46: Chapter 46 Foundation Building Ceremony, Preparing for the Trade Route!

The auspicious time had arrived.

In the central square of Hongtian City, hundreds of seats were completely filled.

The main table was set at the very front inside a grand hall; those seated here were all the remaining Old Ancestors of the Foundation Establishment Families from the Nine Counties of Baiyun Prefecture, as well as an Executive Elder sent by White Cloud Temple.

"Patriarch Sun has arrived—!"

Following the loud cry of the announcer, the bustling square instantly fell silent.

Sun Boan, dressed in a dark cyan brocade robe and wearing a jade crown, walked steadily out from the main hall; although his face remained aged, the Spiritual Pressure belonging to a great Foundation Establishment Cultivator genuinely swept across the venue!

"Congratulations to Patriarch Sun for reaching Foundation Establishment; the Dao is now within reach!"

All the Cultivators stood up in unison and cupped their hands in congratulations.

"Fellow Daoists, you are too kind; please take your seats. I, Sun, am deeply grateful that everyone could come to observe the ceremony today!" Sun Boan said with a smile, returning the salute.

His demeanor was perfectly balanced—neither too overbearing nor too humble—exuding a composure that could not be ignored!

It was precisely this tone that best embodied the current strength of the Sun Clan.

At the main table, the Old Ancestor of the Li Family from Qinghe County held a wine cup, his gaze sweeping over Sun Boan as he sighed inwardly.

His aura was unstable, and his true essence was weak.

It was indeed as the rumors said: he was a defective Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If they were to actually fight, any Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator present could cut Sun Boan down in less than a hundred moves.

But, who would dare to make a move?

Just as the Li Family Old Ancestor thought this, the ground began to tremble in a very rhythmic pattern...

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Heavy footsteps came from the direction of the back mountain, each step feeling as if it were stomping on everyone's heart. The wine in their cups rippled layer by layer.

A violent, savage, and suffocating Demonic Qi descended from the sky like a tsunami, instantly enveloping the entire Hongtian City.

In the square, several Qi Refining Cultivators with weaker cultivation bases felt their legs go soft and fell directly to the ground.

A Black Bear with a body as massive as a small mountain slowly walked into the square.

Its body was two zhang tall, and its dark black fur stood upright like steel needles, faintly shimmering with a bloody light. Its cold, vertical pupils swept across the entire venue, carrying an indifference as if looking down upon ants.

Shi Jian shrunk his body, walked to the side of the main table, and lazily sprawled out on a specially made, massive bluestone couch.

Shi Jian did not restrain his aura; the terrifying Spiritual Pressure of a Peak Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator was immediately released without reservation...

The Li Family Old Ancestor's hand holding the wine cup jerked violently, spilling wine all over himself.

The several Foundation Establishment Old Ancestors beside him also turned pale, breathing heavily, each one lowering their heads, not daring to look directly at the Black Bear.

Strong. Too strong!

This kind of pure Physical Body pressure was even more terrifying than those Sword Cultivators from White Cloud Temple, and it had faintly touched upon Late Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation...

"Old Ancestor." Sun Boan turned around and bowed respectfully.

Shi Jian yawned, revealing his stark white fangs, and said: "You all eat and drink as you please; don't mind me."

"I'm just here to join the fun, and by the way, to take a look at the Fellow Daoists of Baiyun Prefecture."

He enunciated the word "look" with heavy emphasis.

The Foundation Establishment Old Ancestors at the main table felt their scalps tingle; they hurriedly stood up and cupped their hands in a bow to Shi Jian—if their cultivation was insufficient, they would make up for it with respect for seniority.

"Greetings, Senior Shi!"

In the cultivation world, those who are more capable are teachers.

Especially when it was a Yao Beast that could easily tear them to shreds.

"Sit down." Shi Jian waved his paw, and the banquet proceeded with an eerie atmosphere.

The Qi Refining Cultivators on the periphery were drinking and chatting, lively and boisterous; however, the Foundation Establishment Old Ancestors at the main table were like sitting on pins and needles, their movements to pick up food cautious, their smiles strained and awkward.

After three rounds of drinks, Sun Boan put down his wine cup and cleared his throat.

What came next was the main event.

"Everyone." Sun Boan scanned the crowd with his gaze. "Today, taking advantage of this ceremony, I have a matter I wish to discuss with you all."

Hearing this, the Cultivators put down their bowls and chopsticks, their gazes converging. The Li Family Old Ancestor seized the moment to speak: "Fellow Daoist Sun, please speak freely. We are all under the same county's jurisdiction, so there is no need to be distant."

"Since that is the case, I will speak plainly."

"Some days ago, Daoist Master Yunxiao bestowed a favor upon us, exempting the Sun Clan from ten years of rent for three core storefronts in Baiyun Market, and promised that all spiritual resources produced by the Sun Clan could be sold freely."

As soon as these words were spoken, a trace of envy flashed in the eyes of the several Foundation Establishment Old Ancestors.

Baiyun Market was the trading center for the entire county; the storefronts there were worth their weight in gold. Ten years of rent exemption—the profits would be immense.

"The Sun Clan has a shallow foundation and cannot handle such a large operation alone."

Sun Boan smiled and cast his bait: "Therefore, I intend to convert these three storefronts into the 'Mingqiu Merchant Alliance'."

"The specialty spiritual items of the various families in the Nine Counties can all be sold on your behalf through my Sun Clan's storefronts."

"As for the profits, the Sun Clan will only take a ten percent cut."

The main table instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Only a ten percent cut? This wasn't doing business; this was practically giving away money!

One had to know that in the past, when each Family went to set up stalls in Baiyun Market or sold to large merchant firms, the profits squeezed and exploited were at least twenty to thirty percent.

"Patriarch Sun, is this true?"

The Old Ancestor of the Lin Family of Feng'an County couldn't help but ask; this deal was extraordinary.

"Naturally, it is true." Sun Boan raised his wine cup: "Not only that, but the Sun Clan will also organize a caravan that will tour the Nine Counties once a year."

"If any Family has urgent needs for supplies, you can make a list, and the Sun Clan's caravan will be responsible for coordinating and allocating them, allowing for the exchange of needed goods."

With this, everyone understood.

The Sun Clan was taking advantage of the special privileges granted by Daoist Master Yunxiao to integrate all the remaining families of the Nine Counties, forming a network of interests with the Sun Clan at its core...

If you join, everyone makes money together; if you don't join...

Everyone secretly glanced at the massive Black Bear resting with its eyes closed nearby; this god of plague was certainly not someone to be trifled with!

Among those present, most of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were at the Early Stage, with only two at the Middle Stage, and none were at the Peak Middle Stage...

If one didn't join, they would likely have a hard time in this Baiyun Prefecture from now on.

"Patriarch Sun is truly righteous!"

The Li Family Old Ancestor was the first to react, raising his wine cup and saying loudly, "My Qinghe Li Family is willing to advance and retreat with the Sun Clan!"

"From now on, all of the Li Family's Spiritual Plants can be handed over to the Mingqiu Merchant Alliance for sale!"

"My Lin Family is the same!"

"Count my Zhao Family in!"

For a moment, the atmosphere at the main table became extremely heated.

The temptation of profit, combined with the deterrent of force, allowed these shrewd, veteran Family leaders to instantly make the wisest choice.

Sun Boan was all smiles, clinking glasses with everyone one by one.

Cultivation is not just about fighting and killing; cultivation is about human relationships and worldly wisdom, about the transfer of benefits, and about business deals where we are intertwined with each other!

Shi Jian half-closed his eyes, watching this scene, nodding inwardly.

This old guy's methods of manipulating hearts had indeed improved quite a bit; a ten percent profit cut seemed like a loss, but by holding the power over the circulation of goods in the Nine Counties in his hands, the Sun Clan had become the local tycoon of Baiyun Prefecture.

The hosts and guests were all satisfied.

The ceremony lasted for three whole days. When it came to an end, the Sun Clan had signed a thick stack of contracts with each Family, and everyone returned home fully satisfied.

Each Family could earn more wealth and also save time.

And the Sun Clan had more choices, thereby mastering the channels for obtaining spiritual items; after all, the land of Hongtian was ultimately too small...

To support two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, one also had to pave the way for the younger generation.

Managing and cutting costs internally was ultimately limited. Opening up new sources of revenue and expanding resources externally was the true Righteous Path!