Qi Xuansu laughed. “Playing poor, are you? A few wealthy families in the Central Plains could easily scrape together 1.5 million Taiping coins. Don’t tell me you can’t.”

Huangfu Ji did not answer directly. “Water supply, roads, communications, steam systems, land leveling, and sewage are all basic infrastructure for a solid foundation. It’s really not much at 75,000 Taiping coins per hectare. We have excluded labor costs to minimize expenses.

“We’re not dealing in empty talk or grand theories, just a straightforward economic calculation. Once completed, we plan to designate all 20 hectares as commercial land. Based on a conservative estimate of 450,000 Taiping coins per hectare or higher for prime locations, the total revenue won’t be less than 10 million. That would make the whole project viable.”

Qi Xuansu stood up and nodded slightly. “I’ve been to St. York. Prime land like that is indeed worth a fortune.”

Huangfu Ji stood up as well. “You see, the returns are quite promising. We just need some startup capital for now.”

Qi Xuansu spread his hands. “Brother Li Ming, you keep circling back to money. Where am I supposed to get 1.5 million Taiping coins? This mansion of mine is worth 1.45 million. My past, present, and future stipends are all tied up in this house. You might as well take it if you want.”

“You’re the one playing poor,” Huangfu Ji laughed. “Didn’t you just say that a few wealthy families could raise 1.5 million Taiping coins easily? Now, you’re suddenly broke? Besides, I’m not asking you personally. I’m asking for support from the Daoist Order.”

Qi Xuansu refused. “You know how sensitive this topic is right now. The Golden Tower Council’s vote was six to six. There’s no advantage. Support is out of the question.”

“Not a handout, a loan,” Huangfu Ji said immediately. “We really have no other choice.”

Qi Xuansu remained silent.

Huangfu Ji continued, “A loan of 1.5 million Taiping coins, using the 20 hectares as collateral. Whatever interest rate is set, we’ll pay it.”

Qi Xuansu said, “I see how it is. That 20 hectares of land exists only on paper, and you want to exchange it for 1.5 million Taiping coins? That’s taking something for nothing.”

Huangfu Ji said, “Old Qi, besides money, we should also talk about our Daoist brotherhood. We all follow the same Primordial Daoist Ancestor. There’s only one Dao between us.”

Qi Xuansu thought for a moment and said, “Alright, here’s a compromise. If the project fails, you repay the money. But if it succeeds, we’ll take 7 hectares of the land.”

Huangfu Ji pointed at Qi Xuansu. “Well, now, you’re the real ruthless profiteer. At 450,000 Taiping coins per hectare, 7 hectares would be 3.15 million Taiping coins. That’s doubling it outright. Even the harshest interest rates don’t go that far.”

Qi Xuansu laughed confidently. “Even between brothers, accounts must be kept clear. Just tell me, are you taking it or not?”

“Yes, we’ll take it,” Huangfu Ji replied without hesitation. “But I have a condition. This 20 hectares of land is only phase one. There will be phase two and phase three, and you must support those as well. Of course, we’ll still take out a loan and repay it.”

This was Huangfu Ji’s real intention. No matter how poor the Western Daoist Order was, it could still scrape together 1.5 million coins. The real issue was the second and third phases. That was where the big money lay. The first phase was essentially bait, or a gesture to draw interest. As long as the Daoist Order stepped in, how much profit was sacrificed was secondary. Even the display of “pain” was partly an act to appear weaker. If they themselves did not seem to care, the Daoist Order would care even less.

Qi Xuansu naturally saw through this, but it aligned perfectly with his philosophy of mutual development and meeting each side’s needs. Both parties would get what they wanted—a win-win situation.

So Qi Xuansu nodded in agreement. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

Although Qi Xuansu was not the head of the Shibo Hall, he now had enough influence to mobilize resources and affect decisions.

Huangfu Ji chose Qi Xuansu not because he lacked other options, but because he wanted to build his own network. The older generation’s connections were aging. Power would inevitably pass to the younger generation. Thinking long-term, it made sense to invest in younger ties.

Early the next morning, Qi Xuansu began working on this matter. Some people might not know him well, but he had many influential names to leverage. If Sage Cihang’s name did not work, he could use Sage Donghua’s or even the Heavenly Preceptor’s, or Madam Qi’s. One would surely suffice. By pushing this through, he was also quietly building his own network.

Meanwhile, Sage Donghua had begun arranging the apprenticeship ceremony. Given his status, he could have requisitioned a hall in Xuan City or Purple Mansion, but he chose not to. Instead, he selected a location in Kunlun Paradise. He chose a wide, open grassy area rather than a formal hall.

Qi Xuansu had been there once and met Wang Danqing and Wang Jiaohe.

Of course, the place was massive. What Qi Xuansu saw was only a small part, which the Ziwei Hall referred to as the Emerald Plain.

There was little need for decoration, at most a few chairs.

The key lay in the guest list.

Given the statuses of Sage Donghua and Qi Xuansu, the guests would naturally be of high standing. The threshold was very high. Sage Donghua had already sent invitations to the Three Deputy Grand Masters. Whether they attended or not was their choice, but he was fully qualified to extend the invitation without it being presumptuous.

Of course, the Three Deputy Grand Masters all declined. The Heavenly Preceptor and Earthly Preceptor were not in Jade Capital at the time, while the Imperial Preceptor was busy with official duties.

Of the remaining three Daoist Heirs, Sage Donghua was directly involved, Sage Cihang would certainly attend, and even Sage Qingwei agreed to come. Sage Qingwei was certainly magnanimous.

Among the Virtuous Great Sages, Great Sage Jiang, Great Sage Shi, and Great Sage Lan would also attend. Great Sage Lan, in particular, was always quite free.

Yao Shu, as Qi Xuansu’s former superior in the Poluo Daoist Mansion and Sage Donghua’s former subordinate in Ziwei Hall, would also attend.

Zhang Yuelu and Pei Xiaolou would come as well.

Xu Jiaorong had to stay behind at the Poluo Daoist Mansion. Otherwise, nearly all of the Poluo Daoist Mansion’s leadership would be absent. If anything happened, there would be no one in charge.

The list also included Xu Dacheng, Sun Hewu, Xu Xiaoying, Qi Jiaozheng, Zhang Jucheng, Zhang Juping, Zhang Juqi, Tantai Qiong, Shen Mingxin, Lei Xiaohuan, Shi Bingyun, Pei Xiaoyun, Ning Lingge, Ning Yuqing, Bai Yingqiong, Yao Pei, Qi Muyu, Xie Jiaofeng, Ye Qingshuang, Huangfu Ji, Zhou Jiaoxian, Su Qingbai, Spirit Guard Jia Chen, Spirit Guard Ding Chou, and many more.

These were people who had connections with Qi Xuansu. Many others, who had no direct ties to him, came purely out of respect for Sage Donghua.

The total number on the list had already exceeded 100, and all of them were high-ranking figures within the Daoist Order.

The upper circle of the Daoist Order was actually quite small. Everyone was connected in some way, as former superiors, subordinates, or colleagues, or through lineage, kinship, and friendships.

In short, they were all fellow Daoists.

Conflicts and disagreements existed, but they were rarely personal. Therefore, in matters such as weddings, funerals, childbirth, and apprenticeship, everyone showed mutual respect.

It was foreseeable that when Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu married, the occasion would be grand. Many would attend, even political rivals.

Recently, many people had already begun asking Qi Xuansu about his wedding plans.

At this time, a group from the Poluo Daoist Mansion had already set off for Jade Capital.

Yao Shu, Zhang Yuelu, Pei Xiaolou, and others were traveling on Great Sage Lan’s flying ship. Zhang Yuelu also brought Little Yin along, who was included in the guest list.

Little Yin had seen the world and was not intimidated by such occasions.

The flying ship then made stops across the Jiangnan regions to pick up others heading to Jade Capital for the ceremony.

Besides members of the Zhang family, there were also Bai Yingqiong, Lei Xiaohuan, and others.

Although the fierce winds howled and the cold was biting, it meant little to cultivators of their level. At this moment, several of them stood on the deck, while Little Yin simply sat on the railing, her legs swinging leisurely, hair fluttering in the wind, and clothes flapping noisily.

Zhang Yuelu and the other women admired the scenery while chatting casually.

Bai Yingqiong was very upset. A few days ago, she met Bai Xiaojin’s father, and the meeting ended badly. Naturally, she needed to vent her frustrations.

Tantai Qiong then asked about their relationship.

Since it was all from many years ago, Bai Yingqiong had no reservations and recounted everything in detail.

It turned out that Bai Xiaojin’s father had a former lover. For certain reasons, they separated, but emotionally, he had never let go of her. Even after he had a daughter with Bai Yingqiong, he remained entangled with his ex. Whenever she called, he would immediately go to her. As for that woman, she never married and continued to be entangled with him.

The reason Bai Yingqiong chose this man was that she herself had a troubled past, so she settled for him as a compromise.

At that time, considering their daughter was still young, Bai Yingqiong did not want to fall out with him completely. She also did not want a scandal of her fighting over a man to spread throughout the city, ruining her reputation. If so, how could she progress or become an Omniscient Sage in the future?

So Bai Yingqiong endured it and decided to have a calm discussion. She said to the man, “Can we just focus on raising our daughter in peace and stop entertaining other women?”

But the man replied, “I can’t let her go.”

In anger, Bai Yingqiong separated from him, and their daughter took her last name, Bai.

After hearing this story, Lei Xiaohuan and Tantai Qiong criticized him harshly. A scumbag like that deserved all kinds of condemnation.

Only Zhang Yuelu remained silent.

Tantai Qiong glanced at her daughter and said meaningfully, “Qing Xiao, you should learn from this example and be more careful.”

Zhang Yuelu replied frankly, “I don’t have an ex. As far as I know, Tian Yuan doesn’t either. We don’t even know what it means to have an ex or to be entangled like that. What a great loss...”

Bai Yingqiong laughed helplessly. “Qing Xiao, now you’re just showing off. How annoying!”