The Modern Martial Immortal

Yaoguang had emerged from seclusion.

As the stewards of Nine Cauldrons Peak delivered invitations one after another, the news quickly spread throughout the entire Heavenly Dao Sect.

Although the lineage leaders and the sect master, who held great authority within the sect, did not show too much enthusiasm, more than a dozen Void-Piercing Realm elders still went to visit him.

Dozens more immediately sent congratulatory gifts.

Regardless of the fact that the young sect master was somewhat disliked by the sect master because of his relationship with the Penglai Dao Lord, it was never wrong to send a gift and make oneself familiar to him.

However, Yaoguang had only invited three Void-Piercing Realm elders for his first gathering, which made many people secretly regretful.

***

On the Nine Cauldrons Peak, the three great Void-Piercing Realm cultivators, Chi Yu, Tong Ming, and Ling Ruogu, attended in formal attire.

At the same time, each of them brought one or two talented juniors from their respective clans.

There was no need to mention Ling Xi of the Ling family. Chi Yu had also brought Chi Feng, a true disciple from his family's younger generation.

Elder Tong Ming’s backing was slightly weaker, and he did not have a presentable true disciple junior to accompany him. However, he brought a pair of twin sisters.

These twin sisters seemed to have been carefully nurtured. They had cultivated charming techniques, and their cultivation was at the Blazing White Golden Core Realm. Even Ling Xi, the second-ranked true disciple, was somewhat overshadowed by them in terms of aura and appearance.

"People often fail to recognize a towering tree while it's still growing; only after it reaches the clouds do they praise its greatness. Young Sect Master Yaoguang, you're truly modest and low-profile. You kept your strength hidden until you were ready to shake the world. Come, let me give you a toast."

At the small banquet, Yaoguang drank with the three Void-Piercing Realm elders.

With Chi Yu, Tong Ming, and Ling Ruogu all deliberately showing goodwill, the atmosphere was naturally lively.

"You are all too kind." Yaoguang raised his cup and said, "I invited you here this time not only to thank you for your enthusiasm, but also because there is something I would like your help with."

The others were briefly stunned. Then, almost at the same time, they stood up. "Young Sect Master, please speak freely. Although our Chi family’s influence is only average, we still have quite a few people we can mobilize. We await your instructions."

"I have also managed quite a few connections in the sect over the years. I will certainly do my utmost to satisfy your needs."

"Young Sect Master Yaoguang, you are too polite. To be trusted by you is our honor."

The Void-Piercing Realm cultivators all spoke with smiles.

Yaoguang did not keep them in suspense. He directly took out the Longxiang Flying Vessel and tossed it into the sky.

Immediately, the Longxiang Flying Vessel expanded with the wind, soon manifesting at a size of a thousand meters.

As it revealed its thousand-meter form, the Dao resonance on it began to diffuse outward.

In an instant, the expressions of the Void-Piercing Realm cultivators all changed. "T-This is..."

"Is this a Dao Artifact?!"

"A genuine, flying vessel-type Dao Artifact?!"

Yaoguang looked at their reaction.

Although every Void-Piercing Realm cultivator could earn more than a million Pure Yang Grand Pills in a year, making it seem as though they could buy a Dao Artifact if they saved for a thousand years, the reality was that many Void-Piercing Realm cultivators did not even have enough money for their daily cultivation. How could they save up a billion or so to buy a Dao Artifact?

After all, Void-Piercing Realm cultivators were different from mortals, who could only eat a limited amount every day. Void-Piercing Realm cultivators could consume as many pills as they had access to.

"Correct. It is indeed a Dao Artifact." As Yaoguang spoke, he smiled and glanced at Tong Ming. "Back then, I relied on this Dao Artifact to evade Elder Tong Ming’s pursuit."

Elder Tong Ming hurriedly apologized. "I was too reckless. I did not investigate the matter clearly before—"

"I know." Yaoguang waved his hand. "Elder Tong Ming was also misled by others. This was not your fault."

After saying this, he once again turned his gaze to the Longxiang Flying Vessel. "The help I would like to request from all of you is to help me publicize within the sect that I am willing to sell this Dao Artifact. The highest bidder gets it."

"You want to sell this Dao Artifact?!" Tong Ming, Chi Yu, and Ling Ruogu’s hearts trembled.

Among them, Ling Ruogu could not help saying, "With Young Sect Master Yaoguang’s talent and your special physique related to the void, even if nobody can guarantee you'll reach the Void-Refining Realm, your chances are still far greater than ordinary people’s. Once you reach the Void-Refining Realm, having this Dao Artifact by your side will make it far easier for you to refine Dao Techniques and attempt your breakthrough to the Void-Shattering Realm in the future, when compared to other Void-Refining Realm cultivators. Why would you..."

"It is precisely because my talent is decent that I must press forward without hesitation," Yaoguang said. "And cultivation requires resources. Without enough resources, how can I quickly cross the cultivation stage between the Void-Piercing Realm and the Void-Refining Realm? Selling this Dao Artifact at the right time can be a decent choice."

After hearing Yaoguang’s words, Ling Ruogu could not continue persuading him.

"If it is only this much, it doesn't even count as doing you a favor. On the contrary, it's a wonderful opportunity for us. This is a Dao Artifact being sold within the sect. It is even the most sought-after type, a void-related Dao Artifact. Who wouldn't want it?" Chi Yu hurriedly said.

"Chi Yu is right. If you have really decided to sell this Dao Artifact, I can immediately notify the thirteen peak masters, the four lineage leaders, and the three deputy sect masters." Elder Tong Ming also nodded.

"The sect master and several supreme elders will likely be interested in this Dao Artifact as well. They should also be notified," Ling Ruogu added.

"Then I will have to trouble all of you to notify them. The time will be set one month from now. The highest bidder gets it." As Yaoguang spoke, he smiled. "Of course, you can also give the peak masters, lineage leaders, and deputy sect masters a small warning. If they collude and offer an extremely low price, then they shouldn't blame me for selling the Dao Artifact externally rather than within the sect."

"Naturally not. We all belong to the same sect. No one would go so far as to do something so disgraceful." Elder Tong Ming smiled.

Chi Yu also nodded.

Had it been another Void-Piercing Realm cultivator selling the Dao Artifact, such a situation might not necessarily have been impossible. Even if the higher-ups wouldn't necessarily offer an extremely low price, they might have tried to get a lower price.

But given Yaoguang's new status as the young sect master and his special physique related to the void, which gave him a very high chance of reaching the Void-Refining Realm in the future, no one would offend him over something that already counted as giving the sect an advantage.

Even the sect master would be no exception.

"One month, then. Young Sect Master, leave this matter to us. When the time comes, I guarantee that every peak master, lineage leader, and deputy sect master who is free will be present." Ling Ruogu gave a fist-and-palm salute.

"Then I will have to trouble you all." Yaoguang also smiled and raised his hand slightly.

The two sides chatted for a while longer, deepening their relationship before dispersing in high spirits.

After these people left, Yaoguang summoned Chief Steward Lyu Suoyu again.

"I remember that I have many related industries. These industries should also bring me quite a bit of income every year. After three years, there should be eight or nine million, right? Has the income been handed over yet?" Yaoguang asked.

Lyu Suoyu was slightly stunned. Only then did he carefully say, "These industries are basically equivalent to your private properties, Young Sect Master. Under normal circumstances, the people closest to you would be responsible for receiving the profits. We would not dare overstep and interfere..."

After hearing this, Yaoguang frowned. He had advanced from true disciple to young sect master in one leap. It had happened too quickly.

True disciples, even those without a force supporting them from behind, would spend many years inside the sect before even considering a breakthrough. Many people would take the initiative to approach and attach themselves to them during that time. By the time those true disciples reached the Void-Piercing Realm and became young sect masters, the two sides would have already spent decades, or even a century, working together. They would know each other well. Those people would naturally become the foundational team that helped them manage their assets.

But Yaoguang had entirely skipped the stage of being a true disciple. Right now, he was had nobody he could use.

At this moment, he seemed to perceive something.

Immediately afterward, a steward came from afar and cupped his hands in request. "Young Sect Master, True Disciple Zhang Qin and the Zhang family’s ancestor, Zhang Yang, have come to visit."

"Mhmm. Bring them over," Yaoguang said.

After he gave the order, Zhang Qin and Zhang Yang were soon led by the steward to the mountain peak.

As for Yaoguang, when he thought of the flattery Zhang Qin had shown him before, as well as the meaning in his words, he more or less guessed their purpose in coming here.

He recalled some basic information about the Zhang family in his mind.

This was also a force that had once produced a Void-Piercing Realm cultivator.

However, the Zhang family’s Void-Piercing Realm cultivator had died in the war started by the demon paragon Xiangliu. Since then, for three thousand years, not a single Void-Piercing Realm cultivator had been born in the family.[1]

If not for the favors others owed that Void-Piercing Realm cultivator, the Zhang family would probably have been torn apart and absorbed by other factions by now.

But favors were eventually exhausted. After three thousand years, some of the Void-Piercing Realm cultivators from the same generation as the Zhang family’s ancestor had already reached the end of their lifespans, while others had suffered accidents and died violent deaths.

In the past few hundred years, the Zhang family had been trying to find a way out of its quickly deteriorating situation.

Now, it seemed like they had placed their hopes on him.

One Azure Golden Core cultivator with hopes of reaching the Void-Piercing Realm, and two Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals... They are barely usable for the time being. Yaoguang pondered.

Soon, Zhang Yang and Zhang Qin arrived at the mountain peak where Yaoguang was.

Before the two could speak, Yaoguang smiled and said, "The two of you have come at just the right time. I happen to have something I would like to ask you to help with. Do you have time?"

Zhang Yang and Zhang Qin looked at each other and quickly realized that Yaoguang had guessed their purpose in coming. They also understood what Yaoguang meant.

This was a test for the Zhang family to see whether they were truly useful.

The two immediately gave fist-and-palm salutes at the same time. "Please give your instructions, Young Sect Master."

"When I became the young sect master, the sect master granted me several bonuses. Among them are the administrative rights over District Three of Heavenly Dao Southern City and the 108 shops in that area. During this period, I have been busy consolidating my cultivation and have not yet taken possession of any of them. Therefore, I will have to trouble the Zhang family to help me check them. See what the order in District Three is like and whether the people below are behaving honestly," Yaoguang said with a smile.

Upon hearing this task, Zhang Qin and Zhang Yang solemnly accepted. "Thank you for your trust, Young Sect Master. The Zhang family will not disappoint you."

Yaoguang nodded.

He did not make any promises, but both sides understood tacitly that only by handling this matter well could the Zhang family prove its value.

The two soon left.

"Next are the battle hall and the Adamant Mountain Range..." Yaoguang rose and headed toward the battle hall.

However, shortly after he left Nine Cauldrons Peak, a talisman on him, personally refined by Yaoguang and completely different in appearance from a communication jade talisman, trembled slightly.

"The Nine Heavens Sect?" He took out the jade talisman and swept it with his psychic thought.

He quickly learned why Li Hanqiu had sent him a message.

"The Cangwu lineage..." he muttered.

1. Xiangliu, known in the Classic of Mountains and Seas as Xiangyao, is a venomous nine-headed snake monster that brings floods and destruction in Chinese mythology. ☜

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