"Fellow Daoist Jiao, what exactly are the origins of this Wanfa Trade Association? Their name means a myriad techniques, truly an audacious claim. Could they truly possess so many cultivation techniques?" Li Fan immediately inquired.
"To explain what the Wanfa Trade Association is, we must begin from the period after the great slaughter ended, before the new order was established," Jiao Xiuyuan explained to Li Fan. "This era is commonly referred to as the Wasteland Era.
"During that time, the number of cultivators had dwindled to its lowest point. Those who survived the calamities were true lone wolves, solitary figures who trusted no one but themselves.
"Cultivators dwelled in the wilderness, exploring ruins and wandering in search of opportunities.
"Sometimes they would discover more techniques than they could practice. Naturally, they thought of trading the extra techniques with other cultivators for useful items.
"But in that era, trust between cultivators had nearly evaporated. To conduct successful trades, a trusted intermediary was essential.
"The Wanfa Trade Association was one of these former intermediaries, the only organization that continued to exist even after the Myriad Immortals Alliance and Five Elders Council were established.
"During the Wasteland Era, cultivators were scarce, but techniques were abundant. A single cultivator often obtained several techniques, either plundered or acquired through fortuitous encounters.
"It was during that time that the Wanfa Trade Association amassed an unimaginable number of techniques. This is why it has stood unshaken for thousands of years and continues to endure today."
Jiao Xiuyuan recounted the origins of the Wanfa Trade Association in detail.
Hearing this, Li Fan couldn't help but ask, "Does that mean the Wanfa Trade Association is backed by a supreme powerhouse at the Eternal Life realm? An ordinary Dao Unity cultivator probably couldn't safeguard so many techniques."
Jiao Xiuyuan nodded. "That's what most cultivators believe. Both the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council tacitly permit the Wanfa Trade Association's existence. For these two behemoths to make concessions, the cultivator behind it must be formidable. However, the true identity of such a powerful figure is far beyond what minor players like us could ever know."
Li Fan offered subtle praise: "Fellow Daoist, your Thousand Li Hall operates throughout the cultivation world; you can hardly be called a minor player."
Then, with some puzzlement, he asked, "According to your account, the Wanfa Trade Association's business is acknowledged by the Myriad Immortals Alliance. So why have I never seen them within the Alliance's territories? Even for the Wanhua Trade Association, which deals with mortal affairs, I've only encountered their commercial agents, never their shops."
Jiao Xiuyuan chuckled. "The Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council each have their own independent, comprehensive trading systems. Why would they allow the Wanfa Trade Association to compete for business? Although the Wanfa Trade Association is recognized by both giants today, its scale is greatly reduced, only surviving in the cracks between them.
"The Wanfa Trade Association now operates only along the borders between the territories of the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council. These areas are chaotic, under little control from both sides, and are home to large numbers of rogue cultivators. Having a neutral organization like the Wanfa Trade Association do business there actually puts people at greater ease.
"Moreover, each territory of the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council possesses its own diverse array of special products.
“Although official trade exists between the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council during years of peace, most crucial strategic resources are typically excluded from the trading lists. Yet it is precisely these materials that are in high demand.
“Thus, using the Wanfa Trade Association as an intermediary has become a viable solution. Of course, the prices are significantly higher, and it’s perfectly normal to see them increase severalfold.
“For instance, within Five Elders Council territory, there exists a pill called the Dao Comprehension Pill. The secret formula is said to be passed down from the ancient Great Dao Sect.
“After ingestion, it can enhance one's affinity with the Great Dao's laws, thereby drastically reducing the difficulty of Dao comprehension and accelerating cultivation speed.”
Li Fan was taken aback. “Isn’t that similar to the Tianxuan Mirror's epiphanic state effect?”
“Correct. What's even more remarkable is that the Dao Comprehension Pill's effects can stack perfectly with the epiphanic state boost.
“The epiphanic state enhances your own comprehension, while the Dao Comprehension Pill reduces the difficulty of comprehension. Combined, they work in harmony. With internal and external forces cooperating, cultivation speed becomes terrifyingly fast.”
Jiao Xiuyuan clicked his tongue in admiration.
“The Alliance has coveted these Dao Comprehension Pills for a long time. But despite trying every method, they simply cannot replicate them. So each year, they can only import a limited batch through the Wanfa Trade Association's channels.
“In Five Elders Council territory, each Dao Comprehension Pill reportedly costs only fifty low-grade spirit stones, equivalent to fifty contribution points here. It’s practically being given away for free.
“But at the Wanfa Trade Association, due to high demand and limited supply, the price has skyrocketed tenfold to five hundred contribution points per pill.
“Even at that price, the number of cultivators willing to buy them is beyond counting.
“What can you do? The stuff is just that effective!” Jiao Xiuyuan sighed emotionally.
Li Fan's avatar pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, I once overheard a Golden Core cultivator mention the existence of the Fallen Immortal Realm and vanguard realms. It seems anonymous transactions are possible within vanguard realms. Couldn't cultivators from the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council trade that way?”
Jiao Xiuyuan seemed surprised. “Fellow Daoist, you even know about the existence of vanguard realms?”
After a moment's thought, he still explained in a hushed tone, “Previously, that method worked without issue. But later, such a convenient and discreet trading method fostered massive speculation and profiteering, causing prices of goods traded between the Myriad Immortals Alliance and Five Elders Council to spiral out of control. Furthermore, spies exploited the situation, stealing and transmitting vast amounts of classified intelligence.
“Eventually, two powerhouses, one from each side, simultaneously intervened, each carving out a Great Chasm.
“Since then, cultivators from the Myriad Immortals Alliance and Five Elders Council could no longer exchange goods through the vanguard realm.
“Whenever an Alliance cultivator attempts to enter a vanguard realm whose spatial coordinates lie within Five Elders Council territory, their divine sense encounters the obstruction of the two Great Chasms. The same applies to the Five Elders Council’s side.”
Li Fan nodded slowly.
“I understand. So if I want to purchase techniques through the Wanfa Trade Association, I must make the journey personally?”
“Correct. The nearest Wanfa Trade Association branch is located in Jiushan Province, near Yongliang Province.”
Jiao Xiuyuan added another warning, “Jiushan Province isn't particularly peaceful. If you truly intend to go, Fellow Daoist, you should coordinate with other Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators and travel together. That way, you can watch each other's backs on the road."
"Thank you for the guidance, Fellow Daoist. It's a long journey, and the risks are considerable. I'll need to think it over carefully," Li Fan replied.
Meanwhile, Li Fan's true self began searching the Tianxuan Mirror for information about traveling from the Congyun Sea to Jiushan Province.
Sure enough, many cultivators were recruiting companions for the journey.