Stronger from Earth

High-rise buildings stand tall in Sea City, with layers of structures blocking the view from ground level, making it impossible to see far.

In a place where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold, the larger the area and the lower the floors, the more it signifies the financial strength of the enterprise.

The Sea City base of the Immortal Martial Combat Hall is built in a valley embraced by two mountains, covering an area of thousands of acres, and stepping out leads directly to a bustling commercial street.

It combines both vibrancy and tranquility, a rarity in Sea City to have such a location and scale.

"Sea City truly deserves to be a leading commercial city in the Divine Land. Not only does it have global goods, but even items from other Star Domains, and they’re the latest versions too."

Lin Cheng, holding the child, walked with Wang Xuan to the entrance of the Immortal Martial Combat Hall, still marveling at the hustle and bustle of the streets.

"Later, you and the others can go shopping in the commercial street; it’s good to relax a bit." Wang Xuan said.

Zhang Han, carrying a lot of things, said, "Master, master, our Changsheng Group’s Sea City branch is just ten kilometers away, and it’s even more bustling there."

"Then I’ll go out tomorrow and take a look around, and also inspect the Changsheng Group branch."

The development of Sea City in recent years has been impressive, ranking among the top in various branches in terms of operating models and management teams, which she was eager to see.

Chun Shui and Qiushui, the two maids, have already booked accommodations at the Martial Arts Hall with their identity as guests of Immortal Martial Mountain, without much fanfare.

Chen Qingniu took the lead. As the Young Hall Master for many years, he was very interested in the Sea City base and wanted to see what the most outstanding series of Martial Arts Halls looked like now.

"This gate is magnificent!" Chen Qingniu looked at the plaque towering a hundred meters tall and sixty meters wide, and couldn’t help but exclaim.

"However, it’s a bit too extravagant and flamboyant." Chen Qingniu shook his head again, feeling that the style was too luxurious.

The True Inheritors of Immortal Martial Mountain, and other branches of the Immortal Martial Combat Hall, all focus more on cultivation, where a simple and practical environment is best.

Seeing such a splendid and grand setup as at the Sea City base was a first for Chen Qingniu.

Wang Xuan scanned around, noticing dozens of security personnel at the gate, and most passersby on the street gazed at the majestic plaque with awe rather than curiosity for a visit.

Clearly, this base does not have open areas.

"Is there no experiential area and exhibition area here?" A thought quickly crossed Wang Xuan’s mind, confirming there was indeed none.

Usually, a third of the area in an Immortal Martial Combat Hall is allocated for visitor tours and experiences.

The exhibition area, like a museum, showcases the development and contributions of the Immortal Martial Combat Hall, while the experiential area is for showing how the hall nurtures and trains students.

This plays a substantial role in recruitment and promotion.

"I will ask."

Chen Qingniu stepped into a few nearby stores to inquire about the Martial Arts Hall and returned shortly after.

"There used to be one, but after the new hall master took charge, it got drastically remodeled to this state, and the hall’s reputation seems to have declined since."

Chen Qingniu clicked his tongue in wonder, thinking the management at the Sea City base must be out of their minds.

The Immortal Martial Combat Hall serves as Immortal Martial Mountain’s window to the mundane world, not primarily for profit but to train talents and promote the name of Immortal Martial Mountain.

Building such a large plaque could be understood, but doing away with the exhibition and experiential areas was truly putting the cart before the horse.

"Senior Brother, the matters of this Martial Arts Hall, I’ll leave it to you to handle," Wang Xuan instructed.

Considering the superficial problems at the Sea City base, one could only imagine how bad the hidden issues would be.

Chen Qingniu nodded, "Alright, I’ll manage it."

He was very familiar with the Martial Arts Hall. Though his powers might be lacking against alien races, he could certainly eliminate the pests from this large tree of Immortal Martial Mountain.

The group approached the gate, and immediately security personnel came to question them, with the leader’s eyes darting around, particularly fixated on the three women of Lin Cheng.

His direct and unrestrained gaze was quite unnerving.

"What the hell are you looking at? Stare any longer, and I’ll render your eyes useless!" Hongze shouted, causing the man to bleed from his ears and nose from the Pill Qi shock.

Zhu Xin was startled and quickly retreated, not daring to look anymore, keeping his head down while verifying identities with people nearby.

"You are guests of Immortal Martial Mountain? My apologies, my apologies!" A middle-aged man smoothly spoke, hastening to escort them to their accommodations.

"Please don’t get angry, noble guests, that kid just joined and doesn’t know the rules, please forgive him."

He discreetly wiped the sweat from his forehead. After all, that person was the hall master’s nephew; how else could he be so disrespectful?

But these people were even more formidable, as they originated from Immortal Martial Mountain. Although they were only guests and not True Disciples, their status and abilities were not to be underestimated.

"I hope not everyone at the Sea City base is such an idiot." Chen Qingniu sighed deeply, hands clasped behind his back.

Human beings vary a lot, and even a sect like Immortal Martial Mountain, with an emphasis on virtue, couldn’t avoid having bad apples among good ones.

Wang Xuan didn’t utter a word. Ever since entering Sea City, he focused most of his energy on Divine Travel in the Void, with his spiritual will constantly monitoring the Realm Gate beneath the East Sea.

Thousands of meters underwater, there were not many people present, just three monks, five swordsmen, and a dozen various-sized True Dragons.

A massive Primordial Qi supported a protective shield over a hundred meters in diameter around the eight individuals, displacing water from the Realm Gate’s vicinity.

A dozen True Dragons swirled in the water, their enormous bodies making fierce waves with a gentle sway.

Ziwei Immortal Monarch from Celestial Sword Mountain spoke, "Canglan Realm is vast, encompassing an eight hundred million square kilometer Water World, teeming with countless aquatic creatures. How should we strategize this Realm War?"

Ever since the appearance of the Realm Gate in Canglan Realm, its creatures have tried various ways to seal the gate entrance, lengthening the gate’s passage while preventing Earth’s powerful beings from gathering intelligence.

Celestial River Bodhisattva said, "All three of our factions have disciples adept in Water Techniques. We shall dispatch them for battle; this is how my Precious Light Temple has arranged it."

"Our Human Race excels on land. In water combat, our strength diminishes by a third initially. Even with cultivation in Water Techniques, we’re likely no match for those water-dwelling clans."

Ziwei Immortal Monarch shook his head repeatedly. Entering Canglan Realm for a realm war requires meticulous planning, and they must be wary of Canglan Realm creatures entering Earth.

The vast ocean hosts countless lifeforms. If they invade Earth, it would be a nightmare to locate and handle them.

"Gentlemen, I’ve mentioned before that dealing with Canglan Realm isn’t easy for your three factions. Why not share this cup of wine with our Ten Thousand Dragon Nest and let us manage it?"

The enormous dragon head of Long Yu, appearing like bronze or stone sculpture, was mightily imposing, and his words were filled with allure.

"Ha, without the person in charge of Immortal Martial Mountain here, how can we reach a conclusion?" Ziwei Immortal Monarch of Celestial Sword Mountain chuckled lightly.

This Dragon Child and Dragon Progeny of Ten Thousand Dragon Nest have quite bold thoughts. A mere Canglan Realm is already within reach of the Divine Land’s three forces, so why should they interfere?

A hint of ferocity gleamed in Long Yu’s eyes, "Canglan Realm is in the sea, hence by territorial division, it’s only natural for Ten Thousand Dragon Nest to get a share, is it not?"

"Moreover, in conquering Canglan Realm, Ten Thousand Dragon Nest will exert the main effort, while you wait to reap the benefits. Where else would you find such an advantageous deal?"

If not for the discovery being credited to a Human Race cultivator, there’d be no sharing of Canglan Realm. Ten Thousand Dragon Nest alone would suffice.

"Canglan Realm isn’t large; for three parties it’s already sparse. If divided by four, none would be satisfied." Celestial River Bodhisattva spoke.

The interest division for Canglan Realm was decided by top-level meetings of the three factions: Celestial Sword Mountain getting forty percent, Immortal Martial Mountain thirty percent, and Precious Light Temple thirty percent.

The Ten Thousand Dragon Nest? Not even a hair, since it was a Human Race cultivator who discovered the Realm Gate.

Long Yu continued to persist, knowing that a world’s benefits were unimaginably vast.

Unfortunately, no matter how much he coerced or tempted, Celestial Sword Mountain and Precious Light Temple were unmoved, making him so furious he nearly resorted to force.

Only, he truly didn’t dare initiate a battle.

"We’re leaving!" Long Yu snorted angrily.

Ziwei Immortal Monarch of Celestial Sword Mountain watched their retreating figures, a sardonic grin tugging at his lips.

"This dragon is full of ideas, unlike Ten Thousand Dragon Nest’s usual style," he remarked, stroking his sword’s hilt.

Celestial River Bodhisattva nodded in agreement, "The handling of the Realm Gate was pre-agreed upon by the Immortals, thus preventing any disputes."

This dragon chose to ignore widely known Rules, coming to threaten and tempt. There must be something amiss.