Buy a Few Sects to Play With First

If one has too many spirit stones, they become nothing more than a number.

Chen Xia was currently carrying a vast amount of these "numbers," planning to execute his grand scheme—to buy the entire East Jia State without shedding a drop of blood, thereby gaining the recognition of the Immortal Realm's will.

The challenge of this plan lay in the fact that some major sects could not be bought with spirit stones alone. Sects with legacies spanning tens of thousands of years, for instance, might not be swayed by mere wealth.

Of course, it could also be that the amount of wealth offered wasn't enough.

For now, Chen Xia hadn't set his sights on these major sects. Instead, he planned to start by acquiring a few smaller sects nearby. To this end, he had gathered information about the surrounding area.

Around the Heaven Pill Gate, there were five minor sects, the strongest of which was led by a cultivator at the fourth level of the Heaven Mending Realm. Acquiring these sects should be relatively straightforward.

Once he had a plan, Chen Xia wasted no time. Today, he paid a visit to one of these sects, intending to speak directly with its patriarch.

This sect was called Ice Armor Mountain, and its patriarch was a Heaven Mending Realm cultivator who specialized in ice and water techniques. He was also on the VIP list of Chen Xia's Heaven Pill Gate. When Chen Xia arrived, the patriarch was thrilled and hurried out to greet him, warmly saying,

"Esteemed Pill Ancestor, your sudden visit is an honor. Please forgive our lack of preparation. Ice Armor Mountain has been remiss in its hospitality."

"It's fine," Chen Xia waved his hand dismissively, scanning the entirety of Ice Armor Mountain before asking,

"I've heard that Ice Armor Mountain's territory spans a million miles in this area?"

"Indeed," the Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch replied enthusiastically, though he was unsure why Chen Xia was asking. "Ice Armor Mountain covers a million miles and is quite close to the Heaven Pill Gate. I dare to call us neighbors, Pill Ancestor."

"Well, we won't be neighbors for long," Chen Xia replied casually.

"Huh?" The Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch didn't quite understand and asked hesitantly, "What do you mean?"

Chen Xia replied calmly, "I want to buy Ice Armor Mountain."

Silence. A long silence.

The Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch closed his eyes. His expression was like the calm surface of water, yet also like the eerie stillness before a storm—ominous and unsettling.

Chen Xia didn't look at him, still surveying Ice Armor Mountain as he continued,

"I've already thought it through. Once I acquire it, I'll turn this place into a viewing platform where I can admire the Heaven Pill Gate and my own grandeur. And also..."

"Pill Ancestor, aren't you going too far?!" The Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch finally erupted, pointing at the vast territory of Ice Armor Mountain and declaring,

"This is the foundation of Ice Armor Mountain, the birthplace of our legacy! Our disciples are here, our ancestral shrine is here. Above us are our ancestors, and below us are our roots. How dare you insult Ice Armor Mountain with such words?!"

"Yes, you are wealthy and powerful, the esteemed Pill Ancestor of Heaven Pill Gate. But what can money truly buy? There are many things in this world that cannot be purchased with mere spirit stones. A few spirit stones are not worth even a fraction of Ice Armor Mountain's heritage!"

Chen Xia remained expressionless, extending a finger as he tested the waters.

"I'll offer ten million spirit stones."

"Hmph! Don't even think about it! I would never make such a decision that goes against my ancestors!" the Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch retorted coldly, flicking his sleeve.

Chen Xia opened his palm and raised the offer.

"Fifty million spirit stones."

"..." The Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch's expression faltered. He lowered his head, seemingly deep in thought. After a long pause, he looked up and sighed,

"I have decided to make a decision that goes against my ancestors."

"You hesitated. I don't like that," Chen Xia shook his head, retracting his open palm and raising a single finger. Under the Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch's anxious gaze, he declared,

"One hundred million spirit stones."

These words struck like a thunderbolt in the Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch's heart. Without hesitation, he replied,

"Even the ancestors of Ice Armor Mountain in the netherworld would be overjoyed!"

One hundred million spirit stones! With that amount, he could easily buy land in another state, establish a new sect, and purchase countless treasures, techniques, and pills.

Spirit stones were the currency of cultivators, mined from the mountains and seas of the world. They held significant value, capable of slowly storing and releasing spiritual energy for cultivators to absorb. They could also be used for crafting artifacts and constructing formations, making them a staple in the hands of cultivators.

This Pill Ancestor was truly generous.

With a casual flick of his hand, Chen Xia tossed over a storage artifact containing enough spirit stones—even slightly more than the agreed amount.

The Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch quickly caught it, scanning it with his spiritual sense to confirm the amount. Unable to contain his excitement, he smiled broadly and said to Chen Xia,

"Then it's settled. This place is now yours. I will take my disciples and leave, ensuring we don't disturb your peace, haha."

Chen Xia shrugged indifferently, his expression calm as he waved his hand.

"You don't have to leave. It's too much trouble. You can still live here and manage the territory. I can't handle it all by myself. I only have one condition: you must add 'Heaven Pill Gate' before 'Ice Armor Mountain.' From now on, it will be 'Heaven Pill Gate: Ice Armor Mountain.' How does that sound?"

What Chen Xia truly wanted was for Ice Armor Mountain to acknowledge that this territory belonged to Heaven Pill Gate. This would allow the Immortal Realm's will to recognize it as well, serving as a form of deception.

The Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch didn't respond immediately, still deep in thought. Adding "Heaven Pill Gate" before "Ice Armor Mountain" would make it seem like a subsidiary of Heaven Pill Gate.

But considering all factors, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. As Chen Xia had mentioned, he was alone, which meant no one else would interfere with Ice Armor Mountain's affairs. Moreover, Ice Armor Mountain could now benefit from its connection to Heaven Pill Gate.

Additionally, relocating Ice Armor Mountain would be a massive hassle. He would have to consider the disciples, the ancestral shrine, finding a new location, and rebuilding the sect. Staying put under Chen Xia's terms seemed like a far better option.

Pretending to hesitate, the Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch thought for a moment before smiling and saying,

"Then I shall respectfully comply. Please take care of us in the future, Pill Ancestor, haha."

"Mm," Chen Xia replied lightly before turning and leaving without another word.

The Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch weighed the storage artifact in his hand, his face filled with uncontainable joy. The Pill Ancestor's visit was a tremendous opportunity for Ice Armor Mountain. Not only had they gained a fortune in spirit stones, but they had also become the sole subsidiary of Heaven Pill Gate.

With Chen Xia as the only patriarch of Heaven Pill Gate, the pills he refined would surely benefit Ice Armor Mountain. In the future, it might even come to pass that Heaven Pill Gate and Ice Armor Mountain would merge into one.

The Ice Armor Mountain Patriarch's thoughts were optimistic, but not long after, he began hearing rumors.

All the sects surrounding Ice Armor Mountain had become subsidiaries of Heaven Pill Gate. Heaven Pill Gate was no longer just Heaven Pill Gate—it now encompassed all the surrounding territories and was collectively referred to as the Heaven Pill Domain.

The entire acquisition process had been swift, so much so that most cultivators hadn't even realized that a tenth of East Jia State's territory had fallen under Heaven Pill Gate's control.

Though this tenth of the territory was the most barren part of East Jia State, its sheer size was staggering—even larger than the territory of Eighth Mountain.

The sudden rise of Heaven Pill Gate made it the largest sect in East Jia State, standing tall in the southernmost region.

Its patriarch, the Pill Ancestor Chen Xia, had become the wealthiest cultivator in East Jia State by a landslide. However, wealth and ostentation often come with their own set of problems.

The first to voice their discontent were the alchemists of East Jia State. They gathered for a grand meeting, aptly titled: **"Save the Alchemists of East Jia State, Eradicate the Heretics!"**