"See him? Of course I did."
Recalling their brief half-day meeting, the bearing and conversation the man had shown, as well as his cultivation realm, even Cave Master Moyun—knowledgeable and experienced as he was—could not help but feel a twinge of admiration.
"Even as a rogue cultivator, Demonic Lord Qingyang possesses a bearing no lesser than a regional overlord. Compared to you, Fellow Daoist Huangfu, he hardly yields by much!"
These words came straight from the heart.
Yet to Huangfu Song's ears, they sounded exceedingly grating.
"My Huangfu lineage is descended from the imperial bloodline of the most prosperous dynasty in the Northern Sea back in those days. A mere rogue cultivator, even if he bears some title of 'Demonic Lord,' how can he be mentioned in the same breath as me!"
"Oh?"
Cave Master Moyun gave him a faint, ambiguous smile and murmured, "Since he falls so short in your eyes, why did you petition me time and again, exaggerating his abilities?
"Could it be that Fellow Daoist Huangfu was deliberately trying to sow discord? Hmm?"
The drawn-out tone of that final sound made the smile turn slightly chilling.
Huangfu Song's expression shifted marginally.
Clearly, this master, famed among the rogue cultivators of the Myriad Immortals Association for his artifact crafting, had never possessed such linguistic sharp-wittedness before. Yet now he was trading barbs and parsing every word with him.
During that brief half-day journey to Penghu Lake, what on earth had he and that Demonic Lord Qingyang discussed?
What he did not realize was that someone like Cave Master Moyun—who had clawed his way up from the ranks of rogue cultivators relying on a singular craft—was hardly ignorant of verbal sparring. It was simply that once one reached a certain standing, one grew disinclined to bicker over trifles.
Yet it was evident that after mulling things over on his journey back, Cave Master Moyun had gradually realized he was likely being used as a cat's-paw by Huangfu Song.
Murdering with a borrowed knife?
Under his steady gaze, Huangfu Song managed a strained response. "How could I be the sort to engage in underhanded schemes! Fellow Daoist, you truly misunderstand."
"Heh."
Seeing Cave Master Moyun's light chuckle, Huangfu Song hastened to make amends.
"In truth, I merely heard that this man is adept at manipulating public perception. First came the suspicion of exaggerating his Daoist title and past exploits, followed within a few short years by the tactics he used to forge his reputation as Artifact Crafting Master Qingyangzi.
"If he is truly allowed to plant his feet firmly, the title of the Myriad Immortals Association's foremost artifact craftsman will be snatched away by him.
"Naturally, to someone of your standing, Cave Master, a mere speck of fame is not something you would care about. Yet for us cultivators, reputation is a gilded signboard. It touches upon manifold interests and, moreover, influences our cultivation of the Great Dao.
"It was only because of this that I repeatedly cautioned you, urging you not to let this man grow too powerful."
The more he spoke, the smoother his rhetoric became.
Huangfu Song had nearly convinced even himself.
Cave Master Moyun reined in his smile and regarded the man in the purple brocade robe with a measured look.
The other party wore an expression of complete candor, betraying very little sign of deceit.
However, Cave Master Moyun knew full well that for cultivators of their years, controlling their facial expressions and fluctuations of emotion was utterly trivial so long as they were not confronted by earth-shattering crises. He was certainly not going to place full faith in Huangfu Song's words.
After a long pause, he said, "Let this matter rest here!"
With that, he took a step forward and strode into the depths of the clouds and mist.
Unwilling to let it drop, Huangfu Song hurriedly followed.
"Fellow Daoist, are you truly not afraid that Demonic Lord Qingyang will grow too powerful and cut into your artifact business within the Myriad Immortals Association? You must realize there are hundreds of cultivators under Moyun Cave who depend upon you. Even if you don't care for yourself, what about them...?"
Cave Master Moyun raised his right hand, cutting him off.
"You worry overmuch. I had a brief discussion with that Qingyangzi regarding insights into artifact crafting. Though his fundamentals are solid, what he has learned is hopelessly disparate. He hasn't even established a style of his own—how can there be any talk of him being a master? Since he cannot become a master, how could he threaten my standing in the Myriad Immortals Association?"
"What if he was deliberately concealing his skill in his speech?"
"Heh, words from a mouth can deceive, but the creations he forges cannot hide from my eyes."
Cave Master Moyun was brimming with confidence, carrying an air of disdainful pride.
"At present, Qingyangzi's most renowned artifact is nothing more than a high-grade Nine Yang True Fire Cover. After deducing its design multiple times, I discovered this treasure is in truth merely a variation of the Tier 2 Nine Transformations Flame Dragon Array.
"The man has considerable insight into arrays, having reverse-engineered such a top-tier offensive array of the second tier and arranged it into a defensive artifact.
"Ingenious as it may be, it has lost the essence of the array.
"With his current attainments in artifact crafting, he will pose no threat to me for at least a century.
"Fellow Daoist Huangfu, you are truly overthinking things."
Huangfu Song opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.
Or rather, having no knowledge of artifact crafting, he simply had no idea how to reply.
Instead, Cave Master Moyun halted his steps, turning his head to look back at him.
"I have heard that over these years, you have devoted yourself to gathering former subjects of the Great Zhou Dynasty, attempting to restore the glory of that ancient empire. Presumably, you have assembled quite a host of talents beneath you and urgently require a large spiritual vein to provide them with a place to cultivate!"
Huangfu Song's heart gave a sudden thud, and the corners of his mouth tightened instinctively.
Cave Master Moyun caught this subtle shift in expression.
He shook his head and sighed.
"The model of a grand dynasty does not suit us cultivators. In the past, the Great Zhou was able to exist because it enjoyed the backing of the Yuan Demon Sect. Yet what made you was the Yuan Demon Sect, and what destroyed you was the Yuan Demon Sect as well. They could wipe you out with the snap of a finger, and so could other powers.
"In this old man's humble opinion, rather than pouring your mind into these trivialities, Fellow Daoist Huangfu, you would be better off concentrating on your cultivation.
"With your natural talent, the legacy of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the support of Fellow Daoist Zihou, you might have a better shot at the Great Dao of the Nascent Soul than the rest of us."
At this point, he cupped his hands.
"I have said all I will say. You need not visit my Moyun Cave in the near future; this old man has accepted a commission from an old friend and cannot pull himself away."
With that, he drifted languidly into the depths of the mist.
This time, Huangfu Song did not pursue him.
Standing where he was, the man's expression darkened and cleared in turns.
Finally, he cast a resentful glance toward the direction in which Cave Master Moyun had departed.
"This old fellow usually keeps a low profile, but his conduct is thorough indeed. Even after realizing I was using him as a pawn, he still offered me a well-meaning piece of advice."
He cursed silently in his heart, though he did not truly harbor resentment toward Cave Master Moyun.
What the other man had said carried genuine sincerity.
However!
How could he, Huangfu Song, abandon the great undertaking he had carried halfway to fruition!
Especially now, with chaos across the realm and turmoil throughout the Northern Sea—this was the ideal opportunity to fish in troubled waters and establish his own faction.
It was not that he craved mundane power.
In truth, how could an isolated individual ever hope to break through to the Nascent Soul stage with ease?
Zihou?
That elder of his had been stuck at the ninth layer of Golden Core for years, unable to advance an inch. The so-called plan to secure the Myriad Immortals Association's backing by way of the Demon Hunter path was an illusion as well; that final ninth star simply could not be attained.
The elder could barely look after herself, let alone grant him any more substantial support.
Only by cultivating a faction, netting talented individuals, and building a power of his own could enough resources be amassed for him. Coupled with the legacy of the Great Zhou Dynasty, there might finally be a slim chance of forming a Nascent Soul.
At this thought, Huangfu Song's mood soured considerably.
These matters sounded simple in principle, yet he was stuck at the very first step.
To cultivate a faction and recruit talent, one needed at least a stable mountain gate where those people could settle their hearts!
The eight-hundred-li Penghu Lake was precisely the prime spiritual ground he had set his sights on, one that could carry him through the initial stages of his venture.
Yet to his dismay, when he returned from a journey away, Penghu Lake had already been claimed by someone else.
Had it been an ordinary rogue cultivator, it would not have mattered. But that person happened to be Demonic Lord Qingyang—a ruthless, audacious individual.
Verbal intimidation would never make such a man yield Penghu Lake.
Originally, he had reasoned that a lone rogue cultivator would possess limited financial means.
By borrowing another's knife and having Cave Master Moyun intervene, he had hoped to cut off the man's stable revenue stream from the artifact business.
Once the five-year lease expired and the man had exhausted his savings, Huangfu Song would have been able to take over the eight-hundred-li Penghu Lake without lifting a finger.
Clearly, that scheme had fallen flat.
Huangfu Song was no longer willing to wait.
"If underhanded means won't work, then I shall proceed openly!
"That Demonic Lord Qingyang is completely on his own. When I pay a personal visit to his doorstep, he will have no choice but to hand it over obediently."
Imagining the future, the irritability in Huangfu Song's chest dissipated considerably, and a bright smile returned to his face.
***
Inside the Constellation Palace on Peng Island.
Tianxuan stepped in hastily. For a fleeting instant, she was overawed by the palace's resplendent grandeur.
Yet, having long grown accustomed to the decor, she quickly regained her composure.
"Master, this is the intelligence you requested. I retrieved it for you from the Demon Hunting Department; Lord Old Fisherman handed it to me personally."
"Did he have any other words for you to pass along?"
Luo Chen took the thick stack of bamboo slips and set them casually on his desk.
Tianxuan nodded. "There was a message. The Old Fisherman has run into issues with body refinement and wishes to set a time to consult with you."
This came as no surprise to Luo Chen.
The path of body refinement appeared simple, seemingly requiring only the accumulation of resources.
In truth, every hurdle still possessed its own bottleneck.
Luo Chen had fumbled his way through step by step, with good teachers and helpful friends like Wang Yuan guiding and exchanging pointers with him along the way. In the end, he had even relied on his panel to barely reach his current height.
For the Old Fisherman to achieve results easily would be impossible.
If it were that simple, it would make a mockery of Luo Chen's century of bitter cultivation!
"Next time you go to Longyuan Immortal City, tell the Old Fisherman that I have time whenever he wishes; he may choose the location."
Tianxuan acknowledged this with a nod. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly recalled something.
"Master, our five-year lease for Penghu Lake is nearing its end. The Old Fisherman asked whether we intend to renew it."
"Renew it! Why wouldn't we?"
Luo Chen chuckled. As for the required nine million spirit stones, he was not particularly strapped for them at the moment.
Previously, he had eighteen million spirit stones in liquid funds. Even after paying out half, he still held the other half.
Although the remaining half would only suffice for another five years, Luo Chen felt no rush or anxiety.
It was not that the newly opened artifact business could bring him immense profit. Throughout the entire year, it yielded merely a hundred or two hundred thousand in spare change. That income was only enough to break even on his artifact crafting expenses.
His true confidence lay in another stockpile of materials he held.
Those were the spoils of war he had gathered from the battle on Lengguang Island.
Various resources, miscellaneous and useless magical treasures, and even some obscure, niche items.
These goods were still sitting in his hands, unsold.
Yet Luo Chen had estimated that once liquidated, they could bring him ten to twenty million spirit stones in profit.
After all, they represented the lifelong wealth of several Golden Core cultivators!
Above all, they included Qian Ting, the head of a Golden Core clan!
Spending those spirit stones would be enough to lease Penghu Lake for twenty to thirty years.
And after twenty or thirty years, whether through his improved artifact business or by resuming his old trade in pills, he would have more than enough to sustain his cultivation.
In any case, Luo Chen was in no hurry over spirit stones in the short term.
After Tianxuan departed, Luo Chen unfurled a roll of bamboo slips.
The first line came into view: *History of Northern Sea Dynastic Transitions—The Great Zhou.*
Reading further down:
*The Soul Formation cultivators reside above, the sacred grounds loom aloft, and the Northern Sea possesses a master known as the Yuan Demon Sect. Though the cultivators within bear an overbearing demeanor, they still maintain the ascetic habits of true practitioners. The resources they require are paid annually as tribute by the subordinate Nascent Soul sects beneath them. Aside from this, there are also secular dynasties directly subordinate to the Yuan Demon Sect, managing basic resources on its behalf. The Qian, Zhuang, Zhou, Yong, and others were all vassals of their time. Such dynasties were mostly Golden Core powers, governed by true disciples of the Yuan Demon Sect, and served as grounds for worldly tempering. The Great Zhou, however, was an anomaly. This anomaly lay in the fact that the Great Zhou Dynasty quietly produced a Nascent Soul Perfected Person...*
Reading the plain, direct information on the bamboo slip, Luo Chen's brow gradually furrowed.
Sects controlling secular nations—this model was hardly foreign to him.
Back in the Jade Cauldron Domain, Azure Pill Valley had the Yuanzhao Kingdom under its jurisdiction.
From what he knew, most other sects similarly controlled several secular dynasties of varying sizes.
The main function of these secular nations, aside from propagating the mortal population and supplying seedlings endowed with spiritual roots, was to gather ordinary basic resources that were consumed in vast quantities by the major sects.
However, the Great Zhou described on this bamboo slip had clearly exceeded the definition of an ordinary secular dynasty.
"Their ancestors actually produced a Nascent Soul Perfected Person?"
***
"Hurry up, hurry up!"
"The clan head instructed that this batch of fry must be released at designated spots, and the quantity in each area must be strictly controlled."
"Be gentle! These are golden dragon carps. Once mature, they are Tier 1 demon beasts, and if properly raised, they even stand a chance of advancing to Tier 2! If you harm a single fry, prepare to compensate with at least five hundred spirit stones!"
"Don't give me that nonsense about fry not being worth five hundred spirit stones—I'm calculating based on a fully grown Tier 1 golden dragon carp!"
Across the misty, vast expanse of the lake, small boats departed from Lotus Picking Island, fanning out in every direction.
Every ten li, a batch of fry was carefully introduced into the water.
At the same time, others scattered large quantities of feed below.
That feed was concocted by grinding spirit-infused medicinal herbs into powder and blending them, making it a favorite sustenance for golden dragon carp fry.
Prolonged consumption accelerated their growth, helping them reach the mature stage earlier.
This feed was exceptionally expensive as well!
For the sake of this grand farming venture, Zhang Jiadi had emptied his coffers, yet could not even muster a tenth of what was needed.
At the critical juncture, Fairy Tianxuan from Peng Island stepped in, injecting five hundred thousand spirit stones to barely achieve the necessary scale for this first batch of golden dragon carps.
Under such heavy investment, not the slightest negligence could be tolerated.
To this end, the Zhang clan of Lotus Picking Island had mobilized in full force!
Except for Wen Xiu, who needed to hold down the fort at the Qingyang Firm in Longyuan Immortal City, all the other cultivators—from Foundation Establishment down to mortal martial artists—had been deployed.
Zhang Jiadi sat aboard a small boat, carefully releasing a batch of fry with his own hands.
As he straightened his back, a smile full of hope surfaced on his face.
The flesh of the golden dragon carp was exceptionally delicious and rich in spiritual energy, making it one of the most beloved spiritual dishes among Northern Sea cultivators.
Had it not been for its demanding habitat—it could only be raised in places rich in spiritual energy—its status might have already rivaled spiritual rice.
Originally, he had not harbored such an idea.
Had it not been for a casual chat with a customer at the Qingyang Firm, where he learned the details of his master's battle on Lengguang Island, he would never have conceived the thought.
It was said that the battle had taken place in the golden dragon carp fishery belonging to a Golden Core clan.
Because the battle was so destructive, all the golden dragon carps in the fishery perished, creating a far-reaching ripple effect. The scarcity of golden dragon carps caused market prices to surge manifold.
After inquiring about those details, he grew tempted.
The eight-hundred-li Penghu Lake possessed excellent water quality, abundant spiritual energy, and lush underwater vegetation, making it exceptionally suited for raising golden dragon carps.
The reason no one had done so previously was twofold: first, no one understood the methods of domestication; second, the initial capital required was too steep; and third, rogue cultivators were accustomed to an itinerant existence without permanent roots, rarely maintaining fixed enterprises, which left the eight-hundred-li Penghu Lake lying fallow.
Yet for the Zhang clan, which sought to pass down its heritage as a cultivation clan, these issues were nothing.
In particular, his Dao companion Wen Xiu understood the techniques for domesticating dragon carps!
After seeking instructions from Fairy Tianxuan, this grand venture of domesticating dragon carps had commenced with great fanfare.
"Though the master provided the primary grounds and spirit stones, my Zhang family supplies the manpower and effort, earning us a ten percent share of the revenue.
"Once the scale grows in the future, that ten percent will amount to well over a hundred thousand spirit stones a year."
A smile graced Zhang Jiadi's face, as if he could already see the splendid sight of large nets casting out to haul in countless lively, mature golden dragon carps.
Suddenly, he seemed to recall something and glanced around.
"Where is Qingqing?"
A low-tier cultivator beside him answered, "The young lady rode the white puppet horse you gave her out to play. She didn't board the boat earlier."
"Out playing again?" Zhang Jiadi frowned. Had he known, he would not have gifted that little toy.
That little white horse was a Tier 2 puppet, capable of skimming across waves and galloping through the air.
Moreover, its operation was simple, making it a popular flight tool among Northern Sea cultivators.
Once loaded with spirit stones, one needed only to press a switch; even a mortal could steer it to some degree.
Though his daughter Qingqing was not yet five years old, her mind was already awakening, and she was bright and lively.
Ever since receiving the white horse, she spent all day roaming outside.
"Clan Head, should I go bring the young lady back?"
"Let her run wild!"
Zhang Jiadi shook his head. After all, she was playing upon the eight-hundred-li Penghu Lake, and she had a protective talisman bestowed by Fairy Tianxuan. So long as she did not intrude upon Peng Island where the master cultivated, nothing serious would happen.
Once they finished their work here, he could fetch her himself.
Such was often the way of a father caring for a child!
Besides, this eight-hundred-li Penghu Lake was their clan's territory, and Zhang Jiadi was preoccupied with the clan's livelihood, so he simply let the little girl play on her own.
***
Upon the calm surface of the lake, emerald lotus leaves stretched out infinitely, meeting the sky at the horizon.
A few pink blossoms stood poised to open.
Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept through.
Promptly, a small figure darted out from the depths of the lotus leaves.
"Giddyap! Giddyap! Giddyap!"
A crisp, childish voice rang out merrily, sounding so young that it was hard to tell whether it belonged to a boy or a girl.
A porcelain-carved little girl was riding the white horse, skimming the waves and chasing the spray at high speed.
Once she cleared the vast field of lotus leaves, she flung her arm backward.
*Whoosh!*
A paper kite soared up against the wind.
The little girl's eyes shone with immense excitement. Gripping the white horse with one hand and clutching the kite's wooden handle with the other, she felt the speed was still not fast enough.
She twisted a mechanism on the white horse.
"Horsey, faster, faster!
"If Mother finds out, she won't let me play like this."
As the mechanism turned, the white horse picked up even more speed. Gradually, the little girl began to feel strained.
Even though she had been nourished by spirit herbs and steeped in spiritual energy since infancy, giving her a robust body at such a young age, she was ultimately a toddler under five years old.
Unchecked, the kite suddenly surged upward, and the wooden handle slipped from her grasp, plunging toward the water.
The little girl startled and instinctively twisted around to grab it.
With a loud splash, she tumbled straight into the lake.
Submerged, the little girl began thrashing about in panic as lake water rushed at her from every side.
Yet the moment it brushed against her, it was repelled by an azure barrier of light.
"Huh?"
Blinking in surprise, the little girl retrieved an object from her robe.
It was a feather—a gift from Auntie Tianxuan, who frequently visited her home.
At this moment, ripples of azure light emanated from the feather, gently pushing the lake water away.
"How neat!"
The girl grew even more thrilled, completely forgetting the white horse left floating behind.
Her large, bright eyes rolled around mischievously. Clutching the feather, she began swimming down toward the lake bed.
"Mother never lets me go into the water. Hmph, today I'm going down to see what's down there!"
Holding the feather, the little girl resembled a tiny swimming fish, diving deeper and deeper.
As she went further down, the water pressure mounted, yet beneath the azure light, she felt virtually none of it.
Without realizing it, the little girl began to feel tired.
Just as she considered turning back, her little body suddenly froze.
"What is that?"
Deep in the bottom of the lake, two lantern-like beams of light abruptly blazed open.
Chapter 605