Asking for a Secret Realm

"Master, does the Azure Cloud Sect have any secret realms?" Zhang Yang asked. "Can I have the authority to open one?"

In his view, with five thousand years of history, how could the Azure Cloud Sect possibly lack secret realms?

The key question was whether he could open one.

Azure Cloud Master looked at Zhang Yang curiously. "What do you need a secret realm for? Cultivation? You probably have no use for one at the moment!"

Zhang Yang shook his head. "Not for cultivation. I want to spread news that the secret realm is open and draw the attention of people across the land."

Azure Cloud Master frowned but said nothing.

"It does not need to be too powerful either," Zhang Yang hurriedly added. "One suitable for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators to explore would be enough. If Golden Core Realm cultivators can explore it too, that would be even better."

Azure Cloud Master visibly relaxed. "If it is only for Foundation Establishment Realm and Golden Core Realm cultivators, then there is no problem."

He gave a strange grin. "Just wait. There will be a secret realm soon enough."

Zhang Yang was somewhat surprised. What did he mean, there would soon be a secret realm?

But he had already received a definite answer, so he did not dwell on it.

Soon afterward, Azure Cloud Master and the others all left.

"Eldest Senior Brother, our Azure Cloud Sect's secret realm..." Ling Yunzi looked at Azure Cloud Master strangely.

Azure Cloud Master grinned. "Is it not just a secret realm for Golden Core Realm cultivators? I will spend a little effort and make one. A small problem, all small problems. It will not take long to finish. With a million Spirit Stones, I can finally breathe easy too. Since that brat brought me a million Spirit Stones, I have to fulfill his wish somehow and make him a secret realm."

Ling Yunzi and the others were speechless.

They had wondered why Azure Cloud Master had agreed so readily. So this was where the secret realm was coming from.

But Azure Cloud Master was actually creating a secret realm out of thin air... was that not a little too outrageous?

"Eldest Senior Brother, what realm have you actually reached?" Ling Yunzi asked curiously.

Azure Cloud Master gave everyone a meaningful look. "You lot should try harder!"

With that, he vanished in an instant.

The others looked at one another, then each went into seclusion to cultivate.

"Eldest Senior Brother, what do you need?" Situ Mingyue looked at Zhang Yang in confusion, unable to understand why he had kept her behind.

Zhang Yang asked strangely, "It seems you have forgotten why you came to Azure Cloud Sect in the beginning."

Situ Mingyue froze for a moment, then quickly understood.

When she had first come to Azure Cloud Sect, it had been to discuss a business partnership.

But after joining the Azure Cloud Sect, the matter had never been mentioned again. She had thought it had simply been dropped!

"You have already earned so much. Do you still want to sell things?" Situ Mingyue looked at Zhang Yang in puzzlement.

Zhang Yang looked at Situ Mingyue irritably. "As the eldest daughter of a merchant family, your performance disappoints me somewhat. Although the Azure Cloud Sect has many Spirit Stones now, if we merely keep them, they will be spent sooner or later. We must use our current Spirit Stones to invest and create even greater wealth.

"Just so happens, we have already reached an agreement with the Cloud Mountain Empire. We will establish merchant associations within their territory in the future. On top of that, we can refine our own Pills, Talismans, and magic treasures. Is that not the best trade route?

"Another matter is that even a sect must never lack a grasp of intelligence from across the land.

"Therefore, it is imperative for the Azure Cloud Sect to establish a merchant association."

He was very dissatisfied with the Azure Cloud Sect's past performance. Even now, the Azure Cloud Sect remained utterly in the dark about many matters under heaven.

If a great upheaval occurred in the world and the Azure Cloud Sect had no response at all, then no matter how powerful Azure Cloud Master was, what could he amount to before the tide of the age?

Situ Mingyue stared at Zhang Yang in astonishment. "Eldest Senior Brother, are you not thinking far too far ahead?"

"A person without long-term concerns will surely have immediate worries!" Zhang Yang said solemnly. "Master and the martial uncles will leave sooner or later. This Azure Cloud Sect will belong to us in the future... So far, only you and I are in the Golden Core Realm. The other disciples have not even formed their Dao Foundations yet. What is more troublesome is that many among them still have problems.

"Therefore, the burden of the Azure Cloud Sect rests upon our shoulders.

"Junior Sister, should you not help me?

"Or have you never considered the Azure Cloud Sect your home at all? Are you merely playing around here, planning to return home when the time comes?

"If that is the case, I will be very disappointed."

Situ Mingyue stared at Zhang Yang blankly. Only after a long while did she say with a bitter smile, "Sometimes, I find that you really resemble my father."

"Ah? I resemble your father that much?" Zhang Yang asked in surprise.

Situ Mingyue nodded, then realized something was wrong and shot Zhang Yang a fierce glare. "I mean your bearing... In short, you just want me to help you. But you have to give me something in return. I cannot help you for nothing."

"What benefit do you want?" Zhang Yang looked at Situ Mingyue.

"I have not decided yet, but you have to promise to help me with several things. I will tell you once I have thought of them," Situ Mingyue said.

Zhang Yang waved a hand grandly. "No problem. I promise."

As the eldest daughter of a merchant family, Situ Mingyue was the most suitable person to prepare a merchant association.

Besides, perhaps they could also deal with the Cloud Soaring Merchant Association. That would broaden the merchant association's trade routes in the future.

Situ Mingyue smiled in satisfaction. "What will the merchant association be called? How about the Mingyue Merchant Association?"

"The Azure Cloud Sect's merchant association, named after you?" Zhang Yang shook his head.

"Then shall we call it the Azure Cloud Merchant Association?" Situ Mingyue asked in return. "Or we could each take one character and simply call it the Azure Bright Merchant Association."

Zhang Yang was speechless. Why did he feel as though this merchant association was going to collapse before it had even opened?

"Fine, fine. Since you are preparing it, you should indeed have naming rights. It will be called the Azure Moon Merchant Association. Are you satisfied now?"

Situ Mingyue thought for a moment and nodded. "Azure Moon Merchant Association works too. Will I be in charge of it from now on?"

"You will be in charge, but I will have supervisory authority. Also, when necessary, you must listen to my development suggestions," Zhang Yang said.

Situ Mingyue raised her chin proudly. "Eldest Senior Brother, I was born into a merchant family. I may not cultivate as well as you, but do not interfere in business. Do not worry. I guarantee that I will earn vast quantities of Spirit Stones and all kinds of resources for our Azure Cloud Sect."

"Oh?" Zhang Yang asked. "Are you truly that proficient in the way of business? How many years has your Situ Family been engaged in trade?"

"The Situ Family has two hundred years of history. That proves everything."

"Two hundred years?" Zhang Yang curled his lips. "What if I told you I have two thousand years of business history—would you believe me? As for business, I will teach you in the future. Go back first and prepare a business plan. Let me see what you are capable of."

The principles of every kind of business had long since been thoroughly studied by one people. There would probably not be many more new tricks afterward.

Situ Mingyue was uncertain and suspicious. Could it be that the Azure Cloud Sect had once had someone skilled in business?

She was somewhat unconvinced and decided to wait and see Zhang Yang's abilities later.

Then she went back, pulled Chunxiao along, and began writing her business plan.

As for Zhang Yang, he took one hundred thousand Spirit Stones and went into seclusion once more.

Now that he had his own villa, he no longer needed to go to Brushstroke Peak.

Inside the cultivation chamber, one hundred thousand Spirit Stones were spread across the floor again. Zhang Yang sat in the chamber and once more absorbed spiritual energy with wild ferocity.