Modern World's Martial Dao Human Immortal

"Dragon Majestic City is the second-largest city in the Nine Heavens Domain after the capital, Nine Heavens City, and it's also the transportation hub of the Nine Heavens Domain.

Had it not been for the central government's strong capital strategy, which moved the headquarters of the Energy Department from Dragon Majestic City, it would have been the number one economic city in the Nine Heavens Domain.

Even so, Dragon Majestic City remains the most populous city in the Nine Heavens Domain and the preferred city of residence for immigrants, with an annual GDP reaching two hundred billion."

In the car, Zong Yan was introducing the basic information about Dragon Majestic City.

Alkaid initially felt a bit out of place listening, but now, seeing the neon-lit streets around them and the incessant flow of hovercars on the road...

Gradually became numb.

Especially right now...

Traffic jam!

The first challenge he encountered upon arriving in the Cangwu Great World, this city of cultivation, was actually a traffic jam!

The vehicles started to inch into the city at a snail's pace.

After slightly accepting the reality before him, what made him feel out of place was not the traffic, but rather the tracks paved with flowing light in the sky, hundreds of meters above, on which Sword Cultivators flew by from time to time.

Those above the seventh layer of Qi Refinement could fly with a sword, and wealthy Sword Cultivators at the fifth or sixth layer could achieve the same with a Spirit Artifact Flying Sword.

But...

In such a modernized metropolis, was it really appropriate for cultivators to be soaring through the sky on their swords from time to time?

"Whoosh!"

As he pondered, another streak of sword light flew past at low altitude, bringing with it a dazzling light effect that drew attention.

"These damn kids, showing off their flying swords again, and spreading such a huge light pollution that I almost couldn't see the road ahead for a moment. Aren't they afraid of causing a traffic accident?"

A complaining voice came from a vehicle moving alongside.

"Stop being envious and jealous. If you had the money, you'd buy one too. With a flying sword, who would need to drive a crappy car, stuck in traffic like this?"

A woman in her thirties sneered from the passenger seat.

"What's so great about flying swords? They don't feel good to use at all, not nearly as comfortable as sitting in a car."

The driver stubbornly retorted.

"If you can't afford it, just admit it. Is it that hard to admit you're not good enough? But then again, such top-tier luxury is about heritage; if you can't afford it, you'll never be able to for your entire life."

The woman commented again.

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Alkaid glanced at the fading light streak and asked, "Are flying swords so common now? Do Qi Refinement fifth or sixth layer cultivators all have Spiritual Treasures now?"

"With the vigorous promotion of industrial and large-scale production and the significant increase in production capacity across all sectors, items that used to be expensive have indeed devalued significantly.

In the past, it was good enough for high-rank cultivators to have high-rank Magic Artifacts, but now...Spirit Artifacts are basically standard, and it's not unusual to see them upgraded to medium or high-grade Spirit Artifacts, just like many high-rank cultivators specializing in what were originally Foundation Establishment and even simplified Golden Core-level spells," Zong Yan said, then added, "But the Nine Cauldrons Sect has recently gone through turmoil and its industrial capacity has yet to ramp up.

Magical Artifact-level flying swords are one thing, but Spirit Artifact-level... they're still not widespread. Currently, those who can afford a Spirit Artifact-level Flying Sword are without exception from rich families with power and influence. Even a Spirit Artifact that can only fly and has virtually no combat function costs tens of millions."

"A Spirit Artifact... without combat capability?"

Alkaid was, after all, a Ninth Rank Artifact Refiner, and he was quite familiar with Magic Artifacts and Spirit Artifacts.

Such things were always meant to be powerful instruments for combat use, and a Spirit Artifact without combat power was as absurd as a fighter jet that couldn't launch missiles.

"What's the point of making these things?"

"It must be the brand effect. If others' materials are at the level of Magic Artifacts and yours reaches Spirit Artifact level, it sounds much more high-end.

I've heard that the new 'Light Spirit' series model fourteen Flying Sword Immortal Lord Edition from the Great Sun Sword Sect, even though its practicality in combat is inferior to high-rank Magic Artifacts, still sells for several times the price of the latter. Yet, despite this, they're sold out."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Zong Yan explained.

"Light Spirit isn't doing well right now, apparently the 'Immortal Lord Edition' is involved in gender discrimination and has been reported and pulled from shelves everywhere. Now the high-end market's bestseller is their rival's 'Flowing Fairy' model nine Fairy Edition Flying Sword, which has already sold over ten thousand units just in the first half of the year."

Ji Pingtian added.

"The Flowing Fairy series? Hasn't the Nine Cauldrons Sect's quality inspection department reported on it? This is just a tax on the gullible."

Zong Yan seemed surprised.

"They're imported goods from the Great Sun Sword Sect. Many people think they're high-end, and some even believe that the quality inspection department deliberately obstructs the use of foreign sects' high-end products for trade protection."

Ji Pingtian said with a laugh.

They had both been involved in high-level dealings, so the tricks of the trade were clear to them at a glance.

But...

It wasn't certain that the local cultivators felt the same way.

The vehicles started and stopped.

Along the way, the attire of the people they encountered consisted of equal parts modern fashion, traditional style, and peculiar outfits.

And the architectural styles ranged from skyscrapers to exquisite pavilions.

Yet even within the quaint pavilions, there was an abundance of electronic products, akin to modern-style imitation ancient buildings.

Alkaid saw many shops hanging Magic Artifacts and Spirit Artifacts directly on the wall for sale.

Various elixirs were treated the same way.

However, there appeared to be a polarization between the merchandise and decor of the shops.

Stores owned by the Nine Cauldrons Sect mainly sold mid to low-end goods, while those with names from other sects tended to sell high-end items.

On the electronic screen of one particularly luxurious shop, there was even an advertisement for selling Treasures.

"Treasures, can also be bought?"

Alkaid looked at the electronic screen.

"Not just Treasures, but also Spiritual Treasures can be bought."

Reflecting on this, Zong Yan grew somewhat emotional: "Now whether it's Artifact Refining, Alchemy, Formation, or Talisman Record, everything is moving towards a factory model, which has greatly reduced production costs while also speeding up production efficiency.

This concept has penetrated everyone's consciousness, and the myth of amassing thousands of great powers in one's own hands is being gradually debunked, shifting toward a group cooperation model... So, upon coming to the Cangwu Realm, the first thing we must do is change our own mindset and learn new knowledge."