The Mountains and Seas Tower stood on Azure Emperor Street, at the end of which lay Misty-Wave City's sect headquarters.
As night fell, sect leaders and renowned veterans from elsewhere arrived one after another outside the sprawling three-story building, where Misty-Wave City disciples in brocade robes received them.
Xie Jinhuan stood at the mouth of a nearby alley, surveying the scene. Most of those entering were still leaders of local Dragonbone Shoal sects.
Under the division of territory after the Witch Cult Rebellion, all of Dragonbone Shoal fell under Shang Lianbi's authority. But however numerous the Misty-Wave City Disciples were, they could not possibly manage such an enormous territory. They also needed to attract cultivators to settle there and pay the Blood Tax, so the Dragonbone Shoal Local Sects were no fewer than those within the passes. The Hundred Flowers Grove, the Demon Soul Sect, and others were all factions that had attached themselves to Misty-Wave City, then received a patch of territory on which to support themselves.
The Mountains and Seas Tower was a trading house run by Misty-Wave City to sell the various scarce resources produced in Dragonbone Shoal. Local sects normally purchased cultivation supplies here. Now, with an opportunity manifesting in the world, hordes of stinking beggars had arrived from elsewhere, and the building had temporarily become an auction venue. Entry required standing, lest some idle fool unafraid of death slip inside and spoil the patriarchs' enjoyment.
Xie Jinhuan was currently the Blood Rain Tower Sect Leader. With a faction behind him, he could enjoy honored-guest treatment simply by presenting his invitation.
But like everyone else who came here, shopping was secondary for Xie Jinhuan. His main purpose was to observe his opponents.
After all, here they called one another fellow Daoists and could still sound each