The headquarters of Jiuyou Sect.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

In the pitch-dark room, four pairs of eyes glinted like those of wolves.

Starting with Sect Leader Qin, Jiuyou Sect advocated simplicity; whether in light or darkness, it made no difference to them, being Integration Stage Experts, and they did not need to light lamps.

This was an internal high-level conference of Jiuyou Sect, presided over by Mu Baiyi, with three Vice Sect Hierarchs in attendance, primarily to summarize the Sect’s gains for the quarter.

Shi Huagu held the quarterly report of the barbecue shop. As an old major demon, the joy in his eyes at this quarter’s profits was almost too great to conceal.

"The reports have been distributed to everyone, and I trust you all reviewed them before the meeting."

"The barbecue shop’s profits are encouraging, especially since we collaborated with Tao Yaoye, a friend from Seek Dao Sect. By using ’Dream Mirage’ for publicity at the start, our barbecue shop’s fame has soared. Now, even if someone hasn’t tasted our skewers, they’ve certainly heard of us."

Tao Yaoye only had Nascent Soul Stage cultivation level. Technically, he wasn’t qualified to be addressed as "friend" by Shi Huagu, but Shi Huagu cared little for such rules; anyone who could help him make money was his friend.

As the barbecue shop flourished, the Jiuyou Sect was gradually consolidating its other operations such as a zoo, funeral industry, smuggling, and tomb raiding. These were managed by Vice Sect Hierarch Xiang.

The smuggling and tomb raiding businesses provided a steady supply of "talent" to the Great Xia’s prisons year after year.

Of course, they were merely consolidating, not closing down.

Mu Baiyi knew that for Jiuyou Sect’s economy to develop healthily, relying solely on the barbecue shop wouldn’t suffice; stable progress required diversifying the business portfolio.

Privately, rumors circulated that Shi Huagu would soon replace Vice Sect Hierarch Xiang and become the new Executive Vice Sect Hierarch.

Whether these were rumors or leaks was unclear.

What Vice Sect Hierarch Xiang regretted most now was not being the first to contact the Heavenly Court Sect, allowing Shi Huagu to get the upper hand.

The profits from the barbecue shop had everyone drooling. Shi Huagu treasured it so much that he would let no one else interfere.

Joking aside, this was his life-saving money; he’d fight anyone who tried to touch it.

"Since the income is so considerable, do we know when the construction funds for Fengdu can be approved?" Vice Sect Master Shee directly asked Mu Baiyi; he was the Vice Sect Hierarch specifically responsible for the construction of Fengdu.

Mu Baiyi coughed twice, "Building Fengdu is indeed important, but at this time of high-speed development for our Sect, I ask that Vice Sect Master Shee put the greater good first and temporarily set aside the construction of Fengdu."

Fengdu’s construction would halt temporarily until the Sect’s debts were secretly paid off.

Seeing Mu Baiyi’s decisive tone, Vice Sect Master Shee did not pursue the matter further.

Mu Baiyi turned to Shi Huagu sitting opposite him, "Vice Headmaster Shi, I see that our barbecue shop pays quite high taxes; is there any way to reduce them?"

Hearing this question, Shi Huagu frowned with a pained expression, "I’m looking into it, but we’re in the food industry and the Dynasty doesn’t have significant tax relief policies for this sector."

"I see…"

Mu Baiyi was slightly disappointed and then pulled out another report.

"This is a report from the Rudder Master of Chunjiang City, just handed to me before the meeting, please take a look."

The three Vice Hierarchs were shocked upon reading the content of the report; their voices trembled.

"This, this, the Sect Master of Heavenly Court Sect is an Immortal?!"

The report, penned by the female ghost Xiao Cui, detailed the battle between the two Venerates in Chunjiang City, how Sect Leader Yun spectacularly captured both Venerates, and the heroic deeds of the barbecue shop in slaying the assassins from the Night Pavilion, for which the government office presented an award banner.

When Mu Baiyi first received this intelligence, he was no better off than the three Vice Hierarchs.

He hadn’t expected that Sect Leader Yun, whom he had met at the barbecue shop’s headquarters, was an Ancient Immortal from legends.

He just didn’t know the name.

Shi Huagu’s brow furrowed deeply as he remembered what Young Sect Master Lu had said, "No, there’s another piece of intelligence hidden within this report."

"What is it?" Vice Sect Master Xiang couldn’t discern the clue.

"When I first met Young Sect Master Lu Yang, he told me that their Sect Master once crossed hands with Yun Zhi of the Seek Dao Sect..." Shi Huagu paused, as if fearing the utterance of those words might bring calamity, but he continued, "The result was evenly matched."

"What, how is that possible?!"

"Old Shi, are you suggesting that Yun Zhi of the Seek Dao Sect is also an Immortal?"

Mu Baiyi tapped the table heavily with two fingers: "Quiet down, everyone quiet."

"All of you are Integration Period Cultivators, have you forgotten the most basic concept of a cultivator? When a fact occurs, what should be done is acceptance, not doubt!"

"Don’t forget, the Heavenly Court Sect has never deceived us. Since Young Sect Master Lu says it is so, then it is!"

"This is a piece of intelligence worth more than its weight in gold, known to no one else in the world but us."

"This must have been intelligence the Heavenly Court Sect intended to offer as a gesture of goodwill to us, pity that our vision was limited, not realizing their intentions until today!"

The three Vice Sect Masters hung their heads in shame.

Mu Baiyi looked solemn and brooded: "If Yun Zhi of the Seek Dao Sect is an Immortal, then the Dynasty’s strength is more terrifying than we had imagined."

"The Seek Dao Sect has an Immortal but no intention to compete with the Dynasty for power, which indicates that the Dynasty might also possess Immortals!"

The three Vice Sect Masters fell silent. If this were the case, then even if they managed to establish their Fengdu, it would not be a match for the Righteous Path.

Mu Baiyi was the calmest: "Things haven’t deteriorated to that extent. The Righteous Path has two Immortals, and the Heavenly Court Sect also has Heavenly Venerate Dou and Sect Leader Yun, two Immortals. The situation is equitable."

"We can get closer to the Heavenly Court Sect by presenting gifts to Young Sect Master Lu."

"As a disciple of Heavenly Venerate Dou, Young Sect Master Lu is certain to control the affairs of the Heavenly Court in the future. Now is the perfect time to invest!"

...

"You’re saying the Yaoyang Sect’s people want to find you?" Lu Yang looked at Meng Jingzhou holding the Yaoyang command, slightly puzzled.

The message on the Yaoyang command from Sect Master Qi to Meng Jingzhou read: Saint Heir, our sect has some enlightenment on improving the cultivation method of absorbing the power of the sun. If you’re interested, please come to Poyang City in Yuzhou State for a discussion.

"Is this to share a cultivation secret with you?" Lu Yang was even more puzzled after reading the contents on the Yaoyang command, isn’t this overture of goodwill too obvious?

"Could it be they have heard about what happened in Chunjiang City and want to ingratiate themselves with me?"

After pondering, Lu Yang thought it quite possible.

Before Lu Yang could respond, he felt the Jiuyou command in his arms stir.

He pulled it out to look.

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"What’s up?" Meng Jingzhou craned his neck to see.

Lu Yang casually spread out the Jiuyou command: "The Jiuyou Sect is seeking me out."

"...What should we do? Act separately or gather both sects together?"

Lu Yang stroked his chin: "No need to rush a reply, let’s go to Elder Brother Dai for intelligence."

With Li Haoran around, they knew a lot about the Jiuyou Sect, but they knew very little about the Yaoyang Sect.

...

Task Hall.

Dai Bufan regarded them both with a strange look.

"Are you saying, the Jiuyou Sect and the Yaoyang Sect each bribed you in private?"