Chapter 316: Volume 3 Prologue – Part 1
Yeet City, Myriad Cauldron Sect
This city and the sect had become Yuan Shaoqing's property as all supervising elders surrendered to him. With several 8th-stage cultivators from the Holy Land as backers, no alchemist dared to make a fuss when Yuan Shaoqing proclaimed himself as the new sect master of Myriad Cauldron Sect.
The manor of Yuan Shaoqing, which used to be called Yuan Garden, had been renovated into a palace. The herb fields were transformed into flower gardens, serving for decoration instead of being used to grow precious medicinal herbs.
The manor, now a white gold 10-meter-tall castle, became a foundation for a new tower, which was under construction.
A humongous green crystal, the raw Chloro Element Ore, had been brought here per request of Yuan Shaoqing. It released dense wood Qi in the air, allowing alchemists and cultivators in the city to cultivate wood element.
For advanced cultivators, such as core pillar realm or stronger experts, as long as they cultivate long enough, they might be able to evolve their wood element crystal in their dantian into Chloro Element Crystal!
Everyone in the city was looking forward to seeing the completion of this Chloro Pylon Tower. Everyone in Myriad Cauldron Sect couldn't stop praising Yuan Shaoqing for his benevolence and kindness for allowing them to cultivate here for free.
Even children thought of Yuan Shaoqing as a saint!
As for the person in question, he never showed himself outside of his palace for months as he had been busy.
…
In Yuan Shaoqing's new palace, the new sect leader sat on the lone white gold throne in the reception lounge, looking at the two men, who were prostrating on the ground.
Behind Yuan Shaoqing, two stout men in dark gold plate armor stood tall, acting as the sect master's bodyguards.
On the left, Yan Liang was a boorish man with a wide bulky chest, messy black beard, and tanned skin. A long scar trekked from his left cheek to his left eye, showing a trace of his worldly experience. With 210cm in height and 350kg in weight, this giant could easily become a professional wrestler in the modern world.
On the right, the 225cm tall muscular man was Wen Chou, a promising soldier from the Holy Land's Wen Clan, was also employed by the Yuan Clan. Despite having 370 in weight, his toned muscles, hunky face, clean hairless light yellow skin, and his gentle smile had the charm of a kind big man.
Yan Liang and Wen Chou were both 8th-stage cultivators, who had already obtained soul physiques. Because of them, Yeet City and the Myriad Cauldron Sect surrendered to this Clan Lord.
A dozen elite experts also formed ranks, standing in lines with their backs facing the walls. Everyone looked at their lord, waiting for Yuan Shaoqing's instructions. Their nascent soul aura pressured the new guys, who were prostrating before the lord.
The prostrating men, Li Jue and Qiang Sui had come here to report the incidents at Red Sun City a few months ago.
However, Yuan Shaoqing had an intelligence network working under him, and he had learned about this piece of old news last month. Moreover, he knew the truth behind the incident.
"So, you've burnt the city and blamed everything on Ma Ping and Jia Shan."
Li Jue sweated profusely, "N-N-No! That's impossible! They really burnt the city and kidnapped the emperor!"
Yuan Shaoqing leaned the white gold throne. His boredom showed in his eyes and expression, "You should have known that nothing escapes my eyes. My clan's dao god is my elder sister, and her vessels are everywhere in this continent. One of the Red Sun City's cultivators has already reported to me that your men were responsible for the mass arson."
RUMBLE
The nascent soul cultivators focused their killing intent on Li Jue and Qiang Sui. They might be ambitious individuals, but they never forgave criminals with atrocious records.
Even the gold skin guy, Qiang Sui, trembling because of the domain pressure from various experts.
As for Li Jue, he coughed blood and collapsed on the ground. Even his wooden mask disintegrated to dust.
For the first time, the dual cultivator old man revealed his ugly wrinkle face. Zits, pimples, black dots, and wide pores became visible to everyone. Even his white hair wig fell off from his kappa-like head as Li Jue pulled it out by accident.
"How unsightly."
"Pfft. A perverted old man."
"Dual cultivators are just a bunch of sex-craved idiots."
The experts had already had a bad impression on Li Jue. After seeing the latter's face, they revealed their disgust.
"I'll allow you to work here as an elder trainee since your knowledge in yin and yang essence can still be useful. As for you, Qiang Sui, you are to work as an assistant elder for Guo Garden."
A nascent soul expert in plate armor stepped forward. He was still wearing a full helmet, which covered his entire face. He patted Qiang Sui's burly back muscle lightly, but the latter stumbled to the ground.
"Get up. You're working for me now."
Qiang Sui turned around and glared at the general.
Gao Lan, the Garden Master of Gao Garden, was also a late-stage nascent soul cultivator from the Holy Land. Although he was an ordinary weakling back home, here at the Aves Continent, he was considered an elite.
Many experts here were the same. They were Holy Land's outcasts, whom Yuan Shaoqing and Yuan Hua had collected. Now, they became their clan's backbone for their grand goal.
Qiang Sui and Li Jue were dragged away from Yuan Shaoqing's castle.
After the guests had left, Yuan Shaoqing took out his J-Phone and called someone.
A few seconds later, the line was picked up.
[Ah, Lord Yuan! To think that you contact me this early after we last met. What could this humble man do for you?]
Yuan Shaoqing squinted his brows. He disliked the young man on the phone, but he didn't want to offend him and his family.
"Young master Liu, I have a proposition for you."
[I'm all ears!]
"Recently, there's an odd organization at the northwest of Aves Continent. I would like to hire you and your men to investigate this organization. They seem to have rebuilt Siren City from scratch, so I would like you to check it."
[What a coincidence. I happen to be on a sightseeing trip on this continent as well. Well, how much can you give me?]
"… 10,000 essence cores for the identities of every people in the rumored Siren City. I want to know their current strength, manpower, and the source of their mysterious Qi in the area."
[Please, Lord Yuan. Are you looking down on me because I'm a country bumpkin in your continent? Even Administrator Meng paid me ten 1st-grade soul stones so that he could make me babysit a resurrected kid for a few months.]
The generals in Yuan Shaoqing's room glared at the phone in anger as this person in the line had extorted their lord.
Yuan Shaoqing raised his hand to calm his subordinates. Then, he continued to negotiate, "How much do you want?"
[My brothers told me that they had sensed a Dao Soul Realm expert in the area that you mentioned. Since this job can be potentially dangerous, I will have to shamelessly ask you for soul stones instead of essence cores.]
Wen Chou and Yan Liang raised their eyebrows as they found the intel interesting. Even Yuan Shaoqing's face darkened as the new information revealed a new potential threat.
"How many 8th-stage experts are there?"
[So far, we've sensed one. Well, if you agree to our terms, we might find out more.]
"…"
Yuan Shaoqing muted the phone and looked at his treasury officer, who stood in lines along with other officers.
"Tian Feng."
A scholar brown robes stepped forward and bowed to his lord. The beardless man appeared to be in his early 30s. His long black hair had been tied into a topknot and covered by tall headwear like an ancient Chinese cultured man.
Despite looking neat and harmless, Tian Feng was another late-stage nascent soul expert. His presence wasn't weaker than everybody in the palace.
"Lady Yuan Hua has shipped 90 1st-grade soul stones to us. However, the world guardian has already converted them into 90 million essence cores. Combining with our current treasury, we have 450 million essence cores to spend."
"What about our upkeep?"
"This number has included the 100 years worth of our clan's upkeep, including the pay for mercenaries and the potential inflation."
The officers and generals in the room nodded in approval as their lord's wealth was unrivaled. Only the Holy Land's Great Clans or immortals could compete with his status.
Yuan Shaoqing unmuted his phone and told the agent his offer.
"I don't have soul stones, but I'll pay you a million essence cores."
[Make it five or no deal.]
"Two million. That's my entire treasury."
[How disappointing. Well, that's a deal. Ship them to the location in the text. Once I receive the payment in full, I'll investigate that city for you.]
"Alright."
Yuan Shaoqing glanced at Tian Feng, who gave his lord a thumb up, praising him for the good bargaining skill. The latter also texted his subordinates to prepare the essence cores for the job right away.
…
After Yuan Shaoqing had finished talking to the [Young Master Liu], he started making calls to other clan lords and sect masters.
Jiangdong White Tiger Sect
Mount Hua Sword Sect
Hengshan Heavenly Spear Sect
Flower Edict House
Yuan Shaoqing was a busy man. He made different calls and told them the same things.
"Ma Ping and Jia Shan have turned rogues. They have burnt Red Sun City, plundered the Imperial Clan's treasury, kidnapped the young emperor, and stolen the Liu Clan's greatest heirloom, an immortal-grade artifact! One of their allies is an 8th-stage cultivator, and he has amassed a large army of outlaws. Rumor said that evil demon worshipers, the Huangjin Sect, are also in league with these people! We need your strength to vanquish these evildoers and restore the peace for the Aves Continent!"
After inciting these orthodox organizations, Yuan Shaoqing also provoked the evil sects with a different rumor.
Silver Phoenix Sect, Poison Pavilion, Mountain Goose Sect, and Twilight Hunter Guild got a different version.
"Ma Ping and Jia Shan have killed Liu Bian and obtained the necromancy technique. I know that the relationship between us, demons and humans, is not favorable. Let's forget our differences and join forces against these fools before they can turn this continent into a playground for the undead! You can keep whatever you kill or take from Siren City."
Yuan Shaoqing assembled a grand alliance against a new organization without hesitation. After all, he had received a direct order from his sister to avenge her vessel.
'Dear, oh dear. What a bossy elder sister. Your vessel is just so weak that he fell because of a brat and a vampire. You should have gathered your men and attacked them at the same time! Use your number advantage, you foolish girl!'
Every time Yuan Shaoqing thought of Yuan Hua, he lamented for his sister's foolishness. Still, he never complained to Yuan Hua directly since she had been supplying his clan with riches and artifacts from immortal realms.
'Dear, oh dear. After cleaning up this mess, I should recapture Ju Shoufen and feed her the potion of youth. Her natural beauty used to be unrivaled under heaven. Too bad that I accidentally killed her daughter by mistake. Otherwise, I could have made her mine…'
Yuan Shaoqing's eyes were burning with a passion. He still longed for the adorable woman, who was his first love.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel