East Sea, Dragon Scale Island.
Dragon Scale Island was the trading hub between the Nine Provinces' sects and the East Sea Dragon Scale Association.
As the spiritual qi of heaven and earth grew ever more restless, all manner of divine treasures and demon beasts hidden deep beneath the sea surfaced. Coupled with the unceasing increase in low-level cultivators, Dragon Scale Island's trading market became ever more bustling.
The Merfolk King, Shui Cangyue, took charge of the Dragon Scale Association, and its relationship with the Nine Provinces' sects swiftly warmed. Over two thousand years, the Dragon Scale Association had thoroughly integrated with the Nine Provinces' sects.
By this day, the scale of Dragon Scale Island's market had expanded more than tenfold.
Looking down from the sky, Gao Xian saw Dragon Scale Island packed with houses and shops everywhere. Its streets teemed with passing human and demon cultivators, exceptionally lively and prosperous.
There were at least five million cultivators on the entire Dragon Scale Island. More than half of them were human cultivators.
An immense formation enveloped Dragon Scale Island. East Sea cultivators who wished to enter the island had to verify their identities and pay a fee. The management appeared rather strict.
At the island's center, the teleportation formation's spiritual light flashed without pause as great batches of cultivators streamed in and out.
Seeing this bustling scene, Gao Xian felt somewhat wistful. Three thousand years ago, he had fought the Demon Race here with his life on the line. He Feng and Ru Dian had both perished gloriously in that battle; only then had he been able to win in the end and sign the Heaven-Human Covenant.
That laid the foundation for peace between the East Sea and the Nine Provinces. Only then did Dragon Scale Island gain its present prosperity.