Increase Order

“Where did that brat get so many soul-nourishing tree saplings?”

With a Soul-Nourishing Pendant resting atop his head, Liao Pantu stood with his hands on his hips before the swathes of soul-nourishing tree saplings scattered throughout Changming Mountain, looking both puzzled and excited.

Although the soul-nourishing tree saplings here were still weak young trees, there were so many of them that, as a soul entity, Liao Pantu could already feel the nourishing power unique to soul-nourishing trees coming from all directions.

“How strange. There aren’t even any new graves on Changming Mountain, so why is the yin energy here so abundant?”

Liao Pantu muttered to himself as he looked around and sensed his surroundings.

“So many soul-nourishing tree saplings… I wonder how that brat managed to gather so much yin energy… Where did he get the method for concentrating it…?”

After muttering for quite some time, Liao Pantu carefully inspected every single soul-nourishing tree sapling. Only after confirming that they were all growing exceptionally well did he finally turn his thoughts to other matters.

He rather wanted to live here. What should he do?

Once this vast stretch of soul-nourishing tree saplings grew to maturity, wouldn’t cultivating the Soul Refinement Art here double his results with half the effort?

But what would happen to his medicinal garden then?

The situation in the medicinal garden was extremely complicated. The growth habits and environmental requirements of the various medicinal plants differed enormously, and they needed to be watched over constantly by someone experienced and thoroughly familiar with them.

Moreover, this was not something that could be solved simply by drawing up a duty roster.

Many details changed in real time and could not be completely controlled.

After all, the reason many high-grade medicinal plants were considered high-grade was not merely because of how long they took to mature. Their requirements for growth were also exceptionally demanding. Otherwise, high-grade medicinal plants would have long since become widespread throughout the cultivation world.

Clearly, Liao Pantu had never expected the sect to possess a place so suitable for his cultivation. As a result, he had not been in any hurry to train a successor.

Now, he was suffering the consequences of failing to plan ahead.

As for the possibility that Lin Xiao might refuse to let him cultivate on Changming Mountain, that possibility had not even entered his mind.

After several years of interacting with him, Liao Pantu understood this Young Sect Master’s character well.

This was something that benefited him while causing no harm to the sect. Lin Xiao would not refuse.

Thus, for Liao Pantu, the only difficulty was deciding between the two.

For a time, Liao Pantu found himself caught in an unprecedented dilemma.

Far away, inside the imperial city of the capital of Pusi Kingdom.

Seeing that He Yi had been gone for nearly half a month without any news, let alone returning, Li Zhouxuan could not help feeling puzzled.

That day, he happened to be visiting Yuhua Palace to report to his family’s ancestor on the recent business dealings between them and Lingxian Sect.

That’s right. After three years, their senior ancestor, Li Zhanying, had finally emerged from seclusion the previous month.

As luck would have it, he had done so one day before He Yi arrived in Pusi Kingdom.

Because of this, Li Zhouxuan had the confidence to converse with He Yi, a cultivator from the cultivation world, as an equal.

Otherwise, Li Zhouxuan estimated that he would have had to ask their family’s only Golden Core ancestor, Li Zeyuan, to speak with He Yi. He himself would not have had the confidence to hold a proper conversation with him.

For mortals who knew of the cultivation world’s existence, there was an innate fear of its cultivators. What was more, Daoist He was such a young Golden Core cultivator.

At a glance, it was obvious that he was a favored prodigy carefully nurtured by a major sect in the cultivation world.

If he encountered any mishap in the mortal world, or if he became dissatisfied for some reason, the major sect behind him might be able to destroy them with the slightest movement of a finger.

Fortunately, their ancestor had successfully emerged from seclusion and advanced to the middle stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, giving Li Zhouxuan the confidence he needed.

Otherwise, he would not have wanted to send their Ancestor Zeyuan to negotiate with him.

After all, Ancestor Zeyuan’s temperament was too straightforward. His voice was loud and his tone stiff, making it easy for listeners to misunderstand him. He was truly not suited for such matters.

Li Zhouxuan held a long list in his hands and reported the details of their business to his ancestor point by point.

Recently, the three major sects had all increased the number of production orders they placed, while also increasing the quantity of goods they purchased.

After listening to Li Zhouxuan’s report from his seat at the head of the palace, Li Zhanying stroked his long beard, nodded, and said, “It is about time. Over the past two years, the three major sects, led by Qinghe Sect, have completed quite a number of production orders from Lingxian Sect. The spirit stones they have accumulated have steadily increased.

“At first, perhaps because they had been short of spirit stones for many years, they did not dare spend them freely. But after more than two years of stability, they have confirmed that our channels are fairly reliable and unlikely to be cut off easily. This is equivalent to having a fixed income from now on.”

“Ancestor is absolutely right. Also, I’m not sure whether the three major sects have let anything slip, but the sects from several neighboring countries whom we originally contacted had mostly remained on the sidelines. Previously, only the royal families of the few countries friendly with our Li clan had expressed an intention to trade with us. Recently, however, even those sects that had been watching from the sidelines have begun sending envoys to negotiate,” Li Zhouxuan replied.

“Good. Negotiate properly with those envoys. This matter must be handled flawlessly. We cannot allow Lingxian Sect to become dissatisfied with our Li clan,” Li Zhanying instructed.

“This grandson obeys!”

Only after they had finished discussing the most important matter concerning their imperial family did Li Zhanying remember the envoy from the cultivation world. He then asked about He Yi’s recent situation.

“How has Daoist He been recently? He said before that he had come because of the Jishi Stone matter. Has there been any progress?”

Li Zhouxuan was also full of doubts.

“Reporting to Ancestor, Daoist He only asked me about the Jishi Stone incident that occurred in Huanyou Kingdom on the day he arrived. After that, he never mentioned it again. Ten days ago, he suddenly asked what lay directly to the east. The next day, he said he was going traveling for a few days. He has yet to return, and no word has come back.”

Upon hearing this, the hand stroking Li Zhanying’s beard stopped. He furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before saying, “Although this Fellow Daoist He has already reached the Golden Core Realm and must possess treasures for protection, logically speaking, he should not face any danger to his life in the mortal world. Even so, we should send people to look for him, just in case…”

“Do this: have your people notify all the prefectures and commanderies. Tell them to send whatever men they have available to search the surrounding areas. If they encounter him, there is no need to disturb him. They need only provide whatever assistance he requires.

“However, he is a Golden Core cultivator. If he conceals his trail, mortals would never be able to discover anything. I will have Zeyuan set out immediately and search toward the east. No matter what, we must confirm that he is safe.”

“This grandson will carry out your command. I’ll go and arrange it at once.”

Li Zhouxuan bowed, then left Yuhua Palace and hurriedly sent notices to all the prefectures and commanderies.

Li Zhanying likewise immediately used a communication talisman to send a message to Li Zeyuan.

Thanks to Lingxian Sect, their imperial family no longer had to live as tightly as they had in the past. With their status as an intermediary, the production orders they received from Lingxian Sect, and the occasional benefits Lingxian Sect provided through its channels, their days had become considerably more comfortable.