "The Nuo Lan Imperial Family is willing to conduct a transaction with Floating City!"
!
!!
!!!
Tens of thousands of cultivators widened their eyes in disbelief. The Nuo Lan Imperial Court had actually backed down?
If they hadn't seen the Imperial Court's massive number of Nascent Soul cultivators, backing down would have been understandable. But with this army arrayed before them, they had simply surrendered?
Although Floating City's usual demeanor suggested that transactions would be fair and just, and the prices paid would be extremely high, they were also extremely aggressive. Even if you desperately needed something, Floating City would forcibly conduct a transaction if they desired it.
Moreover, they possessed special detection methods; your good items could not be hidden. If not on your person, they would be considered ownerless and taken directly.
They scoured mountains and seas, crossed vast oceans, and even wild resources were stripped clean, leaving nothing but seeds behind, cleaner than bones gnawed by a dog!
They were like locusts!
The Prime Minister continued, "The Nuo Lan Imperial Court is willing to open its national treasury and provide all its accumulated wealth."
"But we have one condition!"
"That is to open the marketplace, allowing all cultivators in the world to trade freely here!"