Xu Nian was astonished
because he realized the elder's cultivation was not low.
He had actually reached the One-star Battle Saint Peak Level.
A steward of a rchant association had attained the Battle Saint Level.
How powerful must this rchant association be?
However, Xu Nian was clearly mistaken, as the elder held a high position within the association.
"Are you sure he really intends to go?" The elder clearly harbored so doubts about Xu Nian's intention, turning to address the young woman.
"Positive. This is the Gold Coin he prepared," the young lady said as she handed over the unclaid storage ring to the elder.
After examining it, the elder's face also showed a look of surprise.
He had not expected that the young man truly intended to visit Penglai.
"Please, have a seat!"
Seeing that Xu Nian was indeed set on going to Penglai, the elder stood up and approached with enthusiasm.
The young woman was taken aback to see the elder greet soone so warmly.
Elder Yu was the person in charge of the East Sea Comrce and was usually only so passionate with VIPs on the third floor.
Why was he showing such regard for a young man today, even taking the initiative to greet him so warmly?
"You can leave now; I'll handle things here," the elder instructed the young woman.
Although she was sowhat puzzled,
she nodded and withdrew.
Observing the woman's departure, the elder turned to Xu Nian with a smile on his face.
A youngster who could offer up a billion Gold Coin undoubtedly ca from an extraordinary entity behind him.
Of course, that was not the true reason the elder valued Xu Nian.
What really caught his attention was that he could not see through the cultivation level of the youngster before him.
Of course, he did not think that the young man's cultivation surpassed his own.
He just assud Xu Nian was in possession of so item that shielded him from Spiritual Sense detection.
And such items, belonging to forces
that could be counted on one hand across the entire empire,
were without exception more potent than their own rchant association.
That was why he placed such importance on the young man.
How could Xu Nian not guess what the elder was thinking? However, he simply smiled in response,
without providing any explanation.
Besides, if the elder knew the truth, his reaction would likely turn from eagerness to terror.
"Sir, do you truly intend to journey to Penglai?" the elder inquired.
"Yes, and the sooner the better, preferably setting off today," Xu Nian confird.
He did not wish to waste ti on pointless waiting.
"In such haste? Well, how about setting off tomorrow morning? Because such a ship requires so ti to prepare," the elder proposed with a smile.
Considering this, Xu Nian nodded his head after a mont's thought.
"Alright, then tomorrow morning," Xu Nian agreed.
Having decided, Xu Nian then made to stand up.
He could afford to wait half a day.
"Wait a mont, sir. It seems you might not be very familiar with Penglai. May I be bold enough to ask, what is it you wish to achieve by going to Penglai?" the elder asked.
"What else could it be? It's to apprentice and learn. Isn't it said that Penglai possesses incredibly powerful cultivation resources and thods?" Xu Nian replied with a smile.
Sighing at this revelation, the elder responded, "If you genuinely wish to learn cultivation and apprentice in Penglai, I advise you to reconsider. Obtaining apprenticeship in Penglai is extrely rigorous and even harsh. The last ti the empire organized a group of one hundred geniuses to send to Penglai for cultivation, not a single one passed their examination. Only one survived, but he went mad."
"So harsh?" A flicker of surprise crossed Xu Nian's face.
So those hundred people spoken of in hushed tones had been sent by the empire.
But Xu Nian had not expected that the assessnt in Penglai would be so difficult.
"Yes, it's that harsh. The assessnts in Penglai have always been stringent, and for those who fail, it's usually a dead end. I have overseen the East Sea Trading Company for many years, and yearly, so young talents wish to go to Penglai, yet none return. Seeing that you are no ordinary guest, with significant power at your disposal, why take such a risk?" the elder couldn't help but advise.
Smiling at the elder's words, Xu Nian said, "Elder Yu need not worry. I just want to see for myself what Penglai is really like. If it's truly dangerous, I will choose to give up."
"That's good to hear. I've seen many geniuses who are confident at the outset but end up in a sorry state upon arrival. It's rare to see soone as modest as you," the elder comnted with admiration.
He was becoming more convinced about the youth before him, affirming that Xu Nian belonged to a powerful force.
Both his speech and deanor revealed sothing extraordinary about Xu Nian.
Maintaining such an easygoing attitude in his presence was not sothing a common talent could exude.
"Sir, if I may be bold to ask a question, would that be all right?" the elder asked.
"Ask away," Xu Nian answered with a smile.
He had already guessed what the elder wanted to ask.
"May I inquire which force do you hail from?" the elder probed tentatively.
Xu Nian's smile grew upon hearing this; it was exactly as he had anticipated.
With a slight smile, he responded, "I co from Divine River Palace!"
"Divine River Palace?" the elder was startled, his gaze becoming even more reverent towards Xu Nian.
Divine River Palace was a mysterious and potent force within the empire.
He hadn't expected the young man before him to hail from Divine River Palace.
"Right, sir, besides you, seven others will also travel to Penglai. Among them, five seem to be from Penglai and intend to return to Penglai Island. When you see them tomorrow, rember to be cautious," the elder said.
"People from Penglai Island?" Xu Nian expressed his surprise.
Unexpectedly, on this trip to Penglai, he would encounter people from Penglai Island.
"Do people from Penglai often co to the mainland?" Xu Nian questioned.
"No, usually only one or two in a year. I'm not sure why, but this ti five ca at once. Seeing that you hold no ordinary status, I felt compelled to caution you. Those from Penglai are not to be provoked; they are extrely arrogant. They won't hesitate to kill anyone who angers them, regardless of their force," the elder explained.
Taken aback, Xu Nian had not expected the people from Penglai to be so domineering.
But it made sense, considering.
According to Guard Zhu Yan,
Penglai had always aspired to be akin to overseas Immortal forces
and had always regarded itself in such a manner.
They looked down on mainland cultivators.
Each appearance of a Penglai native was shrouded with the aura of a transcendent Immortal.
It led those on the mainland to mistakenly believe they were indeed real Immortals descended to the earth.
The tales of Penglai as an Immortal Island overseas were also a carefully crafted facade by Penglai itself.
Thus, it was no surprise to Xu Nian that those from Penglai had such disregard for others.
Of course, no matter how prideful the people of Penglai were, as long as they were in this realm,
they were subject to the sa restrictions as cultivators on the mainland.
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