The four gate rituals of the back door, the most valuable of which was the 'Mycelial Defense Ritual of Ten Thousand Woods', because its main material required plant roots. The toughness and vitality of these roots greatly influenced the defensive capabilities of the ritual.
One of the organization's areas of expertise was plant cultivation.
Liu Shang was a leading figure in this field, possessing the Tree of Life from Idola, various special plant seeds drawn by his destiny, and the assistance of cultivated humanoid demonic plants like Liu Shang himself in fostering growth.
If rituals and hidden information were the shortcomings of the Phoenix Fire, then the cultivation of mysterious plants was undoubtedly its strength.
With material amplification, the Mycelial Defense Ritual of Ten Thousand Woods might approach or rival legendary-grade rituals.
"Liu Shang and others could also study this ritual and find ways to improve it... However, the Phoenix Fire's accumulated ritual data is still too scarce, and its technical reserves are insufficient, making improvement potentially difficult."
Simultaneously, this defensive ritual was the most costly to set up.
Rituals were entirely different from strange artifacts and elixirs; the expenditure for their setup depended not only on their grade but also on their scale. A blue-grade ritual could cost far more than a legendary-grade one to deploy.
Furthermore, if a defensive ritual were integrated with city walls, the cost would undoubtedly make any faction frown and require careful calculation. Every extra kilometer of city wall could incur a colossal investment.
"Fortunately, the investment for the Mycelial Ritual of Ten Thousand Woods is less than that for other types of defensive rituals. The main expenditure lies in the cultivation of root materials... and my Phoenix Fire currently does not lack strange crystals."
He pondered setting up the Burning Fire Oasis first.
Firstly, the Burning Fire Oasis was very small, and setting up a circle around it would not incur a significant investment. Secondly, the Starfire Oasis already had ritual city walls, and building another one felt somewhat wasteful.
Both the hidden ritual and the notarization ritual had considerable value, but the Blood Source Body Infusion Ritual, after reading its description, left Fang You uninterested, allowing it to gather dust in the data library.
"However, what exactly is the 'hidden existence' in the notarization ritual?"
"Is it a symbol, an unspeakable entity, or...?"
Staring at the description that had already been entered into the system and displayed on the panel, Fang You fell into deep thought.
Notarization rituals were a type of ritual, and as the name suggested, they involved making contracts under the witness and authorization of a notary, giving the contracts mystical binding power.
Different notarization rituals utilized different hidden existences.
But what exactly was this hidden existence?
"Is it of the ninth tier, or the tenth tier, or something else?"
"Could it be an unnamable evil god?"
He harbored such worries. The notarization ritual set up by the old man Bai Yao earlier did indeed emanate faint traces of a presence that, when probed deeply, felt extremely terrifying.
However, this aura was entirely different from the evil gods he had 'directly observed.' It was not as chilling, and there was a fundamental difference that he found hard to articulate.
"Notarization rituals and hidden existences—this seems to be common knowledge within super-factions, but my Phoenix Fire has no way to access it!"
Just now, Qian Qiu had asked him what a hidden existence was.
This was a question Fang You, as a mentor, desperately wanted to know. Why didn't you pester that white-haired old man about it?
Fang You could only pretend to be busy and ignore Qian Qiu's message.
"Taking over the Hidden Killing Pavilion might allow me to find relevant materials, but I need to be quick."
For this trip, he had arranged for Qian Qiu to accompany the Master of the Hidden Killing Pavilion to the Shattered Sea. Simultaneously, he had dispatched over thirty individuals from the organization's third and fourth awakenings, those with strong management capabilities, to accompany them to the Shattered Sea to take over and establish a front for the Phoenix Fire, the Burning Fire Chamber of Commerce's stronghold.
It wasn't that he didn't want to send more professional individuals—professional accountants, lawyers, or master personnel managers—but this journey would cross vast territories and was fraught with danger. Even with a mythical being accompanying them, unforeseen dangers could still arise, so he could only proceed this way for now.
He was unsure how much information he would gain, and whether this information would be transferred in advance.
In his opinion, even though the notarization ritual was powerful, with its contract terms totaling less than three hundred characters, it wouldn't be difficult to find loopholes.
He had considered hiring a team of lawyers to draft a detailed and comprehensive contract. However, due to his unfamiliarity with notarization rituals and the desire to maintain the mystery of the Burning Fire Chamber of Commerce, he had abandoned this idea.
Fang You had never placed his trust solely in a small ritual contract; a larger part of it was due to the potential gains.
Even if the Master of the Hidden Killing Pavilion wanted revenge, it would be half a year, a year, or even years or decades later. By then, the Phoenix Fire...
He envisioned a magnificent scene of mythical beings standing in ranks.
However, the attack by the two mythical beings, the Master of the Hidden Killing Pavilion and Youlis, had exposed a deficiency in their own organization.
—Insufficient reconnaissance and early warning capabilities.
If Youlis had not disdained to hide and had released his mythical aura early on, the poisonous fog would have already enveloped the Burning Fire Oasis. However, this didn't mean the Burning Fire Oasis was subpar, because it was impossible for any oasis to detect a mythical being attempting to conceal its presence.
Only myths could detect myths.
On the other hand, stepping outside the oasis meant venturing into the vast gray fog, where vision was obscured, and malevolent spirits roamed. It was difficult for anything to last long, and reconnaissance and early warning were even more out of the question.
After pondering for a while, Fang You couldn't come up with any solutions and could only adopt the method used by most large and super-large oases—namely, protecting the oasis with defensive rituals and using detection and barrier rituals to guard against enemy infiltration.
Wait, it seemed his Phoenix Fire didn't have any detection and barrier rituals?
Fang You fell into contemplation.
...
Burning Fire Marketplace.
The success of the auction had propelled the marketplace to a new height, and defeating two attacking mythical beings unscathed had elevated it even further.
Undoubtedly, with three mythical beings stationed there, the Burning Fire Marketplace would become a place of attention throughout the Fallen Star Cavernous Domain and even the surrounding large domains.
Moreover, Burning Fire had promised to release ability fruits at intervals. With this alone, the major factions of the Shattered Sea would be covetous. It was foreseeable that trade caravans would travel back and forth between the Burning Fire Marketplace and various locations. At this rate, within ten years, the Burning Fire Marketplace would develop into a magnificent and prosperous commercial city.
The only pity was that the Burning Fire Chamber of Commerce had too few personnel, which could hinder the marketplace's development and the expansion of the oasis.
Even so, shortly after the mythical battle ended, multiple major factions rushed to the shop leasing and management office, wanting to lease a shop and establish a faction stronghold while prices were still low, and to secure shops in prime locations before other factions did.
"It's a shame that the shops and real estate in the Burning Fire Marketplace can only be leased, not fully purchased, and the maximum lease period is only two years. I heard that after two years, long-term leases or purchases can be made... but the rent will definitely be much higher than it is now.
"Fortunately, this director has foresight and leased a large shop at a lower price before the auction even began."
Pokrey was a blue-robed director of Dami Luan City.
In Dami Luan City, the management tiers below mythical beings had three levels: red-robed directors, blue-robed directors, and yellow-robed directors. Although Pokrey was not the highest-ranking red-robed director, he was still a prominent figure in Dami Luan City. After all, there were only a few red-robed directors, and they were either the acting city lord, the acting commander of the Luan Army, or the commander-in-chief of the defense forces.
As a blue-robed director, Pokrey was responsible for many businesses, including trade caravans, Dami Luan News, and many other aspects. He also had his own chamber of commerce. Because it was located in the neutral and chaotic zone of the 'Great Luan Archipelago' with numerous surrounding factions, the commercial development of Dami Luan City was flourishing.
At least, compared to the rigid Red Lotus Empire, the exclusive Ancient Moon Dynasty, and the decadent Seven Stars Alliance, their Dami Luan City was undoubtedly like a rising sun.
It was precisely because of this that Pokrey's keen business sense led him to establish a foothold in the Burning Fire Oasis early on. He had already made a substantial profit during this period, and his own chamber of commerce had been upgraded.
However, compared to earning strange crystals and managing his chamber of commerce, Pokrey knew better than anyone that his identity as a blue-robed director was his greatest honor and reliance. If he weren't a blue-robed director, he wouldn't have the qualifications to establish a large chamber of commerce, nor could he represent Dami Luan City and be stationed in the Burning Fire Oasis.
If he wanted to advance further and be promoted to the highest red-robed director, simply earning strange crystals would not be enough; he needed to make greater contributions to Dami Luan City, contributions that would surprise mythical beings.
Originally, Pokrey had given up hope. Without a mythical background, it was normal for him to be stuck as a blue-robed director for life. But now, he saw an opportunity.
He looked into the distance, his gaze falling on the burly figure with his upper body bare.
A shocking and admirable strongman.
The current monstrous six-awakening individual, after finishing his combat state and returning to his normal form, donned a loose white martial arts robe and strode towards the side of the street.
Youlis, the mythical being defeated by this burly man, was being detained by the mythical empress and had become a prisoner.
However, compared to the triumphant demeanor of the mythical empress, the burly man who had defeated a mythical being with his six-awakening state, a feat that could make him a new legend, didn't seem very enthusiastic?
Few people in the history of the entire Shattered Sea could achieve such a feat; it was enough to be recorded in history. What an honor!
There was no reason for such indifference.
Watching the mythical captive being taken away by the red-haired empress, and watching the burly man leave without even treating his injuries,
The elongated figure was so lonely in Pokrey's eyes that he suddenly understood.
"A six-awakening individual, capable of defying myths, whose power is beyond imagination, yet the Burning Fire Chamber of Commerce doesn't seem to value him much? This is an opportunity for our Dami Luan City!"
Pokrey strode forward, chasing after him.
...
"If you have something to say, say it quickly. I'm very busy and don't have much time to waste."
In a private room of a tavern, Xing Jinglei looked at the person who had inexplicably shown up and said impatiently.
If it weren't for the person's status as a representative of Dami Luan City, he wouldn't have bothered to acknowledge him.
Didn't he, Xing the Great, have a lot to do? He had even left the subsequent handling of Youlis, a mythical being, to Iluxi. Why? Wasn't it to have more time to train!
Despite defeating a mythical being, Xing Jinglei showed no trace of smugness.
Black Blade, An Jianyou, Iluxi... and so on. Who couldn't defeat a mythical being anymore? His current strength was indeed greater than when Black Blade commanded the Blade Army and fought against the avatar of the Flesh King's divine descent.
But that was several months ago!
In several months, Black Blade must have undergone earth-shattering changes, but he would catch up, constantly chase, until he could have another hearty battle with Black Blade! In such a situation, Xing the Great could not give a good face to anyone who wasted his time.
Xing Jinglei's impatient expression was seen as normal by blue-robed director Pokrey.
How could such a powerful six-awakening individual not have a temper? Moreover, he had just defeated an enemy and was not valued, so it was reasonable for him to be in a bad mood.
He cleared his throat and began,
"Your Excellency, I have come to invite you to Dami Luan City."
Knowing that Xing Jinglei was somewhat impatient, Pokrey cut to the chase, "Our Dami Luan City offers an extremely favorable living environment and welfare benefits. For geniuses like you, we spare no effort in their cultivation."
"Unlike the Red Lotus Empire and the Ancient Moon Dynasty, these super-oases only invest resources in royal descendants. Even those with outstanding talent are merely high-level enforcers. But our Dami Luan City is different. We embrace everyone, and in the past, individuals like you have settled in Dami Luan City and ascended to the mythical realm."
These benefits were absolutely generous.
Moreover, they were being compared to a Burning Fire that had lost its super-oasis, could only exist in the form of a chamber of commerce, and was lacking in resources.
Pokrey felt confident of success.
However, Xing Jinglei before him showed no hint of emotion, only frowning, his expression becoming more impatient and displeased, "Is that all? You've wasted a quarter of an hour of my time just to say this nonsense?!"
Wait, this plot direction was wrong!
This must be modesty and testing the waters.
Even if he had intentions, he would certainly not show it rashly. Lord Xing Jinglei was deliberately putting on an act to gain more benefits.
Pokrey was not unable to understand. He continued to dangle temptations, saying,
"Your Excellency, are you perhaps expecting Pure Divine Radiance? But since the Burning Fire Chamber of Commerce did not hesitate to put such a treasure up for auction, they probably did not consider you. On the contrary, if you join Dami Luan City, we can provide much help for mythical awakenings."
However, Xing Jinglei snorted coldly:
"Pure Divine Radiance? I never needed such a thing for my mythical awakening! Truly a waste of my time!"
With that, he drank the wine on the table in one gulp, then slammed open the private room door and left without looking back.
Leaving blue-robed director Pokrey staring with wide eyes, unable to comprehend.
This was unreasonable!
...
...
While Xing Jinglei was passively wasting time, Iluxi was actively wasting time, interrogating her mythical-level prisoner, the Master of Poisonous Clouds, the Pale Resurrector, Youlis.
At this moment,
Youlis appeared listless, suffering from both physical and mental trauma, especially mentally—he and the Master of the Hidden Killing Pavilion had made an agreement, and yet the Master of the Hidden Killing Pavilion had been defeated in less than two seconds and had fallen.
But why was it that the Master of the Hidden Killing Pavilion could leave safely, while he, a mythical being who inspired fear, had become a captive?
Youlis tried to break free, but under the guard of a mythical being, he had no chance.
His wrists, ankles, and neck were all shackled with 'Seal Stones,' an epic-grade strange stone that could suppress life energy and abilities.
It was difficult to completely suppress powerful awakened beings, but it could still weaken them.
Severely injured, weakened, and with the mythical empress watching menacingly.
Youlis chose to be submissive.
The red-haired empress sat down grandly, clasped her hands, and looked down at him from above.
"Speak, what are your uses, what are you good at? Think carefully, as this will affect your subsequent life as a prisoner."