Yaoguang had emerged from seclusion.
As managers from Nine Cauldrons Peak delivered invitation after invitation, the news spread through the Heavenly Dao Sect with remarkable speed.
Although the lineage masters and the sect master, who held the sect's supreme authority, did not show excessive warmth, over a dozen Void Piercing elders still came to pay their respects.
As for those who immediately sent congratulatory gifts, there were dozens.
Regardless of whether this junior sect master was somewhat disfavored by the sect master due to his ties with Dao Lord Penglai, sending a modest gift to build familiarity was never a mistake.
However, Yaoguang had only invited elders from three Void Piercing factions for his initial gathering, leaving many to quietly lament the missed opportunity.
***
Atop Nine Cauldrons Peak, three Void Piercing experts—Chi Yu, Tongming, and Ling Ruogu—arrived dressed in formal attire.
Each had also brought one or two prodigies from their respective clans.
Setting aside the Ling Family's Lingxi, Chi Yu had brought Chi Feng, a true disciple of his clan's younger generation.
Elder Tongming's backing was slightly weaker, lacking a true disciple of the younger generation of sufficient stature to present, but he had brought a pair of twin sisters instead.
The sisters seemed to have been meticulously groomed; they practiced charm arts and had cultivated Incandescent White Golden Cores. In temperament and beauty, they even eclipsed the Second True Disciple, Lingxi.
***
"'The people of the time did not recognize the cloud-aspiring tree; only when it soared into the clouds did they proclaim its height.' Junior Sect Master Yaoguang is truly modest and discreet—silent until astounding the world in a single stroke! Come, come, allow me to raise a cup to the junior sect master."
At the small banquet, Yaoguang exchanged toasts with the three Void Piercing elders.
With Chi Yu, Tongming, and Ling Ruogu all eager to curry favor, the atmosphere naturally grew exceedingly lively.
"You are all too kind."
Yaoguang raised his cup and said, "Aside from thanking everyone for their enthusiasm, I invited you here today because there is a matter I would like to ask your help with."
The three paused, then stood in unison. "Junior Sect Master, please speak freely. Though our Chi Family's influence is modest, we have plenty of people at our disposal, ready to follow your command."
"I have also cultivated many connections within the sect over the years. I will certainly do my utmost to fulfill whatever Junior Sect Master Yaoguang requires."
"Junior Sect Master Yaoguang is being too polite. To have your trust is our honor."
The Void Piercing elders laughed and spoke readily.
Yaoguang did not beat around the bush. He retrieved the Longxiang Flying Boat and tossed it high into the air.
Instantly, the flying boat swelled against the wind, rapidly manifesting to a size of a thousand meters.
As its thousand-meter hull materialized at such close range, the Dao charm within it spilled outward.
In that instant, every one of the Void Piercing elders was visibly moved. "This... this is..."
"A Dao artifact?! This is a Dao artifact?!"
"A flying-boat Dao artifact?! And a genuine one at that?!"
Yaoguang took in their reactions.
Although every Void Piercing expert earned upwards of a million Pure Yang Great Pills a year, making it seem as though they could buy a Dao artifact after saving for a millennium, the reality was that many lacked even enough to sustain their daily cultivation. How could they possibly amass a billion pills to purchase a Dao artifact?
Unlike mortals, who could only consume limited amounts of food each day, Void Piercing experts could absorb as many pills as they could get their hands on.
"Indeed, it is a Dao artifact,"
Yaoguang said, giving Tongming a smiling glance. "Back then, it was thanks to this Dao artifact that I managed to escape Elder Tongming's pursuit."
Elder Tongming hastily apologized, "I was overly reckless back then, acting before investigating the truth of the matter..."
"I understand."
Yaoguang waved a hand. "Elder Tongming was merely deceived by others. I do not blame you."
Having said that, he turned his gaze back toward the Longxiang Flying Boat. "The favor I ask of you is to help me spread the word throughout the sect: I am willing to sell this Dao artifact to the highest bidder."
"Sell this Dao artifact?!"
Tongming, Chi Yu, and Ling Ruogu were all shaken.
Ling Ruogu could not help but urge, "With Junior Sect Master Yaoguang's talent as someone with a void-type special constitution, reaching Void Refining in the future may not be guaranteed, but your chances far exceed those of ordinary cultivators. Once you attain Void Refining, having such a Dao artifact by your side would give you vastly greater hope than other Void Refining cultivators when refining Dao techniques and striking toward Void Shattering. Why would you..."
"It is precisely because of my talent that I must forge ahead with determination and press forward boldly,"
Yaoguang said. "Cultivation requires resources. Without sufficient resources, how can I swiftly bridge the gap between the Void Piercing and Void Refining realms? Selling this Dao artifact at an opportune time is a fine choice."
Hearing Yaoguang's reasoning, Ling Ruogu could hardly persist in dissuading him.
"If it is only this matter, it is no burden at all—it is an enviable assignment! After all, a Dao artifact, especially one sold internally within the sect, and even being of the most common void variety... who wouldn't want it?"
Chi Yu said hurriedly.
"Indeed. If the junior sect master has truly decided to sell this Dao artifact, I can immediately notify the thirteen peak masters, the four lineage masters, and the three vice sect masters."
Elder Tongming nodded in agreement.
"The sect master and several grand elders will likely have thoughts regarding this Dao artifact as well. We can notify them too,"
Ling Ruogu added.
"Then I must trouble you all to make the notifications. Let us set the date for one month from now, to the highest bidder."
Yaoguang gave a slight smile. "Naturally, you may also drop a word to the peak masters, lineage masters, and vice sect masters: if they conspire together to offer an absurdly low price, they cannot blame me for selling this Dao artifact outside the sect."
"Of course not. We belong to the same sect; no one would resort to such low tactics,"
Elder Tongming chuckled.
Chi Yu nodded alongside him.
Had the seller been any other Void Piercing cultivator...
Such an occurrence might not have been out of the question.
Even if they didn't deliberately quote an insultingly low price, they would likely have pressured it down. But against this junior sect master—one endowed with a void-type special constitution who possessed immense promise of attaining Void Refining—no one would completely offend him over a transaction that was already a concession to the sect.
Not even the sect master who governed the sect's operations would be an exception.
"One month, then. Junior Sect Master, leave the matter to us. We guarantee that every available peak master, lineage master, and vice sect master will be present."
Ling Ruogu cupped his hands.
"Then I leave it in your capable hands."
Yaoguang smiled and raised his hand in return.
The two sides conversed a while longer, deepening their rapport, before parting in high spirits.
Only after they departed did Yaoguang summon Chief Manager Lü Suoyu.
"I recall having various related properties under my name that yield a fair income each year. Over three years, they should have produced eight or nine million, shouldn't they? Have those earnings been submitted yet?"
Yaoguang inquired.
Lü Suoyu was slightly startled, then replied cautiously, "Those properties essentially count as your private estate, Junior Sect Master. Normally... they are collected by those closest to you... We did not dare overstep our bounds and interfere..."
Yaoguang's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this.
His promotion from true disciple to junior sect master had happened too quickly.
When other disciples served as true disciples, even those without a clan's backing would see many people actively approaching and attaching themselves to their banner. By the time a true disciple achieved Void Piercing and became a junior sect master, the two sides would have spent decades or centuries together, knowing each other thoroughly. Those followers would naturally form the core apparatus managing their assets.
Yet Yaoguang...
He had essentially skipped the accumulation phase of being a true disciple, leaving him now in a predicament where he lacked trustworthy hands.
Right then, he seemed to sense something.
Soon, a manager approached from afar, cupping his hands in respect. "Junior Sect Master, True Disciple Zhang Qing and Ancestor Zhang Yang of the Zhang Family have come to pay a visit."
"Mm. Bring them over,"
Yaoguang instructed.
Following his order, Zhang Qing and Zhang Yang soon landed on the mountain peak under the manager's guidance.
Recalling True Disciple Zhang Qing's earlier flattery and the hints dropped in his words, Yaoguang had more or less guessed the purpose of their visit.
He reviewed the basic information regarding the Zhang Family in his mind.
This was an organization that had once produced a Void Piercing cultivator.
However, that Void Piercing expert had fallen in the war sparked by Demon Saint Xiangliu. In the three thousand years since, the clan had never produced another Void Piercing cultivator.
Had it not been for the lingering goodwill of that deceased expert, the Zhang Family would likely have been picked clean long ago.
Yet favors were bound to run dry eventually. Over three thousand years, some of the Void Piercing peers of that Zhang Family ancestor had reached the end of their lifespans, while others had perished in unexpected disasters.
Over the past several centuries, the precarious Zhang Family had constantly sought a way out.
Now it seemed...
They had pinned their hopes on him.
*One Azure Blue Golden Core who has hope of reaching Void Piercing, and two Void Piercing Battle Immortals... They can barely serve for a time.*
Yaoguang pondered.
Soon, Zhang Yang and Zhang Qing reached the peak where Yaoguang stood.
Before either could speak, Yaoguang smiled and took the initiative. "You two arrive at an opportune moment. I happen to have a task I'd like to ask your help with. Do you have some free time?"
Zhang Yang and Zhang Qing exchanged a glance, instantly realizing Yaoguang had deduced the purpose of their visit.
They likewise understood what he meant.
This was a test for the Zhang Family to see whether they were truly of any use.
Immediately, both cupped their hands together. "Please instruct us, Junior Sect Master!"
"When I became junior sect master, the sect master granted me several properties. Among them are jurisdictional authority over District Three of Heavenly Dao South City and the one hundred and eight shops in that area. During this past period, I was busy consolidating my cultivation and did not take possession of them. Therefore, I must trouble the Zhang Family to conduct an inventory for me, to see how order is maintained in District Three and whether the people below are behaving honestly,"
Yaoguang said with a smile.
Hearing this assignment, Zhang Qing and Zhang Yang solemnly accepted. "Thank you for your trust, Junior Sect Master. Our Zhang Family will not let you down."
Yaoguang nodded.
He offered no promises, but an unspoken understanding hung between them: only by handling this matter properly could the Zhang Family prove their worth.
The two quickly took their leave.
"Next, the Battle Hall and the Refined Gold Mountain Range..."
Yaoguang stood up, preparing to head for the Battle Hall.
Yet not long after leaving Nine Cauldrons Peak, a talisman on his person—one crafted by his own hand that looked entirely different from a standard communication talisman—vibrated slightly.
This talisman...
"The Jiuxiao Sect?"
He took out the jade talisman and swept it with his divine mind.
He quickly learned why Li Hanqiu had sent the message.
"The Cangwu lineage..."
Chapter 324