Azure Cloud Group's First Dividend Distribution

The Prince of Southern Suppression thought it over and found the condition easy enough to accept, so he agreed.

He had no reason not to. Everything the Azure Cloud Sect sold was useful to them, and they even paid taxes according to the rules. What could be better? Take the Heavenly Profound Sect, for example—they paid no taxes at all...

Once both sides had reached an agreement and signed the contract, the Prince of Southern Suppression finally handed over the Spirit Stones and materials he had prepared.

In truth, the Cloud Mountain Empire had certainly intended to bring the Flying Dragon Army back this time, lest troubles arise from delay.

That was why they had brought the goods for the transaction long ago.

As for the difference, the Cloud Mountain Empire's original plan had been to compensate for it with Azure Province.

Now that Azure Province had been preserved, there was nothing better than this for the Cloud Mountain Empire.

"I hope our two sides can establish a friendly relationship and avoid further conflict," the Prince of Southern Suppression said with deep emotion.

One conflict had cost them so dearly. The Cloud Mountain Empire truly could not afford another!

Zhang Yang also said sentimentally, "My Azure Cloud Sect has always loved peace and never provoked disputes. The fact that we were unwilling to take your Azure Province proves that.

This time, it was because someone was mining within the Azure Cloud Sect's territory. Our original intention was merely to have you give us an explanation, then discuss a peaceful resolution.

Who would have thought that the Lord of Anqing City would mistake our actions for weakness and actually send the Flying Dragon Army against us? That was what led to this string of events.

But as the saying goes, no friendship without a fight. Perhaps we can seek new opportunities for development together in the future."

A sharp light flashed in the Prince of Southern Suppression's eyes, but he said with a genial smile, "Sect Master Zhang, rest assured. The Lord of Anqing City certainly will not live much longer."

The Cloud Mountain Empire had suffered grievously this time. The Third Prince had taken the blame for the emperor, and with his status as a prince, he surely would not face severe punishment. But a mere Lord of Anqing City would not be so fortunate. Having brought such an enormous disaster upon the empire, how could he possibly account for it without offering up his life?

Zhang Yang smiled. "I will not meddle in your empire's internal affairs. However, I have one more matter. I wonder whether Your Highness would be willing to cooperate with us?"

"What matter?" the Prince of Southern Suppression asked.

Zhang Yang said with a smile, "As you know, our Azure Cloud Sect has several mines that need to be worked. The Flying Dragon Army would originally have been the best choice for mining them, but now we have returned them to you. So, I wonder whether Your Highness would be interested in cooperating with the Azure Cloud Sect to mine them together?"

The Azure Cloud Sect was short of manpower now, so he had set his sights on the Prince of Southern Suppression.

The Prince of Southern Suppression heard nothing else—only the words "cooperate to mine the mines." He hurriedly asked, "How would we cooperate?"

"Our Azure Cloud Sect's mines will remain there and can be extracted sooner or later, so an equal split is out of the question. If you are willing, we can divide the proceeds thirty-seventy, with the Azure Cloud Sect taking seventy percent. In return, your descendants will have the opportunity to enter the Azure Cloud Sect. Regardless of their talent, we will treat them as sect disciples and never mistreat them." Zhang Yang smiled at the Prince of Southern Suppression.

"Deal!" the Prince of Southern Suppression said decisively.

The Cloud Mountain Empire was on good terms with the Heavenly Profound Sect, but it did not forbid its people from joining other sects.

Therefore, the Prince of Southern Suppression had nothing else to worry about.

"I happen to have a grandson with decent talent. He has just turned ten this year. Once I return, how about I send him to the Azure Cloud Sect? By then, my construction crew will also come to the Azure Cloud Sect and await your arrangements." The Prince of Southern Suppression looked at Zhang Yang.

"No problem at all!" Zhang Yang agreed.

Afterward, he ordered the Flying Dragon Army to be assembled and sent the Third Prince and the Flying Dragon Army out of the Azure Cloud Sect, watching as the people of the Cloud Mountain Empire departed into the distance.

The Prince of Southern Suppression flew aboard a flying vessel with the Flying Dragon Army for a while. When he failed to find Su Mingyang of the Heavenly Profound Sect, he simply stopped waiting and headed straight for Anqing City. "We will handle a small matter first, then return to the imperial capital and report this matter to His Majesty."

He was very satisfied with this trip to the Azure Cloud Sect. Not only had he avoided bearing the charge of ceding territory, but he had also secured a business opportunity for the Prince of Southern Suppression's family.

He was certain that even His Majesty would be greatly pleased with the result of this transaction. Thus, the Prince of Southern Suppression's family should receive tremendous benefits this time.

Meanwhile, atop the Azure Cloud Sect, the Prince of Southern Suppression and his group had only just left when Azure Cloud Master and the others all appeared at Zhang Yang's large villa. Even Situ Mingyue had come.

"Senior Brother, you must have made a fortune this time, right?" Situ Mingyue asked, looking at Zhang Yang.

"What are you talking about?" Zhang Yang snorted. "It is the Azure Cloud Sect that has made a fortune!"

He laughed smugly.

With one and a half million Spirit Stones, plus the previous surplus, the Azure Cloud Sect now possessed more than two million Spirit Stones.

More importantly, there were countless cultivation materials. Those were what mattered most to the Azure Cloud Sect. Passing through the sect's hands, they could bring in a great deal more money.

Azure Cloud Master and the others, however, looked at Zhang Yang in a daze.

How poor had the Azure Cloud Sect been in the past?

How long had it been? Yet they already had so many Spirit Stones and resources. Could it be that they truly had been far too incompetent?

"Master, do you see the benefits of reform now?" Zhang Yang said to Azure Cloud Master with a smile. "From now on, the Azure Cloud Sect will have more and more money."

Azure Cloud Master said solemnly, "Was I not worried that you would ruin the Azure Cloud Sect? After all, the Azure Cloud Sect will be handed over to you in the future. If I leave you a wreck, would you not blame me?"

"You do not have to worry now, do you?" Zhang Yang asked with a smile.

Azure Cloud Master shook his head and sighed. "Just handle things as you see fit. If you need any help, come find us."

Seeing how capable Zhang Yang was, what else did he have to worry about?

Especially since Zhang Yang possessed a Chaos Golden Core. Once Zhang Yang grew stronger, he would be completely free.

Zhang Yang looked over the many Spirit Stones and materials, pondered for a moment, and said, "Half the materials will go into the treasury as the Azure Cloud Sect's foundation for the future. The other half will be given to Third Martial Uncle and Sixth Martial Uncle. Your responsibility is to turn these materials into pills and magical treasures with all your strength. These are the Azure Cloud Sect's sources of wealth, so they must not be neglected."

Danchენzi and Sixth Martial Uncle nodded with cheerful smiles, not complaining in the slightest about having work to do.

In the past, when they wanted to refine pills or forge artifacts, they had not even been given materials. Now they could use as much as they wished. What was there to be unhappy about?

"The Spirit Stones will be handled the same way. One million Spirit Stones will go into storage as development funds. Of the remaining Spirit Stones, Master will take five hundred thousand. As for the rest, the six Martial Uncles, Junior Sister, and I will divide them equally among eight people, with about one hundred thousand Spirit Stones per person," Zhang Yang said slowly.

He did not know why Azure Cloud Master needed Spirit Stones, but he knew Azure Cloud Master must have his reasons. Thus, he gave Azure Cloud Master an additional four hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

"Then I will not stand on ceremony!" Azure Cloud Master swept away the five hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

Ling Yunzi and the others, on the other hand, hesitated.

Zhang Yang said earnestly, "Martial Uncles, you must take these Spirit Stones. Your task is to enter seclusion as soon as possible and break through to the Primordial Spirit Realm. The Heavenly Profound Sect has only two Primordial Spirits, yet they dared to swagger into our Azure Cloud Sect. We cannot face such a situation again. Your strength is the greatest safeguard for the Azure Cloud Sect's development and safety. So please accept the Spirit Stones and raise your cultivation as much as possible."

With things having been said to this point, Ling Yunzi and the others no longer needed to be polite and each took their Spirit Stones.

"I do not need any, do I?" Situ Mingyue said with a cheerful smile.

She was not short on money. She had even provided the Azure Cloud Sect's initial Spirit Stones!

Zhang Yang glanced at Situ Mingyue. "These are the Azure Cloud Sect's dividends. Everyone has a share. It would not be right to leave you out, so just take them."

Situ Mingyue was somewhat speechless. It was clearly a good thing, so why did it sound so unpleasant?