The sky gradually grew dark, and Chen Ming merely glanced at a few people secretly before leaving silently.
As long as he knew the people of the Mo Mansion could be safe and sound, that was enough.
On this day, Chen Ming came to a country called Great Qin, where the morning sunlight pierced through the thin mist and sprinkled upon the ancient city walls of Phoenix City. Chen Ming stood at the city gates, gazing at the bustling crowds coming and going, filled with a myriad of emotions in his heart.
He had arrived in the Great Qin Kingdom for half a month already, and his understanding of this country was growing increasingly deep. This place was entirely different from anywhere else he had ever stayed before.
The Great Qin Kingdom built its nation upon its state power, and although there were many sects, they were all governed by the royal family.
What surprised Chen Ming even more was that practically everyone here possessed spirit roots, with only the grades differing in quality.
No wonder the highest cultivation level among the sects here is merely the Middle Golden Core stage.
Chen Ming could not help but sigh inwardly.
According to the intelligence he had gathered, the Great Qin Royal Family overtly possessed seven practitioners of the Golden Core stage, three of whom had even reached the Late Golden Core stage. Such strength was enough to crush any single sect.
Each of the seven sects had only a single Golden Core expert holding down the fort, and all of them possessed only Middle Golden Core cultivation, presenting a difference as vast as heaven and earth when compared to the royal family.
Establishing a faction in an environment like this requires both caution against the suppression of the royal family and vigilance against the exclusion of other sects...
Chen Ming rubbed his temples. However, the more chaotic the situation, the greater the opportunities.
He touched the Storage Bag at his waist, which contained several hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. This was all the fortune he had saved by living frugally ever since his trans-migration, and for a newly established sect, it was barely enough to suffice.
Now, only two matters lay before him: choosing a site and recruiting people.
Chen Ming spent three days traversing the mountains and rivers surrounding Phoenix City, finally finding a satisfactory mountain thirty miles outside Phoenix City. The locals called it Great Bridge Mountain; the mountain ridges were not particularly high, but they undulated continuously and covered an extremely vast area.
Most importantly, there was a medium-sized dragon vein within the mountain-although it could not compare to the royal family's Dragon Vein, it was already sufficient for a small sect.
"This is the place."
Chen Ming stood on the highest peak of Great Bridge Mountain, overlooking his surroundings. To the north was Buddha City, and Mount Guan Temple was situated within that ancient city; to the east was Vast City, the territory of the Southern Yue Sect; to the west was Spirit City, where the Vast Spirit Sect was located; and further west was Ritual City, where the Great Ritual Sect had taken root.
North of Ritual City was River City, the territory of the Tang River Sect; east of River City was Northern City, where the Northern Moon Sect was located. Meanwhile, Sea City lay west of Vast City, connecting to Northern City in the northwest direction, and the Fortunate Sea School was established in Sea City.
"The seven great sects each occupy one domain, carving up the territory of the Great Qin Kingdom more or less." Chen Ming narrowed his eyes. "By choosing Great Bridge Mountain, I am positioned right between Phoenix City and Buddha City. Not only does this avoid touching upon their core interests, but it also allows me to utilize the human resources of both cities to develop."
He took out a map and marked a few points on it, already forming a preliminary plan in his mind.
"However, before beginning construction, I must first go to the Phoenix City government to register."
Chen Ming put away the map and sighed. "The Great Qin Kingdom has many rules; establishing a sect requires paying taxes, registration, and auditing first. It is terribly troublesome."
He flew on his flying sword, reaching Phoenix City in less than a quarter of an hour. The guards at the city gate merely glanced at him casually and did not stop him. In the Great Qin Kingdom, cultivators were everywhere, and flying on a sword was nothing out of the ordinary.
Chen Ming headed straight for the City Lord's Residence and found the registrar in charge of sect affairs. The registrar was an old man with white hair whose cultivation was merely at the Qi Refining Stage, but his attitude was extremely arrogant; seeing Chen Ming, a cultivator of the Late Foundation Establishment stage, did not prompt any pleasant expression from him.
"You want to establish a sect?"
The registrar flipped through the documents Chen Ming handed over without even lifting his eyelids. "Name, background, cultivation level, sect name, site location-have you written them all clearly?"
"They are all written clearly."
Chen Ming tempered his patience and replied.
The registrar leisurely finished reading them, then suddenly furrowed his brows. "Great Bridge Mountain? That is the border zone between Phoenix City and Buddha City. As an outsider cultivator, on what grounds do you intend to build a sect there?"
Chen Ming had prepared for this long ago; he retrieved a small cloth bag from his Storage Bag and quietly slipped it into the registrar's hand. "A small token of appreciation, I ask that Your Honor please exercise some flexibility."
The registrar weighed the weight of the cloth bag in his hand, and only then did his expression ease somewhat. "Hmph! Although according to the rules, outside cultivators require a local guarantor to establish a sect within this city, seeing that you are sincere, I will make this trip for you."
"Many thanks, Your Honor," Chen Ming said, cupping his fists.
"However, let's make things clear beforehand."
"The Great Qin Kingdom has regulations: all sects must pay taxes annually based on thirty percent of their revenue, and arrears are strictly prohibited. In addition, sects must report the recruitment of disciples and are not allowed to harbor fugitives and people of unknown origins privately. Should there be any violations, the light punishment will be a fine, and the severe punishment will be the revocation of sect qualifications."
The registrar carefully explained the rules here to Chen Ming.
"This junior understands."
After finishing the procedures and paying the processing fee of five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, Chen Ming finally obtained the sect license stamped with the official seal. When he walked out of the City Lord's Residence, he let out a long breath of relief.
"Next is the recruitment of people."
Chen Ming returned to Great Bridge Mountain and first spent two days using his spiritual energy to clear out a flat piece of land, constructing a few simple wooden houses as a temporary foothold. Then, he wrote a sign and hung it at the foot of the mountain: The Divine Wind Sect is recruiting disciples. Anyone with spirit roots may apply, and candidates will be selected based on merit.
After the news spread, people coming to apply came in an endless stream. The entire Great Qin Kingdom practiced cultivation, and almost everyone possessed spirit roots, but the spiritual root grades of most people were very low. Unable to enter the seven great sects, they could only study some shallow techniques at home by themselves or serve as bodyguards for wealthy households. Hearing that a new sect was being built, many people came with the mindset of giving it a try.
Chen Ming sat behind a table at the foot of the mountain while a long queue formed before him. He checked the applicants' spirit roots one by one and recorded their basic information.
"Name?"
"Wang Daniu."
"Age?"
"Nineteen."
"Spirit root... Low-Grade Earth Spirit Root. Barely acceptable."
"Next!"
Just like that, by the end of the day, he had taken in more than twenty disciples. Although their aptitude was generally unremarkable, their advantage lay in their large numbers, and they were all locals who were familiar with the surrounding environment, which would make handling affairs convenient in the future.
As evening approached, Chen Ming was just preparing to finish up when a thin, frail youth walked up before him.
"Sir, I also wish to join the Divine Wind Sect."
Chen Ming looked up and saw that the youth was roughly fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing an old set of clothes washed so thoroughly they had turned white, with a dirty face, yet a pair of eyes that shone exceptionally bright.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Lin Xiaohu, and my home is on West Street in Phoenix City."
Chen Ming reached out and placed his hand on the youth's wrist to probe his spirit root. A moment later, a trace of surprise flashed across his eyes. Middle-Grade Fire Spirit Root? You brat have pretty good aptitude; why didn't you go try your luck at the seven great sects?
Lin Xiaohu lowered his head, his voice somewhat choked with emotion. "I went to Mount Guan Temple, and they said that although my spirit root is fine, I am an orphan with no background, so they wouldn't take me. I went to the Southern Yue Sect next, but they said I needed to pay an initiation fee of one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, which I couldn't produce..."
Chen Ming fell silent. He knew that although the sects of the Great Qin Kingdom appeared fair on the surface, in reality, they had long been monopolized by noble clans and great families, making it as difficult as ascending to the heavens for the children of ordinary commoners to rise up.
"Very well, you may stay."
"Starting today, you are a disciple of the Divine Wind Sect. You do not need to pay any initiation fee, provided that you cultivate diligently and make something of yourself in the future."
Lin Xiaohu raised his head abruptly, his eyes filled with pleasant surprise. "Really? Is what sir said true?"
"Of course it is true."
"However, you must remember that once you enter my Divine Wind Sect, you must abide by my rules. First, you shall not bully the weak; second, you shall not betray the sect; third, your cultivation must be diligent. Can you do this?"
"I can! I can!" Lin Xiaohu nodded vigorously, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
This scene was witnessed by the people waiting in line nearby, and discussions immediately erupted among the crowd.
"This newly arrived sect master turns out to be a good person."
"Indeed, taking in disciples without collecting money is something you'd never dare imagine in the seven great sects."
"Should we go try our luck as well?"
Gradually, even more people joined the queue. Chen Ming remained busy until dark before finishing with all the applicants. By the end of the day, he had recruited a total of forty-seven disciples; added to the previous ones, the Divine Wind Sect now boasted over sixty members.
Chen Ming looked over the roster, nodded with satisfaction, and thought to himself: For a newly founded sect, having too many people only leads to disorder. I will cultivate these sixty-odd people first and speak of the rest later.
Returning up the mountain, Chen Ming gathered all the disciples and announced the sect rules and cultivation plan. He did not rush to impart profound cultivation techniques, choosing instead to start teaching from the most basic Breath Control Technique. After all, the foundations of these disciples were far too poor, and many of them did not even know the most basic spiritual energy circulation routes.
"The dao of cultivation places its emphasis on foundations."
Standing before the crowd, Chen Ming spoke in a clear voice. "A ten-thousand-foot-tall tower rises from the ground; only by laying the foundation securely can one walk further. Starting today, everyone will rise at the Mao hour every morning, run ten miles to warm up first, and then practice the Breath Control Technique for two double-hours. In the afternoon, you will learn the Basic Fist Technique and sword techniques, and at night, you will sit in meditation. Anyone who dares to slack off had better not blame me for being discourteous!"
The disciples responded in unison, every single one of them full of vigor and spirit.
During the days that followed, Chen Ming taught his disciples by day and cultivated by himself at night. His cultivation level had already reached the peak of the Late Foundation Establishment stage, leaving him only a step away from the Golden Core stage. Yet, he was in no rush to make a breakthrough; instead, he repeatedly polished his foundation, striving for perfection.
Simultaneously, the construction of the Divine Wind Sect was proceeding in an orderly manner. Chen Ming hired a batch of craftsmen using spirit stones to build a respectable council grand hall on the mountainside, and cleared out a martial arts practice arena on the summit. Although the scale was not large, it finally possessed the appearance of a sect.
That afternoon, Chen Ming was instructing his disciples in sword practice when he suddenly sensed several auras approaching Great Bridge Mountain. He looked up and saw five people walking from a distance, led by a middle-aged man wearing a cyan long robe whose cultivation was impressively at peak Foundation Establishment.
"Who goes there?" Chen Ming stepped forward and asked.
The middle-aged man cupped his fists, his attitude still considered polite. "I am Huiming, a deacon of Mount Guan Temple. Hearing that a new Divine Wind Sect has been established here, I have come specifically to pay a visit."
Chen Ming knew clearly in his heart that Mount Guan Temple was located in Buddha City, not far from Great Bridge Mountain. For them to seek him out this quickly, they were evidently harboring concerns regarding the existence of the Divine Wind Sect.
"So it is an eminent monk of Mount Guan Temple. Forgive me for failing to welcome you."
"I wonder what instruction Master Huiming brings with this visit?"
Chen Ming smiled as he stepped forward, offering a bow first before speaking.
Huiming smiled slightly. "Instruction is hardly the word, I merely have a matter to inquire about. Great Bridge Mountain is situated at the border of Phoenix City and Buddha City, and has historically been an ownerless territory. When Your Excellency established a sect and founded a faction here, did you ever give word to Mount Guan Temple?"
Chen Ming caught the implication within his words, and without changing his expression, he said, "The laws of the Great Qin Kingdom stipulate that as long as one registers with the government, one is free to establish a sect. I have already completed the procedures in Phoenix City, so I presume there is no need to report to your esteemed temple once more?"
The smile on Huiming's face stiffened slightly, but it returned to normal immediately thereafter. "Sect Master Chen speaks reasonably. However, Mount Guan Temple has established itself in this region for hundreds of years and maintains friendly relations with various factions. If Sect Master Chen has any need for assistance as a newcomer, please do not hesitate to speak up."
"Many thanks for Master's kind intentions," Chen Ming said, cupping his fists. "If there is truly a need, I will certainly call upon you to seek guidance."
After exchanging a few more polite remarks, Huiming took his men and departed. Watching their retreating figures, Chen Ming sank into contemplation.
Mount Guan Temple appeared polite on the surface, but in reality, they were probing my background. He muttered to himself. It seems the relations among the sects of this Great Qin Kingdom are far more complex than I imagined.
Sure enough, only a few days later, people from other sects came looking for trouble. First, the Southern Yue Sect sent an elder over; nominally it was to offer congratulations, but in truth, it was to probe the background of the Divine Wind Sect. Next came the Vast Spirit Sect, whose people possessed the most aggressive attitude, hinting in their words that Great Bridge Mountain was within their sphere of influence and advising Chen Ming to act with some sense of propriety.
Chen Ming handled them all, neither groveling nor acting overbearing.
He knew that in the eyes of these long-established sects, a minor Late Foundation Establishment cultivator like him was not worth mentioning at all. If not for the backing of the official government, they probably would have made a move long ago.
I must break through to the Golden Core stage as soon as possible.
Chen Ming made up his mind inwardly.
That night, Chen Ming sat alone on the mountain peak, gazing up at the full sky of twinkling stars. The moonlight, like water, sprinkled over Great Bridge Mountain, casting a silver-white coating over everything.
He took out the spirit stones from his Storage Bag and counted them; a little over three hundred thousand remained. During this period, a great deal of money had been spent on building the sect, and coupled with the taxes that needed to be paid to the government, the remaining spirit stones were already not plentiful.
I need to find a way to make money.
Chen Ming rubbed his brow, feeling inevitably that relying solely on the initiation fees collected from taking in disciples is simply not enough.
He thought of alchemy; there were quite a few pill formulas within, and although they were all low-grade medicinal pills, they should still fetch a good price in the Great Qin Kingdom. After all, the alchemy techniques here were relatively backward, and many common medicinal pills were in short supply.
I will start trying alchemy tomorrow. Chen Ming settled his determination.
He stood up and looked toward the distance. In the night, the lights of Buddha City, Vast City, and Spirit City were faintly visible, resembling pearls inlaid upon the earth. And further away was the silhouette of the Great Qin Capital-Vast City.
The Great Qin Kingdom practices universal cultivation, sects stand in great numbers, and the royal family reigns supreme.
Chen Ming thought to himself: This world is much more interesting than I imagined, and spoke aloud.
He withdrew his gaze and turned toward his room. There were still many things to do tomorrow; the Divine Wind Sect had only just begun, and he could not afford to slack off.
Just as Chen Ming was preparing to rest, a wave of commotion suddenly drifted up from the foot of the mountain. Immediately following that, a disciple rushed over in a flurry to report, "Sect Master, it's bad! Someone is causing trouble at the foot of the mountain!"
Chen Ming frowned and hurried down the mountain. Reaching the base, he saw over a dozen burly men wielding weapons blocking the intersection, led by a ferocious-faced brawny man whose cultivation was around the Middle Foundation Establishment stage.
"You're the sect master of this so-called Divine Wind Sect?" The brawny man looked Chen Ming up and down, his tone arrogant. "This daddy is the chieftain of the Black Wind Stronghold, and the mountain ranges around these parts are all this daddy's territory. Did you get my permission when you established your sect here?"
Chen Ming was almost amused to the point of laughing. He had seen people collecting protection money, but never anyone doing it so brazenly. Furthermore, he had heard of the Black Wind Stronghold; they were simply a band of bandits who specialized in robbing passing merchants and travelers, and the government had tried to suppress them several times without ever completely wiping them out.
"The Black Wind Stronghold?"
"I've never heard of it. Great Bridge Mountain is a legitimate sect site registered with the government. What does it have to do with you bandits?"
"Cut the crap!" The brawny man waved a hand. "Either pay the protection fee-five thousand spirit stones every month-or this daddy will tear down this lousy mountain gate of yours!"
A cold glint flashed across Chen Ming's eyes. He originally did not want to stir up trouble, but since someone had bullied their way to his doorstep, he did not mind making an example of him to deter the rest.
"You want protection money?" Chen Ming slowly drew his longsword. "Then let's see if you have the ability to take it!"
Before his voice had even faded, his figure flashed, charging toward the brawny man like a streak of lightning. The brawny man had not expected Chen Ming to attack the moment he finished speaking, and hastily raised his weapon to block.
"Clang!"
With a resounding crash, the heavy saber in the brawny man's hand snapped in two upon impact, and his entire body was sent flying backward by the shock wave, crashing heavily onto the ground.
Following right after, a sword flashed past, and his head was sent rolling straight to the ground.
His subordinates scattered in all directions in a flurry.
The watching disciples burst into enthusiastic cheers. Chen Ming put away his longsword, yet his heart held not a shred of joy. He knew this was merely the beginning. In this world where the strong preyed upon the weak, only strength was the absolute truth.
Starting tomorrow, I will enter seclusion to break through to the Golden Core stage. Chen Ming silently resolved in his heart.
He looked up at the night sky, where the starlight shone brilliantly, as if foreshadowing the path of the future. Atop Great Bridge Mountain, the banner of the Divine Wind Sect fluttered fiercely in the wind, proclaiming the birth of a new faction.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in the Great Qin Capital, several Golden Core experts attired in luxurious robes were seated around a massive sand table, discussing something. The sand table was studded with small flags, and one brand-new small flag was planted right in the position between Phoenix City and Buddha City.
An aged voice slowly sounded. "The Divine Wind Sect... quite interesting."