The entire secret chamber was steeped in celebration. Everyone knew the value of this piece of Flawless Jade. Ever since learning my identity, they had silently stood on the same front as me. They all knew that without enough money, it would be impossible to achieve something that would make the Zhang Family take notice. Of the Four Great Families, which one did not possess assets exceeding ten billion taels of silver? Ten billion taels of silver—that was more money than even the imperial treasury possessed!
But with this legendary piece of Flawless Jade, things were different. First, it could earn Zhang Xingfeng, the Third Young Master, a great deal of money. Second, it would make a name for Zhang Xingfeng, letting others know that even after leaving the Zhang Family and no longer being the Third Young Master, he was still an extraordinary figure!
I looked at everyone's smiling faces and said, "I believe you all know how I left the Zhang Family. Now, I will prove myself. But I am not doing this merely for that. I want the entire Azure Dragon Continent to remember us forever. So I want to establish... the Star Peak Family!"
Everyone in the secret chamber was stunned. Establish the Star Peak Family! Every Aristocratic Clan had accumulated wealth over centuries, even millennia, before becoming a commercial empire—an Aristocratic Clan. And now, someone without any great power behind him wanted to establish one. Was this not the greatest joke under heaven?
Yet in an instant, everyone remembered what I had done over the past few days. Which of those deeds had not shaken heaven and earth? Which had not been something others did not even dare imagine? They all looked at me with resolute eyes. They believed in me. They firmly believed that if they followed me, they would certainly succeed.
"Young Master, while one lives in this world, one seeks a life of thunderous glory! So long as we all work together with one heart, even if we fail, we will have no regrets. History will still bear our names! And if we succeed—ha, ha—then there is no need to say more. Our names will be remembered for all eternity! Besides, Young Master is leading us. So long as Young Master acts, what can't be accomplished?" Brother Wang was rarely so filled with heroic spirit. His words made everyone's blood boil. That was right—while one lived in this world, one sought a name remembered for all eternity. And the one leading them in their struggle was the miracle-filled Zhang Xingfeng!
"Good, Master, we support you! We believe in you! Once we become famous, whenever I meet anyone, I'll tell them I'm the chief disciple of the head of the Star Peak Family. That'll sound pretty imposing too!" The moment I heard the voice, I knew it was my disciple Li Da.
"Second Brother, I support you. No matter what you do, I'll support you!"
As I looked at everyone supporting me, I did not know what to say. To be honest, I was deeply moved. I had once wanted to keep my goal buried in my heart, afraid that people would laugh at me if I spoke it aloud. But now that I had said it, not a single person laughed. Instead, they supported me wholeheartedly, encouraged me, and helped me realize my goal.
I saw that everyone had quieted down and was smiling at me. I felt an urge to cry. I lowered my head slightly and used True Primordial Energy to evaporate the tears already rolling in my eyes.
I suddenly raised my head and smiled. Clenching my fist, I held it high and shouted, "Good! From this day onward, we will all work hard together!"
"Work hard!" "Work hard!"...
Everyone raised their fists high and shouted loudly, seemingly using this to express their determination.
"Good, good. Worthy nephew, bring me the jade." Uncle Zhang's face was flushed red as he spoke loudly to me.
I knew jade carving was an art that required inspiration. Uncle Zhang clearly had inspiration at this moment. I immediately handed the Flawless Jade to him.
Uncle Zhang held the Flawless Jade against his left palm. In an instant, a small carving knife appeared in his right hand. A flash of light flickered across the blade and vanished—it was an incomparably precious blade. The carving knife spun rapidly between Uncle Zhang's fingers, while countless fragments flew from the Flawless Jade. We could no longer see what form the Flawless Jade was taking, for it was surrounded by innumerable jade fragments and net-like blade shadows...
With a "ding," the blade shadows vanished without a trace. No one knew where the carving knife had gone. Only I clearly saw that at the moment the "ding" rang out, the carving knife shot like lightning into a pale yellow sheath hidden within Uncle Zhang's sleeve.
The jade fragments drifted down. We all widened our eyes and stared. Uncle Zhang blew lightly at the Flawless Jade, which had now become a carving, and its true form was revealed before us.
"Ah!" "Heavens!"...
Cries of astonishment rose one after another. Even I could not help exclaiming when I saw it. It was simply... too lifelike!
A jade-green dragon churned endlessly among the clouds. The patterns on its body were clearly visible, as though one could magnify them for a closer look. Every whisker, every dragon claw... most shocking of all were the dragon's eyes, filled with overwhelming dominance, as though they were looking down upon the tiny people of the mortal world...
"Dragon Soaring through the Nine Heavens—what a lifelike Azure Dragon. It shall be called Dragon Soaring!" I looked at this peerless jade carving. Not only was its material unprecedented and unparalleled, but the carving skill alone was unmatched beneath heaven!
"Dragon Soaring, Dragon Soaring—what a fine name, what a fine name!" Uncle Zhang laughed heartily, his bright laughter revealing just how delighted he was. Naturally, having personally created such an unprecedented masterpiece, how could he not be happy, excited, and proud?
"Uncle Zhang, I, Li Da, never thought highly of your profession as a jade carver. But from now on, you're one of the people I, Li Da, admire. There aren't many people I admire!" Li Da said with a grin from the side.
At once, laughter filled the entire secret chamber...
"You little brat, hehe..." Uncle Zhang laughed as he scolded Li Da. He was in an excellent mood today and could not be bothered to argue with someone so loose-tongued.
"Good, everyone, listen to me. Since our peerless masterpiece has now been born, it is time to begin the first stage of my plan."
The moment everyone heard me mention the first stage of the plan, they immediately fell silent. They all knew this was the first step in my plan to establish the Star Peak Family, and failure was absolutely not allowed.
I looked at everyone quietly watching me, smiled, and said, "The first stage is to establish our first business—open a jade shop!"
Everyone immediately began discussing it among themselves, and the secret chamber returned to its previous clamor...
"I support my worthy nephew in opening a jade shop. Back then, Baoyuxiang suffered an internal split, and several master jade carvers left in disappointment. They all have a good relationship with me. So long as I write a few letters, I can invite them here. With such a group of fine jade carvers, all we need is to buy a jade mine. We can produce jade wares ourselves, and our profits will be great."
"As for jade, we can obtain it by purchasing jade mines, or we can directly buy jade that others have already excavated. Opening a jade shop truly is our best choice at present. It is also the venture we are most certain of succeeding in." Uncle Zhang spoke eloquently. In matters of jade wares, he was an authority and had the greatest right to speak.
Everyone felt that his words made great sense. If they opened a jade shop, it would indeed be quite easy. The risks were not great, and with Uncle Zhang and his group of friends holding the fort, it would be easy to make a name for themselves in this trade. Moreover, their opponents would not be enemies on the level of Aristocratic Clans, so they would not be difficult to deal with.
"Good, Uncle Zhang, that makes a great deal of sense." Brother Wang said with a smile, making it clear that he strongly approved of the idea.
"Uncle Zhang, I never expected you to have some real ability!" Li Da began his old routine again.
"Uncle Zhang, you spoke very well, but let me add a few points. If we open this jade shop, we need a treasure to anchor the store. There is no need to say what it will be—it will be Uncle Zhang's peerless masterpiece from just now, Dragon Soaring. We must also put full effort into publicity. For that, we will make use of this year's annual Capital City auction during the New Year."
"This auction is the largest auction held by the Capital City auction house each year. We will auction Blood Phoenix there and use the auction to announce that our jade shop will soon open. Most importantly, we will announce that Dragon Soaring, carved from Flawless Jade, will be displayed at the opening ceremony for everyone to view for one day. Naturally, that day I will appear as Sword God Sui Yu and protect Dragon Soaring from being stolen. I will punish those fellows harboring ill intentions!"
"This will also let others know that our jade shop cannot be bullied. Whoever provokes us will learn what regret means!" I smiled, but my smile was grim. Whoever obstructed my plan, I would kill gods when I met gods and slaughter Buddhas when I met Buddhas.
Seeing my Killing Intent-filled appearance, everyone understood that if they wanted to establish an Aristocratic Clan within a hundred years, they could not avoid using some less-than-honorable methods. So long as no one provoked us, we would treat them as kindly as brothers. But if they obstructed our advance, they could not blame us for being ruthless and vicious. Everyone silently thought so in their hearts.
"Feng'er, do you still remember how the people around us treated us when you took me outside to seek medical treatment? Remember this: when you are doing well and have ability, it is fine to show kindness. But if your own interests are affected, why care about others? You must know that the world is cold and fickle!" Seeing that Lang Feng was somewhat hesitant, his First Wife immediately spoke to him. If she did not say it now, it would be Lang Feng who suffered losses in the future.
I knew my elder brother was still young and did not yet fully understand the treachery of people in this world. I was somewhat worried about him as well.
Upon hearing what his mother said, Lang Feng thought of those days, of how the people around him had treated him... No, I will never allow the same thing to happen to my family and friends again. Never! Whoever harms my family or friends, I, Lang Feng, will treat them as beasts and kill them!
Lang Feng had always possessed strong Killing Intent. He had grown up in the mountains, where killing wild beasts was as commonplace as eating and drinking. Once he understood all this, his attitude toward enemies immediately changed.
"Good. Everyone, begin our plan now. Today, we must first raise our own abilities and cultivate martial arts." I said loudly.
"Li Da, Li Er, and Brother Wang will cultivate the Mysterious Yang Art. Zhang Yu and Uncle Zhang will cultivate the Mysterious Yin Art. First Wife, Sister Yu, and Lang Feng will cultivate the Taiji Yin Yang Art. Only after you have cultivated your own martial arts well will I dare let you undertake great matters. These are the secret manuals. Cultivate on your own, and I will stand guard at your side!" I took the secret manuals I had prepared long ago from my robe and placed them on the table, then sat down in a chair and closed my eyes to meditate.
Everyone looked at one another, smiled, and began picking up the secret manuals to cultivate. No one made a sound, including Li Da, my chief disciple, who usually had so much to say.
I opened my eyes slightly. Seeing everyone so serious, I smiled and closed my eyes once more.
Before you continue