The Treasury

This kid is quite perceptive and knows how to judge people. When Li Fan mentioned the Mysterious Purple Gold Pill and the Donghua Changchun Pill, such rare and obscure pill formulas, he immediately knew that his opportunity had arrived. Of course, as a mere child with only a soul, he wouldn't dare to really take advantage of cultivators who were visiting Yuntai Peak for the first time. But since Li Fan was Nascent Soul Stage True Person, even a small amount he revealed would be enough for him to make a profit.

So Jia Gui, while flattering Li Fan, also acted as his tour guide, explaining many things about Yuntai Peak to him.

Jia Gui was certainly not the boy's real name. His situation was similar to Yang Si'an's; both possessed a predestined connection to the immortals and had their souls guided by immortals to Yuntai Peak to serve as boys. However, compared to Yang Sheng, that unlucky brat who did three years of hard labor and was then sent back to seek worldly riches, Jia Gui was among the better off. For example, he didn't have to chop wood or boil water; his daily tasks were simply copying scriptures and taking turns cleaning and guarding the gate. Furthermore, he had obtained a Daoist certificate for Yuntai Peak boy, meaning he had passed the probationary period. Now, his mortal Daoist body had Foundation Establishment Perfection, and he only needed to overcome the tribulation to cultivate the Golden Core. Once he did, he could find a Xuanmen sect to obtain an Outer Sect Disciple's Daoist certificate, and then he would have someone to protect him when traveling in the Central Plains.

Indeed, Yuntai Peak serves an important purpose: it is a place where the Xuanmen sect can centrally assess the aptitude of disciples who have not yet entered the sect.

Among the Three Great Sects, the Immortal Palace values family background, the Divine Sect values merit, and the Profound Sect values aptitude. It's common for orthodox ancient Profound Sects to examine disciples for over ten years before imparting their true teachings. Some particularly extreme Immortal Sects even examine a person's character across three lifetimes before accepting them into the Dao. Furthermore, the criteria valued by the masters of each sect differ. For example, some seek obedient disciples, others value those with backbone and courage, some prefer shrewdness and intelligence, and others prefer those who are diligent and hardworking. Therefore, just finding a successor is an incredibly difficult hurdle to overcome to enter the Profound Sect.

The principle that the true Dharma cannot be personally transmitted has always been a core tenet of old-school cultivators. After all, in the past, when resources were scarce, those profound and difficult-to-cultivate Daoist methods were not only difficult to practice, but also involved numerous karmic tribulations. If a disciple were to die young, all the investment would be wasted, so it had to be carried out with utmost caution.

Among them, Emei Sect did well. Initially, it didn't have many core disciples and experienced several internal conflicts. However, its masters were all masters of mathematics, and they specifically selected disciples with profound fortune who were not likely to perish in calamities. Thus, through iteration and accumulation, they became giants in the Xuanmen (Daoist) sect.

On the other hand, a negative example is the Beichen Sword Sect. Back then, there were so many sword cultivators from Nine Yin Mountain who roamed the world, eliminating demons and monsters, and were admired by all. But the more they fought, the more they lost. Although no one could defeat them and all the good things were taken, the number of surviving disciples became increasingly scarce. Eventually, when the times changed, the sect was wiped out and its lineage died out, leaving the great Yuntai Peak to fall into the hands of the Xuanmen sect.

Therefore, the old men of the Nine Great Xuan Sects also took the fate of the Beichen Sword Sect as a warning and seriously discussed whether the inheritance of the Mystic Sects was too strict. Even if they don't compare with the mass-produced Immortal Palace, they should look at their old rival, the Divine Sect.

The former Ten Supreme Gods of the Divine Sect were all independent and distrustful of each other. However, they were later terrified by the Beichen Sword Sect, which nearly wiped them out. Only then were they forced to unite and work together. From then on, they strictly followed the teachings left by the Divine Lord, teaching without discrimination and selecting talents based solely on merit. This is how they quickly rose from the brink of extinction to their current position of being able to take on two major sects at once. The sect leaders of the Xuanmen Sect have seen this and are anxious about it.

On the other hand, the Xuanmen sects are constantly vying for Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land, magical treasures, and opportunities, and occasionally even sending their inner agents to steal celestial books, divine techniques, and secret methods. On the surface, they appear harmonious and united, but secretly they are constantly scheming against each other. With intrigue and backstabbing everywhere, how can they possibly compete with a united and cohesive divine sect in the long run?

Therefore, the emergence of Yuntai Peak is actually an attempt at reform within the Xuanmen (mysterious sects). Yes, the Nine Great Xuan Sects are seriously considering reforms similar to those of the Divine Sect. Of course, it's not quite a merger yet, but centralized selection of disciples is indeed much more efficient than finding them on their own.

In the past, highly skilled individuals from various sects of the Xuanmen (Daoist school) would only consider taking on exceptionally talented individuals as disciples when they encountered them on a whim or by chance. However, sometimes they would forget about this altogether, or even if someone had great talent, they would reject them if they didn't meet their standards for the slightest flaw. In effect, many talented individuals were given away to the Immortal Palace and Divine Sect for free.

After Yuntai Peak was established, talented young men from the mortal realm like Yang Si'an, if noticed by a passing Xuanmen disciple, would have a portion of their soul drawn out through a ritual and sent to Yuntai Peak as attendants, essentially a trial period. They would also have their mortal memories sealed and be given code names like A, B, C, or D, eliminating interference from their Daoist aptitude and family background. While these attendants were used to assist in various Xuanmen activities on Yuntai Peak, their character and comprehension were also comprehensively assessed.

The most outstanding talents among these children will naturally be accepted as disciples by the Nine Great Xuan Sects. After all, the False Moon in the sky now, and resources are abundant. Even if their physical bodies are slightly lacking, they can be reshaped with elixirs and miraculous medicines. Disciples selected in this way are often outstanding figures of the era, and even the bigwigs of the sects will fight for them. Of course, they have a bright future.

Those with mid-grade aptitude, while not worthy of the attention of the Xuanmen's bigwigs, can still help maintain the increasingly powerful Xuanmen on Yuntai Peak, much like the Confucian scholars maintain the operation of the Immortal Palace. For example, someone like Jia Gui, if he were to have a formal position on Yuntai Peak, could awaken the memories of his original body, and his Dao body could also cultivate while he earned money, essentially making him Outer Sect cultivator under the Nine Great Xuan Sects.

Those unruly children who lack talent, comprehension, or character will have their memories of Yuntai Peak sealed, and that part of their soul will be returned to their original body to the riches and honors they once enjoyed in the mortal world. Thus, I only thought it was a dream, but having trained in the immortal sect, my talent and knowledge naturally stand out from the crowd, and finding a respectable job in the Twelve Countries is not difficult.

"As for the Purple Hair Fairy, I naturally know her. There are rumors that she was originally the hairpin of Lord Liang of Shaoxian Cave Mount Taibai, and later she took human form. There are also rumors that she was originally a disciple of the god, and took human form by borrowing a treasure to avoid calamity. In any case, Shaoxian Cave has few people, and Lord Liang is in seclusion to cultivate, so the Purple Hair Fairy manages the manor on Yuntai Peak."

This is because that fairy is naturally fond of having fun with women. Occasionally, female spirits would be born from the treasures of various sects in the Xuanmen. Since it was inconvenient for the sects to raise them, they would be sent to her for care and training. Many female cultivators from various sects in the Xuanmen also liked to play at her manor. Therefore, she had a wide network of connections on Yuntai Peak and was quite famous.

However, men are not allowed to enter or leave the Zichai Mountain Villa. If you want to see her, you'll have to send a letter. Would you like me to write one for you? It will only cost one Golden Core."

Li Fan laughed, "Zichai Mountain Villa? I've only heard of its name, I was just asking casually. You don't need to be in such a hurry, kid. I'll give you the pills I promised. Oh, so that's the Cloud Terrace Treasure Cave?"

This is a celestial mountain rising above the clouds, like an island reef standing in a sea of clouds. Not far away, there are several other peaks, seemingly all belonging to the same mountain range. There are no Immortal Pavilion pavilions or temples on this mountain, only a jade gate of emerald green, as if embedded in the mountain rock. On the gate is a relief of a coiled dragon, baring its fangs and claws, which gives people a sense of immense pressure.

"Indeed, as long as we go through this door, we can go straight into the treasure cave and to the treasure vaults of various sects on Yuntai Peak."

Li Fan knew a bit about the magical principles of Storage Jade. This kind of spatial Magic Treasure was less like a mustard seed space and more like a coordinate system, capable of transferring stored items from other locations to the user holding the Storage Jade. However, those treasures still needed a special place to properly store and preserve various items, and the number of items that each Storage Jade could link to at the same time was also limited. Too many copper coins would be too heavy, so it was more cost-effective to link to jade slips and sword boxes.

For example, Li Fan had obtained many Storage Jade from rogue cultivators and demons. He needed to decipher them before he could retrieve the items, but he couldn't simply put them back. That would be equivalent to killing someone to steal their treasure and then putting it back in their locker. Therefore, after killing someone, he had to quickly take their goods, otherwise he would have gained nothing.

Li Fan collected a pile of Heavenly Treasure from Lei Marsh, which are now stored in the Li Family Village in Qingyue Creek. The Storage Jade have all been cleaned and are connected to the Li Family Village's warehouse. However, he also possesses a legitimate Daoist certificate and disciple jade pendant from Ink Bamboo Mountain Lou Guan Dao, which should allow him access to Lou Guan's treasury on Yuntai Peak. He's just a little worried that this might expose his identity.

Jia Gui, being quite shrewd, noticed Li Fan's hesitation and guessed what he was worried about. He explained, "Master, there's no need to worry. This Qingyu Gate is a magic treasure similar to Storage Jade. It simply sends your primordial spirit to the treasure vault. Once inside, you can see how many items under your name are available for trade, and there will also be yellow books and vermilion pens."

"You just need to write down 'Li Yaoshi exchanged the Mysterious Purple Gold Pill for the Spirit Coins with Jia Gui,' and I will also write in the treasury, 'Jia Gui exchanged the Spirit Coins for the Mysterious Purple Gold Pill with Li Yaoshi.' Once the quantities on both sides are correct, the spirit guarding the treasury will complete the transaction and internal allocation. When you need it, just take it out directly from your sect's Storage Jade."

Li Fan asked curiously, "What if someone used a fake name...?"

"It's common. The magic treasures of Yuntai Peak recognize the primordial spirit. No matter what disguise you use, the item will not be given to the wrong person. Yuntai Peak was established to handle internal transactions within the Xuanmen and ensure safety and convenience. It is also common for the Xuanmen leaders to give special treatment to their favorite disciples or illegitimate children."

As long as both parties adhere to the agreement, the names and quantities of items written down match, and these items actually exist in the treasure vault, the code used is irrelevant."

It's like an internal bank transfer. Since it doesn't leave the vault, it certainly avoids the risk of being robbed during physical transactions. Sigh, making money in the Central Plains underworld isn't so easy anymore...

So Li Fan imitated Jia Gui's actions, his primordial spirit leaping into the jade. Guided by divine light, he flew down into the mountain through a tunnel of green light.

Lou Guan's Daoist certificate is valid throughout the world. 'Qingyue' should also have a bank account on Yuntai Peak. The abbot gave him gourds of pills, which Li Fan stored in the sect's Storage Jade.

It's probably not just for him to kowtow to, but rather for funds that can be used for future transactions with the Xuanmen. In that case, it seems that Ink Bamboo Mountain really doesn't care about how many coins or strings of cash he receives as a salary. Everyone has a dozen or so Mysterious Purple Gold Pill; that's the real hard currency in the cultivation world!

Then, a bright light shone forth, Li Fan found himself drawn into a spacious cavern. Behind him was a jade door carved with emerald dragons, and in front of him was a long table with the yellow book and vermilion brush that Jia Gui had mentioned. On the other side of the table was a small warehouse that resembled a convenience store shelf. Most of the shelves were empty, but Li Fan immediately spotted his Daoist certificate and elixir gourd.

Li Fan tried to sense them with his Divine Sense. These shelves were probably a scene simulated for his primordial spirit inside the treasure vault, but it was quite intuitive.

So, according to the deal previously reached with Jia Gui, Li Fan wrote in the Yellow Register that he would give Jia Gui ten Nine Revolutions Mysterious Purple Gold Pills in exchange for three hundred Spirit Coins. Of course, in reality, there were far more Nine-Turn Golden Core than that. If they were auctioned off, people would offer astronomical prices of one hundred or two hundred Spirit Coins per pill. After all, for Foundation Establishment cultivator, holding Nine Revolutions Mysterious Purple Gold Pill was equivalent to saving a life and surviving a tribulation. For a cultivator like Jia Gui, who aimed to break through to the Golden Core stage, ten Golden Core were like ten lives.

Even with his noble lineage and years of experience as a disciple on Yuntai Peak, his entire fortune amounted to only three hundred Spirit Coins. Moreover, as everyone knows, the premium for rare pills lies primarily in their rarity. Releasing too many at once would likely result in low prices. Furthermore, a high-profile sale would be time-consuming, laborious, and likely attract attention. Using them to exchange for favors would be far more efficient.

Li Fan shook the gourd; there were still about a hundred grains inside. He casually poured out ten, wrapped them in red paper, and placed them on the shelf. Then he turned and walked out of the jade gate, intending to go back and inquire with Jia Gui about Yuntai Peak and the Nine Great Xuan Sects.

Then, his vision blurred, and he found himself walking out of the door again, into another warehouse.

This warehouse wasn't a convenience store; it was a logistics warehouse with twelve rows of four-tiered shelves stretching all the way down the mountain ridge, seemingly endless. The shelves were packed full of various treasure chests, jade boxes, money bags, and elixir gourds, making it look like the treasury of a vassal state.

Why are we visiting someone's place? Could this be Ink Bamboo Mountain...?

"No, these are all your things."

A male voice rang out, Li Fan turned his head to see Profound Heaven Sword Intent. Cough cough, it was a young man standing behind him, looking exactly like the statue of the Sword Ancestor Xuantian Sect, the Sword Ancestor Xuantian. Since you can enter, you are a successor of the Sword Ancestor, and these things are naturally yours."

Li Fan craned his chin, glanced at him, then looked at the overflowing warehouse on the other side, swallowed hard, and cautiously asked, "May I ask who you are...?"

"I am the sword forged by the Sword Ancestor, the flying sword Chun Jun," Chun Jun circled Li Fan once, then shook his head, "Your Ruyi Sword Scripture foundation is still too shallow; you are not yet qualified to ask me to acknowledge you as your master."

As soon as he finished speaking, he transformed into a beam of light and disappeared into the shelf.

"Sir! Take a break! Give me a chance!" Li Fan didn't even have time to react before he instinctively tried to chase after him, but his wrist was grabbed and pulled back.

"Alright, alright, your Ruyi Sword Scripture Manual is too shallow. You can't even wield any sword properly. Go back and practice for another hundred years." A Mediterranean old man dragged Li Fan around, trying to squeeze his muscles and bones.

"Who are you, senior?!" Li Fan was now extremely flustered.

After kneading for a while, the old man with the receding hairline shook his head repeatedly, "No, no, he cultivates the inner alchemy path, not the sword infant of the Beichen Sword Sect at all. He hasn't learned the Nine Heavens Sword Art either, not a single one that matches his skills. Forget it, forget it. This kid probably started halfway through his cultivation and just got lucky to receive Iron Egg's inheritance."

The old man turned and walked into the shadows, and a chilling wind swept around him, as if a group of people were sighing and dispersing with him.

"No, I..."

Before Li Fan could finish speaking, another pair of hands slapped his shoulders, turning him around. Facing him was a smiling, square-faced man with a thick beard, who pleaded, "Don't worry about them, don't worry about them! I'm not picky, as long as they're alive! Remember, my name is Juque. I haven't drunk blood in ages, I'm so craving it! Please lend me your Dao Body for ten years, let me kill a thousand or eighty thousand to satisfy my craving, okay? Please!"

Before Li Fan could speak, two tall men, one in black and one in white, suddenly rushed out of the shadows, grabbed the bearded man's hands, and dragged him into the warehouse with great speed. From afar, only the bearded man's cries of "Ahhh! I want to kill! I want to kill! Let me kill!" could be heard.

Li Fan was stunned for a while when another golden-eyed youth, dressed in red and radiating light, appeared in front of Li Fan. He looked up at him and said, "Were you injured by the Taiyin Sword Force?"

Li Fan vaguely realized, "... When I used the Taiyin Sword Art to kill enemies before, the sword energy wasn't completely neutralized, was it?"

"You haven't even practiced the sect's Sword Infant Technique, yet you can still use the Taiyin Sword Art? Your talent is indeed quite impressive," the red-clad youth pointed behind him. Inside the warehouse, heads were surging, and it seemed as if ghostly figures were constantly peeking out from behind the shelves, sizing up Li Fan.

"Your Sword Sect's basic skills are still lacking, so you can't subdue us now. Besides, the sword is too sharp; handling it for too long might damage your primordial spirit. However, it's rare to have a proper successor from Nine Yin Mountain appear in the world, so it would be a bit unfair to let you leave empty-handed. Moon Soul!"

At the boy's call, a rabbit jumped down from the shelf and hopped into Li Fan's arms.

Li Fan frowned and sensed them with his Divine Sense. Well, he could tell these were all sword spirits... but the rabbits... their appearance was just too cute...

The golden-eyed youth smiled at Li Fan, "Don't underestimate this sword. It's a first-grade Nascent Soul Stage treasure. Back then, the Sword Ancestor Xuantian forged this sword to prepare as a betrothal gift for his disciple, but unfortunately, the good thing didn't happen. That's why it's been hidden away for so long and hasn't taken human form yet."

This sword is best suited for the Taiyin Sword Art. With the assistance of the Moon Soul, you will no longer need to worry about being injured by the backlash of the Taiyin Sword Force when using the sword technique in combat."

Oh, this must be for Han the Divine Lord, right?

But wouldn't taking a rabbit out to fight be beneath his dignity as a dignified human being...?

"Um, could we switch to another one? Actually, I'm better at the Qiankun Flying skill..."

Before Li Fan could finish speaking, the rabbit in his arms suddenly jumped up and kicked him out through the jade gate.