Chapter 407

Chapter 407: Returning to the Sect

After firmly pushing the Sect Leader’s limits, Fang Lie finally vented his pent-up frustration. With matters settled, he naturally shifted focus back to cultivation.

First, he summoned Seven Dragon True Immortals and Immortal Suan Mei to arrange affairs for his absence, then hurried directly to Mo Sect.

After Fang Lie’s departure, Immortal Suan Mei and Seven Dragon True Immortals became regional leaders governing hundreds of thousands of people and managing billions of spirit stones daily. They suddenly transformed into local overlords.

These Eight Immortals had never dreamed of such status. Though formerly powerful Wind Tribulation Immortals, they’d struggled to secure basic cultivation resources.

Now everything changed. With subordinates handling trivial matters, they could focus entirely on cultivation.

Their compensation proved staggeringly high. By regulation, Iron-Walled Jin City’s overseers claimed 10% of net profits. Divided among eight, this amounted to astronomical sums.

Even under the corrupt Bai family’s rule, annual profits exceeded hundreds of thousands of small spirit pearls. Now multiplied severalfold, each immortal gained five to six thousand small spirit pearls yearly – exponentially more than before.

Best of all, this wealth came effortlessly. Iron-Walled Jin City’s impregnable defenses and backing from Mo Sect/Benevolence Token deterred troublemakers. Their role required mere presence, rarely demanding action.

As leaders, they enjoyed premium cultivation sites – Spiritual Energy concentrated through city-wide Formations, drastically boosting cultivation speed.

They purchased limited cultivation resources at discounted rates, including pills and local specialty divine materials. Their guest status in Mo Sect granted access to mechanical puppet treasures at internal prices.

Mo Sect’s mechanical treasure ships and puppets were world-renowned, typically requiring exorbitant bribes to acquire. These eight obtained them cheaply – an enormous advantage.

After merely half a year serving Fang Lie, the Eight Immortals secured stable positions and bases, their worth increasing tenfold. Their perilous battles concluded safely. To Wanxing Sea’s cultivators, such fortune rivaled major destiny encounters!

The Eight Immortals felt profound gratitude. Initially skeptical and ready to flee at first danger, they now refused to leave even if ordered.

They wrote to acquaintances, boasting of their status while promoting Fang Lie’s benevolence. Recognizing Fang Lie as a latent dragon awaiting his ascension, they prepared to summon allies when he needed supporters – ready to grasp his rising coattails.

These letters caused uproar across Wanxing Sea. While most marveled at Fang Lie’s meteoric rise, many discontented cultivators saw opportunity.

These strugglers – worse off than Immortal Suan Mei’s group yet possessing unique skills – envisioned controlling cities like Iron-Walled Jin City. Even mid-level management there surpassed surviving Wanxing Sea’s chaos.

Aspiring followers flooded Qingyu Island, nearly overwhelming Huo Wufang constructing Formations. Some with Eight Immortals connections directly approached Iron-Walled Jin City seeking recruitment.

Without authority to decide and Fang Lie in closed-door training, the Eight Immortals temporarily housed these arrivals, exercising their leadership rights. This influx strengthened Iron-Walled Jin City’s management with more Wind Tribulation experts.

Meanwhile, Fang Lie’s Mo Sect return prompted immediate summons from Mo Qianxun. The stubborn old man dispensed with formalities, bluntly demanding Divine Marrow.

Fang Lie had no choice but to toss over the two-foot-three-inch Divine Marrow.

Mo Qianxun caught it and examined it carefully, sighing deeply: "Throughout history, Divine Marrow had appeared six times. The Demonic Path claimed four, while the righteous sects only two. Each emergence created an outrageously powerful superpower and sparked storms of blood and carnage. To think we got a pair this time. Pity I’m stuck with the smaller one."

Mo Qianxun pressed greedily: "Fang Lie, your cultivation’s too weak. What use is a large Divine Marrow? Give me the bigger one and keep the small."

"Who said it’s useless?" Fang Lie instantly guarded his stance. "Don’t trick me! Size determines conversion efficiency – three feet versus two-foot-three isn’t a minor gap but double or triple difference. I’m keeping the larger piece!"

"Damn it! You’re merely a Qi Sea cultivator!" Mo Qianxun snapped. "Wasting such a large Divine Marrow?"

"Wrong!" Fang Lie retorted proudly. "Giving it to you would be waste! Choosing an owner for this treasure shouldn’t depend on cultivation level."

"Then what?" Mo Qianxun blinked.

"Potential, obviously!" Fang Lie scoffed. "Your pitiful Golden Pool Qi Sea barely spans ten thousand li. Even two feet of Divine Marrow’s too much for you. How dare you demand more?"

"Ten thousand li?!" Mo Qianxun roared, veins bulging. "Do you comprehend your words? This Semi-Immortal cultivated millennia to achieve this! And you, a whelp, dare mock me? What’s your Golden Pool’s span then?"

"At least a hundred thousand li," Fang Lie sneered. "Anything less would shame my existence."

Mo Qianxun nearly choked on fury. A hundred thousand li Golden Pool? Even ancient era’s supreme experts rarely reached that! Modern Semi-Immortals aimed for mere ten thousand li! This brat’s audacity knew no bounds!

Yet with the Benevolence Token shielding Fang Lie, Mo Qianxun could only growl: "We’ll see if your boasts hold water!" He flicked his sleeve, banishing Fang Lie away.

Alone, Mo Qianxun frowned. "Strange… that brat never lies. Could he truly achieve a hundred thousand li Golden Pool? If so, his potential surpasses even my daughter’s. Hmph! Should that day come, wedding her to him might silence all objections. Let Creation decide."

He retreated to his secret room with the Divine Marrow.

Meanwhile, Fang Lie materialized before sprawling warehouses. Mo Wanfang appeared instantly. "You’re quick!"

"Your father sleeve-flicked me here!" Fang Lie glowered.

Mo Wanfang awkwardly chuckled, recognizing this as his father’s subtle punishment. "Never mind that. Everything’s prepared."

He led Fang Lie into a warehouse overflowing with spirit pills – Mo Sect’s stockpile for a million members, now expanded with mountains of low-grade pills purchased to exploit Fang Lie’s abilities.

Fang Lie gaped at the pill-sea. "Using me as a mechanical puppet?!"

"Capable hands bear greater loads!" Mo Wanfang placated. "Fifty-fifty split benefits you too."

Grumbling, Fang Lie sat cross-legged. Multicolored Nirvana Fire bloomed before him. He channeled his magic, directing pill-streams into the flames. Impurities burned away, leaving pure Spirit Liquid droplets falling into Jade Bottles.

A hill of pills yielded but a drop – yet its value multiplied exponentially. Watching enviously, Mo Wanfang sighed in his heart.