At Nameless Peak, inside the cave dwelling.
Looking at the fragrant spirit fish corpse on the plate, Qing Su silently recited in her heart.
There is no suffering greater than that of living beings. This only makes the immortality Dao fruit all the more precious... Forgive me.
Qing Su picked up a small piece of steamed spirit fish with her bamboo chopsticks and carefully chewed it between her lips. Her eyes immediately gained a little more light.
She then pinched up a piece of fried fish skin and placed it between her teeth. Amid the crisp crunch, it seemed as though two great doors appeared behind her, opening onto a vibrant and colorful secret realm.
When Li Ping'an brought over squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, the two doors that had only opened a crack were kicked wide open.
"Delicious!"
Without even raising her head, Qing Su picked at the fish in small bites and said happily,
"Everyone at Colorful Cloud Peak is busy cultivating. Few people make mortal food like this."
Li Ping'an removed his homemade apron and smiled as he poured his master some fruit wine.
"Master, mortal food has its own pleasures. Immortals remain untouched by worldly grime, but they may still taste all flavors, seek freshness and tenderness, savor crispness and smoothness—simply to please themselves."
"Mm," Qing Su said softly. "No wonder they always like to prepare snacks when they drink."
"Please enjoy, Master. I gained some insights while cooking, so I'll cultivate for a while. I'll clean up the bowls and chopsticks later."
Li Ping'an walked to a corner and sat down, closing his eyes in concentration.
He had only cooked to make his master happy. He did not have much appetite himself.
Qing Su turned to look at her disciple several times. When she continued picking at the food, she cleared every dish on her own side, leaving the other half perfectly untouched.
Inside Myriad Cloud Hall.
A group of old immortals gathered around the twelve strange-looking artifacts, fiercely discussing something.
Li Dazhi was sweating profusely as he constantly explained himself, his lips practically beginning to smoke.
In a corner of the great hall, behind a screen.
Sect Master Yun Mo of the Myriad Cloud Sect sat with three Inner Sect Elders and two Vice Sect Masters, drinking and chatting with several sect leaders from friendly sects.
These sect leaders from friendly sects should have left long ago.
But they had all seen the wonders of artifacts produced by the "assembly line." Each wanted to shamelessly build a connection and secure a share of future profits.
Sect Master Yun Mo was now...
Regretting it. Deeply regretting it.
What had he thought a Light Condensation Realm disciple could possibly come up with?
He had merely wanted Junior Brother Dazhi's son to show off a little before the sect leaders of several friendly sects.
The more outstanding the disciples, the more prosperous the sect's future would be.
Daoist Yun Mo had never expected this.
Li Ping'an had immediately thrown him something enormous!
The moment he saw those twelve artifacts forge artifacts on their own, Daoist Yun Mo knew—the heavens of the artifact-forging world were about to change.
For ordinary artifacts, the greatest cost was labor. Qi cultivators had to forge them one by one, resulting in long production cycles and inconsistent quality.
If these twelve ugly, oddly shaped artifacts could be replicated into a hundred sets, then combined with the spirit mine resources controlled by the Myriad Cloud Sect, they could continuously produce ordinary artifacts with very little manpower...
The rise of Myriad Cloud was right at hand!
A middle-aged-looking female sect leader sighed. "Senior Brother Yun Mo, let's not beat around the bush. Just give us an answer regarding this artifact-forging matter. Whether it can be done or not, at least give us something definite."
"Ah, Junior Sister, I don't dare make empty promises."
Daoist Yun Mo said seriously,
"This matter truly requires careful consideration. I do not yet know whether this set of artifacts can be put to use, and the power of the ordinary artifacts it produces, such as flying swords, must also be examined in detail.
"Please allow the Myriad Cloud Sect some more time to prepare."
The broad, burly Sect Leader of the Kuiyuan Sect began shouting directly, "Yun Mo! Your Myriad Cloud Sect is already so powerful. You can't just cast aside us old brothers who haven't fared so well! We aren't trying to take advantage of you! Name whatever terms you want!"
"Everyone, our sects have long formed an agreement to aid one another against foreign enemies. So many years have passed—do you still not trust me?"
Daoist Yun Mo said in a deep voice,
"Just wait for my news. If this path can be opened, I certainly will not forget the friendship between our sects that has lasted ten thousand years!"
The several sect leaders looked at one another, yet none of them was willing to rise and take their leave.
"Senior Brother Sect Leader."
Vice Sect Master Mo Yi suddenly said,
"There are still many troublesome matters here. For example, how to reliably produce artifacts of above-average quality, how to sell these artifacts, and how to earn spirit stones while preserving the Myriad Cloud Sect's reputation, so people will not have too much to say.
"Junior Brother Dazhi has indeed rendered a great service to the sect this time..."
Daoist Yun Mo turned to look at Vice Sect Master Mo Yi, his gaze carrying deep meaning.
But Mo Yi abruptly changed direction and ignored the Sect Leader's look.
Though he knew this was overly rash, he still spoke the rest of his thoughts.
"In my humble opinion, this matter is of great importance.
"Junior Brother Dazhi may be given even more generous rewards, but the artifact-forging work that follows should be incorporated into the scope of Cloud Nurturing Hall according to sect rules and managed by the Outer Sect Elders.
"That way, Junior Brother Dazhi's cultivation will not be delayed. He has only just reached the Origin Immortal Realm and should focus on cultivation."
Sect Master Yun Mo closed his eyes, his expression gradually turning cold.
Mo Yi smiled as he watched his senior brother. Today, he was behaving completely out of character, like an old-faced foolhardy youth.
The atmosphere at the immortal banquet stiffened somewhat.
How could the sect leaders from the friendly sects fail to understand that Mo Yi was taking advantage of their presence to indirectly suppress Li Dazhi, the child of fortune?
But these sect leaders truly could not understand.
Had this Mo Yi... been dazzled by great fortune?
His own sect had finally obtained a Bearer of Great Fortune. This Bearer of Great Fortune cultivated quickly, possessed good character, and had made enormous practical contributions to the sect. Rather than supporting and placating him, the sect's upper ranks were actually trying to suppress him?
"Vice Sect Master Mo Yi!"
An Inner Sect Elder frowned. "The sect leaders of our friendly sects are here. We should discuss internal sect matters later!"
"Elder Sun, it is fine. Junior Brother Mo Yi is also considering the sect's interests."
Daoist Yun Mo raised a hand, then said,
"These fellow Daoists are not outsiders. They have deep ties with our Myriad Cloud Sect, so there is no harm in discussing this openly.
"Then according to Junior Brother Mo Yi, how should we share this profitable business with our friendly sects?"
Mo Yi said with a smile, "That is naturally for Senior Brother Sect Leader to decide. My responsibility is merely to oversee the transmission of teachings to the sect's disciples."
"Is that so?"
Daoist Yun Mo nodded slightly.
"Why don't we invite Junior Brother Dazhi here and ask what he thinks?
"These artifacts and this method were, after all, devised by Junior Brother Dazhi and his son. Junior Brother Dazhi's opinion is the most important.
"Someone, invite Junior Brother Dazhi here."
A Deacon outside respectfully accepted the order and hurried away.
Shortly afterward, Li Dazhi's voice approached from outside.
"...Engraving and embedding are the key steps. The first few processes are really just melting the materials and using certain methods to bring out their inherent properties. That is the way of artifact forging; the sect elders all understand it.
"The technical work of engraving is the real core. I adjusted it dozens of times before barely succeeding!
"As long as we master the core process in the future, there's no way we'll lose spirit stones... I'll go see Senior Brother Sect Leader first. Everyone, wait for me to come back and we'll continue!"
Li Dazhi wiped the hot sweat from his forehead and hurried around the screen.
His gaze swept over the immortals. He cupped his hands toward the Sect Leader and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother Sect Leader. Greetings, fellow Daoists."
Daoist Yun Mo's eyes crinkled with a smile, and his voice became much gentler.
"Junior Brother Dazhi, sit down and rest for a while."
"Ah, all right."
Li Dazhi was about to sit at the lowest seat when he saw his senior brother beckon. He did not stand on ceremony, sitting directly beside the Sect Leader, rolling up his sleeves, and taking several large gulps of spirit spring water.
Though the table was filled with renowned Heavenly Immortal Realm experts from the East Continent cultivation world, Li Dazhi showed not the slightest restraint. His manner was natural and free-spirited.
The sect leaders from the friendly sects found Li Dazhi increasingly pleasing to the eye.
While Li Dazhi was picking at some food, an Inner Sect Elder brought up the question of "how to share this good opportunity with friendly sects."
Li Dazhi immediately smiled. "That is naturally for Senior Brother Sect Leader to decide. I have only cultivated for a few years."
"Speak when you are told to speak."
Holding a wine pot, Daoist Yun Mo poured Li Dazhi a cup of wine and said warmly,
"This thing was made by you and your son, so you naturally have full authority to decide."
"Senior Brother Sect Leader, that is not right."
Li Dazhi said,
"Ping'an and I merely offered an idea, a flash of inspiration.
"Those twelve artifacts are only samples.
"Ping'an and I gave this artifact-forging method a name: 'assembly line.' An artifact moves from raw materials to completion as though floating down a river, hence the name.
"To create a truly efficient assembly line and earn spirit stones through it, we must rely on the sect to consolidate resources.
"Ping'an and I calculated that, using our assembly line, the cost to make one ordinary spirit artifact would reach twelve or thirteen spirit stones if we gathered resources from Market Towns. But if our sect directly provides the various ores, the cost can be reduced to six or seven spirit stones.
"Then I take a bite... then we can sell the ordinary flying swords currently sold for thirty spirit stones in Market Towns for fifteen or twenty spirit stones.
"How much profit would that be?
"In the early stage, we sell cheaply in large volumes and expand the market. Every artifact bears the mark of our Myriad Cloud Sect. Within a few years, Loose Cultivators will trust the artifacts of our Myriad Cloud Sect.
"There are too many twists and turns involved. Even if I spoke for three days and three nights, I could not explain it all.
"But there is one thing, Senior Brother Sect Leader. Ping'an specifically told me that I had to tell you this."
Daoist Yun Mo smiled. "Just say it, Junior Brother."
Li Dazhi said seriously, "What we are doing is, in truth, cutting off the livelihood of Loose Cultivators who rely on artifact forging to survive. We must limit ourselves to the profits from only a few types of artifacts, such as flying swords and flying needles, artifacts with high rates of wear and tear. We must leave others a way to make a living."
The immortals' gazes toward Li Dazhi gained a measure of admiration.
Daoist Yun Mo's smile grew even broader as he said with emotion, "How could I be at ease if I did not place this matter in Junior Brother Dazhi's hands?"
At his side, Vice Sect Master Mo Yi smiled and nodded, saying nothing further.
But Li Dazhi said, "Also, Sect Leader, about what you said earlier regarding the friendly sects."
An Inner Sect Elder beside him hurriedly gave Li Dazhi a meaningful look.
This was enough. The Sect Leader had made his decision, and the matter had been settled.
Unfortunately, Li Dazhi did not see the elder's signal and continued speaking eloquently.
"Sect Leader, I request that under Marvelous Cloud Hall, we establish a hall specifically responsible for this business, called Casting Cloud Hall, dedicated to forging artifacts.
"Our friendly sects have supported one another with the Myriad Cloud Sect for so long, and our friendship runs deep. You told me before that we cannot forget them when there are benefits to be had.
"But this matter truly cannot be rushed.
"We must first get Casting Cloud Hall running and see whether this path can truly work, and how many spirit stones it can earn. If it only earns a trifling amount, it would be embarrassing to offer it to others.
"If Casting Cloud Hall's business does well, we can gradually establish branch halls of Casting Cloud Hall within the mountain gates of our friendly sects, in batches.
"The friendly sects can consolidate the precious mine resources in their hands, while we provide the key assembly-line techniques. Of the spirit stones earned, we need only take twenty or thirty percent of the profits.
"There are countless Loose Cultivators across the East Continent. The coast of the Eastern Sea alone has over a thousand Market Towns. Even at most, our Myriad Cloud Sect can only claim half a percent of the ordinary artifact market.
"Only unity allows us to share the same aspirations, Senior Brother Sect Leader!"
Silence.
A pin could have been heard dropping at the immortal banquet.
Li Dazhi felt somewhat uneasy.
Where had he gone wrong just now? Had he overstepped his bounds?
Were not the few sect leaders still remaining at the Myriad Cloud Sect all the Myriad Cloud Sect's "little brothers"?
For a sect to grow larger and stronger, aside from having more experts and more industries in the Outer Sect, allies and obedient subordinate sects were also extremely important...
"Hahahahaha!"
Daoist Yun Mo suddenly threw back his head and laughed.
"With Junior Brother Dazhi in our Myriad Cloud Sect, what need have we to fear that we will not prosper! We'll do exactly as you said! Even if Casting Cloud Hall ultimately fails, at worst we'll only spend some spirit stones!
"Junior Brother Dazhi, go ahead and act without restraint!"
The burly Sect Leader of the Kuiyuan Sect suddenly stood up. "Fellow Daoist Dazhi! I offer you a toast!"
"Ah, you are too kind, too kind."
Li Dazhi hurriedly rose to greet him, finally letting out a breath of relief.
This matter had really succeeded.
A moment later, Li Dazhi hurriedly took his leave and returned to discuss with the elders how to upgrade the "assembly line."
Just as Li Dazhi rounded the screen, Elder Xiao Yue, dressed in red, hurried toward him.
Following the principle that one should not strike a smiling face, Li Dazhi greeted her with a cheerful smile, only for Elder Xiao Yue to call out and stop him.
"Martial Uncle Dazhi!"
"Mm?"
Li Dazhi blinked, curiosity on his slightly plump face.
A trace of hesitation flashed through Xiao Yue's eyes.
She naturally knew that once she handed Li Ping'an's Jade Talisman to Li Dazhi, it would mean formally severing ties with Vice Sect Master Mo Yi and his group. The consequences would be difficult to predict.
But Xiao Yue was not a narrow-minded person.
What was more, she now understood the value contained in these twelve artifacts.
"Martial Uncle Dazhi, Ping'an asked me to bring this Jade Talisman to you."
"Oh?"
Li Dazhi accepted the Jade Talisman and glanced at it. Three black lines appeared across his forehead.
This was bad!
Ping'an had drunk away all those "Eagle Speech" words he had been told to remember!
Li Dazhi cupped his hands, turned and hid in a corner, taking out a small notebook to compare them carefully.
This seemed to mean... loudly...
Ping'an meant for Xiao Yue to handle the sale of magical artifacts, but he had to shout it out in front of everyone and appear sufficiently enthusiastic?
Li Dazhi found himself somewhat troubled.
How enthusiastic could he possibly be?
This beautiful Elder was young and lovely. Though she was two or three thousand years older than him, she looked no different from his grandniece—and she even called him Martial Uncle...
Li Dazhi gritted his teeth and stomped his foot. When he looked up again, he wore an expression of shock, staring wide-eyed at Xiao Yue as he strode forward, then spun three times left and three times right.
"Good heavens, good heavens! You're a once-in-ten-thousand-years business genius!"
Xiao Yue watched Li Dazhi with a smile, feeling rather uncomfortable all over.
"Come! Follow me!"
Li Dazhi grabbed Xiao Yue's jade-like arm and dragged her behind the screen without another word.
Xiao Yue frowned tightly. Just as she was about to push Li Dazhi away, a group of Heavenly Immortal bigwigs appeared in her line of sight.
"Sect Leader!"
Li Dazhi shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Casting Cloud Hall wants Elder Xiao Yue! She'll be in charge of selling the magical artifacts!"
Vice Sect Master Mo Yi still wore a smile, though the corners of his mouth twitched despite himself.
Daoist Yun Mo laughed. "Even if you hadn't said so, junior sister Xiao Yue would have been handling this matter. She's a lucky general of our Myriad Cloud Sect!"
"Thank you, Sect Leader!"
Li Dazhi released Xiao Yue's arm and cupped his hands toward her. "Please take good care of me in the future, Elder Xiao."
Xiao Yue said softly, "It should be Martial Uncle who takes care of Yue'er."
She did not dare look too much at Vice Sect Master Mo Yi. Lowering her head, she took her leave, her heart filled with countless mixed emotions.
With his hands behind his back, Li Dazhi hummed a tune as he drifted back to the center of the hall and enthusiastically worked on magical artifacts with the elders.
After this immortal banquet ended, the Sect Leaders of several friendly sects departed in satisfaction. Before leaving, each of them made a point of going over to Li Dazhi to greet him warmly.
After seeing off the Sect Leaders of the friendly sects, Daoist Yun Mo returned to his residence and summoned Vice Sect Master Mo Yi before him.
One sat while the other stood, and silence hung between them for a moment.
Daoist Yun Mo suddenly said, "Junior Brother, your cultivation has stagnated for the past thousand years. You've grown somewhat lax in your practice."
Mo Yi lowered his head and cupped his hands, sighing. "I was just about to speak to Senior Brother about this today. I wish to enter seclusion and cultivate for a time."
"Go."
Daoist Yun Mo smiled.
"Have Elder Bi enter seclusion with you as well.
"This grand competition made Kaiyun Peak the butt of quite a few jokes, but the sect should treat the Thirty-six Peaks equally. Later, I will arrange for a few more immortals from Kaiyun Peak to enter Casting Cloud Hall and assist Junior Brother Dazhi."
"The Sect Leader is wise."
Vice Sect Master Mo Yi lowered his eyes submissively and performed a Daoist salute. Without looking further at Daoist Yun Mo, he turned and left.
His back seemed to have suddenly aged by several thousand years.
Daoist Yun Mo raised his head and sighed softly.
Yun Mo understood Junior Brother Mo Yi's temperament better than anyone. Before he became the current Sect Leader, Mo Yi had already been an Inner Sect Elder.
It was not that Mo Yi had suddenly grown desperate today, casting aside all decorum and pride to openly challenge Junior Brother Dazhi;
Rather, Mo Yi knew that if Junior Brother Dazhi gained control over this newly added spirit-stone business, no one would be able to shake Junior Brother Dazhi's position within the sect in the future.
Just now had been Mo Yi's only chance.
What a pity...
Daoist Yun Mo cupped his hands toward the direction Mo Yi had left and shook his head with a soft sigh.
Two days later.
Li Dazhi finally found time to leave Myriad Cloud Hall. Supporting his belly as he rode the clouds, he headed straight for the cave dwelling of Li Ping'an and his master.
PS: Thanks to the new alliance leaders "Lili Xixi," "Walking Alone in the Abyss Looks Good, Right," "Xuanxuan Has No Feelings," "Vera0205," and "Dream Falls Like Snow" for their generous support! More updates after release!
Before you continue