Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Jiang Chen was a newcomer and unfamiliar with many things here.

Wuu Rui, on the other hand, had been in Icebound City for over a decade and knew all the ins and outs. He also had an outgoing personality.

After chatting with Jiang Chen for a bit, he felt they really hit it off.

He practically wanted to make Jiang Chen his sworn brother right then and there.

Wuu Rui said, ”Younger Brother Jiang, you don’t have to call me ’uncle.’ I’m only in my early thirties. Just call me Brother Wuu!”

”Alright, Brother Wuu!”

Jiang Chen grinned.

Wuu Rui chuckled, slinging an arm over Jiang Chen’s shoulder. ”Younger Brother Jiang, if there’s anything you don’t understand here in Icebound City, you can just ask Brother Wuu. As long as it’s something I know, I’ll tell you everything, holding nothing back!”

”Then I’ll have to thank you, Brother Wuu!” Jiang Chen nodded and continued, ”Brother Wuu, I want to head to the Profound Celestial Ice Field as soon as possible. Do you know of a way?”

”The Profound Celestial Ice Field is vast and boundless, a world of ice and snow fraught with peril. Not only are there the Icefield Race, who are extremely hostile toward outsiders, but there are also powerful Ice Beasts. Generally, no one ventures into the Profound Celestial Ice Field alone.”

Wuu Rui pointed to the surrounding Demon Hunter teams, trade caravans, and military recruiters all loudly calling for experts. ”Generally, to enter the Profound Celestial Ice Field, people choose to join a Demon Hunter team, a trade caravan, or the army. However, the army has strict discipline. Once you’re in, you can only leave after accumulating enough Military Merit Points. Unless you plan to settle down in Icebound City permanently, no one chooses that path. As for joining a Demon Hunter team or a trade caravan, that really depends on what you want.”

If you join a Demon Hunter team, your earnings depend entirely on the amount of treasure the team finds.

As for joining a trade caravan, you’re paid a set wage.

The only thing is, each caravan has its own fixed trade routes, so there’s less freedom than with a Demon Hunter team.

However...

’My goal for this trip is to find the Profound Celestial Ice Marrow, which is controlled by the three major tribes.’

’Demon Hunter teams target Ice Beasts.’

’They definitely wouldn’t want to deal with the Icefield Race, so they wouldn’t go to the three major tribes. That means I have to join a trade caravan!’

Jiang Chen looked at Wuu Rui. ”Brother Wuu, I want to find a trade caravan that’s heading to the three major tribes!”

”You want to join a trade caravan?”

Wuu Rui paused for a second, then nodded in understanding. ”If you’re looking for the Profound Celestial Ice Marrow, a trade caravan is your only option. However, ordinary caravans don’t trade in the main encampments of the three major tribes. You’ll have to find one of the Ten Great Business Alliances. I heard a couple of days ago that the Cloud Sea Business Alliance is recruiting guards. I’ll take you over to take a look!”

”I’d appreciate that, Brother Wuu!” Jiang Chen said gratefully.

”Don’t mention it! We’re brothers, aren’t we?”

Wuu Rui waved his hand dismissively and led Jiang Chen through the crowd.

A short while later...

Wuu Rui brought him before a massive business hall, with people constantly coming and going.

Icebound City bordered the Profound Celestial Ice Field, so trade was extremely developed.

Not only the Flying Snow Dynasty, but even Business Alliances from neighboring dynasties had set up trading posts here. Among them, the Ten Great Business Alliances were the most famous.

The Cloud Sea Business Alliance was one of them!

”Hey there, brother. We two heard the Cloud Sea Business Alliance is recruiting guards to head to the Profound Celestial Ice Field, so we came to give it a shot!” Wuu Rui squeezed through the crowd to the front of the Business Alliance’s area, looking toward a young man dressed in their uniform.

The young man smiled. ”Good thing you came when you did. We’re stopping recruitment in an hour. Come with me. As long as you pass the test, you can join our Alliance’s guard team for this trip!”

”Thanks!”

Wuu Rui said with a laugh, his hand brushing past the young man’s. A money pouch was subtly passed into the young man’s palm.

The young man subtly pocketed the pouch, his smile growing even more enthusiastic. ”Come on, I’ll take you to our deputy captain right now!”

The two followed close behind.

The young man led Wuu Rui and Jiang Chen through the crowd, heading toward a middle-aged man seated in a large mahogany chair. ”Deputy Captain, these two also want to join our Cloud Sea Business Alliance guard team!”

”Oh?”

The middle-aged man glanced at the two of them and said indifferently, ”Test your cultivation first.”

”Hurry and test your cultivation!” the young man promptly urged Wuu Rui.

Wuu Rui nodded.

He walked toward a Testing Stele in the center.

The entire stele had nine tiers. The First Stage of the Union Palace Realm could light up one tier, while the Ninth Stage would light up all nine.

Wuu Rui, clearly familiar with the process, placed his palm on it and channeled his True Essence.

BZZZ—

A brilliant light flowed over the stele.

Streaks of light flashed, soaring directly to the sixth tier. The middle-aged man nodded. ”Sixth Stage of Union Palace Realm. You’re qualified enough. You’re accepted.”

”Thank you, sir!”

A look of joy appeared on Wuu Rui’s face. He quickly said, ”Sir, I have a younger brother with me. He’d like to try, too!”

”Let him come over,” the middle-aged man said.

Wuu Rui responded with a quick ”Right!” and called Jiang Chen over. ”Younger Brother Jiang, you’re up!”

”Okay!”

Jiang Chen nodded, placed his palm on the stele, and a moment later, it lit up with three tiers of light—Union Palace Realm Third Stage.

”Hm?”

The middle-aged man froze, a look of displeasure crossing his face. He snorted coldly, ”Union Palace Realm Third Stage. Unqualified!”

”What?”

”This... this...”

Wuu Rui was completely stunned.

Jiang Chen frowned and looked at the middle-aged man. ”Sir, may I ask what exactly the cultivation requirement is for your Business Alliance’s guards?”

The middle-aged man had yet to speak.

But a young man standing beside him sneered, ”Our Cloud Sea Business Alliance is one of the Ten Great Business Alliances. We have extremely strict requirements for the strength of our guards. Didn’t you see that even that guy at the Fifth Stage of the Union Palace Realm was eliminated just now? You’re just a piece of trash at the Union Palace Realm Third Stage, and you want to join our guard team? What a joke!”

”This kid really doesn’t know his own limits.”

”You can find cultivators at the Union Palace Realm Third Stage all over Icebound City. I have no idea where he got the confidence to come up for a test. Has he no shame?”

Gloating murmurs spread through the crowd.

Wuu Rui’s face paled, and he looked at Jiang Chen with a hint of guilt. He hadn’t expected the Cloud Sea Business Alliance to have such strict cultivation requirements for its guards.

Jiang Chen, however, just looked at the young man, frowned, and said, ”You keep calling me trash. I wonder, what’s your cultivation level?”

”Me?”

The young man froze for a moment, then shook his head and scoffed disdainfully, ”You, a piece of trash, want to compare yourself to me?”

”Is this kid an idiot? Doesn’t he know he’s standing in front of Young Master Jii, Jii Zhongtong? His cultivation may only be at the Union Palace Realm Fourth Stage, but he’s ranked 98,635th on the Human Venerable List! He’s a true prodigy of this era!”

”Young Master Jii has the glorious accomplishment of once escaping from an expert at the Union Palace Realm Ninth Stage!”

One expert after another chimed in with mocking remarks.

Jii Zhongtong’s face was filled with smugness and arrogance. ”Kid, do you know who I am now? I’m calling you trash. Do you accept it?”

Wuu Rui’s expression flickered with anxiety. He quickly tugged on Jiang Chen’s sleeve and whispered, ”Younger Brother Jiang, hurry up and apologize to Young Master Jii! He’s a chosen prodigy on the Human Venerable List. We can’t afford to provoke him!”

”Accept my ass!”

Jiang Chen pursed his lips, ignoring Wuu Rui’s pleas. He took a step forward, looked at Jii Zhongtong, and beckoned with his finger. ”An expert from the Human Venerable List, is that right?” he said coolly. ”Do you have the guts to fight me? Let’s see which one of us is the real trash!”

The moment he said this, everyone was stunned...