Chapter 217: Great Divides
"Fellow Daoist Jiao, I wonder about the background of this Wanfa Chamber of Commerce. 'Wanfa,' such grandiosity! Could it be that this Chamber of Commerce truly possesses over ten thousand techniques?" Li Fan asked immediately. [1]
"When it comes to the origin of the Wanfa Chamber of Commerce, we have to go back to the period right after the Great Calamity, before a new order was established," Jiao Xiuyuan explained to Li Fan.
"Usually, this period is referred to as the Desolate Age."
"At that time, the number of cultivators had dropped to its lowest point. The survivors of the calamity were true lone wanderers. Isolated and alone, apart from themselves, they wouldn't trust anyone else."
"Cultivators sought refuge in the wilderness, exploring ruins, and searching for opportunities."
"An individual's energy was limited, and sometimes they couldn't practice extra techniques they found. At that point, they naturally thought of using techniques to exchange for other useful items with fellow cultivators."
"But in that era, the trust among cultivators had almost approached zero. To successfully trade, an intermediary that everyone trusted was undoubtedly indispensable."
"The Wanfa Chamber of Commerce was one of these former intermediaries. It's also the only organization that could survive even after the establishment of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association. During the Desolate Age, cultivators were scarce, but techniques were abundant. Often, a single cultivator would own several techniques acquired through robbery or fortuitous encounters."
"The Wanfa Chamber of Commerce, during that time, amassed an unimaginable number of techniques. This is why it could stand tall for thousands of years and still exist today."