https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-594-The-North-Sea-Barrier-Nine-Star-Demon-Hunters/12942381/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-596-Dragon-Quake-Immortal-City-Assessment-Task/12942383/
Chapter 595: The Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly's Misleading Name?
Chapter 595: The Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly's Misleading Name?
The first and only thing Luo Chen asked about was related to the star-ranked monster hunters.
"According to the cultivators in Shen Yuan City and even the areas north of the Northern Sea, star-ranked monster hunters have an excellent reputation. Why have I rarely heard of this... profession elsewhere?"
Zhang Jiadi was taken aback; he hadn't expected Luo Chen's question to be so simple.
After a brief hesitation, he explained, "It's probably related to the fact that the star-ranked monster hunter system was established not long ago. In fact, this system has only been in place for about a hundred years. Additionally, wanderers are unwilling to get involved in the Demon-Devil War in the Northern Sea, and they try to avoid it at all costs. Therefore, star-ranked monster hunters rarely venture outside, so it's normal for cultivators in other places to be unaware of this profession."
Luo Chen nodded; this explanation seemed to make sense.
The Northern Sea was vast, with clear distinctions between land and sea, and its territorial area surpassed that of other major states.
Even for merchant ships like the Lanying Ship, which had a clear destination, it took an entire year to reach Whale Harbor.
For ordinary wanderers to travel from the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly to other places, the journey would be even longer.
Teleportation arrays were fast, but as far as he knew, the arrays in some large cities were incredibly expensive, with the starting price being over a million spirit stones. Wanderers couldn't afford such a luxury.
"The Primordial Demon's destruction, a century in the blink of an eye, has brought forth many new things!"
Luo Chen sighed.
Zhang Jiadi nodded in agreement. Monster hunters were actually quite common in the past; they were just a profession that made a living by hunting monsters.
However, the star-ranked monster hunters at the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly seemed to carry a different meaning.
"Alright, let's get back to the topic. Tell me in detail about the benefits of becoming a star-ranked monster hunter."
Zhang Jiadi's expression turned solemn, and he answered seriously, "There are numerous benefits, starting with the change in identity."
"Once you become a star-ranked monster hunter, you are no longer an ordinary wanderer. Within the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, your status is automatically higher than that of ordinary wanderers. Even when you leave the assembly and go to other places, you will receive preferential treatment. For example, the most common benefit is that you won't need to pay entry fees to large immortal cities, and there won't be any expenses for extended stays either. All these can be waived."
"Secondly, star-ranked monster hunters will receive special treatment from the three major forces. With the Demon-Devil War raging, if you happen to get caught up in a battle, showing your star-ranked monster hunter identification card will cause both the righteous and demonic factions to let you pass depending on the situation."
As he spoke, Zhang Jiadi showed Luo Chen his identification card.
It was a black card with blood clouds swirling around it, and at the top hung a crescent moon.
In the middle of the blood clouds and the crescent moon were two white five-pointed stars.
"A two-star monster hunter?" Luo Chen glanced at Zhang Jiadi. Even if he was concealing his cultivation, Luo Chen could tell that he was at the late Foundation Establishment Stage.
Luo Chen furrowed his brows. According to his understanding, the star-ranked monster hunters at the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly were divided into nine stars, corresponding to the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Stages, as well as outstanding cultivators in each realm.
Especially for the last three stars, only powerful cultivators could obtain them.
In other words, a cultivator's apparent realm was often lower than their star ranking.
But Zhang Jiadi was the opposite; his cultivation was higher than his star ranking.
Didn't this mean that his strength was insufficient to support him in obtaining a higher star ranking, or even the relatively normal three-star monster hunter status?
Something was off!
The thick blood malevolence aura on his body didn't seem to belong to a weak cultivator.
Luo Chen glanced at him, and Zhang Jiadi lowered his head slightly, looking somewhat uncomfortable.
He stammered, "The special treatment doesn't end there. According to discussions among some high-level cultivators in the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, after the Demon-Devil War ends, regardless of who wins, the star-ranked monster hunters in the assembly won't be subjected to any post-war reckoning."
Luo Chen hummed in acknowledgment. After all, they were at the forefront of resisting the demonic invasion and had made great contributions to humanity.
"Please continue."
Seeing that Luo Chen didn't ask further about his star ranking, Zhang Jiadi visibly relaxed.
He raised his head, organized his thoughts, and said slowly, "Lastly, there's the well-known treatment for monster hunters. After becoming a star-ranked monster hunter, you can seek assistance from the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly when encountering bottleneck barriers. The assistance corresponds to your star ranking and realm, and there are detailed regulations for this. Usually, we save these opportunities for major realm breakthroughs, such as Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, or even Golden Core, which is what you Golden Core cultivators care about the most!"
"Of course, this is just a general overview. In fact, there's a lot more that the outside world doesn't know about the last point."
"For example, we enjoy discounts on resource exchanges within the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly."
Luo Chen listened attentively, especially to the last point.
As a good listener, he added, "What resources?"
"Many, covering everything!" Zhang Jiadi's spirits lifted, and he enthusiastically introduced them to Luo Chen.
The resources provided by the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly were indeed diverse.
Magical tools, treasures, herb pills, talismans, array compasses, secret techniques, skills, spirit beasts, spirit plants, fine wine and delicacies, furnace maids... everything a cultivator could need, from the mundane to the fourth stage, was almost all available.
Luo Chen listened in awe, but he also had doubts.
"Can the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly afford such a complex supply of resources? Where do all these things come from?"
Zhang Jiadi smiled, "Elder Luo, there's something you're unaware of. Our Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly is known as the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, a sanctuary for Wanderers. Naturally, we have an abundant supply of various resources. After all, there are talented individuals among Wanderers, especially those who have cultivated to the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages. Without a unique skill, it's impossible to reach those realms."
"For example, powerful Talisman Masters, Artifact Forgers, Array Masters, and even physicians and Spirit Chefs, we have many of them within the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly."
"As for high-level resources, many are provided by Nascent Soul Immortals. What's useless to them is quite useful to us."
"Additionally, due to our proximity to Divine Essence City, the Heavenly Origin Merchant Alliance also has business dealings with the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, so we don't lack high-end resources."
So that's how it is!
As Zhang Jiadi explained in detail, Luo Chen's thoughts wandered, and he felt a sense of familiarity with this model.
Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly?
The Luo Tian Assembly!
Isn't this the model I established during my Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment stages?
I recruited Wanderers from all directions, allowing talents to utilize their skills, while also maintaining good relations with other major powers. I would then feedback resources that the major powers overlooked, as well as resources that became useless to me as my cultivation progressed, to the Luo Tian Assembly.
However, the Luo Tian Assembly was just a smaller version of the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly.
Moreover, as my bond with the Luo Tian Assembly deepened, I eventually established the Luo Tian Sect, leaving behind my legacy.
Thinking of this, Luo Chen felt a sense of connection with the three Wanderers who founded the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, even though he had never met them.
They had all walked the same path, so they were "kindred spirits."
Having discussed the benefits, what's left are the drawbacks.
Or perhaps, a change in terminology.
The previous discussion was about the privileges enjoyed, so now it's time to talk about the "obligations" that Star-Ranked Monster Hunters must fulfill for the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly.
When it came to this aspect, Zhang Jiadi's expression turned solemn.
"First, the primary rule after passing the assessment and becoming a Star-Ranked Monster Hunter of the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly is to kill any remnants of the Primordial Demon Sect on sight!"
"Hmm?"
Despite Luo Chen's composure, he couldn't help but be surprised upon hearing this rule, and it took him a while to process it.
"Wait, you just said that the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly is associated with the three major powers. When facing a Monster Tide that can't be resisted, the three major powers will provide support, and even after the Demon-Devil War concludes, regardless of the victor, Star-Ranked Monster Hunters will receive favorable treatment."
"Yes, that's what I said."
"Then explain to me, within the three major powers, the Demon Tide Sect is infested with remnants of the Primordial Demon Sect. As you said, isn't this a contradiction? Are the remnants in the Demon Tide Sect fools, offering food and drinks and allowing themselves to be manipulated?"
To this, Zhang Jiadi scratched his head, looking perplexed.
"I don't know either, but that's the rule. Perhaps during execution, there will be flexibility based on the strength disparity between us and the enemy, but the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly and the remnants of the Primordial Demon Sect are like fire and water, incompatible."
Zhang Jiadi lowered his voice, "This rule is likely related to the three Wanderers who established the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly. It's said that they all have grudges against the Primordial Demon Sect. When the sect was still around, they banded together to resist the sect's pursuit and assassination."
Luo Chen furrowed his brows, unaware of this gossip.
However, the three Wanderers were quite renowned. Even on Cold Light Island, their names were known.
At the Mid-stage Nascent Soul, those three claimed to fear no Primordial Empress's Great Cultivators.
Thinking about it now, there weren't many Primordial Empress's Great Cultivators in the Northern Sea's cultivation world. How did they gain such a reputation?
It must be because they had fought against Primordial Empress's Great Cultivators and survived, thus earning their legendary status.
A hundred years ago, most of the Primordial Empress's Great Cultivators in the Northern Sea were gathered within the Holy Land Primordial Demon Sect.
Perhaps there was indeed a grudge? Shaking his head, Luo Chen decided not to pursue this ambiguous legend among Great Cultivators.
"Continue!"
"Yes!"
Zhang Jiadi immediately stated the second rule.
This time, Luo Chen wasn't too surprised.
The second rule was that when facing a Monster Tide, Star-Ranked Monster Hunters of the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly must answer the call and join the battle.
Ordinary Wanderers, on the other hand, faced fewer restrictions and often only went to the battlefield after several summons.
"Anything else?"
"There's one last rule." Zhang Jiadi spoke vaguely, "The Monster-hunting gains of Star-Ranked Monster Hunters must be sold through the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly and cannot be sold externally."
Luo Chen understood.
This was similar to the initial model of the Luo Tian Assembly, nothing unusual.
Initially, within the Luo Tian Assembly, whether it was the forging gains of Duan Feng, the pill concocting gains of the Pill Concocting Masters, or the cultivation gains of the Spirit Plant Cultivators, all had to be handed over to the assembly and sold through the Golden Hall by Gu Caiyi. Only after earning Spirit Stones would the profits be distributed to the members according to their contributions.
Wait!
Luo Chen seemed to casually examine Zhang Jiadi, making the latter's scalp tingle.
The cultivators of Luo Tianhui would only hand over their production income, while any unexpected gains were mostly handled personally.
But on the Wan Xianhui side, the rules strictly dictated that the proceeds from monster hunting must be managed by Wan Xianhui.
As for the business of monster beast resources... the room for manipulation was simply too vast.
The interests involved, in and out, could amount to several thousand or even ten thousand spirit stones.
For a wandering cultivator, this was no small sum.
Luo Chen had experienced the hardships of the wandering cultivator life, meticulously calculating every spirit stone, and always comparing prices when buying and selling.
He couldn't bear to have a middleman deduct a portion of his earnings.
Zhang Jiadi, despite his impressive cultivation and the dense malevolent aura he exuded, had a low star rating, which meant...?
As expected!
After Luo Chen inquired about becoming a star-ranked monster hunter and how to advance in star rating, he understood the real reason for the other party's tension.
This young man had broken the rules!
He had privately sold his monster hunting proceeds through connections outside of Wan Xianhui.
Under Luo Chen's seemingly smiling gaze, Zhang Jiadi trembled, cold sweat dripping as he nearly knelt down.
Suddenly, a hand rested on his shoulder.
A pair of gentle yet resilient eyes met Luo Chen's gaze.
"Senior Luo, as a newcomer to Wan Xianhui, you must be unfamiliar with many things. My wife and I have been deeply involved with Wan Xianhui for several decades and have a wide network. We can handle some trivial matters for you. Let us be your guides and run a few errands on your behalf."
It was Zhang Jiadi's Daoist companion, Wen Xiu, whose cultivation was not high, only at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment, but her courage exceeded her cultivation. Even under Luo Chen's scrutinizing gaze, she remained unyielding.
Luo Chen's gaze shifted downward, landing on her stomach, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Finally, he nodded.
"Then I'll trouble the couple."
...
Half a month later.
"Everyone, we've arrived at Thousand Star Island. This place is under Wan Xianhui's jurisdiction. If you wish to disembark, you can do so after registering with the manager."
"Next, we're heading to Dragon Abyss City in the Dragon Soaring Mountain Range, the heartland of Wan Xianhui. It's estimated to take a day and a half. Those who wish to go, please prepare accordingly!"
"We'll dock for an incense stick's worth of time before setting sail again."
On the deck.
Luo Chen watched as one by one, hurried wandering cultivators disembarked without a backward glance. He turned and asked, "Should we get off here?"
Behind him, Zhang Jiadi and Wen Xiu stood respectfully.
Hearing this, the couple exchanged glances, and Wen Xiu spoke up, "There's no need. Although Thousand Star Island has a monster hunter outpost, it only handles registration and record-keeping for Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators. For someone like you, a Golden Core cultivator, only Dragon Abyss City is qualified to register and assign assessment tasks."
"Do you have a residence in Dragon Abyss City?"
"Yes, a small courtyard. It's not big, but it can accommodate three to five people."
"Then let's head straight to Dragon Abyss City!"
Standing by the railing, Luo Chen was in high spirits, filled with anticipation.
Being the main city of a major power, it must be impressive.
Perhaps his future cultivation ground would be within Dragon Abyss City.
With this anticipation, the Gao family's merchant ship sped along.
After about a day, as dusk painted the sky, they arrived at a dock.
As soon as he set foot on land, Luo Chen eagerly turned his gaze towards a majestic giant city in the distance.
His exceptional vision allowed him to see the city's appearance clearly, even from dozens of li away.
However!
At first glance, he couldn't help but frown.
He turned back, filled with doubt, and asked, "Are you sure this is the main city of Wan Xianhui?"
From afar, the city was majestic and awe-inspiring.
But upon closer inspection, it was dilapidated and in disrepair.
Vines clung to its walls, and a small section of the wall had collapsed by more than half.
Even though the other walls were intact, the mottled grey-white color made it impossible to associate the city with solemnity and grandeur; it looked more like a patched-up old garment.
Moreover, the incoming and outgoing cultivators and flying boats were chaotic, devoid of any sense of order.
Despite the abundant spiritual energy that made it ideal for lower-level cultivators to cultivate, the overall impression of the city fell short of the awe-inspiring feeling Luo Chen had experienced when he first saw Heavenly Wave Immortal City.
Zhang Jiadi gave a bitter smile, "This is the sanctuary for wandering cultivators."
Luo Chen took a deep breath, waved at Tian Xuan, and then rode his Fa Yun towards Dragon Abyss City.
Tian Xuan released a stream of spell power, lifting Zhang Jiadi and Wen Xiu, and quickly followed behind.
As they drew closer to Dragon Abyss City, Luo Chen's heart sank.
Even before entering the city, his extended divine sense detected the distribution of spiritual energy within.
Although the spiritual energy was abundant, it was extremely chaotic.
The strongest concentration was located deep within the city, reaching an astonishing level of Fourth Rank! However, in other areas, the highest was only Upper Second Rank.
This environment was not suitable for Golden Core cultivators to cultivate!
"Could it be that I've come to the wrong place?"
For a moment, standing at the city gate, Luo Chen couldn't help but question his life choices.
(End of Chapter)
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