223: Chapter 223 Separation and Relocation!

...

Yuan Prefecture, Northern Protectorate.

Zhao Yanchuan and his group traveled a long distance for several months, finally arriving at their destination.

The headquarters of the Guiyuan Sect was located next to a market town named "Tianyuan City" in the northern part of Yuan Prefecture.

This city was of considerable scale, its prosperity second only to White Cloud Immortal City. Moreover, it was an important transportation hub, guarding the trade route leading to the Liang Kingdom, with an endless stream of traveling caravans.

Just as the Zhao Family's caravan entered the market town, they were surrounded by a group of Cultivators.

"From the Zhao Family? Introduced by White Cloud Temple?"

A middle-aged Cultivator squeezed to the very front, his Face covered in smiles.

"Indeed." Zhao Yanchuan jumped down from the carriage, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Zhao Yanchuan. By my elder brother's order, I have come to Yuan Prefecture to open up a trade route."

"I have long looked forward to meeting you!"

The middle-aged Cultivator nodded repeatedly, cupping his hands with a smile: "I am Li Changfeng, a deacon of the Guiyuan Sect. Our Sect Leader has already given instructions; our Guiyuan Sect will fully cooperate with the Zhao Family's matters."

Zhao Yanchuan nodded in agreement, giving him Face.

Although the Guiyuan Sect only had one Golden Core Master presiding over it and only about thirty Foundation Establishment Cultivator within the Sect, making its scale a bit small, it still held considerable sway in the territory of Yuan Prefecture.

Due to geographical reasons, they had a wide circle of friends.

They had trade relations with various regional Schools in the Qingcang Kingdom. Although their School was not as prominent as White Cloud Temple, it was certainly not weak.

What the Zhao Family needed to do was spread out their trade routes and firmly establish their Foundation under the protection of the Guiyuan Sect, taking advantage of this geographical benefit to develop and strengthen themselves.

Li Changfeng led them through the market town to a quiet courtyard.

"This is the lodging place our Sect Leader specifically arranged for the Zhao Family. It's a three-entry courtyard; the front can be used as a shop, the back for living quarters, and it's even connected to a branch of a Rank 2 spiritual vein."

"We can only ask our esteemed guests to make do with this for now."

Zhao Yanchuan looked around and nodded in satisfaction.

The courtyard was not large, but the location was excellent, right next to the main street of the market town, with high foot traffic. As a starting point, it was already enough.

"Thank you, Brother Li."

"We are away from home, so there's no need to talk about making do. It is already wonderful that Brother Li could arrange lodging for us."

Zhao Yanchuan took out a Storage Pouch and slipped it into Li Changfeng's hand:

"A small token of appreciation, please accept it."

Li Changfeng felt the thickness of the Storage Pouch, and his smile grew even wider: "Brother Zhao, you are too polite. If you need anything, just say the word. No one in our Guiyuan Sect will hesitate to help."

After seeing Li Changfeng off, Zhao Yanchuan gathered his clansmen and assigned tasks.

"You few, take charge of inventorying the goods and putting them into storage."

"A few more of you, go look around the market town to see if there are any suitable shops for rent. The rest, follow me to the Guiyuan Sect to pay our respects to the Sect Leader."

Everyone complied and went their separate ways.

Zhao Yanchuan then took two Foundation Establishment clansmen and followed a Disciple of the Guiyuan Sect toward the Sect's headquarters...

The mountain gate of the Guiyuan Sect was located on a low hill north of Tianyuan City.

The hill was not high, only a few hundred Zhang, but it was rich in Spiritual Qi. The hill was lush with vegetation, and several halls were nestled among them, giving it quite an immortal aura.

The Sect Leader's surname was Zhou, his given name was Yuanshan, and his Daoist title was Immortal Master Guiyi!

He was a thin, elderly man wearing a gray robe, looking quite ordinary, but his aura was deep and restrained, steady as an abyss.

"The juniors of the Zhao Family indeed have some courage."

Zhou Yuanshan sized up Zhao Yanchuan: "Traveling from Ming Prefecture to Yuan Prefecture to do business is no short distance. I wonder what Fellow Daoist Bai was thinking."

"Could it be that he saw your Zhao Family growing strong again and feared you would take control of the Sect once more, so he eliminated dissidents in advance to benefit the Yun Clan?"

Hearing these words, Zhao Yanchuan could only smile awkwardly:

"Sect Leader, you must be joking."

"We are businessmen; we go wherever there is money to be made. Yuan Prefecture is located on the border between Qingcang and the Liang Kingdom, and the trade routes are busy, making it an excellent place for business."

"Haha..."

Zhou Yuanshan picked up his teacup and took a slow sip: "This old man has heard a thing or two about your Zhao Family's background."

"There is no need to play these tricks with me."

"It is a good thing for young people to have drive, but in this territory of Yuan Prefecture, I hope you can discipline yourself strictly. Rules must still be followed."

"Senior, please rest assured. The Zhao Family has always been law-abiding and will never cause trouble for the Guiyuan Sect."

"That is good."

Zhou Yuanshan put down his teacup and continued, "If your Zhao Family wants to establish a foothold here, relying solely on the reputation of White Cloud Temple is not enough."

"The waters in Yuan Prefecture run very deep. Caravans from the Liang Kingdom, Loose Cultivators, and even remnants of demonic Cultivators will pop up to cause trouble from time to time."

"If your Zhao Family encounters trouble, you can come to find this old man, but this old man will not help for free."

"Understood."

Zhao Yanchuan nodded: "The Zhao Family will hand over thirty percent of our annual profits here to the Guiyuan Sect as tribute."

"Fifty percent." Zhou Yuanshan held up five fingers.

Zhao Yanchuan's expression changed slightly, but he quickly returned to normal: "Sect Leader, thirty percent was already a lot. Our Zhao Family has just arrived, and we haven't even made back our capital..."

"Forty percent, my absolute bottom line."

Zhou Yuanshan made the final call. Seeing this, Zhao Yanchuan fell silent for a moment before finally nodding: "Deal, forty percent it is."

As he walked out of the Guiyuan Sect's mountain gate...

The smile on Zhao Yanchuan's Face vanished, replaced by a touch of gloom.

"Clan Elder Yanchuan, that Senior is too greedy. That's forty percent of our profits..."

The clansman beside him could not help but complain.

"This is protection money. Forty percent is forty percent, there is nothing else we can do."

"We have just arrived and our Foundation is unstable. If we don't keep the local snakes happy, how can we have peaceful days ahead?"

"Without being fleeced once, how could we settle in and integrate here so easily?"

"Once we expand our trade routes and stabilize our connections, we can find ways to lower the price. It's not impossible."

"First act like a grandson, then act like a master."

"To achieve great things, suffering some humiliation is only normal."

The clansman seemed thoughtful and nodded repeatedly.

Zhao Yanchuan looked up into the distance, his eyes deep.

The Old Ancestor's task for him was very clear: establish a firm foothold in Yuan Prefecture, plant the Zhao Family's roots deep, and at the same time, begin breeding Yao Beasts here.

If conditions and timing were right, he was to carve out another Mushou Mountain as much as possible to domesticate various types of herded beasts...

This task did not seem difficult, but the key lay in the word 'patience'.

...

In the eastern market of Tianyuan City, the Zhao Family's new shop opened for business.

The storefront was not large, with only two rooms facing the street, but it possessed an excellent location. As soon as it opened, it attracted the attention of many Cultivators.

The goods the Zhao Family sold were highly varied, ranging from low-grade Medicinal Pills to mid-grade Talismans, and from ordinary Magical Artifacts to Spirit Beast cubs; they had everything.

The prices were also fair, being twenty to thirty percent lower than the market rate.

Thus, they quickly made a name for themselves in the market town.

Zhao Yanchuan personally managed the shop and dealt with the passing caravans. Within a few days, he became well-acquainted with several families who traveled the trade routes of the Liang Kingdom year-round.

One of them, surnamed Qian, was a local Foundation Establishment Family in Yuan Prefecture.

The clan had several Foundation Establishment Cultivator and specialized in trade with the Liang Kingdom. The head of the Qian Family was named Qian Guangjin, who held the highest status.

He was a short, plump middle-aged man who smiled like a Maitreya Buddha, but he was incredibly shrewd to the core.

"Brother Zhao, I heard your Zhao Family came from White Cloud Temple in Ming Prefecture? I, Qian, have heard of it before."

"I heard that White Cloud Temple is extremely adept at raising all kinds of Spirit Beasts."

"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Zhao could procure a batch of Spirit Mice for me? Preferably the type with comprehensive life-saving abilities."

"As for the price, everything is negotiable."

"You have no idea, but things have been extremely turbulent in the Liang Kingdom lately. Up above, there is internal strife among the four Schools, and down below, an evil cult called the Holy Blood Sect is wreaking havoc everywhere."

"It really makes things unbearably difficult for us businessmen."