“You flatter me, Brother Ancient Tree. I am merely a newly advanced half-step third realm expert. My accumulation is far inferior to yours," Xu Jingming said modestly.

"I've only lived a bit longer, nearly a hundred Abyss Epochs, to accumulate this bit of strength. Brother Wu Ming, you'll likely surpass me completely within a few hundred thousand years," Realm Lord Ancient Tree said with a hearty laugh.

Time and again, viewing the future, Wu Ming would become an invincible figure at the half-step third realm within a million years!

Of course, Realm Lord Ancient Tree wanted to find ways to get closer.

Xu Jingming also inwardly sighed, "Realm Lord Ancient Tree has lived for nearly a hundred Abyss Epochs. There aren't many half-step third realm experts who have lived longer than him."

Realm Lord Ancient Tree was a towering high-dimensional tree that gained intelligence due to a special encounter, gradually growing stronger. He preferred quietude over activity! And he didn't like fighting! As his strength grew, he gradually participated in some disputes.

"Now that you've broken through, Brother Wu Ming, you should integrate into the half-step third realm circle," Realm Lord Ancient Tree said. "The half-step third realm experts help each other, sharing what they have and don't have, so you can obtain what you desire! Everyone working together increases the chances of exploring dangerous places. If you're willing, I can introduce you to some friends."

Xu Jingming said, "Of course, I'm willing."

"You have an avatar in Featherfire City, right?" Realm Lord Ancient Tree's voice echoed remotely. "Most of the half-step third realm gatherings are in Featherfire City. Next time there's a gathering, I'll bring you along."

"Thank you, Brother Ancient Tree," Xu Jingming said.

"You can also contact Island Lord Di Long. After all, he is a direct disciple of a third realm expert, and his intelligence network is much more extensive than mine," Realm Lord Ancient Tree said. "Through him, you can also get to know more half-step third realm experts."

"I know," Xu Jingming replied, but he felt a little puzzled.

Island Lord Di Long had been very enthusiastic towards him at first, even giving him half of a large treasure upon their first meeting.

But after that, he hadn't contacted him again.

…

On Myriad Star Island, Xu Jingming also told the dean and the others about his breakthrough.

"You've become a half-step third realm expert?" The dean was overjoyed. Everyone present was excited and delighted. The human race had grown step by step from weakness, and now they finally had a half-step third realm existence.

"I knew this day would come soon," Eternal Pagoda Master said with emotion.

"Jingming, what does it feel like to be at the half-step third realm?" Island Lord of Time and Space asked curiously. The dean and the others were also curious.

"My lifeform has become much stronger," Xu Jingming explained. "Being stronger naturally permeates all layers of space. My perception is also much stronger. Whether it's karma or even the timeline, I can sense it."

"Viewing the timeline?" The dean, Pagoda Master, Island Lord, and Chi Meng were all envious and amazed.

"It doesn't require deep research into time and space," Xu Jingming said. "It's like a tall person; if he's tall enough, he can naturally see over the wall into the courtyard. The half-step third realm is similar. If the lifeform is strong enough, it can naturally see the timeline."

The dean nodded and said, "The breakthrough from Eternal Peak to the half-step third realm is also a breakthrough in the lifeform."

"How is your comprehension these past few years?" Xu Jingming asked.

"It's difficult," the dean said.

"There are many confusions," the Pagoda Master said.

"Comprehend it slowly," the Island Lord said.

Chi Meng laughed and said, "I'm doing alright. I haven't encountered any bottlenecks yet."

"If a newly advanced Eternal realm expert like you encounters a bottleneck, that would be a joke," the dean shook his head. "Jingming, now that you've become a half-step third realm expert, are you going to establish the fourth trading ground in the entire territory?"

Realm Lord Ancient Tree, Boat Lord Bei He, and Island Lord Di Long each established a trading ground.

Once the trading ground is established, they can sell shop spaces and collect fees. It's simply making money while sitting down! The income might not be significant in the short term, but accumulated over an Abyss Epoch, or multiple Abyss Epochs, it could be more than the rewards of their own hard work and adventure.

"No rush," Xu Jingming shook his head. He didn't want to be distracted for the time being.

It wouldn't be too late to establish a trading ground when he became invincible at the half-step third realm and encountered a bottleneck.

******

Featherfire City, inner city.

At Realm Lord Ancient Tree's residence, four half-step third realm experts gathered.

"This is the first time that the four half-step third realm experts of our Nanting 3609 territory have gathered together," Realm Lord Ancient Tree said with a smile.

"In the past, it was just the three of us. Now that we have Wu Ming, the team is even stronger," Boat Lord Bei He said with a smile.

Island Lord Di Long glanced at him.

If it weren't for Xu Jingming and Realm Lord Ancient Tree, he wouldn't even bother with Boat Lord Bei He. This kind of ordinary half-step third realm expert was too common in countless territories.

Of course, they were now trying to build closer ties in the name of the same territory, which was why they included Boat Lord Bei He.

"Among us, we finally have another half-step third realm expert from the heart-realm lineage," Island Lord Di Long personally poured wine for Xu Jingming. "Wu Ming, I remember the last time we met in the Prime Gold Mountain Range was only ten thousand years ago. In the blink of an eye, you've broken through. I'm a little shocked!"

"Island Lord, you're too kind," Xu Jingming raised his wine cup.

"Since we're from the same territory, we naturally have to help each other," Island Lord Di Long said. "Brother Wu Ming, you've just broken through. If there's anything you need our help with, feel free to ask."

"That's right, we've made many friends over the years, so we might be able to help you, Wu Ming," Boat Lord Bei He also said.

Xu Jingming nodded. "I actually have two matters."

"Speak freely," Island Lord Di Long said enthusiastically.

In fact, his master had told him before to keep a distance from Xu Jingming! Because even his master couldn't see through Xu Jingming and was worried that the storm Xu Jingming stirred up would involve Island Lord Di Long.

So since then, Island Lord Di Long had deliberately kept a certain distance from Xu Jingming.

But this time, Xu Jingming had broken through!

This was a major event for the entire territory!

Realm Lord Ancient Tree had taken the initiative to invite them, the four from the same territory, to get together, and he had no reason to refuse. Refusing would be slapping Xu Jingming in the face.

He was afraid of getting drawn in too deeply, but he was also afraid of offending Xu Jingming. So if they didn't meet, then so be it, but now that they had met, he would naturally be extremely enthusiastic.

"The first thing is, I want to see the Abyss Crimson Lotus," Xu Jingming said. "I don't seek to obtain it, just to witness it with my own eyes."

"Abyss Crimson Lotus? This is a rare treasure in the Abyss," Realm Lord Ancient Tree frowned and said, "It grows in the deepest parts of the Abyss, a place where sins converge! It will attract the Abyss powerhouses to fight over it. After all, an Abyss Crimson Lotus… is worth no less than a third realm weapon."

Xu Jingming nodded.

"Once it matures and the petals are fully bloomed, it will be harvested and used," Realm Lord Ancient Tree said. "Because after it's harvested, it can't be stored for too long before it withers. So it must be used within a certain period of time."

"If you want to find an Abyss Crimson Lotus, you can only find those that are still in the process of growing," Realm Lord Ancient Tree said. "Generally, these Abyss Crimson Lotuses have already been taken by the Abyss powerhouses."

"I merely want to see it," Xu Jingming said.

"The powerhouses of the Abyss lineage aren't easy to talk to, especially those Abyss Lords. They have been performing Abyss sacrifices for a long time, and their personalities are twisted and crazy," Realm Lord Ancient Tree, with his gentle nature, disliked the Abyss lineage very much.

Island Lord Di Long said from the side, "The Abyss Crimson Lotus is a rare treasure naturally nurtured by the Abyss and is originally unowned. In the Abyss, the Abyss Lords also compete with each other, and the strong obtain it. Wu Ming, you just need to rely on your own ability to snatch it, and whatever you snatch will naturally be yours."

"Let's gather information about the Abyss Crimson Lotus first," Xu Jingming said. This was related to whether he could master his other half-step third realm technique, 'Crimson Lotus Fire,' so he naturally had to observe the Abyss Crimson Lotus carefully.

"The second thing is, I want to buy a third realm weapon—a heart-realm weapon spear!" Xu Jingming said.

Featherfire City had many half-step third realm experts gathered, and even Abyss Monarchs and invincible half-step third realm experts were present, so there were many transactions involving third realm weapons here.

"A third realm weapon? And a heart-realm weapon spear? It must be a spear?" Realm Lord Ancient Tree asked further.

"Yes," Xu Jingming nodded. "It must be a spear."

If he changed to a saber or sword, it wouldn't be very compatible with that silver paper.

"Wu Ming, you should know that third realm heart-realm weapons have very high material requirements," Island Lord Di Long said. "Dozens of heart-realm beads are worth hundreds of drops of Abyss Mother Blood."

Xu Jingming nodded.

"After a third realm existence spends effort nurturing and refining it, it will eventually form a heart-realm weapon spear. As far as I know, the price of third realm heart-realm weapons is no less than 150 drops of Abyss Mother Blood," Island Lord Di Long said. "And you only need a spear, so the seller will likely ask for a higher price."

"We can talk about it first," Xu Jingming said.

"Third realm heart-realm weapons are rare," Realm Lord Ancient Tree frowned and shook his head. "I've never heard of a spear."

"I have a junior brother who I know has a heart-realm weapon spear," Island Lord Di Long said. "I have to return to my master's place to talk to my junior brother about this."

"You really have one?" Xu Jingming was surprised.

"Featherfire City doesn't have one," Island Lord Di Long said with great confidence. "As far as I know, there are only a little over ten third realm heart-realm weapons that can be bought in Featherfire City, and none of them are heart-realm spears. My master's side also has a large number of half-step third realm experts… I remember my junior brother has a heart-realm weapon spear that he obtained from exploring a third realm grotto-heaven."

"I'll hurry back. Traveling through the Abyss will probably take five hundred years," Island Lord Di Long said. "When the price is agreed upon, if you can accept it, I'll directly help you buy it and bring it back."

"That's too much trouble for you, Island Lord," Xu Jingming said. Traveling through the Abyss for five hundred years showed how far away it was.

If Featherfire City was a center where high-dimensional lifeforms gathered, then Island Lord Di Long's master's side was another center.

"It's nothing worth mentioning," Island Lord Di Long said readily. On the one hand, he was very wary and felt that the number of times they met should be reduced, and they shouldn't always be together! On the other hand, even his master couldn't see through Xu Jingming, so Island Lord Di Long felt that he should place more bets.

He should let the other party owe him more favors.

Even if they didn't meet often in the future, Wu Ming would have to acknowledge him as a friend.

"If you can't afford it for the time being, I can also lend you some," Island Lord Di Long said.

"I can also lend you some," Realm Lord Ancient Tree promised. "I still have one or two hundred drops of Abyss Mother Blood on my side."

Boat Lord Bei He felt awkward listening to this.

He was poor.

When he visited Xu Jingming, giving away that 'Eight Thousand Star River' was like cutting off a piece of his flesh! All of his assets totaled only a hundred drops of Abyss Mother Blood, and they were all his most important treasures.

"Thank you, both of you. I'll find a way to get the treasure myself," Xu Jingming said.