Chapter 999: Unspoken

"First, you can use a secret technique to disperse it across the land of Ji Guo, enhancing the nation’s earth qi and national strength. Dispersing it into another country is also possible, but the Six Wonders have the deepest karmic ties with Ji Guo, yielding the best results. This is called returning to its origin, though some loss is inevitable—and not minor. The loss comes from the Six Wonders’ primordial spirit and soul."

This method was simple to understand and carried considerable meaning, but Wei Yuan immediately decided not to choose it.

It may seem beneficial to Ji Guo as a whole, but the vast majority of Ji Guo remains under the control of the Ji King and the aristocratic clans. No matter how much more the land produces—even tenfold—it means nothing to the common folk, who still barely survive on the edge of starvation.

Thus, this act may benefit Ji Guo, but not necessarily its people. Wei Yuan cared only for the people; the nobles and aristocrats clinging to them were bloodsucking vines.

The Immortal Zhao Li seemed to know Wei Yuan would not choose this, and continued: "Second option: bury it in Qingming, allowing it to slowly dissolve and become nourishment and foundation for Qingming. Frankly, your Tai Chu Palace excels at this. How many years have you been around? Yet you’ve already opened three mountain gates, each larger than the last, the land growing ever richer! You’re about to open a fourth. But with only your own tiny number of disciples to bury it... "

The Jiang Gong master suddenly coughed. Zhao Li Immortal understood and did not elaborate further, instead saying: "In short, in this matter, no sect under heaven surpasses Tai Chu Palace. So you may return to your sect and seek the secret technique to transform it—efficiency, yes, that’s the word—far exceeding the first method."

After speaking, Zhao Li Immortal paused, letting Wei Yuan reflect on his own.

Finally, the third method.

"This method is called the Xuanji Refining Heaven Art, my personal secret technique. If Master Bai treats me better in the future, I might consider teaching it to you. Using the Xuanji Refining Heaven Art to refine the Six Wonders’ remains, what you gain depends entirely on heavenly will. The core of this method is returning the remains to heaven and earth, then receiving back a gift from them. That’s all."

Having presented the three methods, Zhao Li Immortal fell silent, awaiting Wei Yuan’s decision. Wei Yuan and Zhang Sheng exchanged glances, both hesitant.

The first method was out of the question, but between the second and third, each had advantages and drawbacks, making comparison difficult. Wei Yuan’s instinct told him the second method would yield stable gains—a safe, seasoned choice. The third method, however, carried wild fluctuations: immense reward, or nothing at all.

Under normal circumstances, Wei Yuan would have chosen the third method by instinct, relying on his own fortune to compensate. But now he possessed not a shred of fortune, and thus had no confidence.

While he hesitated, the wealthy merchant said: "Choose the third."

Wei Yuan’s heart stirred. "But I have no fortune left."

The wealthy merchant snorted: "Fool! Go earn some more later! Besides, this man here has plenty of fortune—he can’t possibly use it all. Borrow some from him!"

Zhao Li Immortal sighed. "Old Bai, if you don’t speak, no one takes you for a mute. Haven’t I hinted clearly enough? And do you Jian Gong really borrow things so bluntly?"

The wealthy merchant snorted again, continuing: "When Jian Gong borrows from you, we’re giving you face!"

"Besides, the third method grants you the Xuanji Refining Heaven Art for free—this immortal technique is no less valuable than the Six Wonders’ remains. If the old man’s own descendants weren’t so useless and he had no one to pass it to, he wouldn’t even be offering it... Huh? Wait—Little Rascal! You’re scheming to trick my disciple’s disciple, aren’t you?!"

The Jiang Gong master suddenly realized, his gaze turning hostile. "We don’t want your immortal technique! Jian Gong has our own secret method to refine the Six Wonders’ remains into an immortal sword! A technique unmatched under heaven!... Well, it’s just a hair inferior to the secret art passed down by your Tai Chu Palace’s founding master. Huh?"

The wealthy merchant’s expression turned strange. After all, it was the founding master of Tai Chu Palace who first pioneered the path of an immortal entering the sword.

When the first immortal sword appeared, the immortal realm erupted in outrage; countless voices cursed and condemned him—every finger pointed at him! But the Tai Chu Palace founding master pretended not to hear, for no one dared speak to his face. When the second immortal sword emerged, silence fell. Overnight, his reputation reversed; no more slander.

By the time the fourth immortal sword completed the array, the world had only praise left. The technique became the most sacred and wondrous in the immortal path—the true path of heaven and earth.

Afterwards, Jian Gong secretly collaborated with the three great forging sects of the time, studying for a hundred years, finally developing a method to refine an immortal’s remains into an immortal sword. After millennia of refinement, the technique improved greatly—but compared to the four swords forged by the Tai Chu Palace founding master, though crude, his still carried a deeper essence of the Dao, and thus the distinction remained clear.

Seeing the wealthy merchant fall silent, Zhao Li Immortal snorted: "If Jian Gong were truly reliable, it wouldn’t always be second in the world—sometimes even third."