Mountains and Seas Tower stood on Azure Emperor Street, at the end of which lay Misty-Wave City's sect compound.
As night fell, sect leaders and renowned elders from other regions 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, looking them over. Most of those entering were still local sect leaders from Dragonbone Shoal.
Under the territorial division following the Witch Cult Rebellion, Shang Lianbi presided over all of Dragonbone Shoal. But however many Misty-Wave City Disciples there were, they could not possibly manage such an enormous territory. They also needed to attract cultivators to settle there and pay the blood tax. Consequently, Dragonbone Shoal Local Sects were no fewer than those within the passes. Hundred Flowers Grove, the Demon Soul Sect, and others were all powers that had attached themselves to Misty-Wave City and then been allotted territory to support themselves.
Mountains and Seas Tower was a trading house run by Misty-Wave City, selling all manner of scarce resources produced in Dragonbone Shoal. Local sects normally purchased their cultivation supplies here. Now, with an opportunity revealing itself to the world and a flood of stinking beggars arriving from elsewhere, it had temporarily become an auction venue. Entry required standing, lest reckless idlers slip inside and spoil the patriarchs' enjoyment.
Xie Jinhuan was currently the Blood Rain Tower Sect Leader. With a faction backing him, he could enjoy honored-guest treatment simply by entering with his invitation.
But Xie Jinhuan was just like everyone else who had come here: shopping came second; his main purpose was to observe his opponents.
After all, here they could call one another fellow Daoists and sound each other out, determining who had come. Once outside Misty-Wave