In years past, the Dou Family Shop in the Divine Capital had always been a jumble of dragons and snakes, with rumors flying everywhere and martial artists coming and going in droves. Some drank tea, others wine, making the place noisy and lively. But over the last six months, business had suddenly grown much quieter. Even today, when the new Earth Ranking and Human Ranking were released, plenty of seats remained empty.
"No good, no good. Nothing like it used to be." The shopkeeper of the Dou Family Shop stood at the turn of the staircase with his hands tucked into his sleeves, his breath steaming white as he shook his head repeatedly and heaved sigh after sigh.
A newly hired waiter looked at him blankly and asked in confusion, "How come business has gotten so much worse?"
The shopkeeper was full of worries, and once prompted, the floodgates opened. "You came from the countryside and haven't been working here long. You've never had much contact with the martial world, either. Naturally, there are things you don't know."
"What things, boss?" the waiter asked, brimming with curiosity.
"It's a long story. We have to start two years ago, when Golden Turtle Island surfaced in the Eastern Sea and sent celestial immortal envoys here to deliver invitations." The shopkeeper gazed out the window, sinking into recollection as though he himself had experienced that great event that shook the martial world. "Celestial immortal envoys! Golden Turtle Island actually used celestial immortals as messengers! Do you know what a celestial immortal is? They develop grotto-heavens within their bodies and open up worlds upon a single leaf. Their power is as vast as the stars, far beyond anything mortals like us can imagine. Yet even such immortal figures could only serve as envoys."
"What