Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil in the Cultivation World Chapter 1207 - 854: The Growth of Empress Ye Linglong, Linglong Pavilion of the Chamber of Commerce (2)

Dongfang Kong inquired with curiosity.

As an Integration Great Power, he typically paid little mind to individuals of a younger generation.

Yet, this particular young woman was not only a Princess but also the direct disciple of Daoist Mo Mei.

These two facts alone painted a future of significant promise for Ye Linglong.

Furthermore, her innate talent for cultivation was undeniable, consistently living up to expectations.

Given sufficient time, she held the potential to become another Integration Great Power.

For these reasons, he still regarded this junior with a degree of importance.

"No, this organization was not established by Princess Linglong,"

the Hidden Guard stated. "The individual who founded it is known as the Talisman Daoist."

Talisman Daoist?!

Hearing the name, Dongfang Kong's pupils contracted sharply. Within the depths of his consciousness, a flood of information regarding the Talisman Daoist immediately surfaced.

If it were over a century ago, that name would have meant little to most.

But ever since this individual personally intervened, venturing into the Demon Realm, dismantling a Demon Cave, and subsequently rescuing the Ice Soul King and others, the Talisman Daoist's presence became widely recognized.

Numerous speculations arose concerning this Talisman Daoist's cultivation level.

Some surmised this person might be a Mahayana Cultivator, while others posited they were an Integration Cultivator.

Regardless of the exact title, it was undeniable that the Talisman Daoist operated at a level exceeding the Integration stage.

Otherwise, successfully destroying a formidable Demon Cave and making a clean exit from the Demon Realm would have been an impossibility.

A cultivation base below Integration was simply not a viable consideration.

After all, how could such a comparatively weaker practitioner overcome the Integration Realm demons who guarded the Demon Cave?

The central issue, however, was the profound mystery surrounding the Talisman Daoist.

Across the entirety of the Great Xuan Dynasty, not a single soul knew the true origins of this enigmatic figure.

The person seemed to have materialized from thin air, appearing as a Great Power.

Nevertheless, concerning the Great Xuan Dynasty, this Talisman Daoist had exhibited benevolent actions, making them a potentially valuable ally rather than an adversary.

At present, the Great Xuan Dynasty was already contending with the menace of demons and did not desire the complication of acquiring another formidable enemy.

"The Mixed Element Alliance was actually founded by the Talisman Daoist?" Dongfang Kong questioned, his brow furrowed.

"What exactly is his objective in establishing the Mixed Element Alliance?"

He wasn't fearful of the Talisman Daoist instigating chaos within the Great Xuan Dynasty; rather, it was the potential lack of any discernible intention that truly unsettled him.

The unknown was the source of his deepest apprehension.

The more actions an entity took, the more clues and traces they inevitably left behind.

That would present an opportunity to uncover the Talisman Daoist's genuine identity.

While the Talisman Daoist presented a benevolent facade, who could truly ascertain the underlying motives driving the actions of such a mysterious cultivator?

For the Great Xuan Dynasty, the most detested form of complication was an uncontrollable variable.

Should this individual shift their allegiance during a critical juncture, the Great Xuan Dynasty could face catastrophic consequences.

"As it stands, we remain in the dark regarding the Talisman Daoist's true intentions,"

the Hidden Guard admitted, shaking his head. "Since establishing the Mixed Element Alliance, this Talisman Daoist has not made another appearance.

Even the members within the Mixed Element Alliance have never laid eyes upon his true form."

He, too, felt a significant degree of perplexity.

For a cultivator of such a high caliber, a relatively minor organization like this should serve no practical purpose.

Even if the recruited cultivators possessed exceptional talent, it offered no tangible benefit to his personal cultivation journey.

It seemed the other party had established this organization solely for the purpose of nurturing certain talents within the human race.

"Is he truly that elusive?"

Dongfang Kong mused, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "It appears that uncovering the Talisman Daoist's trail through the Mixed Element Alliance will prove to be no simple feat.

Oh well, since this minor organization poses no discernible threat to the Great Xuan Dynasty, there is no need for undue concern.

Simply continue to monitor the situation."

Dongfang Kong stated with solemnity.

The Mixed Element Alliance itself was insignificant in the grand scheme of things, its members predominantly consisting of Low-Tier Cultivators.

It presented no genuine threat to the established power of the Great Xuan Dynasty.

In terms of sheer numbers and cultivated talent, how could the Mixed Element Alliance possibly compare to the Great Xuan Dynasty?

The Great Xuan Dynasty remained the preeminent super organization, attracting the most prodigious talents.

Even they had struggled to cultivate a significant number of High-tier Cultivators; consequently, how could the Mixed Element Alliance possibly achieve greater success?

In truth, the number of organizations posing a genuine threat to the Great Xuan Dynasty was vast and uncountable.

For instance, there were entities like the Celestial Punishment Association.

They simply lacked the necessary manpower to dedicate continuous resources to tracking the Mixed Element Alliance.

As long as it was confirmed that this organization posed no substantial danger, that knowledge was entirely sufficient.

"Understood, sir."

Every member of the Hidden Guards affirmed their compliance.

Although their department extended its reach across the entirety of the Great Xuan Dynasty, the sheer volume of their duties left them with insufficient resources to dedicate exclusively to such a minor affair.

Furthermore, considering Princess Ye Linglong’s association, the Mixed Element Alliance could, in a sense, be regarded as a quasi-official entity.

......

Elsewhere within the imperial capital lay Princess Linglong’s majestic estate - the Linglong Mansion.

After decades of dedicated expansion, the Princess’s residence had blossomed into an even more flourishing and vibrant domain.

As Ye Linglong’s cultivation base ascended and her inherent talents came to light, her renown permeated the entirety of the capital city.

Various esteemed Noble Families and exceptionally gifted commoners began to pledge their allegiance to Ye Linglong, becoming her loyal retainers.

One could observe that Ye Linglong's sphere of influence was steadily expanding.

Nevertheless, the foundational members of her burgeoning power structure remained her own siblings, whom she had grown up with in the orphanage.

Prominent among them were figures such as Xiao Duan, Jiang Mo, Su Wangyue, and Liu Shengnan.

Their own cultivation journeys had also seen rapid progress, with each reaching the Early-stage Nascent Soul stage.

While their rate of advancement might not rival Ye Linglong's meteoric rise, it was nevertheless a truly commendable achievement.

"Sister Linglong, the Hidden Guards have been unusually active of late, probing into the affairs of our Mixed Element Alliance."

"They’ve even gone so far as to dispatch Hidden Guard operatives to infiltrate our organization."

"My estimation suggests that a significant amount of the Alliance’s confidential information may have been compromised."

Xiao Duan conveyed his concerns.

"Fear not, this is merely a minor inconvenience."

"As our Mixed Element Alliance continues to ascend in stature and scope, it is only natural that we would eventually attract the scrutiny of the Hidden Guards."

"Moreover, our esteemed Alliance Leader is unlikely to concern themselves with such trifles; even if the Hidden Guards were to uncover our secrets, what consequence would that truly hold?"

"They possess no means to exact any significant retribution against our Mixed Element Alliance."

Ye Linglong responded with an air of profound tranquility.

Such developments had long been within her foresight.

She was no longer the vulnerable cultivator at the Qi Refining stage she once was, but had attained the pinnacle of Nascent Soul Perfection.

She stood merely a single step away from achieving Divinity Transformation.

More crucially, she held the esteemed position of Direct Disciple to an Integration stage Great Power, in addition to her noble title as Princess.

Even if the Hidden Guards were privy to certain sensitive matters, they would be powerless to cause her any harm, let alone subject her to interrogation.

Such are the undeniable privileges bestowed by exalted status.

"It truly feels as though the Alliance Leader functions much like a shrewd merchant."

"The establishment of the Mixed Element Alliance appears to serve primarily as a convenient platform."

"Its principal objective seems to be the collection of transaction fees."

"Beyond this singular function, the Alliance Leader has remained conspicuously inactive, perpetually maintaining a low profile."

Su Wangyue voiced her observations with a hint of exasperation.

Initially, she harbored suspicions that the Alliance Leader of the Mixed Element Alliance might be harboring clandestine and nefarious intentions.

However, as time had progressed, she came to understand that the fundamental nature of the Mixed Element Alliance was that of a loosely affiliated commercial consortium.

The individual at its helm had never evinced any inclination towards forging a tightly integrated organizational structure.

Had such a notion truly been within their contemplation, they would never have permitted the Mixed Element Alliance to evolve in its current, somewhat amorphous, state.

"Over the course of these years, the Alliance Leader has undoubtedly amassed immense profits."

"We have no way of knowing the sheer volume of rare treasures that have transacted through this platform."

"Each and every exchange generates substantial revenue in the form of fees."

"Merely from these transaction fees alone, the Alliance Leader's earnings likely surpass the combined wealth of all of us."

Liu Shengnan expressed her envious sentiments.

After all, this represented a truly effortless method of wealth generation.

While they toiled diligently, engaged in the trade of diverse treasures, the lion's share of the accumulated profits was invariably claimed by the Alliance Leader.

The most galling aspect of the situation was their inability to extricate themselves from their association with the Mixed Element Alliance.

"That is simply the prevailing reality of our circumstances."

"Our esteemed Alliance Leader possesses an unparalleled capacity for logistical transport, a capability that transcends the comprehension of any ordinary cultivator."

"Throughout the entire dominion of the Great Xuan Dynasty, such a unique capability is unmatched; not even the revered Human Emperor command such power."

"Without the invaluable services of our Lord Alliance Leader, how could we ever hope to procure treasures from every corner of the world?"

"And how could we acquire such a vast array of precious items without ever needing to venture beyond our immediate surroundings?"

"It is precisely due to this extraordinary facilitation that we were able to establish the Linglong Pavilion merchant guild, thereby generating considerable profits."

Jiang Mo offered his calm assessment.

Undeniably, over the passage of years, they too had reaped significant benefits from the influence of the Mixed Element Alliance, accumulating substantial personal fortunes.

Without such substantial financial gains, their own cultivation paths would not have progressed with such remarkable rapidity.

Presently, the Linglong Pavilion had blossomed into a formidable commercial guild within the heart of the imperial capital.

An untold number of cultivators were drawn to its esteemed reputation, seeking its services.

The daily volume of transactions conducted was nothing short of astonishing, a fact that incited immense envy among many of the established Noble Families.