67: That's not how you use an abacus.

Myriad Dao Divine Mountain, Sect Master Hall.

The four Mountain Protecting Elders stood respectfully below the throne.

They could feel that today's Sect Master seemed somewhat different from usual.

His aura was even more ethereal, more unfathomable, as if he had completely merged with this world.

Chu Xuanjin did not waste words.

He waved his large sleeve.

Four figures appeared out of thin air in the center of the hall.

The leader was a middle-aged scholar dressed in a Confucian robe, with a gaunt face, holding a scroll of bamboo slips.

He exuded the terrifying pressure of the Early Integration Stage.

Behind him were three solemn old men in standard black robes, all at the Late Void Refinement Stage cultivation.

"Greetings, Sect Master."

The moment the four appeared, they knelt on one knee towards the throne, their voices perfectly synchronized.

Shi Potian and the other three's pupils suddenly constricted!

Again... appearing out of thin air!

One Integration Stage! Three Void Refining Stage!

They felt their hearts were almost numb.

Just how profound was their Sect Master's foundation?

It was like a bottomless pit; you thought you saw the bottom, but there were still eighteen more layers below.

"Rise."

Chu Xuanjin's voice was calm and unwavering.

"This is Mo Yuan. From now on, he will be the Sect's Grand Elder, overseeing all internal and external affairs of the Sect."

He pointed at the middle-aged scholar.

"These three, introduce yourselves."

"Your subordinates, Xuan Yi (Xuan Er, Xuan San), greet all Elders."

The three black-robed old men nodded slightly to Shi Potian and the other three, as a greeting.

"Grand... Grand Elder?"

Shi Potian looked at the scholar named Mo Yuan, feeling his brain was a bit overwhelmed.

Didn't the Sect already have an outer sect grand elder and an inner Sect Grand Elder?

How did another "Grand Elder" suddenly appear?

"Cough." Chu Xuanjin lightly coughed, explaining.

"Mo Yuan is responsible for managing all of you."

"In the future, for all miscellaneous matters such as Sect development, Disciple instruction, and resource allocation, you should first discuss them, then Mo Yuan will compile them and report them to me."

"Unless it's a crisis threatening the Sect's existence, there's no need to bother me with every single matter."

As soon as these words were spoken, Shi Potian and the other three instantly understood.

The Sect Master had found himself another "Secretary-General."

The purpose was to be able to be a hands-off boss with a clearer conscience.

The four exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of wry amusement in the other's eyes.

But they still bowed in unison to Mo Yuan.

"We greet the Grand Elder."

Mo Yuan nodded slightly, his expression gentle, yet naturally carrying a sense of authority.

"Elders, you are too polite. In the future, I will need much assistance from all of you."

"Alright." Chu Xuanjin waved his hand, appearing a bit impatient.

"I've given you the people. The rest is up to you to handle."

He changed the subject.

"Oh right, there's one more thing."

He flicked his finger.

Tens of thousands of streams of light flew from his fingertips, piercing through the Void Realm, accurately landing in the hands of every Disciple within the Divine Mountain.

Those were brand new robes, neatly folded.

Utility Disciples wore simple grey.

Outer Sect Disciples wore calm green.

Inner Sect Disciples wore elegant white.

Core and personal Disciples wore noble purple-gold.

On the cuff of each robe, the characters "Myriad Dao" were embroidered with gold thread.

[myriad dao immortal robe].

"These are the standard Sect Immortal Robes, one for each person."

"These robes are impervious to water and fire, and possess the effects of purification and spirit gathering. They are bound to the identity token, recognized by a drop of blood, and cannot be destroyed by external forces."

After Chu Xuanjin finished speaking, he said no more, his figure gradually becoming illusory.

"Farewell, Sect Master!"

Mo Yuan and Shi Potian and the others bowed in unison.

Only after Chu Xuanjin's aura completely disappeared did they straighten up.

Mo Yuan looked at Shi Potian and the others, a gentle smile on his face.

"Elders, since the Sect Master has entrusted the Sect's affairs to us."

"Then let us begin."

"First, regarding the teaching plan for the four thousand Outer Sect Disciples, I believe there are still areas that can be improved..."

The newly appointed Grand Elder quickly entered his working state.

The entire Myriad Dao Divine Sect, this massive machine, once again operated efficiently... Meanwhile.

Eastern Wasteland, Southern Region, Myriad Dao City.

In the President's exclusive office on the top floor of the Myriad Dao Merchant Guild.

Wang Duojin was sitting with his legs crossed, humming a tune while fiddling with his pure gold abacus.

"Ah, it's still most comfortable being the President."

He looked at the bustling street outside the window, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Just then, a Steward knocked on the door and entered, his expression a little strange.

"President, a guest has arrived downstairs."

"What guest?" Wang Duojin didn't even lift his head.

"He said he's from Central State, Heavenly Treasure Tower."

"Central State? Heavenly Treasure Tower?"

Wang Duojin's hand, which was fiddling with the abacus, stopped.

He looked up, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Heavenly Treasure Tower, he naturally knew.

It was one of the most powerful commercial giants, spread throughout the entire Profound Heaven Great World.

It was said that its background was unfathomable, and even the Immortal Dynasty of the Immortal Realm had to show it some respect.

"What are they here for?"

"He... he said he's here to deliver a congratulatory gift to our Myriad Dao Divine Sect." The Steward's voice was hesitant.

"Congratulatory gift?" Wang Duojin chuckled, "I'm afraid it's a weasel paying respects to a chicken – no good intentions."

He stood up and straightened his luxurious brocade robe.

"Let's go, I'll meet him."

"I want to see what tricks this 'dragon crossing the river' from Central State wants to play on my 'local snake' territory."

...In the reception hall.

A middle-aged man in brocade clothes with an arrogant expression was holding a teacup, elegantly sipping tea.

Behind him stood two guards with bulging temples, both at the Soul Transformation Stage cultivation.

And he himself was a strong practitioner at the Early Void Refining Stage.

This power was enough to sweep through any Sect in the Eastern Wasteland.

His name was Steward Qin, an dispatched Executive from Heavenly Treasure Tower's headquarters in Central State.

His visit this time, ostensibly to congratulate, was in fact to warn and pressure.

The rise of the Myriad Dao Merchant Guild had severely impacted Heavenly Treasure Tower's business in the Eastern Wasteland.

The headquarters had already issued a death order.

Either assimilate.

Or destroy.

Just then, footsteps came from the doorway.

Wang Duojin walked in with a shrewd smile on his face.

As soon as he saw Steward Qin, he immediately cupped his hands and enthusiastically went to greet him.

"Oh my! This must be the Immortal Elder from Heavenly Treasure Tower, right? I apologize for not coming out to meet you sooner!"

Steward Qin put down his teacup, glanced at him, and spoke indifferently.

"You, are you the President of this Myriad Dao Merchant Guild?"

"A mere Golden Core, yet you are quite a figure."

His tone carried undisguised contempt.

Wang Duojin's smile remained unchanged.

"Immortal Elder, you jest. In front of a great figure like you from Central State, my meager cultivation is hardly worth mentioning."

He sat down in the main seat without being invited.

"May I ask why the Immortal Elder has graced us with your presence?"

"I have come to deliver a gift."

Steward Qin waved his hand, and the guard behind him immediately placed a jade box on the table.

"Hearing that the Myriad Dao Divine Sect has opened its doors, our Heavenly Treasure Tower has specially prepared a small gift to show our congratulations."

Wang Duojin opened the jade box and took a look.

Inside was a ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine, quite valuable.

"Oh my, Immortal Elder is truly too polite!" Wang Duojin's eyes narrowed into slits from his smile. "Then I shall accept it without further ado."

He pushed the jade box towards himself.

Steward Qin looked at his avaricious appearance, and the disdain in his eyes deepened.

"The gift has been delivered."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming playful.

"I also have a great fortune I wish to bestow upon President Wang."

"Oh?" Wang Duojin became interested. "What fortune?"

"Our Heavenly Treasure Tower intends to support an agent in the Eastern Wasteland."

Steward Qin leaned back in his chair and said unhurriedly.

"I think your Myriad Dao Merchant Guild is quite good."

"As long as your Myriad Dao Merchant Guild is willing to display our Heavenly Treasure Tower's signboard and submit seventy percent of your annual profits to headquarters."

"Our Heavenly Treasure Tower can guarantee that your Myriad Dao Merchant Guild will prosper in the Eastern Wasteland. We can even open up the market in Central State for you."

He looked at Wang Duojin as if he were a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

"President Wang, what do you think?"

Silence filled the reception hall.

In a corner, Enforcement Elder Feng Qingyang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, didn't even lift an eyelid, merely taking another gulp of wine.

Wang Duojin's smile gradually faded.

Instead of answering Steward Qin's question, he picked up the golden abacus on the table.

"Clack, clack."

The crisp sound of abacus beads clashing was particularly jarring in the silent reception hall.

Steward Qin's brows furrowed slightly.

"What do you mean by this?"

"Nothing much." Wang Duojin looked up, his face once again adorned with that shrewd smile.

"I'm just doing some calculations."

"Heavenly Treasure Tower has a total of one hundred and three branches in the Eastern Wasteland. Among them, seventy-two have been operating at a loss for the past three years."

"You need to allocate at least thirty million Low-Grade Spirit Stones from your Central State headquarters each year to maintain the normal operation of these branches."

"Am I right, Steward Qin?"

Steward Qin's expression instantly changed.

These were all internal secrets of Heavenly Treasure Tower!

How did this little fatty know?

"You..."

"Don't rush." Wang Duojin waved his hand, continuing to fiddle with the abacus.

"Let me calculate the purpose of your trip."

"Ostensibly to deliver a gift, but actually to extort. Ostensibly to support, but actually to annex."

"You saw the rise of my Myriad Dao Merchant Guild, which cut off your source of wealth, so you want to gain something for nothing and swallow up this empire I've painstakingly built."

"Am I right again?"

Cold sweat had already seeped onto Steward Qin's forehead.

He felt as if he were naked in front of this little fatty, all his thoughts laid bare.

"Nonsense!" he retorted, his voice betraying his inner fear.

"Whether it's nonsense or not, you and I both know."

Wang Duojin slammed the abacus onto the table.

"The calculations are done."

He looked at Steward Qin, whose face had turned ashen, and flashed a brilliant smile.

"Now, it's my turn to offer you a fortune."

"Since your Heavenly Treasure Tower's business in the Eastern Wasteland is so difficult, why not sell it to me?"

"I'll take all one hundred and three of your branches."

"Name your price."

"My Myriad Dao Merchant Guild can afford it."