An unseasonable autumn rain began to fall. Yinbao’s massive form looked even more colossal amidst the drizzle. The fine mist kicked up by the rain partially veiled Yinbao’s body, but it also added a touch of mystery to its presence.

Fang Qingyuan sat cross-legged atop Yinbao’s head. When the fine rain reached him, it was automatically repelled by the Spiritual Power surrounding Yinbao’s body, without him needing to act.

Yinbao was a Water Spirit Beast, born with a slight instinct for controlling water. For Yinbao, this weather was undoubtedly the most comfortable.

At a height of a thousand zhang, Fang Qingyuan gazed forward. A brilliantly lit Marketplace rapidly came into view, growing closer and closer.

This was Nine Stars Square, located next to the mountain gate of the Lingliang Sect. It was a Marketplace jointly established by nine Golden Core Cultivators. Because its backers were all new Sealed Sects founded over the past three generations, it was very secure.

If one were to look down from a height of several hundred thousand zhang, following the Lingliang Sect where Nine Stars Square was located, one would see the nine sects on this new territory looking like a string of pearls, linked together, winding into a line that separated the Land Realm of the Spirit Wood Alliance and the Pill Alliance.

The territories of the nine Golden Core Sects were all connected, roughly forming an inverted V-shape, perfectly separating the Spirit Wood Alliance, the Pill Alliance, and Awakening Lion Valley, ensuring none of them bordered each other.

Awakening Lion Valley, after Silver Elephant Mountain, was another territory occupied by a Divinity Transformation Ancient Beast. After eliminating the silver-white matriarch elephant, if another pioneering war were to be waged, Awakening Lion Valley would be the next candidate.

The Lingliang Sect was at the very center of the nine sects, right at the junction of the inverted V-shaped territory. Therefore, a public area was established here, creating Nine Stars Square—a place that connected to Awakening Lion Valley to the south, the Pill Alliance to the east, and the Spirit Wood Alliance to the northwest, surrounded by more than a dozen powers of varying sizes.

When Yinbao arrived outside Nine Stars Square, it drew a great many envious gazes. A Foundation Establishment Stage Flying Manta Ray was, without a doubt, an extremely impressive sight in this Land Realm.

It was just like a multi-million dollar luxury car from his previous life; owning one was a clear display of wealth and status.

Sure enough, because of Yinbao, a Qi Refining servant from the Nine Stars Square docks ignored the other arriving Cultivators and came straight to Fang Qingyuan, greeting him obsequiously:

"Elder, may I ask for your name?"

Fang Qingyuan flew down from Yinbao, landing before the servant, and said:

"Fang Qingyuan, Sect Leader of the Qingyuan Sect."

The servant’s face showed a flash of feigned recognition, but Fang Qingyuan knew he had never heard of it; his sect had been established for less than a month.

But that didn’t stop the servant from putting on an expression of awe and admiration.

"Sect Leader Fang, what arrangements should be made for your Transport Beast?"

"One hundred Pig Fish, serve it well with Spirit Fruits and Spirit Water, and arrange for a few Servants to give my old partner a good scrub."

Fang Qingyuan casually took out two or three Middle-grade Spirit Stones and tossed them to the servant. Upon receiving the Spirit Stones, the servant’s face lit up with a grin. He immediately called for people to carry out Fang Qingyuan’s instructions.

Leaving Yinbao there to be pampered, Fang Qingyuan strode inside.

Although the Nine-star Marketplace was newly built, with the joint funding of nine sects, it had leaped to become the largest gathering place for Cultivators in the new territory.

Today, it housed several thousand Cultivators, and the number of mortal Servants who made a living from the Marketplace was close to thirty or forty thousand. Moreover, this wasn’t even its busiest time. In the decades to come, it was undoubtedly destined to become the undisputed new center of wealth on White Mountain.

Fang Qingyuan had built a marketplace before, so he knew just how profitable one could be. He looked at the scene before him, practically drooling with envy.

’If I could get just a ten percent share of Nine Stars Square, the Qingyuan Sect wouldn’t have to worry for the next several hundred years.’

Unfortunately, all the shares of Nine Stars Square had already been carved up by the nine Golden Core Sects, as well as the Pill Alliance and the Spirit Wood Alliance. There was no room for outsiders to interfere.

’Besides, even if they were to auction off some of the shares, it’s not something I could touch. Without a Golden Core Cultivation, I wouldn’t even have a seat at the table.’

He feared that even the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect lacked the ability to take a share. After all, Fang Qingyuan knew that Lechuan was very poor at the moment.

With a heart full of envy, Fang Qingyuan walked into the marketplace’s auction house. There, he saw the Sect Leader of the Lingliang Sect, Xiao Xuan.

He was an old man with graying hair and a beard. He wore a jade belt and a tall hat, carried an extraordinary air, and his cultivation was at the late-stage Golden Core.

Nine Stars Square was new, and thousands of Cultivators of unknown origin had gathered in the vicinity. Thus, Xiao Xuan was personally overseeing the auction house to maintain order.

On White Mountain, as long as no Nascent Soul emerged, late-stage Golden Core cultivators represented the pinnacle of combat strength. His presence was a stabilizing force, like the mythical needle that calmed the seas.

Fang Qingyuan wasn’t familiar with Xiao Xuan, but thinking of his Qingyuan Sect’s future development, he knew it was best to form a good relationship if he wanted to make his way deep within White Mountain.

So, Fang Qingyuan put on a smile and walked over to Xiao Xuan.

But before he could get close, he was stopped by a disciple attending to Xiao Xuan.

"Who goes there? Do not disturb the Ancestor. Retreat at once."

Fang Qingyuan craned his neck and shouted:

"Fang Qingyuan of the Qingyuan Sect wishes to pay his respects to Sect Leader Xiao! This junior has a few words for Sect Leader Xiao."

"Qingyuan Sect? Never heard of it. Get lost."

Being shooed away, Fang Qingyuan paid it no mind and continued to shout:

"Sect Leader Xiao, please understand! This junior hails from the Beast Taming Sect and has also received a land grant!"

Hearing this, Xiao Xuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, finally opened them and looked at Fang Qingyuan.

"So, it is a great disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. Xiaowen, let him come over."

Having received Xiao Xuan’s command, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator who had blocked Fang Qingyuan resentfully stepped aside.

Fang Qingyuan glanced at him, then leisurely strolled before Xiao Xuan and bowed in salute.

"This junior, Fang Qingyuan, hails from the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect. I later followed my esteemed master to make a living on White Mountain. A few days ago, I left the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect to establish the Qingyuan Sect. I ask for Elder Xiao’s guidance in the days to come."

A smile appeared on Xiao Xuan’s face. Beast Taming Sect Members were always haughty, so someone as courteous as Fang Qingyuan was a rare sight. Moreover, from his words, it sounded like his status was not low.

"Lechuan, the Sect Leader of the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect, is your esteemed master?"

"Indeed. This junior is the Music Master’s Closed-door Disciple."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuan stood up and returned the salute to Fang Qingyuan.

"Sect Leader Fang, please sit. As far as I know, among the sects founded during this pioneering war, those established by someone at the Foundation Establishment cultivation level are few and far between—even fewer than sects established by Golden Core Cultivators. For Sect Leader Fang to be the head of a sect at such a young age, you are truly a heroic youth."

Hearing Xiao Xuan’s praise, Fang Qingyuan said humbly:

"It is all thanks to my esteemed master’s support and the backing of my original sect. Otherwise, with this junior’s ability alone, I could never have accumulated so many merit points. Furthermore, this junior’s sect is located in the northeast, a poor and remote area with few resources. This junior is still worrying about how to make a living in the future."

The location of the former Celestial Eagle Mountain was indeed remote. Otherwise, a dignified Third-Order Lower Grade Spirit Land wouldn’t have been worth only 370,000 merit points. The Third-rank top-grade spiritual land where Xiao Xuan was located was worth over two million merit points. Though both were Tier Three Spirit Lands, the difference was enormous.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries. Fang Qingyuan knew that Xiao Xuan was only being so courteous because of his background, so he steered the conversation in that direction:

"This junior dares to ask Sect Leader Xiao for a favor. This junior has a Flying Manta Ray that is massive and capable of hauling heavy loads. Nine Stars Square is not exactly close to this junior’s sect, so this junior was wondering if it would be possible to apply for an exclusive route, to obtain the monopoly on transport between Nine Stars Square and the Qingyuan Sect?"

Nine Stars Square was right near Xiao Xuan’s sect. As the local host, Xiao Xuan had a great deal of say in Nine Stars Square. As long as he gave the word, the matter would be more or less settled.

A dedicated transport route, if he could maintain it, would be enough for the Qingyuan Sect to get by. Fang Qingyuan’s demands weren’t high; he just wanted to find some business to start with, lest they drain their reserves by sitting idle.

Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s request, Xiao Xuan pondered for a moment before saying:

"A small matter. Xiaowen, go inform the people below that from now on, for any beast-ships arriving from the northeast, we will only recognize those of the Qingyuan Sect."

The late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, whom Xiao Xuan had called Xiaowen, appeared to be Xiao Xuan’s Direct Disciple. He answered in affirmation, indicating that he understood.

Just a few flattering words had secured him a monopoly on a beast-ship route. Fang Qingyuan was overjoyed. It reminded him of how he had obtained the route from Black River Square to Celestial Gate Mountain back then without spending many Spirit Stones. The scene today was so similar to that time.

After settling the matter, Fang Qingyuan offered a few more pleasantries before tactfully taking his leave. After he left, Xiaowen asked in confusion:

"Master, why did you let that kid off so easy?"

Xiao Xuan chuckled and said:

"We are all new sects that received land grants; it’s only right that we look out for each other. Besides, the Qingyuan Sect is not some upstart with no background. Fostering a good relationship with him will benefit us in the future. Although Fang Qingyuan has left the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect, it’s not like their connection is severed. Who knows, there might come a day when we need to ask him for a favor."

"Him? I doubt it."

"You... you still haven’t changed that flaw of yours. You need to be more open-minded and look at the bigger picture. He’s a Core Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, yet he was willing to go out and struggle on his own, even humbling himself to get by. Who are you to look down on him?"

Xiao Xuan lightly chided his disciple, then closed his eyes to rest again. He didn’t give the matter with Fang Qingyuan much more thought.

....

"A Third-tier Lower Grade Array, the Desolate Ancient Evil Suppression Array! This array can restrain most Evil Demon Cultivators and has endless wondrous uses! Deep within White Mountain, it’s an excellent Spirit Array for protecting your sect! The starting price is seven hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones, with each bid increment no less than ten top-grade stones! Any interested fellow Daoists? Anyone?"

On the auction stage, a Foundation Establishment Practitioner was enthusiastically making his pitch, but the crowd below reacted coolly, showing none of the enthusiasm they had for the previous item.

Fang Qingyuan’s divine sense twitched, and he overheard several Cultivators in red Daoist Robes discussing nearby:

"Now that the Great Zhou Academy has swept the Evil Demon Cultivators clean, who would still want this array? It might have been worth something before the pioneering war, but trying to sell it now is just asking for it to be stuck in your hands."

"I remember this array being the Mountain Protection Array of some family in the Spirit Wood Alliance, right? How was it dismantled and put up for sale just like that?"

"The Spirit Wood Alliance’s territory no longer borders the Barbaric Wilderness. The nine Sealed Sects and the Pill Alliance are in the way. This array is obsolete for them. If they don’t replace it, are they supposed to wait for the Evil Demons to break through the territories of the Pill Alliance and the nine sects from the Barbaric Wilderness before attacking their home?"

Hearing these whispered analyses, Fang Qingyuan’s heart stirred. His Qingyuan Sect was in a remote location. Although it didn’t directly border the Barbaric Wilderness, it was only a few hundred li away. This Array suited his needs perfectly.

The most crucial point was that it was cheap! Only seven hundred top-grade stones, whereas any other Third-tier Array would go for over a thousand.

Thinking of this, Fang Qingyuan called out clearly:

"I bid seven hundred top-grade!"

"Congratulations to this fellow Daoist! Sold!"

After paying the Spirit Stones, Fang Qingyuan received several storage bags. Inside were all the components for the Desolate Ancient Evil Suppression Array: Command Flags, Talisman Discs, foundation stones, Beast-Taming Stone Statues, and more. It was a full load; it took three five-sided storage bags just to fit everything.

Having bought the Array he wanted, Fang Qingyuan wasn’t very interested in the remaining items. When the auction ended, he retrieved Yinbao, who was humming contentedly from being pampered, and flew quickly back to the Qingyuan Sect, bathed in the drizzling rain.