381: Skyport

Pill Refining Tower.

Liu Xuan wore a thousand-Talisman cloud-patterned wide-sleeved Daoist robe, his hair simply tied in a Daoist bun, looking like a young Daoist priest untainted by the secular world.

He sat cross-legged with eyes closed before the purple poison cauldron, using his Divine Sense to control the Alchemy heat while listening to Eldest Son report the details of the recent duel.

On the surface, Liu Xuan was also at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage and had almost never made a public move, but Eldest Son did not show the slightest disrespect to his father despite his own increased strength.

Eldest Son also practiced the Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Body Refining Method; he could vaguely sense the terrifying, shared origin Aura from his father, which was definitely not as simple as just the Early Foundation Establishment Stage.

“That is how it happened. Your son acted on his own authority; I ask for Father's punishment!”

Eldest Son knelt beside Liu Xuan, feeling somewhat apprehensive. There were clearly safer ways to handle the situation, yet he had ignored the danger to duel with others, which contradicted the educational philosophy his father had always taught.

Liu Xuan did not turn around nor open his eyes, saying in a flat tone, “You have grown up; it is fine to have your own considerations when doing things.”

“Every person has their own Dao. Your injuries are heavy; go into secluded meditation to heal first! Keep the Spirit Stones you won from the duel for yourself.”

The power of Lu Guihong's final sword strike had exceeded the Peak Foundation Establishment stage. While Eldest Son appeared fine, nearly half of the Meridians in his body had been shattered; if he were an ordinary Cultivator, he would be crippled if not dead.

Fortunately, Eldest Son's comprehension of the Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Body Refining Method was not low, and Liu Xuan had also prepared numerous life-saving Talismans and Medicinal Pills for him, so his recovery would be extremely fast.

“Yes!”

“Your son takes his leave!”

Eldest Son rose and bowed, slowly exiting the Alchemy Room. He was indeed heavily injured and needed to recover in seclusion as soon as possible.

However, the injury was worth it. He had gained many insights from this duel, especially regarding the Body Refining method taught by his father; he felt that several profound parts he previously didn't understand had been unlocked.

Not long after Eldest Son left, Xiao Ran came to the Alchemy Room again to report to Liu Xuan.

“Lu Guihong comes from a very humble background. After rising in the Heavenly Sword Sect, he became a disciple of True Person Heng Yuan. His move against Eldest Son this time was likely a deliberate target against us by people from the Heavenly Sword Sect.”

“Not only that! True Person Heng Yuan has united many high-level members of the Heavenly Sword Sect to cut off our supply channels from the sect, and Guanghui Tower's business has been severely damaged.”

Xiao Ran's expression was grim. The Heavenly Sword Sect was a massive and deeply rooted power; she couldn't think of any solution.

“Don't worry, it's just a small trouble!” Liu Xuan remained motionless, comforting her warmly, “If Guanghui Tower's business is a bit poor, it is what it is; it won't have a large impact on us.”

After Peach Blossom Demon Lord personally visited last time, Liu Xuan had conducted a deep self-reflection. He realized he had been a bit too arrogant recently, straying from his original intention of low-profile development.

The resources the Liu Family currently possessed were completely sufficient for a long period of development; there was no need to be so aggressive in their actions.

The Liu Family Artifact Refining Workshop and Pill Refining Tower were the two main businesses, plus the two side businesses of Talismans and Formations. They had established a complete industrial chain for the four arts of cultivation. The business of the Merchant Alliance's Vast Gathering Pavilion was merely a minor detail and could not hurt the Liu Family's Foundation.

“If the Heavenly Sword Sect wants to target us, let them. We will target them back and see who loses more!”

“I understand!” Xiao Ran nodded, a hint of pleasant surprise appearing on her face. “The ones targeting us are mainly True Person Heng Yuan's faction. We can focus our attacks on his family alone while simultaneously winning over and befriending the other two factions.”

The Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Heavenly Sword True Monarch, was detached from worldly affairs and rarely handled mundane matters. The ones in charge were the four Sword-Wielders of the Sword Pavilion and one Grand Elder.

The interests among the five were not aligned. If the Liu Family was willing to proactively yield a portion of their profits, their Alliance would not be stable.

Shen Yunshu was one of the Liu Family's investors. They only needed to win over one or two more Late Golden Core Stage Sword-Wielders of the Sword Pavilion, and True Person Heng Yuan's blockade of the Liu Family Merchant Alliance would collapse on its own.

“However!” The surprise on Xiao Ran's face vanished, replaced by worry. “The Heavenly Sword Sect is secondary; people from the Southern Courtyard of the Beast Taming Sect's Grand Elder faction are also messing with us!”

“You don't need to concern yourself with this; just do everything according to the rules.”

The Grand Elder's faction in the South Courtyard was not targeting Liu Xuan specifically, but rather everyone in Academy Head True Lord Haoran's faction. The more trouble they caused, the faster Liu Xuan could integrate into the Beast Taming Sect's system; it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Small troubles could be solved by Liu Xuan using the power in his hands, which was a perfect excuse to intervene in the Beast Taming Sect's affairs.

If a big trouble couldn't be solved, it was also easy to handle—he could directly go to Senior Sister An Yunmiao or Revered Master True Lord Haoran to complain.

They also had a share of the profits from the Liu Family's various businesses; if something happened, they naturally wouldn't ignore it.

The Liu Family's Foundation had already taken shape. A little suppression was merely tempering for the clansmen. Liu Xuan didn't take it to heart; as long as his position didn't fall, nothing major would happen to the Liu Family!

For Liu Xuan, only two things were relatively important now: one was to keep Peach Blossom Demon Lord stable, and the other was to keep True Lord Haoran stable. These two were the big shots who decided everything.

*Buzz~*

The purple poison cauldron vibrated. Liu Xuan opened his eyes and waved his sleeve, and several glowing red Medicinal Pills flew out.

These were blood transformation demon pills refined from the Essence Blood of Tier 2 Foundation Establishment Yao Beasts. Liu Xuan would occasionally refine a few batches, consuming some himself and storing the rest for his children... In the following months, Liu Xuan resumed his habit of living in seclusion. Aside from occasional Alchemy and Artifact Refining, he spent the rest of his time with his wives, concubines, and children; outsiders rarely had the chance to see him.

The conflict between the Merchant Alliance and True Person Heng Yuan of the Heavenly Sword Sect grew increasingly fierce. The stock shortage at Guanghui Tower caused a significant chain reaction in the city.

Although the conflict was intense, there weren't many casualties. There were rules and order within the Heavenly Sword Sect's territory, so True Person Heng Yuan didn't dare to act recklessly. Within the Peach Blossom Sect's territory, Liu Xuan had the backing of the Beast Taming Sect, so they were even less daring to move randomly.

After the first month of hardship, Xiao Ran and Su Wan proactively yielded a portion of the profits, and the Alliance targeting the Liu Family easily dissolved. One of the Sword-Wielders even paid a personal visit, wanting to use Liu Xuan's identity to establish a connection with True Lord Haoran.

After the wave of trouble passed, Great Sun City became even more prosperous. Hundreds of Flying Boats of all sizes hovered above the Artifact Refining Workshop, layered upon each other. Among them, the Liu Family's signature 'great sun flying boats' gathered together, their bodies glowing with golden light, illuminating the entire city as bright as day even at night.

The Liu Family Artifact Refining Workshop's refining of Flying Boats was not as simple as making a few vessels; it was about establishing an entire complete industrial chain.

From the most basic Ore mining, transportation, and refining, to the subsequent standardized crafting of countless parts, and finally to the integration and smelting at the Artifact Refining Workshop, the Liu Family Merchant Alliance participated in the entire process.

As time passed, the industrial chain became more mature, and both the production volume and quality of the Flying Boats saw significant improvements.

The sky above Great Sun City now resembled a massive Sky Port. Cultivators in the city looking up could only see the bottoms of countless Flying Boats, unable to see the blue sky or white clouds at all.

Every tier 2 medium grade great sun flying boat could also form connections with one another. When a dozen or so gathered, they could absorb solar essence to maintain operation, their Aura exceeding that of a Tier 2 top-grade Flying Boat.