Dao of Money

Zi Han’s steps were quiet as he moved along a narrow dirt path.

The forest was calm, eerily calm in this area and no one dared to walk through it. Sunlight peeked down through the trees, creating a patchwork of light and shadow that covered the ground.

On his back, he carried a sturdy bow—not because he expected trouble, but because years of guarding the village had taught him to always be prepared.

The path sloped upward, leading to a small hill that overlooked the forest. Zi Han didn’t hurry. He knew what he would find at the top. As he climbed, the hill’s crest came into view, and there, lying in the dappled sunlight, was the massive form of Little Yuze.

The wolf was resting, its dark obsidian fur shining. Its chest rose and fell slowly, the rhythm steady but marked by the strain of healing wounds. Even now, it bore the marks around its chest and throat from the fight with that cultivator, Chen Ren.

Beside the wolf, leaning casually against its side, was Zi Wen. His older brother sat with his knees drawn up, arms draped loosely over them as he gazed at the sky above. His face carried that familiar, faraway look, the one Zi Han had seen countless times before. It was as if Zi Wen’s body was here, but his mind was somewhere else entirely.

Zi Han didn’t call out to him. He knew better. Instead, he kept walking, his footsteps crunching faintly on the scattered leaves and twigs. He only stopped when he was a few paces away.

Finally, Zi Wen stirred, his sharp eyes flicking toward Zi Han as if snapping back to reality. He straightened slightly, one hand brushing against Little Yuze’s fur.

“Is it lunch already?” Zi Wen asked casually, as though he hadn’t just spent hours daydreaming on top of a hill.

Zi Han shook his head. “No. It’s still hours away.”“I thought so.” Zi Wen stretched, rolling his shoulders and shifting his weight. He glanced briefly at the bow on Zi Han’s back before looking back up at the sky. “For a moment, I was worried I’d wasted half the day and didn’t even catch anything worthwhile.” He paused, then turned his eyes back to Zi Han. “So, why are you here?”

Zi Han crossed his arms and met his brother’s gaze. “Do you really not remember? I told you last night—it’s time to go.”

Zi Wen frowned, his expression darkening. “I’ve already told you my answer. I’m not applying to another sect.” He leaned back against the wolf’s side, shaking his head. “You don’t understand, Zi Han. You’re young. These sects only care about spirit roots, background, and what you can offer them. They’re selfish. And if you can’t meet their standards, they’ll toss you aside like garbage.” His voice hardened, his words laced with bitterness.

Zi Han sighed, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. “First of all, I’m in my late twenties. I’m not that young. Second, you’ve been saying the same thing every time this comes up. And third, the village chief said this is different. Young Master Chen Ren specifically asked for us—for you—to be there.”

Zi Wen snorted. “Different how? That cultivator is only interested in Little Yuze. Nothing else.”

Zi Han shrugged, glancing at the wolf, which let out a low grunt, almost as if agreeing with Zi Wen’s words. “Maybe. Little Yuze is special enough to draw attention. But you know as well as I do that Chen Ren didn’t kill us. Any other cultivator would’ve done it without hesitation.”

Zi Wen didn’t respond immediately. His frown deepened, his gaze shifting to the wolf at his side, whose teal eyes remained closed in rest. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. He sighed. “Yeah, I do. But—”

Zi Han cut him off this time. “Not only that, he killed the locusts, Brother Wen. Nothing we tried worked against them. Our traps, our fires—none of it made a difference. But in less than a week, Chen Ren wiped them out. And not just that, he let the village chief harvest the poison. Chief Muyang traded it with nearby villages that were struggling with those nests, and you know how much it helped everyone.” Zi Han stepped closer, his voice quieter but more pointed. “He didn’t ask for anything in return. No payment. No tribute. And he wasn’t sent by a sect to do it either. He did it because he wanted to help us.”

Zi Wen hesitated, his lips pressed into a thin line as he looked down at his hands. For a moment, the only sound was the soft breeze rustling through the trees. He looked as if he was deep in thought, considering everything that has happened so far. “So, what are you saying? That he’s different from the others? That he’s not like the usual cultivators?”

“Yes,” Zi Han said and his eyes steady as they met his brother’s. “And we should give him a chance. I know you don’t like your current life. You have never enjoyed being just a hunter.”

Zi Wen scoffed lightly and shook his head. “You think I don’t know what you’re doing, Zi Han? You’re trying to say I’m unhappy. But you’re wrong. My life is peaceful—spending time with Little Yuze, hunting when I need to. What more do I need?”

Zi Han took a step closer and crouched down.

“Maybe you have had enough peace, brother. I know you. You’ve never been content with just this. You’re not happy. You’ve always had ambition—you just buried it under all this talk of peace. And you’re not the only one.” He took a breath. “I have ambitions too, Brother Wen. I’ve just never talked about them. I don’t want to spend my entire life as the guard of this village. I want to try for something bigger, and this might be our chance.”

Zi Wen stared at him.

“I’m going, brother. Even without spirit roots, I’ll try. If they’re taking mortals, then maybe, just maybe, I’ll find a place there. You’re free to stay, but I hope you won’t.”

With that, Zi Han turned, his steps slow as he made his way back down the hill. Although he knew he couldn’t change his brother’s heart, a part of him clinged onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, Zi Wen would listen to him. But he’d been wrong, even if he’d said everything he wanted to.

Therefore, he kept walking.

The path he’d come from seemed longer now. He sighed. But before he had gone far, he heard the sound of his brother’s voice calling out.

“Wait, Zi Han!” Zi Han stopped and turned around. His brother was already on his feet, shrugging the dust off of his pants and he hesitantly looked up. “I’m… coming with you.”

Zi Han’s lips widened at that. “Then hurry. I heard a lot of people are already gathering there.”

Zi Wen gave a faint grunt, glancing back at Little Yuze as if seeking some silent reassurance before taking a step forward. The wolf got up with him.

Together, the two brothers and Little Yuze started walking down the hill.

***

Chen Ren stood on the wooden balcony of one of the buildings he owned, his arms crossed as he surveyed the crowd gathered below. The sight before him was more overwhelming than he had expected. Over two hundred people had shown up, their voices blending into a sea of chatter and excitement that echoed across the courtyard.

The crowd was diverse—young parents with their children, curious villagers, and even the odd elder, all gathered for one reason: the chance to test their aptitude for cultivation.

The majority of the crowd he saw were teenagers, some barely in their early teens, standing nervously beside their parents. Chen Ren noted the hopeful gleam in their eyes and the way their parents hovered protectively, their expressions a mix of pride and anxiety.

In the Kalian Empire, the process of the aptitude test hadn’t been the easiest to get done. For that, they’d needed a root stone; a tool that was known to detect spirit roots. When touched, it would light up in response to the presence of spirit roots within a person, and the intensity of the glow would indicate the strength of those roots.

It was a simple yet effective method, but one rarely accessible to the average villager.

Aptitude tests were conducted only once every three years in designated cities or sect strongholds, and the cost and journey involved deterred many families from participating. The odds weren’t in their favor either—only one in a hundred people might possess spirit roots. For most, the journey wasn’t worth the risk of crushing disappointment.

Moreover, only guardian sects and a few established ones had the required capital to get a root stone. For the majority of sects, they didn’t have the resources to conduct an aptitude test and could only take in the scraps of the bigger sects. Fortunately, he had no need for such a stone with Yalan’s presence.

Chen Ren knew he was making a bold move by hosting this test here, in a place where no sect had ever bothered to hold such an event. But he also knew the potential it held—not just for the people gathered here, but for himself.

This wasn’t merely an act of charity or goodwill. After today, one of his most pressing problems would be solved: the lack of manpower for both his business and his budding sect.

As he leaned forward slightly, scanning the crowd, he felt the kind of energy that he could use to his advantage, but first, he needed to bring some order to the chaos. He walked around, descending the stairs and reached the front of the crowd, who’d big smiles plastered on their faces.

Taking a deep breath, he raised his voice. “Everyone, please calm down!” His words cut through the noise, and the crowd gradually quieted, all eyes turning toward him, a lot of the teenagers tried to take a better look at him while getting to their tiptoes. “I know you’ve been waiting for this chance to see if you or your children have the talent to join our sect or even the intelligence to work alongside us. The tests will begin shortly.

“But first, I need your cooperation. Anyone over the age of fourteen is not eligible to participate in the test—this is a strict requirement. Secondly, please form a line. There’s no need to push or shove; everyone will get their turn.”

The crowd began to shuffle, the parents guiding their children into some semblance of a line while others stood among themselves. Chen Ren could feel the anticipation building again, but now it was tempered with order. No one wanted to anger a cultivator. Even still, half of the crowd still stood unorganized, pushing each other to get to the front.

Chen Ren turned toward Chief Muyang, Xiulan, and Anji, who stood nearby with expectant gazes. “I’ll start the test soon. Make sure everyone forms a proper line and send them in one by one. With this many people—and I’m sure more will come once word spreads—we might need to continue tomorrow. For now, let’s begin.”

The trio nodded in unison, quickly stepping into action to organize the crowd. Satisfied, Chen Ren stepped toward the small wooden building that had been prepared for the test.

Inside, the room was simple yet functional, with a single chair in the center and a desk pushed against the far wall. Yalan, in her beastly yet graceful form, lounged on the desk, her amber eyes half-lidded in boredom. Her tail swayed lazily behind her as she tilted her head.

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“Did you see anything interesting out there?” she asked, her voice carrying a teasing lilt.

Chen Ren lowered himself into a chair opposite her, the slight creak of the wood breaking the silence. “No,” he replied, shaking his head. “They all seemed ordinary. No visible signs of a special physique or unique characteristics. But who knows? Maybe we’ll uncover a hidden bloodling or two.”

Yalan flicked her tail with a soft thump against the desk. “You’re awfully optimistic,” she said, smirking. “I suppose a sect leader needs to be.”

Before Chen Ren could respond, the door creaked open, revealing the first pair of entrants: a middle-aged man and a teenage girl. Both bowed deeply before stepping inside, their movements stiff with nervous respect.

Chen Ren straightened in his chair, offering a small nod of acknowledgment.

“Are you both here to take the test?”

The man quickly shook his head, his hands gripping his hat tightly. “No, young master. I am just a farmer, content with my life. But my daughter…” He gestured toward the girl, his voice trembling slightly. “My daughter, Zushi, has dreams of something greater. She wishes to take the test.”

Chen Ren studied the girl for a moment. Her hands were clenched at her sides, her knuckles white, but her eyes—they were sparkling with hope. “Very well,” he said, gesturing toward the chair in the center of the room. “Sit here.”

Zushi moved quickly, and lowered herself into the chair. Chen Ren glanced at Yalan, who nodded and then he rose gracefully from his chair. Stepping forward, he put his hand lightly on Zushi’s head.

“This will only take a moment,” he said, his voice soothing yet firm.

Zushi nodded, her face taut with anticipation. She seemed like she expected a light to come out of Chen Ren’s hands, but nothing happened for a few seconds.

Moments later, Yalan’s voice echoed in Chen Ren’s mind. She doesn’t have a spirit root. She’s destined to remain mortal.

Chen Ren exhaled softly. This is going to hurt. He pulled his hand back and took a step away.

The room grew quiet as Chen Ren looked at Zushi, her eyes searching his face for any sign of hope. He nodded solemnly, his eyes softening as he looked at the girl. “I’m sorry,” he said gently, “but you don’t have spirit roots.”

The words struck like a hammer. The girl’s lip quivered, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears as her shoulders hunched forward. She looked as though she was moments away from breaking down entirely. Her father placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. It was clear he had anticipated this result, though it did little to ease the sting.

“It’s okay, Zushi,” he said softly. “Let’s go back home.”

As they turned to leave, Chen Ren raised a hand, stopping them in their tracks. “Wait,” he said and that made both of them freeze on their spot. “Before you go, I have something to say.”

They turned back toward him. Her father’s eyebrows frowned in confusion while Zushi’s somber expression turned to one of hope.

“Although you don’t have a spirit root, the Divine Coin Sect is unique,” Chen Ren explained. “We don’t just accept cultivators. Mortals who can contribute meaningfully to the sect are just as valuable to us. If you’re interested, you can stay and take an interview to see if you qualify as a mortal member.”

Zushi’s teary eyes widened in surprise. “Can I really get in?”

“Yes. If you’re able to pass the interview, we’d be happy to have you.”

The girl’s father looked at Chen Ren with a deep bow, gratitude flickering in his weathered face. “Thank you, young master,” he said sincerely.

Zushi straightened her back, her tears forgotten. “I will do my best,” she declared, her voice steadier now.

Chen Ren gestured for her to sit back in the chair. “Let’s begin, then.”

As he got comfortable in his own seat, Chen Ren’s thoughts drifted to the purpose of this interview. In his previous life, back on Earth, interviews were the backbone of building trust and competency within organizations. He had adapted the process to fit the Xianxia world, asking questions that tested not just knowledge but also character, critical thinking, and adaptability. A sect wasn’t just built on raw power—it needed loyal, capable people to function and thrive.

So, he started with a simple question. “Do you know how to read and write?”

Zushi nodded hesitantly. “I know how to read, but… I have trouble writing.”

Chen Ren made a mental note of her answer, his expression neutral as he moved on. The questions varied in scope, covering basic maths, logic, and personal values. “If you were trusted with a task by a sect elder and caused an issue that might jeopardize the sect, what would you do? Would you inform the elder or try to solve it yourself?” he asked, testing her integrity.

“I would inform the elder immediately,” Zushi replied confidently. “If I try to solve it myself and it gets worse, the punishment will be far worse. I will rather accept my shortcomings.”

He nodded, scribbling a tick mark besides her name on a parchment before moving onto the next question that tested her ability to think practically.

“Alright, Zushi. Let’s try something a little more difficult. Picture this, you’re in a room with three levers. Each lever controls one of three fireplaces in an adjacent room. You can only enter the room with the fireplaces once. How do you determine which lever controls which fireplace?”

Zushi took a deep breath, furrowing her brow as she began to consider the problem. She took some time, her fingers moved as if she was playing the scenario in her mind.

Finally, she spoke. ”I would pull the first lever and leave it on for a few minutes. Then, I’d stop and pull the second lever. That’d be all that I’m doing in that room. Then, I would enter the room with the fireplaces. The one that is still warm but unlit is controlled by the first lever. The one that’s lit is controlled by the second lever. The one that’s cold and unlit is controlled by the third lever.”

Chen Ren nodded, pleased.

Alright… She could think logically, do very simple math, she knows her structures when it came to sect values, and maybe one more question.

“Let’s say there’s a war between two cities over resources. How do you think you could make a profit from it? And what do you think are the most important resources during such a time?”

Zushi furrowed her brow, deep in thought. The question clearly caught her off guard, and she chewed on her lip as she considered her answer. Finally, she spoke. “I think I could contribute by supporting the side I believe is most likely to win,” she said cautiously. “As for resources… weapons. A war needs weapons.”

Chen Ren raised an eyebrow, waiting for more, but she hesitated. After a moment, she shook her head. “I… I can’t think of anything else,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Chen Ren nodded thoughtfully, tapping his fingers against the armrest of his chair. “Weapons are important,” he said slowly, “but wars are fought on more than just the battlefield. Food to sustain soldiers, medicine to treat the wounded, and information to outmaneuver the enemy are just as vital.”

Zushi’s eyes widened as understanding dawned on her face. She nodded quickly. “I… I’ll remember that,” she said earnestly.

Chen Ren placed his hand on his chin and studied her and her answers. There was room for growth, but there was also potential. He’d seen enough.

“Alright, you can go now. We’ll notify you through the village chief whether or not you’ve been accepted.”

The girl and her father stood, bowing deeply in gratitude. “Thank you, young master,” the father said, his voice thick with emotion. The girl followed suit, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as she struggled to contain her nervous energy.

Chen Ren offered a small nod of acknowledgment, watching as they turned and left the room. Once the door closed behind them, he turned to Yalan, who had been lounging on the desk with her tail swishing lazily in the air.

“She’s… poor,” Yalan said bluntly, her eyes narrowing in mild disinterest.

“I believe she’s decent,” he replied. “Not many around here know how to both read and write. She may not be extraordinary, but at least she tries to think critically. With proper training, she could become a good employee.”

Yalan yawned. “Sure, if you’re willing to invest the time. But let’s see if there are better candidates first.”

Chen Ren chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “Fair enough.”

Before they could linger further on the subject, the door creaked open again. Chen Ren straightened in his seat as the second candidate entered—a middle-aged woman accompanied by a young boy who clutched her hand tightly.

The two bowed deeply as they stepped forward. The woman’s posture was stiff, and her eyes darted nervously around the room, while the boy clung to her side, peering at Chen Ren with wide, curious eyes.

“Start, let’s see how this one would go,” Yalan said and they began.

For the next two hours, the process became a routine for Chen Ren. Villagers came and went, each hoping to find a spark of opportunity within the Divine Coin Sect. After conducting the aptitude tests, he found that not a single person had even one spirit root.

Disappointingly, even the interviews yielded little promise—most of the villagers didn’t know how to read or write, which came as no surprise. Education was a rarity, even in the cities, but the lack of basic skills posed a significant obstacle for Chen Ren’s vision for the sect.

Although he was willing to overlook such limitations for individuals who showed promise in other areas, very few demonstrated the curiosity or critical thinking he sought. Most seemed motivated by the prestige of joining a sect or the desire for stable work—reasonable goals, but not the mindset Chen Ren needed. He wanted people eager to grow, learn, and contribute, yet such candidates were proving increasingly rare.

Still, Chen Ren persisted, summoning one hopeful after another, patiently conducting the tests and interviews despite his mounting disappointment.

Just as he finished speaking with yet another uninspiring candidate, a commotion outside the room broke his focus. He frowned, glancing toward the door. The muffled sound of voices rose, followed by the unmistakable low growl of an animal.

“Should we go and see—”

Yalan was soon cut off when two familiar faces appeared in the doorway, both bowing towards him with stiff shoulders. Behind them, a wolf’s sharp eyes and bristling fur peeked through the door frame.

A grin spread across Chen Ren’s face as he leaned back in his chair. Finally, someone worth recruiting, he thought.

“It’s good to see you both,” he greeted.

The two brothers straightened. Zi Han, the younger, gave a slight nod, while his elder brother, Zi Wen, crossed his arms and grunted nonchalantly. Meanwhile, the wolf—Little Yuze—stood silently, its intelligent eyes watching Chen Ren carefully.

Chen Ren gestured toward the doorway. “Before we begin, can you have your wolf wait outside? As much as I’d like to see how obedient it is, this space isn’t ideal for animals.”

Zi Wen turned to the wolf. “Yuze, behave and wait outside.”

The wolf gave no sign of protest, trotting off obediently to settle just beyond the door.

Chen Ren’s eyes twinkled with approval. He nodded at the brothers, motioning for them to step forward. “So, you two want to join the sect?”

Zi Han replied with a simple, “Yes,” while Zi Wen grunted again, his lack of enthusiasm evident.

Chen Ren smirked slightly and fixed his gaze on Zi Wen. “I don’t think you need an aptitude test.”

Zi Han watched his elder brother, Zi Wen, with a raised eyebrow who looked equally surprised.

”You know?” Zi Wen asked, maintaining his eye contact with Chen Ren.

Chen Ren smiled and shrugged. ”Hard to miss when the wolf is always trailing behind you, and I have a decent qi perception.” He met Zi Wen’s gaze, his smile widening. ”You’re a cultivator.”

Zi Wen’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t deny it. ”Barely,” he muttered. ”I’m only in the body forging realm and on top of that, in the first star.”

”How long have you been cultivating?”

”Twenty years,” Zi Wen answered with a shrug.

Chen Ren’s eyes narrowed, surprised by the answer. But before he could speak, Zi Wen added, ”I haven’t really cultivated for nineteen of those years. The first year, I was in a sect. Tried to go against the heavens... but eventually, I accepted my fate and my meager talent.”

”How do you know your talent is bad?”

Zi Wen scoffed, bitterness creeping into his voice. ”I only have twenty four spirit roots.”

At this, Chen Ren couldn’t help but chuckle softly, shaking his head. ”So, you gave up on cultivating just because of that?”

Zi Wen’s frown deepened, and his posture stiffened and he clutched his hands by his sides. ”There were other reasons, but yes, that was part of it. What’s so funny? Are you making fun of me?”

Chen Ren quickly waved his hands in a placating gesture. ”No, no. Not at all. It’s just that I don’t think having fewer spirit roots really matters that much. I myself have only twenty one spirit roots, and in the past year, I’ve gone from the third star of the body forging realm to breaking through into the qi refinement realm.”

The words hung in the air for a moment as Zi Wen’s eyes widened. He looked at Chen Ren, clearly trying to determine whether the young man was lying or telling the truth.

”Sit down,” Chen Ren instructed, gesturing toward a chair before he could say anything. ”Before you have any questions, I’d love to hear why you left cultivation behind. And if you’re really interested in joining the Divine Coin Sect, we will start the interview after that.”

***

A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon. Annual subscription is now on too.