Born with immortal seed

Chapter 332 Return to Thunder Cliff

"Junior Sister Ma, what brings you here? Just have someone pass on a message."

"I'm here to deliver a mission. Please check it, Senior Brother Lang... Regarding the sect's plan to open a market in Hejian, I've led a team to several suitable locations and compiled a report analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of each."

Ma Ruoxi, dressed in a simple Taoist robe, walked with a powerful and vigorous stride, exuding a heroic and slightly masculine air.

The area and population of Hejian County are more than twice that of Heishan County. Since it came under the control of Qingfeng Sect, it has vigorously cracked down on treacherous cultivators and restored order in the cultivation world. Every year, a large number of rogue cultivators return to the area.

Since killing the invading Nine Lotus True Lord nine years ago, his reputation has grown ever stronger.

The Hejian County has been completely controlled, and all rules are based on those of the Heishan County, so no one dares to object.

Even the surrounding counties flocked to visit, and in their correspondence, they all revered Qingfeng Sect as the supreme sect.

In terms of sects, the annual income of Wanxianjian is more than five times that of when they first entered Hejian, and there is still room for growth.

The latest time the sect opened its gates wide, more than ninety promising talents were recommended from all over the country. This was even after the Qingfeng Sect raised its standards for accepting disciples, unlike the first two times when it didn't care about any qualifications and accepted all comers.

The main reason is that all major cultivation families abide by the prohibition and dare not absorb immortal seedlings who are not related by blood.

Those established sects that had founded their own schools either changed their methods of inheritance or simply moved out of Hejian.

In this way, all the talented people of Hejian joined Qingfeng.

It can be said that the number and quality of disciples recruited by Wanxianjian each year are getting better and better.

The latest batch even shows a trend of surpassing Benshan.

Some of them had to be diverted back to Black Mountain, otherwise the manpower in Wanxianjian alone wouldn't be enough to train them.

“Sister Ma’s plan must be excellent. I will review it later and then have it sent back to Benshan.”

Lang Zhongping accepted the jade slip with a smile. He was currently on duty in the General Affairs Hall, in charge of the affairs of Hejian County.

With the addition of such a large territory as Hejian County, the original model of having one elder in charge for each of the eight halls was clearly no longer suitable.

Apart from special departments such as the Secret Hall and the Ancestral Hall, all other departments have been increased to two elders.

Branch halls like the General Affairs Hall, which have numerous affairs and immense power, are staffed with three elders in charge of specific areas.

In recent years, there have even been increasing calls within sects to elevate the General Affairs Hall from a mere hall to a central hall.

The establishment of markets in Hejian County was clearly seen as a huge opportunity by the sects.

The underground markets built by just a few cultivation families can contribute tens of thousands of spirit stones in net revenue every year.

If you switch to a reputable market backed by the Qingfeng Sect, which has a better reputation, a larger scale, and more secure transactions, you can easily break through the annual profit of 100,000 spirit stones.

Such a large sum of money is something the sect cannot ignore.

Previously, it was simply that the time was not ripe. Now, the entire Hejian region is under our control, and the newly built market town has enough power to protect it, ensuring that no raiders dare to come.

The plan was immediately put into action, and a task was issued to solicit market construction plans from the disciples.

Rumors suggest that this task also involves selecting the person in charge after the completion of Hejianfang City.

This attracted several Foundation Establishment cultivators who accepted the task and submitted their plans for building and operating the market.

For the Qingfeng Sect today, Foundation Establishment cultivators are springing up like mushrooms after rain, one generation after another.

However, the number of positions for sect elders has rarely increased; basically, one elder is replaced only after the other passes away.

Every time an elder's position becomes available, more than a dozen people eagerly eye it, making the competition extremely fierce.

Although Ma Ruoxi holds the title of elder, she is in charge of the Hejian branch of the Spirit Beast Hall, a job that is extremely leisurely.

It naturally cannot compare to the bustling market town where money flows in every day.

"In that case, I'll have to trouble Senior Brother Lang."

After a few casual words, Ma Ruoxi took her leave.

"Elder Lang, I've heard that Elder Ma is quite useful to Patriarch Bai. Why is he also eyeing the market location?"

After everyone had walked away, a trusted deacon stepped forward and said something.

"Hmph, if they really needed her, why hasn't there been any word of them wanting to take her as a disciple yet... Let alone the patriarch speaking up, if Junior Sister Huo just gave the word, given the size of Hejian Market, they would probably need four elders. How could there not be a place for her?"

Lang Zhongping weighed the jade slip in his hand a couple of times, then tossed it into a large-bellied porcelain pot, which already contained seven or eight jade slips.

"Speaking of relationships, I have known Ancestor Bai since I was a nobody. I saw his extraordinary talent as a dragon among men on that day and admired him deeply... This Ma Ruoxi is just lucky. Ancestor Bai mentioned it to her and made the Holy Lotus Sect add the Qu Shui Five-Eyed Bodhi to the list of apology gifts they sent."

"Otherwise, how could someone with that so-called Water Stone Spirit Body, who is completely unknown, have advanced to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage in such a short time!"

Lang Zhongping was incredibly lucky to have successfully completed the foundation building stage; he never even dared to hope to go any further.

He focused his main efforts on raising the next generation, hoping that one of his descendants would be born with outstanding spiritual roots, and then he would invest all the wealth he had accumulated over the years into that person.

"I wonder if, before I die, I will ask to see Elder Bai, he will spare a moment to see me out of consideration for our past friendship... I will choose the best great-grandson. I don't dare to dream of him being my personal disciple, but it would be good if he could become Junior Brother Tong's disciple."

It must be said that Lang Zhongping had a good eye back then, treating Bai Zichen, who was only an inner disciple, differently and investing in him in advance.

However, the gap in their social status widened too quickly, and they had little contact with each other afterward. Soon they were no longer cultivators on the same level.

……

Bai Zichen flicked his finger and put away a jade seal from the eye of the spiritual spring. The four divine beasts roared in unison, transforming into four streams of fierce energy that entered the jade seal.

Amidst the cries of phoenixes and the roars of dragons, the final step of the fusion process for this mid-grade magic weapon was completed, and the crafting was successful.

"Congratulations, Master, on successfully refining the treasure!"

Tong Huan, who followed closely behind, offered his congratulations. He had grown a long beard over the years and looked much more mature.

"I've barely managed to establish myself as a mid-level third-tier weapon refiner; I'm still a long way from being able to refine a third-tier flying sword..."

Bai Zichen didn't even glance at the Four Symbols Jade Seal, and directly put it back into his storage bag.

Over the years, he successfully crafted two mid-grade magic treasures, while failing three times.

This success rate is acceptable to him.

"I've seen your Heavenly Question Sword Technique, and it's not bad. At least you're no longer just following the rules and have developed your own path... However, you still need to work on your cultivation. You're still only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and you're about to be surpassed by that girl Ma Ruoxi."

In the years since he severed the Nascent Soul cultivator with his sword, Bai Zichen has lived a secluded life, refusing all invitations from outside the sect.

It is both a review of one's own path of cultivation in order to strive for a higher realm, after all, perfection is without regret, but there is no chance to start over.

Another option is to keep a low profile and avoid the limelight.

The scenario of reversing the formation of the Golden Core and severing the Nascent Soul—a scene that could only be seen in legendary tales—has actually occurred in the current cultivation world.

Its impact and buzz caused the name Bai Zichen to spread throughout the Northern Region instantly, and even merchants traveling to and from the Central Region passed the news over.

It is said that the holy sons of several super sects in the Central Region have all expressed their interest in the extraordinary Core Formation cultivator from the Northern Region, and are just waiting for the day when Bai Zichen travels to the Central Region, looking forward to testing their swordsmanship against him.

This sentiment was particularly strong among the few sword-cultivation sects.

Some dismissed the rumors, believing them to be false and sensationalist.

Some were greatly shocked and listed it as their biggest rival, waiting to test their skills.

Outside of Liang Kingdom, there were Nascent Soul sects that sent him invitations to visit and exchange ideas or to go to the ruins together.

Some of these individuals are testing the waters, some certainly have ill intentions, and a small minority are simply trying to make friends.

But Bai Zichen didn't have time to distinguish them one by one, so he could only refuse them all.

As long as he cultivates steadily, the Nascent Soul realm will be within his grasp. Why take unnecessary risks to engage in so-called exchanges and discussions or explore secret realms?

He had no need to exchange cultivation experience during bottleneck periods, nor did he require breakthrough pills, and he didn't even care about 99% of magic treasures.

Compared to other Core Formation cultivators, Bai Zichen can truly be described as having no desires and therefore being invincible.

If there is one secret realm that could move him, it is the Lotus Life Secret Realm of the Holy Lotus Sect, which was recently opened to the public.

Other treasures aside, the mere existence of a fourth-tier flying sword was enough to tempt him.

However, given the current relationship between the two sects, it is highly unlikely that the Holy Lotus Sect would send a spot to the Green Maple Sect.

Even if an invitation were extended, Bai Zichen wouldn't dare to go, as it would be voluntary to enter a stable secret realm that someone had cultivated for thousands of years.

Whether we live or die at that time will be entirely up to us.

"This disciple is dull and has caused Master worry... Junior Sister Ma is the most outstanding disciple recruited by our sect after entering Hejian, so it is normal for her to surpass me."

In recent years, Tong Huan has basically become the head steward of Wanxianjian.

In other words, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the head of the Hejian branch.

He was well-ordered and fair in his rewards and punishments, which earned him prestige among his disciples, and not just because he was the eldest disciple of the White Ancestor.

With the Five-Eyed Bodhi of the Winding Stream, Ma Ruoxi, aside from the bottlenecks at each level, truly rivals those with Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude in cultivation speed.

"I'll return to Thunderclap Cliff tomorrow and keep this talisman safe. It could save your life in a critical moment..."

Bai Zichen handed the Taiyin Star Escape Talisman to Tong Huan. This third-tier star escape talisman hadn't been used before, so keeping it on him now would be a waste.

Giving it to Foundation Establishment cultivators would be the best way to make the most of it and truly realize the value of the Taiyin Star Escape Talisman.

Tong Huan now carries a heavy burden, traveling through various parts of Hejian every day.

If there is anyone truly audacious, setting up an ambush with several late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators would easily take him down.

The Heavenly Inquiry Sword Technique and the treasures bestowed by Bai Zichen at most make it easier for Tong Huan to defeat cultivators of the same level.

But to be like one's master, dominating the same realm and taking on a whole group with one sword, is impossible.

With the Taiyin Star Escape Talisman on his person, as long as he doesn't encounter a Core Formation True Person, he can escape any kind of situation.

Having left the Wanxianjian Valley, which he had rebuilt right under his nose, Bai Zichen flew back to Tianlei Cliff on his sword, preparing to cultivate to the late stage of Core Formation in one go.

Despite the impact of the great battle nine years ago, Qingfeng Sect is currently experiencing a period of rapid development.

In reality, the situation in the cultivation world of Liang Kingdom is the most complex and turbulent in thousands of years.

The Heavenly Principle Sect, the Ice Soul Sect, and the Blood Demon Sect already represent three Nascent Soul level forces.

Without the presence of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, the Holy Lotus Sect abandoned its interests in many remote areas of Central Continent, and its markets and mines withdrew their personnel.

The various branches that had branched off all gathered their disciples and returned to Qishan.

It was completely in a state of licking its wounds, retracting its tentacles, and going into full defensive posture.

With its fourth-order grand formation, several spiritual treasures, and accumulated foundation over ten thousand years, the Holy Lotus Sect within the Qishan area can still be regarded as a Nascent Soul sect.

(End of this chapter)