Chapter 392: Chapter 306: The Past is Like Smoke
"From primal Chaos, the pure and turbid first divided; from the Supreme Ultimate, the two polarities and four phenomena were derived..."
Inside the Quiet Chamber, Fang Qingyuan’s brow suddenly furrowed. With a muffled grunt, he opened his eyes. His gaze was sharp, yet he let out a sigh.
"The Infinite Evolution Path... its concept is far too lofty. Even with the inherited wisdom from five thousand years of civilization in my past life, trying to visualize even a sliver of its essence is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. So difficult."
After sighing, Fang Qingyuan dispersed the chaotic visualization from his mind. Ever since he had decided to walk the Infinite Evolution Path, he had been periodically observing the Immortal Mansion. He combined these observations with the various cultural legacies absorbed from his past life, attempting to formulate his own treatise on the Great Path.
However, his progress was far from satisfactory. It was because his own cultivation level was still too low. His efforts were nothing more than empty theorizing, and he found it difficult to use his divine soul to sketch out the scene of creation’s dawn. He would often run out of spiritual strength and be unable to sustain the visualization right after picturing the initial chaos.
After dispersing the visualization, Fang Qingyuan rested for a moment to recover his depleted divine soul before standing up. He walked out to his study and saw seven or eight letters lying neatly arranged on the desk.
These letters had all been sent by Mao Cheng, the Vice Sect Leader. Some reported on various matters within the sect, both large and small, while others contained intelligence gathered from the outside world. The letters were delivered every ten days. If Fang Qingyuan was in seclusion and missed them, they would simply accumulate until he emerged to deal with them all at once.
Fang Qingyuan picked up the letters and began to read them one by one. They contained nothing of serious consequence. Mao Cheng handled all the minor issues himself; only truly major events warranted Fang Qingyuan’s personal intervention.
Tossing the letters aside, Fang Qingyuan leaned back in his chair, mulling over the news. Nearly a year had passed since they had suppressed the Zhang Family and opened the trade route from the Qingyuan Sect to the Barbaric Border. In that time, the sect’s income had indeed increased considerably compared to previous years.
The sect had dispatched over a dozen disciples to establish an outpost at the Barbaric Border. On one hand, they acquired items from Loose Cultivators seeking their fortune in the Barbaric Wilderness; on the other, they ran various small businesses to serve these Gold Seekers. By the end of the year, after balancing the books, they were already turning a profit.
All sorts of supplies were transported in a continuous stream by mortal caravans from the Qingyuan Sect to the outpost at the Barbaric Border. The goods were sold, and the Spirit Stones earned were then used to purchase even more supplies. This cycle generated a significant profit margin.
Since this was only the first year, the profits were not yet substantial. But after another two years, once their reputation was established and their relationships smoothed out, the operation would be on the right track and would earn even more.
However, these profits paled in comparison to what Fang Qingyuan had paid out of his own pocket for hired muscle, making it seem like a poor investment. It would take at least fifteen years of net profit just to cover that initial cost. But Fang Qingyuan had no intention of recording that expense on the Qingyuan Sect’s books. For one, the Qingyuan Sect needed funds to grow. For another, if anyone investigated in the future, it would leave a trail that could be used against them.
Having finished his calculations about profits and development, Fang Qingyuan summoned the disciple on guard duty outside his door. The disciple was young, only about ten years old. Upon entering the study, he immediately prostrated himself on the floor.
"Greetings, Old Ancestor. What are your orders?"
Fang Qingyuan looked at the child, searching his memory for a moment before asking:
"You’re one of the Gu Family’s children, aren’t you? Is it your turn on duty today?"
The child boldly raised his head, looked at Fang Qingyuan, and replied,
"Yes, it is my turn on duty today. My father is Gu Lin, and my name is Gu Changfeng."
Looking at the boy’s youthful face, which bore a strong resemblance to his father’s, Fang Qingyuan recalled Gu Lin, who had followed him to pioneer this land years ago. Back then, there had been over a dozen bachelors. Not long after arriving, they had all put down roots and had many children. This boy before him happened to possess a Spirit Root, so he had been assigned to serve Fang Qingyuan. The hope was that he would become a familiar face; perhaps if Fang Qingyuan was in a good mood, he might casually toss a small trinket his way.
"You’re a sturdy-looking lad, just like your father. Here, take this little trinket to play with. Also, go and summon Martial Ancestor Wanqin for me."
Fang Qingyuan casually retrieved a First-tier Small Magical Artifact from his storage bag and placed it in Gu Changfeng’s hands. Seeing the boy’s pure, unadulterated joy, Fang Qingyuan’s own spirits were lifted, and much of the lingering frustration from his failed visualization dissipated.
Children like Gu Changfeng represented the third generation of the Qingyuan Sect. The first generation was, of course, Fang Qingyuan and Jiang Wanqin. The second was comprised of the original families who had followed them, along with war orphans from the Loose Cultivator rebellion. As for the third generation, a small portion were the children of the second, but the majority were contributed by the mortal families at the foot of the mountain.
These third-generation members were generally in their teens, with cultivation at only the first or second level of Qi Cultivation. They were not yet capable of shouldering any major responsibilities.
’A new generation every twenty years. The cycle of succession for low-level cultivators is hardly different from that of the mortals below. If you can’t reach Foundation Establishment, what’s the use of living an extra twenty or thirty years?’
A quarter of an hour later, Jiang Wanqin arrived with graceful poise. Fang Qingyuan invited her to sit down before pulling a single letter from the pile and handing it to her.
Jiang Wanqin opened the letter and read it in silence. When she finished, her face was etched with deep thought.
"Jiang Kui wants you to make a trip to Yuanling Mountain, but she didn’t say why. What are your thoughts?"
Fang Qingyuan spoke calmly, though he watched Jiang Wanqin from the corner of his eye. Nearly twenty years had passed, and his connection to Jiang Kui had faded even more. With her now summoning Jiang Wanqin for no stated reason, Fang Qingyuan did not harbor any positive expectations.
Jiang Wanqin hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
"She is my master, after all. Since she has summoned me, I must go. But this time, I will not be so easily deceived."
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