At the Qingyuan Sect, Fang Qingyuan spent over a month painstakingly setting up the Third-stage Desolate Ancient Evil Suppression Array.

Setting up an array was a rather tedious process with strict requirements for a cultivator’s cultivation level. Some parts allowed for not even the slightest error. Mao Cheng and the other Qi Cultivation Disciples couldn’t be of much help with a third-stage array, so Fang Qingyuan had to do everything himself.

However, once the array was fully deployed, everyone in the sect felt much more at ease. Without a protective array, they had to sleep with one eye open at night.

After the array was set up, Fang Qingyuan placed a Top-grade Spirit Stone into the central Array Disc and tried activating it to see its effect.

But when the thousand-foot-tall illusionary image of an Ancient Giant appeared, clad in animal skins and wielding a stone axe, he started to have some regrets.

Firstly, the spectacle was so massive that it attracted neighboring sects to send people over to watch. Secondly, the rate at which it consumed Spirit Stones was also astonishing.

In just a few moments, before the illusionary Ancient Giant had even taken a few steps, a single Top-grade Spirit Stone was nearly drained of its Spiritual Power. If it were truly used against an enemy at full power, a hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones probably wouldn’t last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

This was the terrifying aspect of a third-stage array. Setting aside its power, the consumption alone was something that no minor sect could afford.

The enormous consumption of Spirit Stones was exchanged for immense combat power. The illusionary Ancient Giant summoned by the array could kill a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator with a single swing of its axe without any issue.

A third-stage array was meant to counter Golden Core Cultivators. Even if a Golden Core Cultivator were to attack, they would have to completely exhaust the sect’s Spirit Stone reserves before they could hope to break the array.

With this drill, the Qingyuan Sect had certainly made a name for itself. In the entire area surrounding the sect, there wasn’t a single other power that could afford to use a third-stage array.

Now, with the protection of a third-stage array, the Qingyuan Sect finally had the foundation of a true sect.

Inside the Council Hall, Fang Qingyuan sat at the head seat. Below him were a total of thirteen Qi Refining Cultivators, with Mao Cheng occupying the first seat.

"The sect has just been established, and there are a thousand things to do. Everything is a tangled mess. But we’ll put other matters aside for now. This year, we must open up those several hundred acres of Spirit Fields and create the cultivation abodes for you all."

Clearing the Spirit Fields and constructing the abodes were the two most urgent priorities. The fields were a matter of food and survival, while the abodes were a matter of cultivation. Both were extremely important and could not be delayed.

Mao Cheng, seated below, replied:

"I’ve surveyed the sect grounds several times over the past few days. I estimate we can reclaim just over four hundred and fifty acres of Spirit Fields."

Fang Qingyuan nodded and made his decision:

"I’ll give you six people. Reclaim those Spirit Fields before the year’s end and plant some fast-growing Spirit Plants. We’ll aim to sell them for some Spirit Stones next year. If none of you know anything about growing Spirit Plants, go hire a Spirit Plant Cultivator from the outside to take charge for now."

Mao Cheng accepted the order, indicating it wouldn’t be a problem. Then, Fang Qingyuan looked to the cultivator in the first seat on his right.

This person was younger and possessed a high-quality Spirit Root—a Top-grade Fire Spirit Root. Logically, someone like him shouldn’t have followed Fang Qingyuan to this new sect. But the man was stubborn and inflexible, and he had offended quite a few people back at the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect. Thus, after some discussion among the various parties, he was unceremoniously sent over.

"Huicheng, how about you take a few people and dig the cultivation abodes at the foot of the mountain?"

Chen Huicheng nodded his agreement, but otherwise gave no reaction.

Seeing this, Fang Qingyuan couldn’t help but add a few more words:

"Don’t dig too many. Just create twenty or thirty, following the path of the Spirit Vein. If you make too many, they’ll intercept too much Spiritual Power, which will be detrimental to our future development."

When the man just nodded again, Fang Qingyuan said no more. ’The total amount of Spiritual Power flowing through the Spirit Vein in this spiritual land each day is finite. The abodes have to be built at the foot and on the side of the mountain, and each one needs a Spirit Gathering Array. With them siphoning off the flow section by section, the Spiritual Power at the peak won’t be dense enough.’

Fang Qingyuan still needed to cultivate at the peak of the mountain, so naturally, he didn’t want his disciples digging so many abodes.

Clearing the Spirit Fields and constructing the abodes immediately took up all his available disciples, but the Qingyuan Sect had more to do than just that.

Relocating mortals to settle here was also a task of utmost importance. It concerned the future foundation and development of the Qingyuan Sect. A sect without mortals was a sect without hope.

The Qingyuan Sect’s territory covered two thousand square kilometers. Based on his previous life, that was enough to support seven or eight hundred thousand mortals. Even if the productivity of mortals in this world couldn’t match that of his past life, with the help of cultivators, supporting over three hundred thousand should be possible.

But acquiring such a large population all at once was impossible for Fang Qingyuan. His only source of mortals right now was the relatives of his thirteen disciples.

However, by Fang Qingyuan’s estimate, the relatives of all these disciples combined would only amount to a little over ten thousand people.

’Looks like I’ll have to find a way to recruit more mortals. Otherwise, if I just rely on natural reproduction, it’ll take three to five generations to reach a population of three hundred thousand.’

’Maybe I should go back to the Southern Border’s Yuanling Mountain and talk to Jiang Kui. After so many years of development, Yuanling Mountain’s population is over two hundred thousand. Sparing twenty or thirty thousand for me shouldn’t be a problem, right?’

...

In front of the Qingyuan Sect, Fang Qingyuan stood atop Silver Treasure and began soliciting customers:

"Going to Nine-star Marketplace! A Foundation Establishment Manta Ray, safe and reliable, comfortable seating! Round trip for just half a Middle-grade Spirit Stone! First come, first served!"

After hawking his service for half the day, only five cultivators came aboard. The others thought it was too expensive and chose to fly over in groups instead. Even with numerous Tribulation Cultivators out there rubbing their hands in anticipation, they still wanted to save the fee.

Holding the two and a half Middle-grade Spirit Stones he’d earned, Fang Qingyuan sighed. ’I used to be thrilled to earn eight Spirit Stones a day. Now I’ve got the equivalent of two hundred and fifty, so why do I feel so unhappy?’

’It must be because my expenses are too high now. A single bottle of Blood Life Pills can earn hundreds of Top-grade Spirit Stones. How could I possibly care about this paltry sum?’

’But the main ingredient for the Blood Life Pills, the Longevity Vine, needs to be irrigated with Demonic Qi. I have no source of Demonic Qi right now, so every bottle I use is one I can’t replace. That’s why, even though this earns less, it’s a stable income.’

And so, Fang Qingyuan took his five customers, had Silver Treasure spread its bat-like wings, and quickly soared into the air, leaving the Qingyuan Sect far behind.

After arriving at Nine Stars Square, Fang Qingyuan agreed on a return time with his passengers. He then wandered around the marketplace, trying to discover some new business opportunities.

After making a round, Fang Qingyuan came to a miserable realization: his Qingyuan Sect had no distinguishing features to speak of. It didn’t have a single marketable product to its name.

All he had were some skills in taming and raising beasts, but those couldn’t be exchanged for Spirit Stones at the moment.

’When will I ever be able to recoup the seven hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones I fronted from the sect’s accounts?’

’If this doesn’t work, I’ll just have to inconvenience Silver Treasure for a while and start hauling cargo. Carrying cultivators is easy; hauling cargo is more tiring. But it pays more than carrying people.’ Thinking of this, Fang Qingyuan turned and headed toward a major merchant’s establishment to find opportunities for hauling freight.

...

「Five days later.」

In front of Nine Stars Square, Fang Qingyuan struggled to lift off into the air with Silver Treasure, whose back was laden with goods piled high like a mountain. He fell in line with a caravan transporting supplies.

A single delivery paid one Top-grade Spirit Stone. The round trip would take over half a month. It was a good deal.

Of course, not just anyone was qualified to accept such a high price. The other party offered this rate because Fang Qingyuan was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and Silver Treasure was a Foundation Establishment Manta Ray with a huge body and great carrying capacity.

Looking at the caravan ahead, lined up in rows and stretching almost as far as the eye could see, Fang Qingyuan felt a surge of envy. ’How great would it be if this caravan belonged to me?’

Just then, a Golden Core Cultivator guarding the front of the caravan came up to Fang Qingyuan and said with a smile:

"First time joining a caravan like this, huh? The goods we’re transporting were organized jointly by several major merchant houses. Ordinary Tribulation Cultivators wouldn’t dare target this caravan. You can rest easy and just follow along."

Fang Qingyuan smiled in response. His main purpose on this trip was to study the caravan’s operational model. Once he had learned the route inside and out, he naturally planned to form his own caravan as well.

Half a month later, Fang Qingyuan reached his destination: Qi Yun City, located in the heart of the Qi Yun Territory. If Qi Dong City and Qinan City were magnificent, imposing strongholds, then Qi Yun City was the very foundation of Qi Yun. However, due to its early development planning, it was now somewhat outdated.

Even so, Qi Yun City was far more majestic than any Immortal City in White Mountain.

After arriving and unloading the cargo from Silver Treasure’s back, the beast felt so wronged it wanted to cry. In its whole life, it had never suffered such hardship.

After promising to let the people at the Nine-star Marketplace give Silver Treasure a good pampering when they got back, he finally managed to pacify it. With that settled, Fang Qingyuan decided to take a stroll around Qi Yun City.

But just two days later, the caravan leader summoned all the Transport Beast owners with a grave expression and announced a piece of explosive news.

They wouldn’t be able to return anytime soon. The backer of the Vast Collection Pavilion, the Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator Gao Guangsheng, was dead.

Moreover, he had been killed by a fellow Qi Yun Sect Elder. The killer was none other than the pillar supporting the Nanchu Sect, the Chu Family’s old ancestor, Chu Zhen.

This left Fang Qingyuan stunned. During the pioneering war, only Golden Core Cultivators had died; not a single Nascent Soul Cultivator had fallen. How could it be that right after the war ended, a Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator was suddenly killed?

’No, it should be two,’ he thought. ’After killing Gao Guangsheng—a fellow sect member—could Chu Zhen possibly be allowed to live?’

’If Chu Zhen dies, won’t Chu Hongshang’s position be shaken? If things continue to develop like this, will the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect also be thrown into turmoil?’

All these thoughts ran through Fang Qingyuan’s mind, but in the end, they all converged into a single phrase: ’What’s it got to do with me?’

’I’m no longer the Vice Master of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect, nor am I a disciple of the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect. The Great Zhou Academy granted my sect a three-generation fiefdom. No matter what storms arise, they can’t touch me.’

And so, Fang Qingyuan settled down in Qi Yun City with peace of mind, patiently waiting for the storm to blow over.