Chapter 3060: Understanding the Situation

The streets were bustling with people and heavy traffic. Besides humans, Wang Mengbin noticed numerous alien races with peculiar physical forms, such as the Multi-Armed Race, which had six arms, the Two-Headed Race with two heads, and the Wa Race, with a human upper body and a serpentine lower body. These races maintained good relations with humans and were their allies.

The Qianyuan Continent was home to countless races. Without powerful allies, the human race would have been annihilated long ago, as distant aid is of no use for immediate needs, and the Northern Icy Plains were quite far from the Qianyuan Continent. The Multi-Armed Race, known for their body cultivation, gained an advantage in close combat. The Two-Headed Race, with their dual heads, possessed higher intelligence and had developed numerous unique inventions. The Wa Race, always appearing with human torsos and serpentine tails, excelled at cultivating spiritual herbs and brewing fine wine.

Before the Ye Family attained True Spirit status, the Qianyuan Continent hosted even more races. However, numerous major wars led to the disappearance of several races, a testament to the survival of the fittest. The human race's enduring presence on the Qianyuan Continent was partly due to their strong reproductive capabilities. Some races, despite having powerful individual members, suffered from poor reproductive rates and small populations. This limited their ability to control resources, making it difficult for them to recover after suffering significant losses.

"Junior Liu Liang," a voice announced. "Do the esteemed seniors require a guide? One hundred spirit stones per day."

A tall, slender man in a green shirt approached them. His aura indicated he was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage. Whenever the Ye Family's Trans-Spiritual Treasure Ship arrived at the Qianyuan Continent, numerous human cultivators would accompany it. Unfamiliar with the territory, these cultivators often sought guides to help them understand the local situation.

Wang Mengbin nodded. Wang Zongyun retrieved a mid-grade spirit stone, tossed it to the man in the green shirt, and instructed, "Tell us about Glazed Island and the current state of the human race."

"Understood, Senior," Liu Liang replied. He agreed and, while leading the way, began to describe the current state of the human race.

Glazed Island was the largest market city under human control. Previously, this sea region was occupied by the Pufferfish Race, who deeply resented humans and boasted numerous powerful experts. Over twenty thousand years ago, the Pufferfish Race chief perished under a Great Heavenly Tribulation. With their high-ranking members embroiled in infighting over power and profit, the human race allied with other races and successfully eradicated the Pufferfish Race.

The human race on the Qianyuan Continent currently had no Mahayana cultivators. They were organized into eighteen relatively powerful factions. The strongest was the Qiankun Palace, boasting over ten Integration stage cultivators, while the weakest was the Zhang Family, with two Integration stage cultivators. The human race had formed alliances with over twenty other races to resist hostile factions. The human race primarily operated in the southeastern Qianyuan Continent, occupying a territory spanning over ten trillion li. In the surrounding seas, they controlled more than thirty thousand islands and maintained nine major market cities.

Wang Mengbin and the other four subtly exchanged glances. It appeared the human race on the Qianyuan Continent was less powerful than those on the Xuanling Continent, given that the Wang family alone controlled over ten thousand islands there. Aside from the Heavenly Moon Race, seven other races on the Qianyuan Continent possessed Mahayana cultivators. The Ancient Firmament Race was the most powerful, with two Mahayana cultivators, while the other six races each had one. The Cangyuan Race was noted as a newly emerged power. If a minor race managed to produce a Mahayana cultivator, it would naturally stand out and gain significant influence. Multiple Mahayana cultivators from the Ye Family had successively visited the Qianyuan Continent, where they sparred with the Mahayana cultivators of the Ancient Firmament Race and the other seven prominent races. Their consistent victories, far outweighing their losses, significantly deterred the other alien races.

"I've heard there's a Qianyuan Grotto-heaven on the Qianyuan Continent, said to contain countless rare and precious treasures," Wang Yingjie casually inquired.

"That's what the rumors say, senior. I haven't seen it myself," Liu Liang slowly replied, "but nine out of ten foreign cultivators who visit the Qianyuan Continent inquire about the Qianyuan Grotto-heaven. It's rumored that the Cangyuan Race obtained their opportunity there, leading to the emergence of their Mahayana cultivator."

"The Qianyuan Continent has many perilous locations," Liu Liang continued. "Besides the Qianyuan Grotto-heaven, there are twelve other dangerous places. Here is some information on them, but my cultivation is too low, so the intelligence I've gathered might not be entirely accurate. If you intend to visit any of these dangerous areas, it would be best to spend some time gathering more detailed information and gaining a deeper understanding beforehand. Glazed Island has an outpost of the Seventh Month Pavilion, though I am unsure of its precise location." He produced a blue jade slip and presented it to Wang Mengbin with both hands. He had discerned that Wang Mengbin was the leader of the group.

Wang Mengbin swept his spiritual sense across the jade slip, nodded with satisfaction, and asked, "What made you think of compiling this information?"

"This junior thought foreign cultivators might be interested," Liu Liang explained, "so I gathered some intelligence and compiled it. Much of it is hearsay, though; it would be best to purchase reliable information from the Seventh Month Pavilion."

"There are five shops on the island with extensive business scopes," Liu Liang continued. "These are Qiankun Tower, Yuyang Pavilion, Glazed Palace, Tianyi Tower, and Jiuyuan Palace. In addition to everyday cultivation resources, they even sell cultivators, as long as the price is met."

"Cultivators are also for sale?" Wang Yingjie asked, somewhat surprised.

Liu Liang nodded. "Yes, human and other alien cultivators are sold. Most are used as cultivation vessels, but some are servants. As long as the price is right, even Spirit Bodies can be acquired."

"No way! Even Spirit Bodies can be bought?" Wang Mengbin exclaimed, surprised.

"That happened over ten thousand years ago," Liu Liang patiently explained. "I heard a small family produced a Spirit Body, but the news unfortunately leaked, attracting covetousness. The Spirit Body was captured, and True Monarch Qiankun, the Grand Elder of Qiankun Palace, personally intervened and eliminated the culprits. However, that Spirit Body also perished in the aftermath of the battle. As for the true facts, they remain unclear."

"Are there any major, powerful trade alliances on the Qianyuan Continent?" Liu Hongxue inquired.

Liu Liang nodded. "Yes, there is the Jiuyuan Commerce Alliance. I've heard their business spans the entire Xuanyang Realm, even engaging in cross-realm trade, though I'm not entirely clear on the specifics. However, the Jiuyuan Commerce Alliance wields significant influence on the Qianyuan Continent, second only to the Heavenly Moon Alliance of the Heavenly Moon Race."

"Over five thousand years ago," Liu Liang continued, "the Jiuyuan Commerce Alliance hosted an auction where they offered several top-grade Heaven-reaching spiritual treasures and even eighth-tier formations."

Over an hour later, they arrived at a massive gold-stone plaza. Five imposing buildings stood on the plaza: Qiankun Tower, Yuyang Pavilion, Glazed Palace, Tianyi Tower, and Jiuyuan Palace. The area was bustling with numerous cultivators moving in and out.

"This is your reward; you may leave," Wang Zongyun said, taking out two mid-grade spirit stones and tossing them to Liu Liang. Liu Liang profusely thanked him, accepted the spirit stones, and departed.

"Let's split up," Wang Mengbin suggested, pointing at the five shops. "We'll meet back here later." Wang Yingjie and the other four nodded, then each entered one of the shops.

Wang Mengbin stepped into Qiankun Tower, immediately facing a spacious and brightly lit hall filled with numerous materials displayed on its shelves. Most of the cultivators in the hall were at the Core Formation stage. As Wang Mengbin subtly released a wisp of his aura, a tall, slender old man in a silver robe quickly approached him.

"Welcome, esteemed senior, to our establishment," the silver-robed elder greeted warmly. "How may I be of service to you?"

"I need to discuss something with your manager," Wang Mengbin instructed. "Lead the way." The silver-robed elder acknowledged and promptly led the way.

Upon reaching the eighth floor, Wang Mengbin saw a graceful woman in a pink dress and a burly man in a golden robe descending from the ninth floor. The burly man, who had six arms and was significantly taller than a human, was clearly a member of the Multi-Armed Race.