Chapter 828

Chapter 828: Qian Tongtian

After the battle with the Elder Council’s disciples, all the Hidden Spirit Sect Disciples seemed to have gotten a huge morale boost and started training like crazy.

Some of them knew that losing the battle wasn’t just about their individual fighting strength. The main reason was that the enemy had been watching their every move.

But in their eyes, if they could just get strong enough, they could turn things around.

No sneaky tricks or schemes could stand up to pure power.

Back at the Elder Council headquarters, the Chief Senior Brother and a few of the top disciples were going over the battle, still feeling the tension.

Even though they had the advantage of knowing everything, the fight was still tough.

After wiping out the Hidden Spirit Sect Disciples, only a handful of Elder Council disciples were left standing.

“That was really close. If Feng Hong hadn’t burned his lifespan to use that secret technique, we might’ve lost the final battle,” one of the top disciples said.

He was one of the last few left, and fighting the Hidden Spirit Sect Disciples gave him one impression: they were tough, stubborn, and downright weird. Even when it was just their Senior Brother and a couple of others left, they didn’t show a hint of giving up, even when defeat seemed certain.

From start to finish, none of them let the disadvantage shake their focus.

“Yeah, if it had just been me against their Senior Brother, I would’ve lost for sure,” Chief Senior Brother Fei Long admitted.

“I called you all here to let you know that in one year, all the top sects and holy lands in the cultivation world will be joining this competition.”

“By then, we won’t just be up against the Hidden Spirit Sect. We’ll be facing sects and holy lands with tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of years of history,” Chief Senior Brother Fei Long explained.

“Does that mean the rewards will be even bigger?!” asked the disciple who specialized in the art of divination, his eyes lighting up. He loved treasures from the heavens and earth, especially since they could be traded for things that extended his lifespan.

“Exactly. All the sects will be putting valuable spiritual treasures into the prize pool.”

“If we can take first place, the cultivation resources we’ll get will make everything else look like pocket change.”

“So we can’t slack off this year. We need to keep practicing our battle formations and secret techniques,” Chief Senior Brother Fei Long said.

He lightly touched the Spiritual Sword at his waist, a faint smile crossing his face.

One more win, and he’d have enough points to trade for that celestial tool Spiritual Sword he’d been eyeing.

In the Hidden Spirit Sect’s Source Realm, a small tree, about as tall as a person, had been planted in the area with the richest celestial energy.

It was just a little tree, and its leaves looked a bit withered.

“Looks like it still needs time to grow. It can’t even produce a single celestial tool yet,” Xu Fan said, frowning at the Tree of All Things. The name had come from a hint of intelligence he’d sensed in the tree.

“Grape, make this Tree of All Things available to the whole sect and explain how it works,” Xu Fan said after a moment of thought.

Whenever the Tree of All Things absorbed spirit stones and Immortal Jade, it would keep a bit of energy to grow itself.

The more people made wishes on it, the faster it would grow.

“As you command, Master,” Grape replied.

“Those little rascals have been training like they’re on fire lately. I wonder if it’s paying off,” Xu Fan said with a smile.

In the trial world managed by Grape, it now hosts seventy to eighty thousand disciples every day.

The Five-Color Mountain Peak also operates at full capacity daily.

On the highest pavilion of the main peak, Xu Fan enjoyed the scenic views of the mountain ranges while listening to Grape report the latest news from the cultivation world.

Meanwhile, on a small island outside Hidden Spirit Island, specifically designated for the Cross-Boundary Teleportation Formation, lights flickered as Pang Fu emerged with several Business World disciples.

“Grape, has the Grand Elder returned?” Pang Fu asked immediately upon stepping out.

Due to the high teleportation costs, Pang Fu mostly stayed in the South Mountain Realm to oversee operations.

“He has returned. Do you need to see the Grand Elder now, Pang Fu?” Grape inquired.

“What is the Grand Elder doing?”

“He’s enjoying tea alone and is currently free,” Grape replied.

“Then I’ll head over now,” Pang Fu nodded.

Xu Fan, sipping his tea, was informed of Pang Fu’s arrival.

“My big Minister is finally back!” Xu Fan said with a smile.

“Greetings, Grand Elder!”

Shortly after, Pang Fu arrived at the pavilion.

“Rise; no need for formalities,” Xu Fan said with a smile.

“How was your time in the South Mountain Realm?”

“Very good; it’s quite conducive for the Business World’s development,” Pang Fu replied.

“There are many powerful merchant associations in the South Mountain Realm, comparable to the top sects and holy lands there.”

“Moreover, the three supreme beings there support the Business World’s growth and encourage trade with other middle thousand worlds.”

“So, things have been progressing smoothly there,” Pang Fu noted.

“It’s great that development is going well, but it’s unfortunate you won’t have much time to lay out your plans there,” Xu Fan said regretfully, as in just over 900 years, the entire Hidden Spirit Sect will ascend to the Immortal Realm.

“That’s not an issue; wherever the Grand Elder takes me, I’ll help develop the sect,” Pang Fu said earnestly.

“I’ve made significant gains during my time in the Ancient Cang Realm and unexpectedly found a technique that suits your cultivation,” Xu Fan said, producing a jade plate.

“This is a technique I bought from a merchant association during my tour of a certain Immortal Realm, called: Qian Tongtian.”

“The name is quite plain, but its power is formidable; it can be cultivated to the peak of true immortality.”

“Start practicing it, and once you reach the peak of true immortality, I’ll guide you in the subsequent techniques.”

Pang Fu looked at the jade plate in his hand, his expression growing excited. The inheritance technique he had previously only reached the Great Ascension stage; while he could switch to the sect’s Five Elements Technique, it still had some differences from his business endeavors.

“This is considered a classic technique in the Business World; while it can’t kill enemies with money, if you have enough, even a Golden Immortal can’t harm you.”

Xu Fan poured a cup of tea and pushed it toward Pang Fu.

“I can’t repay the Grand Elder’s kindness; all I can do is dedicate my life to the sect,” Pang Fu said, moved.

“Drink your tea first. Let’s discuss the profits in the South Mountain Realm,” Xu Fan said.

After finishing his tea, Pang Fu reported the situation in the South Mountain Realm to Xu Fan.

By leveraging the resources of all the major merchant associations in the cultivation world, within just a few years, their branch offices had spread throughout the entire South Mountain Realm.

The products sold were highly popular there, especially standardized precious artifacts and tools; they sold out as quickly as they were stocked.

The Alchemy Peak of the sect also played a significant role, with its pill production line making a substantial impact.

The South Mountain Realm is larger than the Feiyu Realm, with both cultivators and mortals outnumbering those in the Feiyu Realm by several times, leading to a high demand for pills and treasures.

Though the prices weren’t high, the strategy of small profits and quick turnover worked well.

Just as Xu Fan was about to ask about other matters, the Cross-Boundary Teleportation Formation on the small island lit up.

A stunning woman in a red dress stepped out from the teleportation formation, her eyes showing a hint of helplessness.

“Welcome, Red Lotus Respected Elder, to the Feiyu Realm,” Grape’s voice announced.