Chapter 525

The candidates for Lord of Tiancheng are selected to identify the most commercially skilled and promising heirs, so anyone who obtains candidate status will undergo an evaluation based on "trade."

"Reasonable enough," Ye Fan remarked.

Twelve tokens have been issued; nine are now activated, and the Qiongqi Token in my hand is the tenth.

Setting aside the trope that the strongest always appears last, activating a token earlier has clear advantages.

Though the tower exudes a distinctly Eastern classical style, its interior is a vast, technologically advanced space.

At the moment Ye Fan activated the token, it automatically configured an introduction and interface using his personal preferences—text and projection displays he could instantly understand.

"The items traded and profits earned are yours; a certain percentage of turnover accumulates as points, but valid transactions are judged by Tiancheng to prevent fraud."

Each candidate possesses a tower where all candidates are protected by rules—they cannot be harmed—and can suppress troublemakers up to a certain power level.

Each candidate holds the authority to issue tokens; token holders may enter Tiancheng to conduct trade. The number is limited, can be increased based on business growth, or randomly cast into the void to await the fated of other civilizations.

Fated ones: those with strong trading needs, civilization levels within the tower or lord's suppression range, and possessing either significant fortune or a turbulent destiny.

Those meeting all the above are prioritized.

Holding a token allows one to purchase items within Tiancheng, establish a shop in any tower, and bring companions into Tiancheng.

Additionally, this place serves as a waystation; occasional former customers or powerful beings seeking rest may linger, though timing and probability are unpredictable.

Ye Fan, upon reading this, sighed: "Quite comprehensive."

After skimming the introduction, he walked to the edge and gazed at the other nine towering spires piercing the clouds, overlooking the below mosaic of urban architecture in diverse styles.

Glittering and dazzling, mansions clustered thickly, palaces gilded, Xianshan peaks emerald, strange beasts and powerful figures galloping back and forth—somewhat like the village scenes filmed on Su Lin's set.

It was undeniably large, but frankly, Ye Fan felt slightly disappointed.

He had expected this place to be a vast structure, a nexus connecting countless worlds.

Instead, Tiancheng had been downgraded from a multiversal marketplace to a mere waystation; restoring its former glory would take unknown lengths of time.

But there's an upside: securing an early foothold in this nascent market avoids the cutthroat saturation seen in the Reincarnation Space—where low-grade cultivation techniques and spells are bundled at 50 points for a thousand types, and low-tier tech-magic items are sold at 3 points per piece or 10 for four.

Damn it, in that place, only high-end and cutting-edge tech offered blue ocean opportunities; even traditional goods with costs as low as projection + Xin Su Ye felt like a loss to him.

"Fine. Sell whatever I can."

If all else fails, I can return to Su Lin's newly reopened simulated universe and run a clearance sale.

"The future is promising. The future is promising."

Ye Fan took several finely crafted jade tokens from a manifesting sandalwood cabinet, preparing to take them back to bring others along, when he suddenly noticed the neatly stacked quantity of tokens.

A single sweep of his spiritual sense revealed fifty tokens.

This is the number he can currently issue, waiting for "fated ones" from other worlds to come and trade.

"."

Logically, why bother with all this effort?

He swept his sleeve and bundled them all up, taking them away at once.

"Give a few to each person; sell them as high as possible, and gift them to close friends."

Ye Fan distributed the tokens to the group members: "If you need more, there will be more later. You don't have to tell others about the chat group, but my territory can serve as our unified, official explanation for secrets and opportunities."

Su Lin raised an eyebrow, watching Ye Fan already treat himself as Lord of Tiancheng, thinking: Is this guy getting too comfortable?

Indeed, according to Ye Hei's words, tokens are randomly assigned to lucky individuals from other universes.

But for everyone here, random distribution is completely unnecessary.

"Yi Doctor and Zhao Shuangdian really liked them—they thanked Brother Ye. Zhao Lei has started holding dice lately; I don't want to play with him," Li Huowang told Ye Fan.

Zhang Chuang took three tokens, thinking: "One for Sister Bao, one for me… I'll return to Longhu Mountain and give one to the Heavenly Master."

Zhang Chuang had long wanted to bring the Heavenly Master to other worlds; then, whenever trouble arose, he could just send the old man to give those bastards a good beating.

"No no no, enough big events have already been triggered in the comics," Su Su Tuoni Stark tossed the token aside, shrugged under everyone's gaze, and said:

"Honestly, I just want to mute that population control committee guy's snap, and someday—maybe ten years from now—live a quiet, simple life with my family, preferably with a daughter."

"And quietly clean up the messes they leave behind."

Su Su Tuoni Stark had to admit that Ge Xiaolun, though a bit of a dumb oaf, as a seasoned homebody, had made a sound analysis.

Judging from various comics and movies, in his universe, staying low-key is the best way to reduce risk.

Maybe I've already been noticed?

Who cares—as long as trouble doesn't come knocking before I change the future.

Ye Fan nodded again: "You all handle it yourselves."

He carried bags of storage pouches and space rings, leading Ma Xianhong and Weigong Shilang away first.

"Should we send him a flower basket for his new shop?" Su Lin asked, blinking casually.

"We can arrange a basket from medicinal herbs used in pill refining," Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan said. "We still have plenty left over from the last Alchemy Summit."

Su Lin asked curiously: "Windmill Chrysanthemums and Cecilia Flowers for refining a Grade Nine Xuan Pill? Looks like you've fully cleared the Fire Affinity set."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "?"

Mr. Diluc, who had been absent from the otherworldly surfing due to family matters, clearly didn't catch Su Lin's reference.

Su Lin walked off disappointed; Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan remained baffled.

"Do you have any Cecilia Flowers that are ten thousand years old?" Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan asked Han Li.

Han Li shook his head.

Zhongli thought for a moment and reminded: "Windmill Chrysanthemums and Cecilia Flowers—they're native to Mondstadt in Teyvat. Just ordinary flowers."

"If Brother Gua says so, there must be a reason."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan's eyes lit up: "Maybe they can be used in pill refining. Could you bring me some next time, Old Master? I'll ask Liu Li Ge to cultivate them for me."

Crowds surged and buzzed around the suddenly appearing Qiongqi Tower in Tiancheng.

Men, women, children, elders, non-humans—all manner of beings: emperors, warriors, nobles, beggars, Daoist Priests, mages, and some with upper bodies wrapped in animal hides and leaf skirts, appearing like uncivilized primitives.

"I wonder what kind of world this new candidate for City Lord comes from." Someone's eyes gleamed with anticipation.

A female warrior said: "I hope it's a world rich in martial virtue, with more secret manuals for sale."

"Martial arts? Flying over eaves and sprinting on walls is nothing compared to the spell of Earth-Shortening!" A young man sneered: "Isn't immortal magic far superior to your jianghu folks' martial arts?!"

His words immediately drew displeasure and disdainful glances from some in the martial arts circle, but the young man paid no mind.

Ever since the last Immortal-Martial Exchange Tournament was won by the cultivators, they've been speaking with more confidence. Flying over eaves and sprinting on walls? Better to use Earth-Shortening!

He himself once believed in martial arts, until he later embraced immortal cultivation.

It's not that Tiancheng lacks powerful martial artists—there are many who have reached the pinnacle of martial Dao—but he could never afford such martial techniques.

Immortal cultivation is better: with just a bit of talent, you can extend your lifespan, and the longer you live, the more resources you can accumulate to buy better things.

In this vast Tiancheng, what isn't available?

"Don't expect too much—not every City Lord candidate starts with good goods."

A middle-aged man with brown hair and green eyes flickered a hint of envy: "If I could become a City Lord candidate, I could trade even things from the Divine Realm."

Many shared this thought; though openly forbidden to fight, City Lord candidates often wielded immense power within their towers, yet unruly individuals always existed.

Competition is an innate trait of all sentient beings.

Unfortunately, the City Lord Token cannot be transferred, nor can their badges be stolen—somewhat, this is also a form of security.

But ambitious ones coveting this Tiancheng were in agony; as for how they learned this news, it was naturally because some candidates deliberately leaked it.

After certain foolish pawns went out to probe other candidates and had their qualifications revoked, no one dared entertain such thoughts anymore.

"Aren't you opening? Are you even doing business?!" Someone grew impatient.

A Sovereign sighed: "Maybe he's truly a rookie and has nothing good to offer."

Gradually, some onlookers began to disperse, choosing to buy what they needed in other areas.

"Xiao Yueyue, what goods has the other side listed?" Shang Yue frowned, asking while hidden among the crowd.

A voice as melodious as wind chimes sounded at Shang Yue's ear: "Just started listing—seems to be some weapons."

As a leftover measure from the former City Lord, though meant to revive him after a crushing defeat, it seemed even more eager for Tiancheng to restore its former glory.

Coupled with certain restrictions Shang Xiaoyue didn't even understand, this auxiliary spirit with limited authority couldn't freely probe other candidates' personal information.

Under unopened status, discovering what goods were inside the shop was already the limit.

"Standard tech-civilization AK rifles, bullets, hand grenades, rocket launchers, anti-tank mines."

"That's it?"

Shang Yue exhaled in relief.

These items were common as dirt; though not quite dirt-cheap, they paled in comparison to the resources of other City Lord candidates.

"Then we must prepare to go into his tower and snatch his customers and lucky ones."

An extra weak competitor is purely beneficial—his presence will cause Tiancheng to randomly distribute more ordinary Entry Tokens.

That means many new customers from the myriad worlds of Tian will arrive at Tiancheng and emerge from his tower.

These are guaranteed traffic.

"Once he opens, give his business a little boost—otherwise, Qiongqi Tower might issue only a few tokens."

Having made up his mind, Shang Yue removed his hood, which concealed his identity completely, and gave a slight nod to the newly arrived Northern Wu Zhenxian.

He was a white-robed man holding a golden immortal staff, his eyes radiating detached light yet appearing kindly approachable; he stroked his black beard and nodded back at Shang Yue.

With this, many noticed Shang Yue's presence and began greeting him.

Shang Yue smiled faintly and replied: "Master Sanfeng, Mr. Du Gu, Emperor Xian—haven't seen any of you in a long time. Welcome back."

Before pleasantries could be exchanged, the door of Qiongqi Tower slowly opened, revealing a dark, depthless interior.

Instantly, curious and eager crowds surged inside.

Their frantic scramble reminded one of the white sturgeons swimming upstream along the Yangtze River.

"Shang Yue, City Lord, let's go take a look together."

"You all go ahead."

Shang Yue already knew there was nothing valuable inside, so he had no intention of exploiting the new tower master's unfamiliarity to snatch bargains.

He was uninterested, already picturing the customers leaving disappointed—unless a few nuclear bombs were stuffed inside, which might be flashy, but even those weren't rare.

"Master..."

"What's wrong, Xiao Yueyue~?"

Shang Yue, relaxed, heard the girl's trembling voice.

"Wrong! Wrong! Pills, magical artifacts, spirit plants, immortal weapons, battle armor—so many items! Too many! I can't even count them all!!!"

Shang Yue's pupils shrank—he dashed through the crowd in shock.

Soon, he reached the publicly accessible sales area of Qiongqi Tower. Normally, only one item of each type could be displayed on a shelf; if inventory existed, the tower would directly facilitate trade.

But now—

All manner of weapons floated in orderly rows across the exhibition zone.

Swords dominated—an endless sea of blades, each gleaming with cold light, like brilliant stars in the night sky or surging waves in the deep ocean.

The icy radiance dazzled; a chilling aura permeated—even though the tower shielded it, their extraordinary nature could still be felt.

"Shenlou Jade Robe, Everlasting Life Lock, Taiji Fan"

As everyone read the names and brief descriptions of the items, the entire crowd fell silent—even other tower masters stared with solemnity.

"Ye Zhetian Trading Co. Grand Opening Sale: Low-grade cultivator weapons—buy one, get one free; high-level cultivator weapons—all at 30% off; Sovereign divine weapons—purchase and receive a beginner-level Dao scripture."

Several identical, graceful palace-dressed women announced to all:

"Buy a Foundation Establishment magical artifact and receive double the quantity of Qi Condensation artifacts; buy Golden Core artifacts up to Immortal weapons, and receive a lottery ticket."

"First prize: Sovereign weapon and Ye Zhetian cultivation method, or an equivalent immortal artifact and immortal technique; Second prize: Ten-thousand-year treasure herb gift pack."

The entire hall fell into dead silence; even the sound of breathing was hard to hear, leaving only that flat, rigid, emotionless female voice continuing its introduction.

Shang Yue's eye twitched, for he saw the name of the Qiongqi Tower's owner etching itself onto the square stele held in the mouth of the Qiongqi statue beneath the guild's sign.

——"Ye Zhetian"

Are you bullying me for not having read novels?! He staggered back two steps, his face flushing green then white, as if this situation had utterly exceeded his expectations.

"Young Master Shang."

The voice of Bei Wu Zhenxian came from behind him.

Shang Yue turned and saw the man's expression utterly solemn.

Bei Wu Zhenxian spoke slowly: "Do you have confidence you can defeat your opponent?"

Shang Yue's gaze swept over the items, his breath uneven, but remembering the legacy left by the second-phase city lord, he gritted his teeth: "I will win."

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