Chapter 70: If I say

War is never a good thing; by now, the martial sects of Miaofeng and Gushen have cycled through several generations of Qi-refining disciples.

It's like raising poisonous insects—both sects are breeding grounds that attract the venomous worms from the Tian She Sect and Hong Deng Zhao.

They use Qi-refining cultivators as hosts, forging them in blood mills; success rewrites fate, failure means death.

The cruelty lies not in the deaths themselves, but in both sides being unable to control the war’s direction, for its underlying causes are numerous and beyond their power to decide or change.

Tian She Sect seeks to disrupt Mang Xiang’s Golden Core breakthrough, so naturally it supports Gushen Sect in escalating the conflict.

Li Haiping, former Sect Master of Miaofeng, seeks to open his Purple Mansion; due to a generations-old feud, the Zi Mansion family Ning within Gushen Sect must prevent his smooth progress.

Meanwhile, as one of the two sects under Hong Deng Zhao with the most Zi Mansion cultivators, Miaofeng’s desire for another Zi Mansion is unwelcome to certain figures within Hong Deng Zhao and Miaofeng’s potential rivals.

For these and other reasons, they can only fight—but the war’s impact will spill over and expand.

Since the two sects went to war, prices for all war-related supplies across the Wunan Basin have risen.

Of course, Hong Deng Zhao’s exploitation of future resources has triggered a surge of hermetic Foundation Establishment attempts, another major driver of inflation.

Yet the Dao maintains balance.

While many suffer losses amid the chaos, certain powers have secretly grown fat and greasy.

A prime example is the Wang clan: Wang Yulou founded the Baibao Pavilion and the Da Huofang to trade war-supply futures, perfectly timing the era’s pulse.

The Baibao Pavilion absorbs demand left vacant after the Wo Long Fang’s disappearance; the war futures feed directly on war profits.

With both forces combined, in another two years, Wang Yulou will secure for the Wang clan a new Foundation Establishment resource allotment.

Outside the Wang clan, the Qi-refining immortal clan Wu is another who has quietly grown fat.

Once, the Wu clan was bled dry by Hong Deng Zhao, even forcing their clan chief to set up a stall at the Qingxi Market’s ghost bazaar—they were truly desperate then.

But the Wu clan controls the Grade Nine spiritual item, Luanshi Well, which produces various metal and stone materials.

Take purple copper: seven years ago, its price more than doubled; today, each ingot sells for over two hundred spirit stones.

One could say Wu Jinyan’s Foundation Establishment was made possible by war profits, cashing in the future expectations Hong Deng Zhao had granted the Wu clan as merit rewards.

“Who told you that?” Yulou looked at Wang Yuan.

“After the clan chief returned from visiting Mu Chunze and learned he was in Qingxi Market, the Wu clan submitted a petition to meet him—no one knows what they want to discuss.”

Wang Yulou shook his head; he had some suspicions.

The Wu clan, a minor Qi-refining family with no prior Foundation Establishment cultivators, has Wu Jinyan as its first—he has little backing within Hong Deng Zhao’s system.

The Anbei Kingdom’s Wang clan has had many dealings with the Wu clan; Wu Jinyan’s close friend Hongmei even became Yulou and Yuan’s master.

So, now that Wu Jinyan has just achieved Foundation Establishment, his visit to Wang Xianmao likely aims only to build ties and pave his own future path.

After all, once he’s Foundation Established, he must join Hong Deng Zhao under the Immortal Alliance—how else can he secure his place?

Behind the Wang clan stands the Mang Xiang lineage—three Zi Mansion cultivators, a power even stronger than Miaofeng’s—those three Zi Mansion elders of Miaofeng lack the courage to pursue Golden Core.

“Alright, how’s the matter of contacting the Talisman Master going?”

Yulou felt nothing about Wu Jinyan’s Foundation Establishment; he only hoped Wu Jinyan would go wild and kill Gao Jian, that beast.

But given Wu Jinyan’s nature, he wouldn’t be so foolish.

Gao Jian is merely the garrison cultivator’s toilet—his sole purpose is to satisfy needs.

Killing him brings no gain, yet risks angering the garrison cultivator—worthless.

“The Baibao Pavilion’s suppliers and supplier clans have already begun spreading rumors; meanwhile, the racecourse banners are finished—everyone watching the races will see them.”

“Also, the clan chief’s instruction is that among our Wang clan’s outside guest masters, two Qi-refining Talisman Masters must be invited.”

Over these years, Yulou’s cultivation speed has been locked by altered cosmic rules, but he’s done plenty else.

The Baibao Pavilion and Da Huofang thrive; correspondingly, the number of people and forces tied to the Wang clan’s interests grows daily.

The allies Yulou can call upon grow ever more numerous.

Cultivation is, of course, one’s own affair.

Yet under the Immortal Alliance’s ten-sect system, cultivation is not entirely one’s own affair.

No one can resist the system, the system built by the great cultivators.

What Yulou is doing now is gradually finding ways to join the system—and influence it.

And eventually, to build his own, the Wang clan’s small system.

That is, gather more friends, reduce the enemies.

In fact, he has already succeeded—the Baibao Pavilion Talisman Master Contest is proof.

It hasn’t even begun yet; no one knows how it will turn out.

Yet within the system Yulou built, his collaborators—whose cultivation levels far surpass his own—naturally choose to lend him a hand.

The clan chief’s thinking is simple: since the Baibao Pavilion is hosting the Talisman Master Contest, Wang clan members obviously cannot compete—there are prizes, and the Wang clan must maintain dignity.

But if Wang clan descendants won’t compete, the guest masters can.

In the evening, Yulou returned early to Fuyuan Residence.

The Baibao Pavilion and Da Huofang are overseen by Bai Lu—no major problems will arise.

After all, Qingxi Market is Hong Deng Zhao’s territory; no matter how high one’s cultivation, as long as one isn’t higher than Mu Chunze, no one dares cause trouble.

At the entrance to the clan chief’s residence, Yulou found the door open: Wang Xianmao and Wu Jinyan were inside talking, Hongmei present as well.

“...Brother Xianmao, I still feel afraid about joining Hong Deng Zhao.”

“After hearing your explanation today, I finally have some direction—I feel reassured now.”

Wang Xianmao laughed heartily, pulled out a Ku Sang paper from his robe, and with spiritual power as ink, wrote a line of characters.

Then he handed the inscribed Ku Sang paper to Wu Jinyan.

“No problem—every first Foundation Establishment cultivator in a family walks this path.”

“Here, take this. After you imprint your spiritual aura at the Hong Deng Zhao Immortal Alliance branch, you’ll be taken to the Outer Gate Elder Hall.”

“The Outer Gate Elder Hall is overseen by a Hong Deng Zhao Zi Mansion cultivator and manages all Foundation Establishment duties for the outer gate; the hall’s officers will assign you tasks—you’ll get whatever they give you.”

“Just say you’re looking for Linghu Qishang—he’s my friend, and the Linghu clan is also a longtime ally of our Wang clan.”

“Show him this Ku Sang paper, pay the spirit stone fee, and you’ll get to pick one extra task.”

Wu Jinyan’s face lit up with joy—he thanked them profusely.

Hong Deng Zhao’s outer gate officers offer many types of tasks—he didn’t want to be sent to the Western Seas to hunt demons.

Yes, the Wang clan sends Qi-refining cultivators to the Western Seas to hunt demons; Hong Deng Zhao, Miaofeng, and others send Foundation Establishment cultivators.

As for Zi Mansion cultivators, they are high-tier figures within the Immortal Alliance system, part of the elite who feast on the spoils—they are never sent as expendable fodder, nor can anyone force them to be.

The logic is simple: once a Zi Mansion cultivator hides in a small cavern realm, their lifespan becomes nearly infinite.

If you make an enemy of a Zi Mansion cultivator, trouble becomes immense—this is one reason why the Immortal Alliance evolved into such a monster.

Among the three, Wang Xianmao was pleased Wu Jinyan was aligning with the Wang clan; Wu Jinyan was joyful to have found a mentor; only Hongmei felt bitter inside.

The Wang clan had long been a vassal of Hong Deng Zhao—and clearly had deep reserves. His original idea to join the Wang clan was sound.

But later, the path he chose turned from lifeline to dead end.

Had he not been so foolish back then, the first one to smile before Wang Xianmao wouldn’t have been Wu Jinyan—it would have been him.

“I didn’t expect Senior Wu to become Foundation Established so quickly.”

After Wu Jinyan and the unfortunate Hongmei left, Yulou sighed.

Wang Xianmao also felt a pang.

“He’s lucky—his root energy wasn’t even harmonized, yet his first attempt at Foundation Establishment succeeded.”

Fate is capricious: Qi-refining peak cultivators seeking Foundation Establishment require root energy harmonization—that’s the foundation.

Of course, if root energy harmonization isn’t possible, one can use auxiliary elixirs to approximate it, or attempt Foundation Establishment multiple times to raise success odds.

Tie Qinhe succeeded only after a second attempt.

Wang Rongjiang is now attempting it a second time—whether he succeeds still depends on luck.

Under root energy harmonization, success rates vary by individual—success depends on both accumulated foundation and luck.

As a cultivator from a minor Qi-refining family, Wu Jinyan’s foundation was clearly average—but his luck was exceptional—something no one can envy.

Wang Rongjiang had perfect root energy harmonization, full auxiliary elixirs—and still failed his first attempt.

Wu Jinyan had average foundation, relied entirely on elixirs and luck—and succeeded on his first try.

“Do you think Uncle Rongjiang will succeed this time?”

Yulou was also worried—Foundation Establishment resource prices had skyrocketed.

Wunan’s closed systems are too numerous, and all hold dominant market positions—so Foundation Establishment resources face a double blow: supply shortage plus demand surge.

Under these conditions, even if prices rise to one hundred thousand spirit stones per unit, Yulou wouldn’t be surprised.

If Wang Rongjiang needs three attempts to succeed, even if the Wang clan discounts the cost for family, he’ll likely spend his life repaying the debt.

“I hope so. I called you here for urgent news—I’ve spoken with Mu Chunze; that bastard is still the same old mix of nine lies and one truth.”

“I’ve sent a letter to Jingyi—waiting for her reply, then we’ll set a new strategy.”

But the conflict between Tian She Sect and Hong Deng Zhao has nothing to do with us—we’re a small, weak clan.”

“As for Xianzhou’s matter, I’ll negotiate properly with Miaofeng. Things are getting messier—he’s better suited to guard our ancestral lands.”

“But, Yulou, we must give up that Da Huofang.”

His words revealed the clan chief’s deep trust in Yulou.

Yulou’s rise in Qingxi Market has earned him respect from all sides.

Zhou Yingxi said he looked more like a garrison cultivator than any actual one—that’s telling, since Zhou Yingxi is the garrison cultivator’s daughter.

Zhou Yingxi admires Yulou’s ability; his business partners respect his commercial acumen; even the clan chief values his wisdom.

Yet Yulou still felt regret.

The war futures business is extremely sensitive—he anticipated this day, but never expected it to come so soon.

“If I claim ‘Dad/Mom/Grandpa/Ancestral Master,’ all the business he worked so hard to build will be handed over to others.”

Yulou wanted to ask, “On what grounds?” but the words stuck in his throat.

Didn’t the Clan Chief say it already—weak strength, weak clan; weak strength, weak clan?

“Who’s taking over?”

Wang Xianmao saw Yulou’s tense expression, thought for a moment, and understood. The Clan Chief smiled and said.

“You think this is forced seizure? Hahaha, don’t worry.”

He pulled from his storage pouch a silver-red lantern edict, raised it, and recited.

“By order of Huang Qiusheng, Sect Master of the Red Lantern Sect: All affairs of the Wang Clan’s Qingxi Market Large Goods Emporium shall be taken over by the Merchant Guild’s Elder Council. The Wang Clan shall complete the handover.”

“The Wang Clan of Anbei Country has rendered meritorious service; hereby granted one Foundation Establishment Elixir, one vial of Spirit Marrow Purifying Elixir, one top-grade spiritual artifact, two inner-disciple quotas, and ten outer-disciple quotas!”

The Foundation Establishment Elixir—no matter the spiritual root type—now starts at over twenty thousand spirit stones, used to help cultivators establish their Foundation.

The Spirit Marrow Purifying Elixir is a spiritual pill for healing and enhancing cultivation, capable of repairing damaged meridians and even restoring one’s Dao foundation. Yulou didn’t know its price, but he knew it was certainly expensive—among the most costly of special spiritual pills.

A top-grade spiritual artifact—Yulou didn’t know its exact value, but he was certain it wasn’t merely ten times the price of a top-grade magic tool; it was at least thirty thousand spirit stones.

Two inner-disciple quotas: each worth eighteen thousand, totaling thirty-six thousand; ten outer-disciple quotas: each worth three thousand two hundred, totaling thirty-two thousand.

That damn Large Goods Emporium? This deal netted at least one hundred twenty thousand spirit stones!

Yulou snapped out of his shock and daze, voice tight.

“Clan Chief, did we misjudge the Ancestral Master?”

“Hahaha, yes! Always remember the grace of Mang Xiang Ancestral Master! Hahaha!”

Wang Xianmao laughed as he handed the Red Lantern Sect edict to Yulou.

The edict wasn’t entirely silver—it was built on ninth-grade white elm spiritual wood, with only its outer layer coated in mirror-silver, engraved with the Red Lantern Sect’s Shanmen imagery, exuding grandeur.

In each of the four corners, a small red lantern was painted; when Yulou touched them with his fingers, he felt warmth—how it was made, he couldn’t fathom.

After reading the Sect Master’s order twice, Yulou’s heart finally settled.

This wasn’t forced seizure—it was Huang Qiusheng cooperating with the Wang Clan. No, more accurately, the Wang Clan of Mang Xiang’s lineage, with the Sect Master’s aid, had undermined the Red Lantern Sect.

The Wang Clan hadn’t lost a thing—they’d made a fortune!

Looking at the edict in his hand, Yulou realized.

This wasn’t an edict—it was all the grace of Mang Xiang Ancestral Master!