Sword Pavilion Meeting

As the owner of Great River Market, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect had established a Sword Pavilion here, but it normally had little presence.

Its only sense of presence came each month when it collected rent, making the local independent cultivators grumble in private.

As for the Zhong Ding Restaurant opened by the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, it was merely a tavern.

With people constantly coming and going, its worldly atmosphere was far too heavy. Sometimes, even cultivators entering and leaving found it difficult to connect Zhong Ding Restaurant with the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.

Therefore, although the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion was the most conspicuous tall building in Great River Market, in the hearts of local independent cultivators, it was far less noticeable than places like the Spirit Medicine Pavilion and Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

But after today, everyone would have to look straight at that towering, pavilion-like Sword Pavilion.

There were still three days until the Dao Discussion Stage opened.

Within the Sword Pavilion, a resolute-faced man sat high above. Clad in a golden-yellow robe, he radiated the fierce might of a Golden Core.

Pang Renxiong, a Golden Core Immortal of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.

Below him sat eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Seven were Inner Sect disciples who had just rushed over from the sect, while the other was an Outer Sect Elder stationed here year-round.

Seated high above, Pang Renxiong said nothing.

Below, Steward Miao respectfully began reporting on various matters.

"The Five-Market Trade Fair, jointly organized with Snow Lotus Market, Mount Tai Market, Flowing Light Market, and Lancang Market, will begin tomorrow. The city's grand formation will be fully activated. The entry fee has tentatively been set at one Low-Grade Spirit Stone. This Trade Fair will continue for seven days, strengthening cooperation and exchange between Great River Market and the other four markets."

"After the Dao Discussion Stage's opening concludes, the auction specifically ordered by the sect will also begin. Participation will be limited to those from the Late Qi Refining Stage up to below Nascent Soul. Luo Tianhong will serve as host then, and we ask Elder Pang to hold down the fort."

Pang Renxiong nodded from above, his expression as stern as before.

Though they said below Nascent Soul, there would not actually be many Golden Core Cultivators attending this auction.

According to the information he had received, there would only be four or five.

He alone could completely keep the situation under control.

An auction of this level was aimed more at Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

His gaze swept over the room, and one Inner Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivator tactfully stepped forward.

"Tianhong will certainly complete this matter flawlessly!"

Next, he went over the various important items participating in this auction once more.

Some of the precious Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures had to be strictly arranged in auction order according to their value.

Otherwise, if they went unsold or failed to fetch high prices, it would be a loss for the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.

"If it is held successfully, it will become a regular practice from then on. The Great River Auction will be held once every ten years."

Pang Renxiong set the tone for the matter, and Luo Tianhong, who was responsible for the auction, could not help growing nervous.

There was far too much profit to be skimmed from something like this.

He absolutely could not make the slightest mistake.

It was just as well that the Luo Family was renowned within the Jade Cauldron Sect for being broadly learned and well-informed, and was highly skilled at handling such matters.

"The focus must still be placed on the opening of the Dao Discussion Stage," Pang Renxiong added.

Steward Miao hurriedly nodded. "All preparations for the opening have been completed. The process is as follows."

As he spoke, he laid out in detail the original origins of this Great River Market Dao Discussion Stage's opening.

From the initial investment of funds to the construction process, they had set aside the Formation Masters of Sky Sail City this time and entirely employed formation grandmasters from within the Jade Cauldron Sect. Among them, cultivators from Ailao Mountain in the Jade Cauldron Domain had participated extensively.

Then there were the invitations sent out before the opening, most of which had received replies.

Dozens of nearby Cultivation Families and representatives of forces from seven marketplaces would all come to observe the ceremony.

At last, the focus fell upon the various programs during the opening.

"For the singing and dancing, we have entrusted it to Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, an industry under the Joyful Union Sect. They will be responsible for warming up the crowd, as well as various performances during the event."

"The Human-Demon War will be held at the beginning. Three relatively weak Second-Order Demon Beasts will be released then. Several Foundation Establishment Cultivators have already signed up to participate in this battle. Besides all the materials from the demon beasts they kill, the victor's prizes will include a Top-Grade Magic Tool, a Harmony Qi Pill, and a Sword Pellet refined by our sect."

"The Eighteen Death Matches between local gangs are a program I specifically added recently. Though they are merely battles between Qi Refining Stage cultivators, they involve life-and-death fights between people. Their spectacle is no less than that of a Tier 2 Human-Demon War."

When he said this, the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators also became interested.

Most of this batch of Foundation Establishment Cultivators had emerged over the past two or three hundred years.

They were all Sword Cultivators who pursued battle.

Yet in recent years, most battles had been against demon beasts.

Fights between cultivators were mostly sparring matches.

Now that they could watch large-scale life-and-death battles between cultivators, anyone would be interested in watching the show.

"I heard Sun Shou say that this time, it is not as simple as two gangs fighting each other?" Luo Tianhong asked curiously.

Steward Miao nodded. "Indeed. The Great River Gang has the support of the Connecting Cloud Commerce Alliance behind it."

At the mention of the Connecting Cloud Commerce Alliance, Luo Tianhong and two other cultivators were greatly surprised.

"Is that the independent cultivator alliance that rose to prominence two hundred years ago? I heard it already has more than twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators within its ranks."

More than twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators was no small force.

They only lacked a powerful Golden Core leader; otherwise, they would rival a medium-sized sect in scale.

"Mm. They were also the earliest Merchant Alliance to establish themselves in Great River Market, and they know their limits well. They will not compete with us for mainstream Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures."

Steward Miao nodded. "So this time, we did not interfere either. We will let them fight it out."

"Then does that not mean the Mountain Shattering Gang is bound to lose?"

"More or less! I looked over the rosters submitted by both sides. The cultivators sent by the Mountain Shattering Gang really are not worth putting on the stage."

Steward Miao casually handed out seven rosters. Everyone looked them over and laughed as well.

What sort of motley crew had the Mountain Shattering Gang sent? Some were even at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

After thinking it over, Steward Miao still said cautiously, "But victory and defeat are not so absolute. They are, after all, a group of independent cultivators who make their living in the mountains every day. They absolutely do not lack the courage to stake everything on one desperate gamble."

"That is even better. The more brutal the battle, the easier it will be to stir up the audience's emotions." Luo Tianhong laughed heartily.

The others smiled as well. The atmosphere was relaxed, and they all eagerly anticipated the coming battles.

Perhaps displeased by this relaxed atmosphere, Pang Renxiong snorted from above.

"Miao Zhen, has the Heaven's Pride Ranking been arranged?"

Steward Miao's expression tightened, and he hurriedly nodded.

"That Magic Treasure has been nurtured for a hundred years within the foundation of the Dao Discussion Stage at Fallen Phoenix Mountain. There will absolutely be no mistakes."

Pang Renxiong said with a deep gaze, "It is good as long as there are no mistakes. If something goes wrong, none of you will be able to bear the responsibility."

Everyone instinctively lowered their heads.

The Dao Discussion Stage was not merely a major industry of the Jade Cauldron Sect; it also concerned the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect's strategic plans for recruiting talent from outside.

The Jade Cauldron Sword Sect was a sect primarily built on master-disciple inheritances. Though there were some small families within the sect, they had little voice.

The truth was that the path of the Sword Cultivator placed excessively high demands on a cultivator's aptitude.

Thus, although the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect had established its supremacy over this domain over the years, the number of cultivators within the sect had never risen.

As a result, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect's control over the Jade Cauldron Domain had always remained insufficient.

For this reason, the high-level personnel of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect had formulated a plan.

That was to promote Dao Discussion Stages throughout the entire domain.

The function of a Dao Discussion Stage was much like that of a secular arena.

It primarily provided cultivators who enjoyed battle with a place for fair combat.

Victors would gain fame and cultivation resources, while also leaving their names on the Heaven's Pride Ranking.

The Heaven's Pride Ranking was settled once a year. Those ranked highly would not only receive abundant rewards, but might even have the chance to join the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.

They could become either Outer Sect Elders or Inner Sect disciples.

If their aptitude met the requirements, Golden Core Cultivators would also personally take disciples and help them advance into Foundation Establishment True Disciples.

This was the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect's plan. Through the Dao Discussion Stages, they could not only earn Spirit Stones, but also discover outstanding talent and make up for the sect's shortage of cultivators.

As long as it developed properly, they could also gain better control over the Jade Cauldron Domain.

Of course, such matters, along with the atmosphere of martial contests at Dao Discussion Stages, required long-term cultivation.

And the performance during the opening would set a good tone for future development.

After discussing a few more matters, the Sword Pavilion meeting was nearly over.

Before the meeting adjourned, Pang Renxiong solemnly added one more point.

"Keep those independent cultivators in the Outer City Area under control, especially those Robber Cultivators who enjoy killing people for treasure. Catch one and deal with one. Do not let those Robber Cultivators ruin Great River Market's reputation."