Chapter 145: The Divine Manifestation
Across the five continents, any city with even a spark of life inevitably hosted a branch of the Immortal Ascension Commerce Association.
Seraphine stepped inside, presenting her Luanyang Palace token to state her business. A manager immediately ushered her to a private second-floor booth.
She handed over her message, requesting the Association relay the information to the Luanyang Palace disciples.
Though she didn’t reveal her full identity—claiming only to be a regular disciple—the manager’s attitude was exceptionally cordial.
It was clear that the partnership between Sunset Glow City and Luanyang Palace was proceeding exactly as Seraphine had predicted.
“What do you know of the Profound Cloud Sect?” Seraphine asked.
The manager’s brow furrowed, and he let out a heavy sigh. “I was an old acquaintance of their Sect Leader. That tragedy was truly…… inexplicable.”
“There were no warnings. Overnight, the entire sect’s disciples simply vanished into thin air. Their whereabouts remain a mystery to this day. I fear they are likely……”
Seraphine lowered her lashes, her eyes darkening slightly. She nodded and shared her strategy regarding the Wooden Cloud Sect. “I intend to build a city right outside their gates. If they come to offer a formal apology, there is room for negotiation. If not—”
Remembering the stalkers outside, her smile turned sharp and contemptuous. The construction of a rival city was no longer just a plan; it was a necessity.
The manager, sensing from her tone that Seraphine was no ordinary disciple, became even more eager to please.
“Ever since the Profound Cloud Sect vanished and the Wooden Cloud Sect seized the city, rents have been hiked twice in a single year. Their disciples act like local tyrants, constantly demanding ‘tributes.’”
“I had intended to report this to Sunset Glow City myself. Since you have such a brilliant plan, the Immortal Ascension Commerce Association will provide our full cooperation.”
Seraphine’s lips curled into a smile. “Proceed then. Spirit stones are the one thing I have in abundance.”
The manager found those words delightful to hear. As he reflected on the logistics, Seraphine asked if any other strange occurrences had happened near the city recently.
After a moment of thought, he replied, “After the tragedy of the Profound Cloud Sect, very few cultivators ventured here.”
“It wasn’t until Venerable Jing bestowed the Blue Jade Beads that the city regained its former glory.”
“Aside from that…… about a month ago, the Westle Continent saw three consecutive nights of meteor showers. They seemed to fall toward the north of Wooden Cloud City.”
“However, it appeared to be a mundane event; several cultivators investigated but found no spiritual treasures or hidden opportunities.”
“I see. Thank you.” Seraphine set down a payment of spirit stones and rose to leave.
The manager escorted her all the way to the entrance, watching her depart with a beaming smile.
The moment she stepped out, Seraphine felt those hidden, piercing gazes again. She feigned ignorance, leading Error on a proper tour of the city.
Error had accumulated a significant hoard of spirit stones from her monthly stipend at Luanyang Palace; she spent them freely as they walked, proving to be a dragon who truly knew how to pamper herself.
“Sigh.” A tiny orb peeked out from the collar of Seraphine’s robes, letting out a faint, wistful sigh. This system wants to go shopping, too.
Seraphine raised a hand to touch her ear, her wrist discreetly shielding the bulge in her lapel. “Be good and stay hidden.” she whispered. “In a year, I’ll properly accompany you on a shopping spree.”
The spherical system’s envy vanished instantly. With a “whoosh,” Echo retreated back into the golden silk pouch.
The pouch slid down Seraphine’s sleeve and into her palm; she caught it, her lips curling into a soft smile.
Up ahead, Error had stopped at an ironware stall. She was listening intently as the vendor bragged about his cleaver—how it could slice through spirit-beast bone like tofu.
The dragon took a sharp breath, her eyes widening as she reached for her spirit stones.
Right then, an attack talisman shot through the air, hurtling straight for Error’s face.
BOOM!
Thunderous flames erupted, sending screams echoing through the street. It was a Golden Core-level attack talisman.
Most of the merchants in the area were only at the Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment stages; they had no hope of resisting such raw power.
Fortunately, as the flames burst, a roar like a thunderclap rang out. A wall of blazing fire surged up to form a protective barrier, neutralizing the explosion.
The ground shook. While no one was injured, several stalls were blasted to splinters, leaving behind scorched, blackened craters.
A midst the spreading panic, a man wielding a long blade leaped out, roaring, “Demon cultivator! You killed my parents and harmed my brothers! Pay with your life!”
Even as he shouted, he threw two more talismans and bolted toward the city gates without looking back.
Compared to the first explosion, these talismans were weaker. Error swatted them aside with ease. She watched the man’s fleeing figure, her green eyes shifting back to Seraphine.
Seraphine toyed with the spherical system in her pocket. Recalling the “love letter” Echo had once written for her—the one about a dramatic battle with a demon cultivator—she couldn’t help but chuckle. “If we don’t give chase, wouldn’t it be quite embarrassing for them?”
Error thought about it for a second and burst into laughter. The dragon thinks that would be hilarious.
“Forget it. Let’s go see just how much ‘skill’ they actually have.” Seraphine said softly.
She tossed a chest of spirit stones from her storage ring onto the ground as compensation and took to the sky with Error.
Once they vanished, the trembling crowd peeked into the chest. Their eyes turned red with shock when they found several high-grade spirit stones.
They immediately bowed toward the horizon in the direction the two had flown.
Outside Wooden Cloud City, Error and Seraphine followed the man at a steady pace.
The blade-wielder continued to throw talismans to slow them down.
Seraphine maintained a cold smirk, walking with her hands behind her back, watching his panicked retreat like a cat watching a mouse.
If she truly wanted to, she could have snapped his neck in a heartbeat. But she decided to play along to the end.
As she walked, her index finger hooked the silk pouch, letting Echo swing rhythmically back and forth inside.
When the city had vanished over the horizon, the man finally reached a designated clearing.
He exhaled in relief, sneering at them. “Late Golden Core? Nothing special! The Sect Master told me to be careful, but this was effortless!”
Error rolled up her sleeves and glanced at him. She took a single step forward.
In the next instant, a massive crimson dragon manifested. Her gargantuan form soared into the sky, casting a heavy, suffocating shadow over the man.
The man froze, his neck craning upward in shock. “A…… a Fire Rock Dragon?!”