A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 45: Chapter 43: Who Are You?

Finally, Zhou Chao came to his senses and asked in confusion, ”But my family is in decline now, with little surplus annually. How can a two percent dividend compare to an annual salary of eight thousand spirit stones?”

Master Xuan Ji couldn’t help but interject, ”You blockhead, one is a salaried worker, while the other owns assets. How can they be the same? Salary can disappear at any time, but assets like spirit veins and spirit fields never depreciate, and dividends never stop. If he doesn’t want it anymore, he can sell it to someone else or exchange it back for spirit stones five years later. Besides, the dividends are small now. If we bring in a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, expand and strengthen, will we still fear not making money?”

Zhou Chao’s eyes grew brighter, and Lu Qian continued, ”You don’t need to worry about your family’s impending disaster and no Feathered Scholar willing to invest. Your assets remain intact. As long as you find two Feathered Scholars to invest, your family’s crisis will be resolved; the rights of the investing Feathered Scholars will be protected in return—this is mutual benefit. As long as you explain these principles clearly, Feathered Scholars will be willing to join forces, invest, and build a future together.”

”Foundation Establishment Feathered Scholars provide strength, and the Zhou family gives them shares—this is called labor investment. If two shares aren’t enough, then five shares; if five shares aren’t enough, then ten shares will surely suffice.” Pausing for a moment, Lu Qian added, ”In the worst-case scenario, you can promise that possessing more than ten shares allows one to participate in Zhou family decisions. But this is a powerful measure, only to be used when there’s absolutely no other choice.”

The more Zhou Chao pondered this, the more he felt this method was extraordinarily ingenious, and in practical application, it could yield many flexible variations, leaving him deeply impressed.

He looked at Lu Qian, confident and composed, and curiously asked, ”If you were in the same position, Fellow Daoist Lu, would you also choose to invite Foundation Establishment Feathered Scholars to invest at Yuqing Mountain?”

Unexpectedly, Lu Qian shook his head, ”No, I would choose another method, one that Fellow Daoist Zhou might not be able to learn.”

Zhou Chao straightened up, ”Why do you say that?”

Lu Qian beckoned Qingfeng to spread out a map, which was a new map purchased from Meihua Square, clearly depicting several counties within a radius of three thousand miles.

”Fellow Daoist Zhou, take a look, Zhongming County is here, Yuqing Mountain is here.” Lu Qian pointed to the central area of Zhongming County and then nearby, ”The Xuanguang Sect’s mountain gate overseeing Zhongming County is actually only three hundred miles away from Yuqing Mountain.”

Zhou Chao nodded. Lu Qian drew a circle around Zhongming County, ”Xuanguang Sect is so belligerent; the surrounding Golden Core sects are its enemies. And its enemies would certainly be happy to plant a dark chess piece near the Xuanguang Sect’s mountain gate.”

Zhou Chao was taken aback, a chill rising up his spine.

Lu Qian continued, ”For instance, the Sanshan County Liyuan Sect nearby, if I secretly pledged allegiance to them, they would surely welcome me. To ensure this dark piece can make a move at critical moments, they will certainly provide manpower and money; what does it matter against a mere Chaosheng Sect?”

Master Xuan Ji and Jiang Qingfeng stared at the map, dumbfounded.

Although Lu Qian had steadily expanded their understanding, it was only now that they realized Lu Qian’s thinking far surpassed their imagination. He seemed like a player overlooking a chessboard, always able to cut through heavy fog and make a masterful move in dire scenarios.

Zhou Chao stared intently at Lu Qian, feeling a chill run through him.

Madness! Absolute madness!

A mere Qi Cultivator actually scheming against a Golden Core Sect! And the plan sounds truly tempting!

No, no, Zhou Family’s five generations of effort cannot be risked.

In a quiet moment, Lu Qian suddenly chuckled, ”It’s merely a jest, no need for you to take it seriously. Such a method requires too much consideration, akin to drinking poison to quench thirst; a little carelessness, and one becomes a puppet of another Golden Core Sect.”

Zhou Chao wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead, memories since meeting Lu Qian surged in his heart. Suddenly, he felt prompted and loudly asked, ”Fellow Daoist Lu, with your extraordinary insights and unmatched strategy, the grand plans you speak of aren’t something a mere loose cultivator could possess. Who exactly are you?”

Lu Qian contemplated for a moment, glanced around, and with a swift motion, removed the mask from his face.

The young man revealed had high arched brows, eyes bright as stars, and a warm smile.

Jiang Qingfeng understood the significance, unable to suppress her excitement.

She stepped beside Lu Qian and declared loudly, ”This is none other than the Yunshan Sect Leader!”

Hearing this, Master Xuan Ji trembled all over, eyes unfocused, murmuring, ”So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is...”

Zhou Chao, shocked by the news, stood up and bowed, ”I didn’t realize I was facing a sect leader, my apologies, my apologies.”

Lu Qian smiled and returned the gesture, saying ”Please,” and the two sat down again.

Zhou Chao hurriedly asked, ”Where does Sect Leader Lu come from? And why borrow my family’s spirit vein?”

Jiang Qingfeng felt a bit tense as she listened to Lu Qian calmly explain, ”My sect’s mountain gate is far away in Qingzhou, a distance of ten thousand miles from here. I am just passing through Meihua Square, intending to ride the Wind-Controlling Beast to Ningzhou Haidong County to visit my elder from the Danxia Sect, Master Chi Yu.”

Upon hearing that Lu Qian had a Golden Core Master elder, Zhou Chao felt a pang of envy. Lu Qian continued, ”As for borrowing a spirit vein, as mentioned earlier, I discovered an opportunity at Meihua Square and planned to find a nearby base, making it convenient for my sect to send disciples over for tasks. Fellow Daoist Zhou need not worry; it’s not like I’ll abandon my sect’s mountain gate to relocate here entirely.”

With this, Zhou Chao felt relieved. The two engaged in a bit of small talk and began discussing sect affairs, with Lu Qian speaking articulately, leaving Zhou Chao deeply impressed and free of any suspicion in his mind.

He thought, although Lu Qian’s cultivation isn’t high, his intelligence is exceptional, surely not an ordinary individual—perhaps he’s even the descendant nurtured by the Golden Core Master. And that Yunshan Sect must be a chess piece set down by the Golden Core Master a myriad miles away.