Back at the Palace of Knowledge and Action (Zhixing Hall), Empress Tong entered with a secret report and respectfully handed it to Yi Tianxing.
"Husband, this is the confidential information you requested.All matters concerning them within the territory of Great Yi are detailed here."
She remained strictly formal, as always when conducting official business.
"Alright, set it down. I'll take a look."
Yi Tianxing nodded.
He reached out and opened the report. The name at the top was exactly who he expected—Shen Wansan.
He had once encountered Shen Wansan within Great Yi and witnessed him conjuring wealth out of thin air using a Treasure Basin, channeling treasure aura to create Eternal Coins. These coins were indistinguishable from the real thing—an incredible feat.
More than just that, Shen Wansan possessed a natural gift for commerce, with an intuitive "merchant scripture" etched deep in his heart. A true genius of trade.
The report listed Shen Wansan's movements in detail.
After their initial meeting, he had acquired a large batch of rain bamboo shoots, refined them into spirit liquid, and resold it in other immortal cities for several times the price, netting his first fortune.
That was only the beginning.
He never dealt in raw materials. Instead, he bought them in bulk, refined and manufactured them into finished goods, and then sold them across different regions. His profits doubled, even tripled.
In just one year, he amassed millions in Eternal Coins, and this was after expenses for his own cultivation. By the second year, his wealth multiplied again, reaching tens of millions. Year after year, his fortune ballooned.
Eventually, he founded his own commercial enterprise: Wantong Trading Company.
Its reach rapidly extended to dozens of immortal cities—becoming one of the Four Great Commercial Firms of the Great Yi.
A merchant giant.
The other three titans of commerce were also exceptional:
Hu Xueyan – of Xueyan Trading Company
Deng Tong – of Golden Eagle Trading Company
Wu Bingjian – of Nine Spirits Trading Company
Their files were no less detailed than Shen Wansan's. Each had a legendary rise—tales that would inspire awe throughout the world.
"Interesting… gold truly does shine wherever it goes," Yi Tianxing murmured with admiration."In the end, he chose the path of commerce. And indeed, the merchant path… is a road to glory in its own right."
In Great Yi, merchants were never restricted .So long as taxes were paid and no contraband or treason was involved, they could travel and trade freely throughout the nation.
Merchants energized every industry—bringing circulation and momentum, injecting vitality into the entire fortune dynasty.
"Summon Shen Wansan, Hu Xueyan, Deng Tong, and Wu Bingjian.Bring them to the Hall of Knowledge and Action."
Yi Tianxing gave the order as he read through their files.
Empress Tong bowed and immediately went to carry it out.
She did not know the purpose behind this summons, but she understood one thing—Yi Tianxing never acted without reason. Everything would become clear in due time.
In Great Yi, merchants had never been viewed with contempt.They weren't suppressed or promoted. They were allowed to flourish naturally.
"What?! The Sacred King wants to see me?!"
Shen Wansan was shocked upon receiving the summons.His mind raced—had he broken a law? Offended the regime? Was there something he had done wrong?
But regardless of the storm of emotions inside, a royal summons could not be ignored.
Yi Tianxing was the supreme figure in all of Great Yi—a spiritual icon revered by countless citizens. Still, Shen Wansan couldn't help but feel nervous. Throughout history, merchants had always been scapegoats—easy pickings when the court needed money.
He trusted Great Yi… but some things were hard to erase from deep-rooted instinct.
Even so, he accepted the summons without delay.
The other three—Hu Xueyan, Deng Tong, and Wu Bingjian—also obeyed at once. Each of them had estates in Xuanhuang Immortal City, afforded by their vast wealth.
They quickly arrived at the Sacred King's Palace.
Once inside, they were awestruck by its majestic architecture, timeless gardens, and ever-blooming flowers untouched by season. The spiritual energy was thick and warm—ideal for cultivation. In such a place, even a pig could ascend to enlightenment.
Before long, the four men crossed paths. Upon seeing each other, surprise flickered in their eyes, followed by cautious speculation.
Why had they all been summoned at once?
But within the Sacred Palace, no one dared to speak freely. Fear of breaking palace protocol kept them silent.
"Summon: Shen Wansan, Hu Xueyan, Deng Tong, Wu Bingjian.Appear before the Sacred King in the Hall of Knowledge and Action!"
Cao Zhengchun stood at the hall's entrance, issuing the command.
The four men followed him in immediately.
Upon stepping inside, a wave of invisible majesty swept over them. It wasn't deliberate—but the presence was overwhelming. Their hearts instinctively tightened. Even looking up at Yi Tianxing felt… improper.
"Commoner Shen Wansan greets the Sacred King.May Your Majesty enjoy eternal life and boundless fortune."
"Commoner Hu Xueyan greets the Sacred King…"
One after another, they bowed deeply, their voices filled with reverence. There was not a hint of disrespect.
"You may rise."
Yi Tianxing nodded, glancing over them.
They all looked to be in their twenties—none over thirty. But in truth, each was well past forty. With their immense resources, even lacking talent, they had all reached impressive realms of cultivation.
Each of them radiated the confidence of those who wielded financial power—yet before the Sacred King, none dared show even a hint of arrogance.
All of them had reached at least the Dharma Phase Realm, granting them long lifespans. Appearance meant nothing.
"Thank you, Sacred King."
They let out a subtle sigh of relief and straightened.
"Do you know why I summoned you?" Yi Tianxing asked plainly.
The four exchanged glances.
"We do not. We ask the Sacred King to enlighten us," they replied in unison.
They were still nervous. Without knowing the purpose, their minds couldn't settle.
"You four are the merchant giants of Great Yi—masters of the commercial path," Yi Tianxing said with a smile."Tell me, what do you think of commerce in Great Yi? Speak freely. You won't be punished for your words."
"Grant seats for our four commercial prodigies."
At his words, four chairs were brought in.
The men bowed slightly and sat, still wary but grateful.
After a pause, Shen Wansan spoke first.
"Sacred King, the commercial atmosphere in Great Yi is vibrant and thriving.The Hundred Schools of Thought bloom, and each day brings new inventions.This is a great era."
"The teleportation arrays make travel between immortal cities safe and fast.Anyone with vision and courage can seize the moment and earn wealth."
"Commerce fuels city prosperity. It drives the economy and improves the lives of the people."
He spoke with clarity. There was no point offering flattery.The truth, spoken from experience, would earn more respect.
"Indeed," Hu Xueyan added."We merchants simply serve the people—providing everything they need."
The others joined in, discussing the present-day economy and sharing sincere thoughts. They praised Great Yi's open policies and expressed gratitude from the heart.
Yi Tianxing nodded approvingly.
"You have all risen to your current heights through brilliance and hard work.But until now, your businesses have remained within Great Yi.If you were to expand into other realms, how would you proceed?"
"Other realms?!"
The four men jolted as if struck by lightning. Their minds stirred violently.
They immediately grasped the true meaning of Yi Tianxing's words.
He was preparing to extend Great Yi's influence into foreign realms—and planned to do it through commerce.
If they were chosen, they would become Imperial Merchants—the official representatives of Great Yi's commercial empire.
To be an Imperial Merchant was to have unmatched advantages—backed by the full might of a nation. It was not just a change in identity—it was a transformation in status.
They realized instantly: their next words would determine their fate.
Yi Tianxing had no intention of sending them out for ordinary business.This was far bigger than that.