Chapter Twenty-One: Selection Tournament Training Camp

“Welcome to the Chenglian Chamber of Commerce!” As Tang Yi stepped inside, a female attendant greeted him warmly. “Feel free to browse as you like. How may we assist you today?”

“Don’t you purchase specialties from the Outer Withered Star Domain?” Tang Yi inquired.

“I see. Please come this way,” the attendant smiled gently, leading him through a door into a spacious hall.

Inside, over a dozen people were seated, sipping tea. Among them was a short, bearded man Tang Yi recognized from Ningyuan Star.

Just as Tang Yi took a seat, a middle-aged man emerged from a nearby door and addressed the bearded man. “Mr. Hu, here are six hundred mid-grade celestial stones. Please check them.” He handed over a spatial ring.

“Hmm, your Chenglian Chamber of Commerce offers fair value. I’ll be back next time. Farewell for now,” the bearded man said after inspecting the celestial stones inside the ring.

“That’s great to hear. Safe travels, Mr. Hu,” the middle-aged man replied, then gestured politely to another seated guest, “Mr. Li, please.”

Mr. Li entered the same door with the middle-aged man. After about the time it took for incense to burn halfway, Mr. Li was invited back into the hall. The middle-aged man excused himself briefly, then returned and conducted a similar transaction as before, sending Mr. Li on his way and welcoming a new visitor.

An hour passed before it was Tang Yi’s turn. He followed the middle-aged man through the door, entering a vast chamber centered on a circular jade platform, presumably used to inspect traded goods. Tang Yi noticed an array formation inscribed upon the jade surface.

Standing before the platform was a young woman, barely more than a girl, with a voice so light and clear that it stirred memories of Hua Ruoxue. He wondered how she was faring now. His own special abilities were undergoing unpredictable changes; most were failing him. He surmised that Hua Ruoxue had ascended to the Immortal Realm, though her precise whereabouts remained unknown, as her signal transmitter had yet to be activated. So far, only the device installed by Zhang Sanfeng on Guanyue Star was still functioning, allowing him to receive signals.

“Sir, sir…” the girl called softly.

“Oh, sorry, I was distracted. Where were we?” Tang Yi regained his composure.

“May I ask your name, sir? Is this your first visit to our Chamber?” she smiled.

“Heh, my surname is Tang. Yes, it’s my first time here. How should we proceed with the transaction?” Tang Yi chuckled awkwardly.

“Uncle Luo, please activate the formation. Mr. Tang, place your items on the jade platform. I will inspect and appraise them,” the young woman said, revealing a professional confidence.

Tang Yi heaped all his goods onto the jade platform. Once the formation activated, it expanded into its own space. He had thought the contents of his spatial ring sufficient to form a small mountain on the platform, but the formation’s expansion only accommodated less than one twentieth of his stock.

Noticing his surprise, the girl explained, “The jade platform is inscribed with a spatial formation that enlarges the space thirtyfold, primarily to facilitate inspecting trade goods.” She tapped the edge of the platform, and a translucent screen about forty inches wide appeared in midair. As she gestured, enlarged images of the items appeared on the screen, allowing three-dimensional viewing from multiple angles.

Tang Yi thought to himself, “This device seems even more convenient than what I use on my current Immortal vessel. I should take note.” His hand rested casually on the platform’s edge.

“Most of the goods you brought are specialties from the Three Stone Star Domain. If these are the only quantities, you might be at a loss this trip,” the girl observed after examining the items.

“Oh? How so? Please enlighten me,” Tang Yi replied.

“Not to boast, but recently the Forging Guild upgraded the celestial vessels used for star domain travel, reducing travel time by nearly a third. Larger chambers have been replacing their star domain ascension ships accordingly. This has significantly cut profits for outer domain shoulder carriers like yourself. The celestial stones you’ll gain from these goods won’t even cover the cost of a round trip to the Three Stone Star Domain,” she explained. “Even here at our Chamber, the maximum we can offer is around sixty mid-grade celestial stones; elsewhere, you might not fetch even fifty.”

“I see. Luckily, I have some reserves. Hopefully, I won’t lose out,” Tang Yi said, adding the remaining goods from his ring to the jade platform.

With a soft rustle, the platform brimmed with various materials. Tang Yi retained only the rare, precious crafting materials he knew well, placing most items on the platform.

“…Mr. Tang, you truly are…” the girl was momentarily at a loss for words.

After careful appraisal, she quoted Tang Yi a price in celestial stones.

“Some of your goods are exceedingly rare even in the Immortal Realm. Though we are a modest chamber, we won’t let you suffer losses. The total comes to two thousand eight hundred mid-grade celestial stones. How does that sound?” she asked.

Tang Yi responded casually, “Sounds fair. I doubt a chamber as reputable as Chenglian would deceive a humble shoulder carrier like me.”

“Please wait in the outer hall; your celestial stones will be delivered shortly. Uncle Luo, if you please,” she gestured politely to the middle-aged man.

Meanwhile, deep within the formation at Bihai Gate of Bihai Star, the leaders of the four sects—Bihai Gate, Diyang Gate, Gujian Gate, and Wanshou Gate—stood atop a high platform. Below them, over four hundred disciples from the four sects assembled, most at the Celestial Immortal Realm, a few reaching the Great Dao Golden Immortal level. Hua Ruoxue, Zhang Qiang, Hua Shaojie, Gu Zhenzhen, and Zhang Cuishan were among them.

“I believe you all understand why you have been gathered here for intensive training,” Lan Qishan began, as the host. “Indeed, it is for the upcoming Divine Weapon Star Selection Tournament. This event, established jointly by the top five hundred sects and families of the Immortal Realm in the year 70103 of the Immortal-Demon calendar, serves to open the Divine Weapon Star. The top three thousand victors will be directly admitted to the entrance gates of the Divine Weapon Star system prior to its opening. Each winner will also receive a custom-crafted immortal weapon funded jointly by the five hundred strongest sects, with a minimum quality rating of Class Three Premium.”

She paused, then continued.

“Inside this jade slip are the tournament rules and footage from previous contests, which will be of great help to you. Don’t assume victory guarantees safety; these three thousand slots are reserved by us top sects to accommodate smaller sects. The total number of disciples from other sects and independents is far greater. Whether the Divine Weapon Star truly opens depends on your fortunes.”

Next, Yan Zhen from Diyang Gate spoke, distributing a stack of jade slips to the assembled disciples.

“Since the Divine Weapon Star opens only once every era, each of you has but one lifetime opportunity. Seize it. Tickets to enter the Divine Weapon Star appear randomly on many asteroids within the system during the five years prior to its opening. Each person must acquire their own ticket, which binds exclusively to them; no one can hold more than one, nor can tickets be transferred. The top three thousand winners will be guarded by one thousand Immortal Lords from the five hundred strongest sects. Do not disappoint us—I have great faith in you!” Gu Hua planted his sword on the platform and addressed those below.

“Now, enough talk. This training will last eighty years, so time is of the essence. During training, no one may leave or request leave. Any unauthorized absence will be considered forfeiture. As your sect leader, I do not wish to see anyone slacking off. Let us begin!” Tuoba Gang of Wanshou Gate concluded firmly.