154: Chapter 154 Great Wealth and Prosperity!

...

"Twelve Rank 2 spiritual veins, one Rank 3 Spiritual Vein, and various Spiritual Materials converted into Spirit Stones total about five to six hundred thousand."

"Eight hundred and seventy-three Rank 2 spiritual items, and forty-two Rank 3 spiritual items."

"A total of eight hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and five thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

Shi Jian calculated the accounts in his mind, and this wasn't even the full return from this trip; this was only Heisha County, without accounting for Fenghe County yet.

If all these gains were fully digested and absorbed,

The scale of White Cloud Temple would at least double from its original foundation!

War is always the fastest way to get rich; 'murder and arson bring a golden belt,' the ancients truly did not deceive this bear.

"Prepare to withdraw."

"We've taken everything we should. If we stay any longer, even the Shangqing Sect will start getting jealous."

Eating alone is a great taboo. All the various forces of the Wei State are plundering in the Jin State; if White Cloud Temple eats too much, it will easily invite resentment. Quitting while ahead is the strategy for the long term.

Daoist Yun Du and Mountain Clearing Immortal Master had no objections to this.

They also understood the principle that 'possessing a treasure invites misfortune.'

Wandering around outside with so many resources was always unsettling; only by transporting them back to the Sect and converting them into their own strength would it be most secure.

Two giant flying boats took to the sky.

When they came, the flying boats were loaded with apprehension and determination; as they returned, the cabins were stuffed with massive resources enough to change the fate of the Sect.

Shi Jian stood on the deck, looking down at the scarred land of the Jin State below.

The scorched earth, dried-up rivers, and abandoned cities—this national war had destroyed most of the vitality of this land.

Without several hundred or even a thousand years of recovery, the Jin State could forget about restoring its Origin Qi.

"This is the world of cultivation."

Shi Jian whispered secretly in his heart; there was no distinction between good and evil, only naked competition for interests and the law of the jungle.

If you are weak today, I will eat you; if I am weak tomorrow, others will come to eat me.

The Wei State won a great victory this time, but the internal landscape would surely undergo a major reshuffle.

The Shangqing Sect had swallowed two provinces of the Jin State, and its power was expanding rapidly, which would inevitably break the original balance among the three major Sects of the Wei State.

The Xuanqing Sect suffered heavy losses fighting sea yao in the North Sea; the Taiqing Sect also gained many benefits in the eastern theater, but they were nowhere near as bountiful as those of the Shangqing Sect.

The future of the Wei State would likely not be peaceful either.

In times of crisis, the three Sects are one Family, but in times of difficulty, they cannot share wealth and prosperity.

However, none of this was what Shi Jian needed to worry about now; intrigue and constant change were the norms of the cultivation world.

His primary task now was to go back and digest this massive pile of resources.

The two Low Grade blessed lands and Spiritual Veins from the Fenghe Sect, combined with the Spiritual Veins extracted from Heisha County, were enough to allow the strength of White Cloud Temple to welcome a blowout explosion.

And the Yao Race forces under his command would also quietly grow stronger in the depths of Mushou Mountain with the help of these resources...

"Troubled times produce heroes, and they also produce Great Yao."

"If I am given another few hundred years, I too can lead the Yao Race to rise, contend for hegemony over this continent, and unify Xuanling!"

Shi Jian opened his large mouth and let out a low roar against the high-altitude astral winds.

The flying boat pierced through the clouds and sped toward the southwestern border of the Wei State.

...

Half a month later.

White Cloud Temple, Yunjian Mountain Range.

When the two flying boats, loaded with spoils, landed on the Main Peak square, the entire Sect erupted in excitement.

Elder Great Elder Yun Tianfan, who had stayed behind, watched the crates of Spirit Stones and Spiritual Materials being carried down, as well as the jade boxes sealing the Spiritual Veins, and old tears streamed down his face.

"Heaven blesses my White Cloud Temple! Heaven blesses my White Cloud Temple!"

Great Elder Yun Tianfan knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly toward the Ancestral Master Hall.

Sun Mao and Zhao Yanshan also led the Family Cultivators from the nine counties under their jurisdiction to welcome them.

They had also harvested plenty on the Fenghe Sect's side; with the two groups merging, the foundation of White Cloud Temple had expanded to a staggering degree.

After allocating a portion of the resources to the Qingguang Sect,

Mountain Clearing Immortal Master led the troops from Qingzhou County and left White Cloud Temple. Although this old fellow's harvest this time was not as great as White Cloud Temple's, the resources he obtained were still massive.

It was no joke to say that in a few years, he might be able to Breakthrough to the Golden Core Middle Stage.

...

At the top of Zixiao Peak, the Thunder Pond was still churning.

Shi Jian returned to his familiar Immortal Cave, his massive body sprawled on the stone platform, letting out a comfortable sigh.

Gold nest, silver nest, none are as good as one's own dog house.

"Elder Rat, pass down my orders."

Shi Jian closed his eyes and began to arrange the next matters.

"All Yao Race members are to fully withdraw to the depths of Mushou Mountain. Without my command, no Yao Beast is allowed to go out and cause trouble."

"Distribute the resources brought back according to the previous proportions."

"Let those cubs eat and train as much as they want. I want to see more Foundation Establishment Stage Great Yao appear in the shortest time possible."

"This little one understands." Elder Rat took the order and withdrew.

Shi Jian rolled over, a deep light flashing in his Thunder Pupils.

He had the resources, and he had the territory.

Long-term dormancy and accumulation would be the main theme...

The path of cultivation is like rowing a boat against the current; if you do not advance, you will retreat.

This giant lightning bear had already gained some power and status on this chessboard named the Xuanling Continent.

But that was not enough.

What he wanted was not just the qualification.

He wanted to become the chess player who sets the rules!

Ripples spread across the surface of the Thunder Pond, and purple-gold electric light flowed over Shi Jian's body. He slowly closed his eyes, immersing himself in cultivation.

After devouring the Golden Core and flesh of the Bone Fiend Immortal Master,

He had already felt the Bottleneck. Perhaps in another twenty or thirty years, he too could break through the shackles and advance to the Golden Core Middle Stage.

Everything still needed preparation.

Perhaps when he woke up next time, the world would have new changes again.

He didn't know if the Jin State would still exist or if the Demonic Path would completely vanish when he woke up; everything still needed time to ferment.

...