CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 61: MAKING MONEY, CRAFTING PILLS, AND GATHERING RESOURCES!

Half a month after Wu Wang agreed to temporarily stay and act as Sect Master.

In the northwest of the Human Domain, streaks of light shot through the sky. Two groups, totaling twenty to thirty Immortals who had left the Human Domain several years prior, were each on their return journey.

After flying for a while, they waited on the clouds, as the last two individuals were still engrossed in conversation.

Ji Mo, dressed in white, performed a Daoist salute to Ling Xiaolan and said with a smile, "I owe thanks to Fairy Ling for her care during my visit to Women’s Country. I shall certainly pay a visit to the Xuan Nu Sect another day."

"You’re not welcome."

Ling Xiaolan glanced to the side indifferently. "You should visit Women’s Country more often. After all, there’s a State Preceptor there waiting for you."

Ji Mo immediately showed a smile tinged with the joy of spring.

Ling Xiaolan huffed. "I should have suggested to Brother Xiong at the time to throw you into the Spirit Incubator Pool to soak for a night."

"Uh, about that," Ji Mo’s forehead became lined with worry, "we can’t pollute the Holy Pool of Women’s Country... Fairy, your idea is quite dangerous."

Ling Xiaolan sent a telepathic message, "Remember to remind your family elders not to always look at me as if appraising a daughter-in-law."

"Understood, understood. Fairy, you need not worry too much."

Ji Mo laughed. "I’m aware of Fairy’s feelings for Brother Xiong. Brother Xiong is both talented and astute..."

CLANG!

Ling Xiaolan drew her Treasure Sword half an inch from its sheath, causing Ji Mo to shiver all over. He hurriedly changed the subject.

"Fairy, do you think Brother Xiong has reached the Human Domain? Has he found a good place to cultivate?"

"Not sure," Ling Xiaolan’s expression relaxed a bit as she pondered with a frown.

And you say you don’t have such feelings!

Ling Xiaolan said, "But I am somewhat worried about Brother Xiong. The current situation in the Human Domain is somewhat unstable. Many Major Immortal Sects and Great Demon Sects seem to be stirring, as if gearing up for a debate between Immortals and Demons."

Ji Mo was somewhat skeptical of this. "What is there to debate? One cultivates by absorbing pure energy, the other thrives on turbid qi. One resides atop mountains, the other in the fissures of the earth. Aren’t they all Cultivation Techniques born to protect the Human race, with their respective sects established based on these Cultivation Techniques?"

Ling Xiaolan said, "However, the Cultivation Techniques of Demonic Cultivators do indeed affect one’s disposition to some extent."

"Demonic Cultivators often practice Body Cultivation. When facing enemies outside, especially fierce beasts, they generally exert more intimidating power than Immortal Cultivators of the same realm."

Ling Xiaolan smiled. "Has Young Master Ji taken a fancy to a witch from one of the Demonic Sects?"

"No, I just feel that in recent millennia, there has been a trend of Immortal Sects suppressing Demonic Sects, which may cause internal friction and weaken the Human Domain’s strength."

"Regardless, it would be best for Brother Xiong to avoid entanglements with Demonic Cultivators," Ling Xiaolan mused. She turned, offered a cupped-fist salute, and rode the clouds towards her fellow Immortals from the Xuan Nu Sect.

Ji Mo laughed. "When will Fairy ascend to Immortality?"

"Probably in another three or four years."

Ling Xiaolan did not turn back as she spoke, her figure enveloped by whirling mists, disappearing with the first group of Immortals from the Xuan Nu Sect who had come to aid Women’s Country.

Ji Mo turned around, his expression quite serious, and flew towards his aunt.

"Aunt, from now on, we must never mention how well-matched Fairy Ling and I are. It’s truly not a good match."

The female Immortal Ji Yue couldn’t help but fret. "My dear Mo, you and the State Preceptor... it’s impossible. She only has a few hundred years of Lifespan."

"My relationship with her was nothing more than a beautiful dream."

Ji Mo looked longingly towards the northwest.

Ji Yue couldn’t help but roll her eyes and scolded, "What a dreamer you are! Come home with me and face your reprimand! I’m going to report you properly this time!"

"Heh heh."

「Meanwhile.」

In an elegantly decorated chamber filled with soft light.

Wu Wang, wearing a mask, leaned on the couch. He turned his head and opened his mouth as a jade hand reached from the side. It held a half-foot-long wooden stick, gingerly delivering a cherry-sized Spirit Fruit to him.

The owner of that jade hand, as well as the girl gently hammering Wu Wang’s leg with a wooden mallet beside him—both lovely-faced and slender—were newly accepted Disciples of the Black Desire Door, no higher than the Returning Origin Realm, wearing identical black gauze dresses.

In the corner, a female Cultivator gently strummed a pipa.

Near the window, a girl slowly pulled at the curtain that fanned the breeze, creating a gentle, flowing current of air.

At the bottom of his heart, Wu Wang felt a slight sentimentality, as if he were back at home.

Being a Sect Master seemed pretty good too.

It’s just that it could easily erode one’s fighting spirit.

Am I being too paranoid?

The warm chamber was situated in the most scenic part of the valley, with a waterfall and pool on one side and a medicinal herb garden and an orchard on the other. It was surrounded by several powerful formations, so security was quite assured.

Wu Wang was currently summarizing his observations over the past half month.

He had now roughly determined that the strong support from the Grand Elder and Elder Miao—that father and daughter duo—for his ascension to Sect Master was not intended to make him a puppet leader.

There were three main reasons.

Firstly, the Grand Elder used to wield more influence than the old Sect Master within the Demonic Sect.

Secondly, the structure of this Demonic Sect was loose, with no ambitions for expansion. Most of the members and Disciples were content with secluded cultivation or ventures outside. The Sect’s income mainly depended on selfless contributions from everyone, gathered from various sources.

Thirdly, it was the unique atmosphere that had long prevailed in the Human Domain.

The Human Domain was surrounded by forces of the Innate Gods. Around the boundaries of its land lay a long belt of fierce beasts, which would surge into the Human Domain as a Beast Tide at regular intervals.

Ever since its inception, the Human Domain had been resisting the Beast Tides while developing internally.

Under such an atmosphere, a unanimous outward-facing mentality had formed.

Sects were akin to academic institutes. The Cultivators within felt a strong sense of belonging to the Human race, reverence for the Human Emperor, and honor in fighting enemies on the frontier. These loyalties often diminished their sense of belonging to their specific Sects.

Of course, human hearts are complicated, and the Human Domain was gradually changing.

But this Demonic Sect obviously had not kept up with the times, neither claiming territories nor seizing mines. They pursued the free and willful life of a Demonic Cultivator and looked down on the hypocritical pretenses of the Immortal Sects...

They were quite endearing, actually.

"Sect Master! Sect Master!"

Several calls came from outside the loft. Wu Wang slightly raised his hand, and the few girls bowed their heads and withdrew behind the Screen.

The door of the loft opened, and a group of people poured in, then all bowed in unison before the couch to pay their respects.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

"All of you, please rise."

Wu Wang stretched lazily and sat up, his voice heavy with sleep as he said, "Is everything ready?"

Elder Wang, who had previously been acquainted with Wu Wang, said in a loud voice, "Everything is ready!

"We have prepared three hundred of each of twelve types of Elixirs, totaling 3,600, all of excellent quality!

"According to your instructions, we’ve also selected male members who are stuck at a bottleneck in their current realm: four in the True Immortal Realm, eight in the Immortal Realm, and six in the Ascending Immortal Realm!

"The Grand Elder said to have them serve as your personal protectors."

A burly man with a bald head, carrying a long spear, cupped his fist and said in a booming voice, "Sect Master, as long as I’m alive, I absolutely won’t let you perish!"

Wu Wang nodded with a smile. "My Cultivation journey has only been a few years, and my abilities are somewhat modest. I will have to rely on all of you if I go out in the future."

The expressions of the Demonic Cultivators varied; half seemed skeptical, while the other half responded:

"Sect Master, you’re too polite."

"Sect Master, don’t say that. We’re really happy to serve as your protectors."

"Heh, heh-heh."

Winning over these Demonic Cultivators and ensuring their loyalty is also an essential lesson in being a Sect Master, Wu Wang silently sighed to himself. It’s actually quite interesting.

"Everyone," Wu Wang said, "we will soon set off for the market town. There’s no need for such a grand escort; just having the four highest-ranked experts accompany me will suffice.

"We are going to conduct business, not to cause trouble.

"I will send a message back after completing my survey, calling a few of you over to help."

The Demonic Cultivators bowed their heads in agreement, exhibiting no objections. The other Cultivators receded, leaving behind two Elders and four True Immortal Realm protectors.

Among these four protectors, the bald, burly man carrying the long spear had the highest cultivation, and Wu Wang had some impression of him.

"What should I call you?"

"Yang Wudi!"

"A Body Cultivator?"

"A spear practitioner!"

Wu Wang nodded with a smile and went on to ask for the names of the other three True Immortals: Zhang Moshan, Fang Renye, and Feng Tian.

The youngest was also Yang Wudi, who was only... 2,000 years old this year.

He said, "This trip is not only to sell Elixirs. We might also encounter conflicts with others later on. You must be on alert at all times. If we fail this time, it is the reputation of our Sect that will suffer."

In the eyes of the four strong men, flames of determination suddenly blazed.

A little while later, a wooden boat slowly ascended into the sky, carrying two Elders, four protectors, and the current Sect Master of the Annihilation Sect, Wu Wang.

Wu Wang sat at the prow of the boat, contemplating as he pulled out a Jade Talisman to write and draw on.

He, too, needed to cultivate and could not always be out and about.

The two Elders accompanying them were experienced, quick-witted True Immortal experts who often dealt with the outside world. One was from the Technique Teaching Hall, and the other from the Repository of Treasures.

One of them was Elder Wang, who had received Wu Wang when he first joined the Demonic Sect. He had interrupted his retreat due to the Sect Master’s Crossing Tribulation and wasn’t in a hurry to continue his breakthrough.

This time, Wu Wang was going to teach them how to... acquire resources.

"Sect Master, within a radius of several thousand miles, there are a total of thirty-two market towns with many Demonic Cultivators. Which one shall we visit?"

Wu Wang pondered for a moment and said, "Whichever is large enough and doesn’t have any obvious Sect power, that’s where we’ll go."

The two Elders exchanged a glance, deliberated for a moment, and decided on an optimal solution: Pu Gou Mountain.

The wooden boat sped through the sky for four hours, passing by many Demonic Sect mountain gates along the way.

Since Demonic Sects needed to absorb the turbid energy of the earth, Demonic Cultivators typically established their mountain gates in valleys, rift valleys, or abysses. If accompanied by earth veins, such a location would be a blessed land for Demonic Cultivators.

There weren’t that many rift valleys originally. However, if an expert made a few slashes, one could easily be created.

The Annihilation Sect was a sect among this gathering place of Demonic Cultivators with substantial strength, but not strong enough to be considered a hegemonic power.

According to the information Wu Wang got while drinking with a few Elders, if one looked across the entire Human Domain, their Sect’s strength could actually rank in the upper middle.

[The Human Domain has already developed regional strengths and weaknesses.]

Gazing at the mountain range ahead that seemed like a coiling serpent and the continuous buildings at the base of the mountains, a slight smile emerged at the corner of Wu Wang’s mouth.

Back then, Chen Daozi won thirty-seven million with just twenty coins. Now I, Wu Wang—Young Master of the Bear Hug Tribe, Divine Envoy of the Star God Cult, prospective son-in-law of the Human Emperor, and the new Sect Master of the Annihilation Sect—am going to use these 3,600 Elixirs to take over an entire street!

"Enter the market town!"

The four True Immortal guards behind him said in unison, "Yes!"

Their momentum was at its peak.

「So, an hour later.」

In a secluded corner of the market town, seven figures were sitting cross-legged or leaning against the wall, most of them propping up their foreheads with their hands.

Wu Wang was seated on a cushion, his Spiritual Sense scanning across the densely packed stalls, a slight twitch appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Putting other places aside for the moment, there were more than a hundred stalls on this street alone, with over eighty selling Elixirs and more than forty having clearance sales! They might as well each hang up a sign reading:

""Elixirs Overstocked! Save Us!""

Thinking about it carefully, it was the contemporary Human Emperor Shen Nong who pioneered the medical path and spread the Hundred Grass Scripture to the world, sparking an Elixir refining craze in the Human Domain.

To be trapped by his future father-in-law like this was indeed unprecedented.

"Se... Sect Master, what do we do?"

Elder Wang asked softly, "Should we set up a stall and sell them cheaper? Normally, they could sell in a month or so."

"Isn’t that a waste of effort?"

Wu Wang retorted, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said, "Wait here for me. Wudi, come with me."

"Yes!"

Yang Wudi replied and followed Wu Wang, his alert eyes scanning the area, scaring away many Cultivators on the street who dared not meet the gaze of this fierce man.

Wu Wang sought here and there, quickly determining both the most prosperous area and the quietest zone.

He then used his own funds to gather a range of competing products to verify that the quality of their Sect’s refined Elixirs was indeed superior.

The tactics Wu Wang employed next baffled not only Yang Wudi but also the two Elders.

First step: He bought all the Elixirs from one stall, conveniently giving the Demonic Cultivator owner some benefits and acquiring the desired location.

Second step: He directed the two Elders to display their own refined Elixirs alongside the ones just purchased, labeling each porcelain bottle with a Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches combination and a number.

Third step: Wu Wang took out two wooden boards. On one, he wrote a few lines of large characters, and the other he fashioned into two side-by-side circular spinners.

Fourth step: He took out a mineral worth ten percent of the total value of these Elixirs and raised the price of all the Elixirs by ten percent.

Elder Wang, exasperated, reminded him, "Sect Master, won’t this make it even harder to sell them all?"

Another Elder, Elder Wen, also said, "A bunch of True Immortals setting up a stall here is also rather embarrassing..."

"Don’t rush, don’t rush."

Wu Wang turned the boards around. "Wudi, read what’s written here out loud. Use the voice transmission technique so everyone can hear."

"Yes! Sect Master!"

Yang Wudi took the boards, looked them over carefully for a while, then turned around and said, "Sect Master, I can’t read."

"Sect Master, let me do it."

The True Immortal guard named Zhang Moshan stepped forward, took the boards, channeled qi to his throat, and announced in a loud, penetrating voice:

"Great news! Great news!

"Our Sect is rewarding patrons today! Purchase Elixirs and get a treasure mine! Buy Elixirs! Get a treasure mine!

"The priceless Seven-colored Liuhuo Mine could be yours when you purchase our Sect’s Elixirs! First come, first served!

"You, what are you waiting for!"

Wu Wang gestured to Yang Wudi to open the wooden box in his hands, revealing a fist-sized Seven-colored Liuhuo Mine that dazzled with eye-catching brilliance.

In just a few breaths, more than a dozen figures had rushed to the stall.

"How is this treasure mine offered?"

"How much for the Elixirs?"

"Ladies and gentlemen, no rush!"

Elder Wang immediately stood up. As the auras of six True Immortals spread out, the crowd before the stall instantly fell silent.

Following Wu Wang’s telepathic reminder, several guards pulled the corks from the porcelain bottles.

Elder Wang spoke aloud the rules:

"Anyone who purchases more than ten of our Sect’s Elixirs—which is one pot here—will receive the number on this pot.

"Once all these Elixirs on the table are bought, we will spin this disc twice. Whichever Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch combination the disc points to, whoever holds the pot with that number will win this rare treasure mine!

"Feel free to pick up and check any bottle of Elixir. Before the draw, you are free to return or exchange it, but after the draw, no returns or exchanges will be allowed!"

"I’ll take twelve pots! Give me all with the ’Jia’ number!"

"Very well!"

Elder Wang’s spirits lifted. "This customer is buying twelve pots! But please be aware that the spinning disc for the draw will not favor any particular Heavenly Stem number, be it ’Jia,’ ’Yi,’ ’Bing,’ or ’Ding.’"

"I’ll take three pots of Ju Yuan Dan!"

"I want six pots of Ning Xin Dan!"

"Give me a pot of whatever Elixir! I’m just trying my luck!"

With a few shouts, the area in front of the stall was packed with people. Fortunately, the presence of several True Immortals kept the place from descending into total chaos.

But indeed, the road was blocked.

The two Elders watched as the box for Spirit Stones quickly filled. The guards were stunned to see the porcelain bottles on the stall empty in just a few breaths, momentarily unable to process it.

"The official draw begins!"

Elder Wang lifted the spinning disc, enveloping it in a Barrier created by True Immortal Realm Mana, to prevent anyone from using their Mana to interfere with the rotation of the pointer.

After two spins of the pointer, the treasure mine went to the person holding the pot with the ’Bing Wu’ mark, who grinned and laughed with joy.

In just two rounds, the Elixirs were all gone.

Elder Wang was almost tempted to take out his personal stock of Elixirs to replenish the supply!

A group of Demonic Cultivators nearby were excitedly looking towards these True Immortal experts, eager with anticipation.

Elder Wang looked helplessly toward Wu Wang, who sat behind him.

"Today’s draw was just a simple preview."

Wu Wang stood up and smiled. "At this time tomorrow, right here, we will prepare twelve rounds of draws.

"Our Elixirs are genuine, and our prizes will include more than just treasure mines. Thank you for your patronage. See you tomorrow."

This was just the beginning, a small trick easily imitated.

「In the Annihilation Sect’s encampment, inside the Grand Elder’s thatched cottage.」

"Grand Elder! Something big has happened!"

Several Elders rushed in, disturbing the Grand Elder, who was engrossed in reading the ’Eight Strategies,’ making him a little impatient.

"What now? Did the Immortal Sect attack?"

The Elders hurriedly apologized, saying, "We just received a Jade Talisman message from the Sect Master. Over there..."

"Not selling well?"

The Grand Elder squinted, smiling as he said, "The Sect Master’s kindness is well-intentioned, and we cannot be ungrateful. Although we’ve wasted a lot of Spirit Grass on the thousands of Elixirs, we can keep them for personal use."

"They’re all sold out! All 3,600 Elixirs are sold out!"

An Elder exclaimed, "The Sect Master has instructed us to pack up our saleable goods and move them over there as soon as possible. The market is huge, and supply can’t meet the demand. We need to refine more as soon as possible, or we can buy in bulk at low prices from other towns too!

"The Jade Talisman message was sent by Elder Wang. Here, take a look."

The Grand Elder frowned and carefully read the Jade Talisman several times, his old face filled with confusion.

"This! Stock up!"