48 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

"Zhan Yuan, how did you return so quickly?" "I didn't wait for an audience. I handed the jade slip to one of their cultivators to be delivered." "And then? What did Chu Youmin say?" "Get out." "What?" "They told me to get out..." "Just one word?" "Yes." "..." "..." Inside the sect leader's chamber, Qi Xiu and Zhan Yuan sat across from each other in silence. After Qi Xiu returned from [South Chu City], looking dejected, he handed the jade slip given by the Golden Core elder named Chu Duo to Zhan Yuan, instructing him to deliver it to Chu Youmin at [Jiusan Market]. The intense reaction from the other side was unexpected. Though Qi Xiu anticipated Chu Youmin would be angry about the complaint in [South Chu City], outright expelling Zhan Yuan was beyond Qi Xiu's expectations. "Leader! Brother Zhan!" Huang He burst in from outside, loudly reporting, "Just now, all the Chu family cultivators from Black River inexplicably withdrew, and those rogue cultivators suddenly disappeared without a trace!" Hearing this, Qi Xiu felt a weight lifted off his chest and couldn't help but laugh heartily. Zhan Yuan, also overjoyed, sprang to his feet and said to Qi Xiu, "I'll go take another look." Qi Xiu waved him off, saying, "No need to go again. With an order from the Golden Core elder, even if Chu Youmin had the nerve to defy it, he wouldn’t dare. Although I’ve severely offended him this time, from now on, his family will not dare stir trouble at Black River again. With this matter settled, have Zhang Shishi brought in, so the three of us can discuss another issue." Zhan Yuan complied and left. After a while, he returned with Zhang Shishi, who appeared somewhat weak, and they sat before Qi Xiu. Unfurling a map of the area around Black River, Qi Xiu drew two straight lines from [South Chu City] to [Beast-Taming Mountain] and from [Qinan City] to [Artifact Symbol City]. The intersection fell precisely on a spot by Black River. Pointing at this location, he grinned and asked the two, "What does this suggest to you?" "The convergence of people, a market?" Zhan Yuan surmised first. "Exactly! A market. For the past half-year, I've entertained a hazy idea, solidified only after flying over Black River on a beast ferry this time," Qi Xiu excitedly stood up, speaking passionately. "Why did the South Chu Sect place us at Black River? Because it's a necessary passage from [Artifact Symbol City] to [Qinan City], traversed by countless cultivators, making it a headache to manage. Moreover, nearly anyone from the Baishan region heading to [Qinan City] must pass through Black River. Why? Because the Western South Chu Sect has too few people to monitor passing cultivators, so they simply forbid passage. As for the Eastern Beast-Taming Sect? Wild spirit beasts roam freely, making solo flights in their territory suicidal. Thus, Black River becomes the singular route! Even here at Black River Peak, not directly on this line, daily we’ve seen cultivators fly above us. The number soaring from every Black River point must be greater. If we establish a market here, or even an initial trading hub, people will flock! And where there are people, there's business and income!" Zhang Shishi pointed to the location of [Military Station Market] and questioned, "But isn't [Military Station Market] not far off from the line either? And [Jiusan Market] also sees foreign cultivators passing through, similarly nearby." Zhan Yuan cut him off, saying, "Brother Zhang, don't rush—surely the leader has his reasons." "I ask you this: If there’s a shorter path, why take a detour?" Qi Xiu replied before Zhang Shishi could, continuing, "The route to [Jiusan Market] is circuitous, and strictly speaking, Chu Youmin's actions violate the South Chu Sect's ban on rogue cultivators entering South Chu territory. Their family’s reputation is tarnished, attracting either opportunistic rogues or desperate ones like Yu Denuo. Few wish to trade with them, making them incapable of competing with us. As for [Military Station Market], it’s distanced from the Death Marsh's border and a long stretch of Black River. Thus, whether approaching from Baishan or departing from here, [Military Station Market]'s location is inferior to ours. See, those Baishan cultivators, already exhausted after passing the Death Marsh, previously used Black River Peak as their rest stop. Furthermore, there's also the flow from [Beast-Taming Mountain] to [South Chu City], who wouldn't circumvent all the way to there!" Zhang Shishi glared at Zhan Yuan before loudly questioning Qi Xiu, "But Brother Sect Leader, have you considered that this might significantly affect [Military Station Market]'s business? You’ve always said you owe Wang Guan a great favor, and we still rely heavily on their assistance for settling our mortal residents. Once we establish a market, what about your obligations to Wang Guan?" Equally unyielding, Zhan Yuan retorted, "Brother Zhang, remember that our spirit stones are nearly depleted—purchasing the [Wind Array Spirit Boat], lotus, and pig and fish fry, along with the costs of clearing spirit beasts around breeding sites. Our first income from pig fish is two whole years away! Should we just sit and watch our resources dwindle away?" Furious at being countered repeatedly by Zhan Yuan, Zhang Shishi shouted, "In matters of profit and duty, do you choose profit over duty?" "Brother Zhang, you are truly noble; we mere mortals surely do not meet your standards," Zhan Yuan replied with a cold snort. "You!" "Hmph!" "Enough!" Qi Xiu hurriedly intervened to stop the heated exchange, "We haven't even started, and we're already arguing amongst ourselves. With Wang Guan, I’ll find a way. This venture won’t take shape overnight, and I plan to proceed in three phases. First, Zhan Yuan, you arrange an investigation at that intersection to assess the daily traffic; it’s the end of the year and should be the busiest time. Second, if traffic is indeed large, I plan to initially set up a trading hub, whether every five or seven days, ten days, or even monthly. We can test the waters without threatening Wang Guan. Finally, establish a full market, bringing in Chu, Zhao, and Wang families to join, ensuring mutual benefits—even if they take the larger share and us the smaller, because we alone can't sustain it. Wang family gaining benefits is better than stubbornly clinging to [Military Station Market]. A century later, when Wang Guan is no longer there, and without a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they cannot guarantee maintaining their presence at [Military Station Market]! By then, having a stake in Black River ensures their unshakeable standing. Wang Guan will understand these benefits." With his task assigned, Zhan Yuan left. Zhang Shishi, still sulking, was left behind. Qi Xiu, not understanding Zhang Shishi's current aversion to mundane duties, continued to counsel him without knowing if he was listened to or not before he left. Qi Xiu sighed softly, puzzled by Zhang Shishi's present resistance to such duties, especially when he used to embrace them enthusiastically. Just then, Yu Jing came in to report that a representative from the Wang family at [Military Station Market] informed them the immigrant team was approaching and not far off from the market.