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Chapter 52: Safe Return (2)

"Okay."

Fortunately, Zhou Xuchuan accepted it easily. He didn't feel any qualms about it, thanks to his memories of living past seventy.

Seeing that, Wang Yi rejoiced and reported.

"The young master is still studying in the Zhuge Family."

The Gold Will Merchants regularly visited Mount Hua with a lot of gifts. Most of the time, the Head Merchant himself would come, or if he couldn't afford to, he would send close aides who were tight-lipped.

Some might see this as a way to build ties with Mount Hua, but that wasn't the case.

Their true purpose was to keep Zhou Xuchuan, who couldn't leave the sect for a while, and therefore had limited access to information, informed about the outside world. "The exploration was much slower than I expected, so I was worried that they would send Shengji in, but it seems I was worried for nothing."

It wasn't that the Zhuge Family didn't think about getting Zhuge Shengji's help. However, he was only eleven years old and had nearly died just a year ago. They couldn't send someone like that to a lawless area like the treasury because of the opinions of the other cultivators.

Most importantly, they couldn't stand the fact that a prestigious family like them had to rely on an eleven-year-old boy for everything.

"It seems the head merchant is busy, considering he didn't come last year and even this year. Did something happen?"

"It's all good news; you don't have to worry."

The Gold Will Merchants based in Weng'An was no more. Replacing it was a middle-scale merchant company that dominated the entire Guizhou Province.

The Gold Will Merchants were already growing before they got their hands on the treasure from the treasury of the Three-Eyed Godly Thief. It was all thanks to the head merchant's skills. He started accumulating wealth by supplying military rations and even delving in weapons business on the side.

After that, the merchant company expanded after receiving investment in the form of treasure from the treasury. With that investment, they managed to hire talented people and increase the number of businesses they operated.

Now, they had expanded to the entirety of Guizhou and were steadily expanding to other areas as well.

"Flies are bound to flock to rumors of money... were there any problems?"

"They were mostly ignorant street thugs. Other than that—"

"Competing merchants," Zhou Xuchuan interrupted.

"How did you know?" Wang Yi asked in surprise.

"It's pretty obvious."

No one liked the growth of a competitor, especially merchants. Merchants would lose a considerable amount of their income if they had to compete with another.

Fixed stalls had it better off, but in the case of merchant companies of a decent scale, there would be substantial losses if they were to miss a business opportunity. Because of this, merchant companies would often sabotage their rivals' businesses or even send assassins.

"Experts can't make a move because of the treasury, so there shouldn't be any danger for a while. So tell the head merchant to focus on expanding the company, but also to preserve battle strength."

"Understood." Wang Yi nodded. Inwardly, he couldn't hide his astonishment.

He isn't old enough to be called an adult. Yet, he's so insightful and powerful. He's truly amazing.

*

Zhou Xuchuan spent his days training. He didn't have any reason to leave the sect, so he focused on cultivating. There were many things he had to train in, so he didn't feel that bored at all. If anything, cultivating was very difficult.

Most of the difficulties could be attributed to the Violet Haze Divine Art and the Eclipse Divine Archery Art.

"Hm."

He'd broken through to the fifth stage of the Violet Haze Divine Art before turning fourteen. As for the Violet Haze Sword Style, he was still stuck on the first form.

The difficulty was one thing, but the cultivation speed itself was mind-numbingly slow.

Although he could only stay in the realm for about half a month, he had once reached the Harmony Realm in his previous life, so he found it unbelievable that his progress was so slow.

Still, the Violet Haze Divine Art was in a better position compared to the Eclipse Divine Archery Art.

The Eclipse Divine Archery Art wasn't rooted in Mount Hua's martial arts, nor was it a sword or fist art.

"I don't think I'll use it that often, but learning it just in case wouldn't hurt."

He didn't take it that seriously though. He just recited the mantra and took it slow. He was only learning the Eclipse Divine Archery Art because he knew it, and the Ten Thousand Convergence Art allowed him to. He allocated a certain amount of time every day to train it.

However, he knew others from Mount Hua would find it strange if they saw him, so he practiced it in secret.

"Junior brother!" a voice called out as he returned to the Lotus Pavilion after training the Eclipse Divine Archery Art.

Zhou Xuchuan turned to find Zhang Hong and Zhang Xuen.

"Senior brother, Senior sister. What is it?"

He wondered if something was wrong, but it turned out that he was worried for nothing.

"Nothing much. I was hoping to spar if you had some free time."

Zhang Xuen stuck out her tongue and laughed.

"Right. We don't have much time together."

Zhang Hong stroked the scabbard of his sword, looking eager to fight.

"Oh, I see. You're graduating soon."

Zhang Hong and Zhang Xuen were fourteen this year. They would become adults next year, which would mean they would no longer stay in the Lotus Pavilion.

"I'm fine with it, but will you be okay? You should really ask other people from the Lotus Pavilion."

Honestly, Zhou Xuchuan found it bothersome.

I hope they just refuse me. Zhou Xuchuan wished silently.

"Being humble is good, but you're too excessive. It's not like we don't know how skilled you are."

Zhang Xuen covered her mouth and laughed.

You're clingy!

His wish went unanswered.

He had hung out with the other apprentices ever since he returned to Mount Hua. Even then, he mostly spent time with Luo Xiaoyue, Zhang Hong, and Zhang Xuen.

They would sometimes spar or practice battle formations. From his perspective, it wasn't anything interesting.

"Now that I think about it, I believe Master called me."

"I'm just coming from where he was. He said it was okay."

"Gahddangit..." Zhou Xuchuan's expression darkened.

"Oh yeah, Junior brother Zhou, what does that 'Gahddangit' mean?"

"It's a way of saying you're happy or feeling good."

He couldn't bring himself to say that it was a swear word that would be used decades in the future.

Zhou Xuchuan didn't know the exact meaning either. It was just something he picked up from other cultivators while fighting in battle.

"Really? It feels strangely good to say it. I also feel gahddangit to be training with you, Junior brother." Zhang Hong grinned.

"Please stop." Zhou Xuchuan stiffened.

"What's wrong,Junior brother?"

"Don't you feel gahddangit?"

Zhang Hong and Zhang Xuen smiled innocently.

"Let's do it then. Let's spar."

He unleashed a fraction of his power that day.

*

Entrance to the treasury, Yanchang, Chongqing.

Beneath a large boulder was a staircase that led to a large cave.

This was the entrance to the treasury that was filled with all sorts of traps.

Arrrgh!

Screams could be heard from the passages. However, no one paid any mind. Forget being surprised; they were completely unfazed.

It was the norm here after all.

"The Three-Eyed Godly Thief must have been a pervert. There's no other reason why he installed so many mechanisms here."

"He spent his whole life stealing treasure. Don't you think it would be strange if he just handed it over? I get where he's coming from."

"Shut up. I can't relieve my stress if I don't swear at him."

Some of the cultivators grumbled.

"We're back!"

Murmur.

Joyous shouts drew everyone's attention.

"Survivors!"

"Look at their hands. Looks like they got rich."

Dozens of people came out of the passage that led to hell. They seemed to have suffered a lot, looking at how their clothes were torn and their bodies bloodied.

People's eyes gleamed with greed when they saw that.

"Forget it. Look at the people rushing over to them. They're obviously from the ten major sects or the five clans."

Even after safely returning from the treasury with the treasure, their journey was far from over. They couldn't rest easy until they were back among their own faction.

There were cultivators who didn't dare venture into the passages because of the dreadful mechanisms and traps. These people would loiter around the entrance and check any surviving returners before robbing them of their treasure.

"Before it was the Evil Valley, and now it's the Martial Alliance huh."

"Man, they're a greedy bunch."

It was extremely rare for a cultivator from smaller sects or unaffiliated cultivators to obtain treasure. Those that managed to only did so during the initial stages of the exploration before the rumors spread. Ever since people flocked and larger organizations started exploring, it barely happened at all.

Most of the treasure got taken by the Martial Alliance or the Evil Valley. This was a given, considering their scale and power.

"How long has it been since someone returned alive with treasure?"

"I think it's been a little less than two months..."

"Maybe that will be the last time."

A year and a half had passed since the exploration began. In the beginning, treasures were discovered relatively easily, but that was no longer the case.

The time between discoveries became a week, then two weeks, and now even longer. This made treasures hard to come by.

"Honestly, I didn't think the exploration would take this long."

"I don't think anyone did."

The Martial Alliance and the Evil Valley even formed a peace treaty, and cultivators unaffiliated with either faction gathered as well. Despite all these people, it still took over a year to explore the treasury. No one expected such a result.

"I'm so envious. If I had that kind of money..."

"Say that after you go to the treasury yourself. How many times are you going to say that?"

"To an amateur like me, telling me to explore is the same as telling me to die. I can't do anything but suck on my thumb."

The exploration was nearing its end.

"The Martial Alliance and the Evil Valley. Which side obtained more treasure?"

Money was power. The ratio of money each side possessed would change the paradigm of the power balance between the two sides.

Although cultivators hated money because it was not real power, that didn't really change reality. More military funds meant having more advantages.

"I hope neither side can overpower the other."

"The power balance must be maintained. Otherwise, there will be war."

Some people wanted peace, but some people wanted war.

"How can a cultivator avoid war? You're all cowards. The Martial Alliance must prevail."

"Right, we must eradicate those pesky cultivators from the Evil Faction as soon as possible."

Another half a year later, nearly two years after the exploration began, the Martial Alliance and the Evil Valley retreated to their domains after a heated discussion. This was because the treasure discovered six months prior turned out to be the last.

Although some remained and kept exploring after the two factions retreated, they did not discover anything.