83: Be my Taoist partner!

“Naturally, it’s true, but Senior Sister must agree to one condition,” Liu Xuan said.

“What condition? Speak!”

“It’s simple. Senior Sister only needs to issue an order: the Sect Enforcement Team is not allowed to interfere with the White Crane Lake industry. Violators will be severely punished!”

If there wasn't this restriction, Liu Xuan wouldn't be able to recover his costs, and this mission would be meaningless.

Over a thousand Sect Enforcement Team members, if each of them caused a little damage, the consequences would be immense.

“No problem!”

Xiao Ran readily agreed. These Law Enforcement Team Disciples were mostly Spell Cultivators, only skilled in combat, and indeed shouldn't be involved in various industries.

If these Law Enforcement Team Disciples were allowed to mess around, the peripheral industries of White Crane Lake would yield no profit at all.

Liu Xuan was willing to take over for five thousand Spirit Stones a year, which would mean an extra twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones over five years. Why not?

Xiao Ran invited Liu Xuan to a deliberation hall and summoned several Late Qi Refining Stage high-ranking members of the Law Enforcement Team, as well as the Spirit Plant Hall Disciples sent from the Sect, to discuss matters.

First, the Spirit Plant Hall Disciples could return, and their previous mission rewards would be settled.

Second, it was announced that Liu Xuan would take over the peripheral industries of White Crane Lake, and the Law Enforcement Team would no longer participate in or disrupt them. Violators would be punished with high compensation.

To ensure Liu Xuan's authority at White Crane Lake, Xiao Ran also appointed Liu Xuan as the Vice Captain of her personal guard, giving him the right to directly apprehend and punish Law Enforcement Team Disciples.

With Xiao Ran speaking personally, no one in the entire Law Enforcement Team dared to object, and the order was quickly executed.

Because Liu Xuan was so straightforward, Xiao Ran also gifted him a small courtyard on Lake Heart Island, which included a first-tier high-grade Cultivation room.

This was originally the residence of a core direct descendant of the Chen Family, but now it benefited Liu Xuan.

Liu Xuan now had too many residences, almost more than he could live in. This could be considered a kind of trouble, couldn't it? The next day.

Liu Xuan had She Xiaorong gather the high-ranking members of the Merchant Alliance families at White Crane Lake to announce his plans.

Inside the hall.

She Xiaorong had only spoken halfway when the high-ranking members of each Family changed their expressions, falling silent, waiting for Liu Xuan to explain personally.

Taking over the peripheral industries of White Crane Lake for five thousand Spirit Stones, everyone's first reaction was that Liu Xuan and Xiao Ran were colluding to scam them.

Now that the Sect disregarded rules, confiscating property and exterminating families at the slightest provocation, they had to guard their own industries from being seized under trumped-up charges. How could they be willing to spend Spirit Stones to take over White Crane Lake, which was controlled by Xiao Ran?

“You don’t have to worry. You don’t need to provide Spirit Stones. Just like with the White Crane Lake fish farming before, this time I, Liu Xuan, will personally fund it. I will bear the risk alone. You only need to collect your salaries.”

Liu Xuan’s calm voice echoed throughout the hall.

“Young Master Liu is generous!”

“I knew Young Master Liu wouldn’t try to trick us.”

“Just tell us exactly what to do, Young Master Liu. My Li Family will provide people and effort, absolutely no hesitation.”

...Liu Xuan didn't pay attention to their posturing. Everyone in the world bustles for profit; there was nothing more to say.

Liu Xuan currently lacked hard power, so he could only use benefits to win over these people.

Once his strength grew in the future, and the various interests of the Merchant Alliance converged, the room for maneuver would increase.

Next, Liu Xuan said no more, leaving She Xiaorong in charge, with Wang Chen, the head of the Wang Family, and Luo Yun, the head of the Luo Family, as deputies, to oversee the specific arrangements.

She Xiaorong had previously been a gang leader, so she was adept at such miscellaneous tasks. Wang Chen and Luo Yun had no chance of a Breakthrough, and their Lifespans were not long. Both wanted to rely on Liu Xuan to stabilize their families in the future, so their loyalty was very high and they could be trusted.

The entire plan was formulated by the three of them. Liu Xuan only reviewed it once, made a few minor changes, and then agreed.

His demands were not high; he could accept an annual loss of no more than one thousand Spirit Stones.

If this matter proceeded smoothly, it would not only allow him to cling to Xiao Ran's leg but also increase the cohesion of the Merchant Alliance.

Moreover, Liu Xuan also had a luxury: to seize this opportunity to gain real control over the entire White Crane Lake.

If he could acquire the complete White Crane Lake, including Lake Heart Island, he would have the Foundation to become a Foundation Establishment Family.

As his descendants grew more numerous and his children slowly matured, besides developing within the Sect, there was also a need for a Family Foundation as a buffer.

Some descendants with poorer talent were not suitable for development within the Sect. Not only would they not receive resources, but they would also require a large amount of Spirit Stones for cultivation, which was not cost-effective.

White Crane Lake was currently ownerless, but unfortunately, Liu Xuan's Cultivation was not at the Foundation Establishment Stage, so he was not yet qualified to occupy it.

Fortunately, his children were still young, and there was no rush within the next ten years. Liu Xuan was just making preparations in advance, and perhaps an opportunity would arise then... Three days later.

Lake Heart Island courtyard.

A potted plant sat on a stone table in the courtyard. Within the pot, a foot-tall, silvery-white sapling swayed slightly, absorbing the converging scorching sunlight, as if a layer of flames had ignited around it.

Liu Xuan picked up a red fire Spirit Stone and placed it in the pot, and the fiery halo around the sapling intensified.

This was not a Spirit Plant, but Liu Xuan's Natal Flying Sword, the heavenly origin sword, transformed. It was absorbing and refining the power of fire.

Liu Xuan's own magic power was of the pure yang attribute. The heavenly origin sword's increased ability to refine fire power could most quickly enhance his combat strength.

The heavenly origin sword could refine and grow on its own, without Liu Xuan expending much mental effort. Most of his energy was dedicated to comprehending the Nine Luminaries Sword Canon.

The Nine Luminaries Sword Canon was supremely rigid and pure yang. As Liu Xuan's magic power surged, his body emitted the same red light as the sapling transformed from the heavenly origin sword, and an aura of scorching heat mixed with killing intent enveloped the surroundings.

‘Sword Intent!’

A quarter of an hour later, Liu Xuan ended his Cultivation, savoring the Concept of destroying everything that he had vaguely perceived while comprehending the Sword Canon.

The Dao of the Sword was a top-tier Dao of slaughter. A single sword strike could break ten thousand spells. If one could comprehend Sword Intent, they could be considered a true Sword Cultivator.

Liu Xuan had not yet fully comprehended Sword Intent; he only had a vague sense of its Concept.

Once this realization became clearer and Liu Xuan mastered Sword Intent, his combat strength was estimated to rise by another level.

“Thump, thump, thump!”

A knocking sound came from outside the courtyard.

“Come in!”

Liu Xuan thought it was She Xiaorong coming to report on Merchant Alliance matters, but the person who entered made him slightly stunned.

It was Yan Qingyao, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

“Miss Qingyao, why are you here?”

Yan Qingyao wore a light green magic robe, still favoring that color. A hint of maturity had appeared on her charming yet elegant face.

“Senior Sister Zhou and I have always been here; it’s just that most of the time we’re out on missions.”

She was poisoned by the Spirit Dispersion Water and needed a large number of Soul Nurturing Pills to maintain her Cultivation. During this period, she had been frantically taking on missions, going wherever danger lay.

“Liu Xuan, can you sell me some of the black crystal honey you gave me last time? This item is extremely effective for my injuries, even more cost-effective than Soul Nurturing Pills.”

After Yan Qingyao consumed the black crystal honey Liu Xuan gave her, she discovered its effect was twice that of Soul Nurturing Pills. So, she specifically returned to the Sect wanting to buy a large quantity.

However, she learned that black crystal honey was a specialty of the spiritual bees raised by Liu Xuan and was rarely sold, so she sought out Liu Xuan.

“How much do you need?” Liu Xuan asked.

“I currently have one hundred and ten Spirit Stones on me. How much can I buy?” Yan Qingyao countered.

Liu Xuan shook his head, “I’m asking how much black crystal honey you need to maintain your normal Cultivation for one month?”

Yan Qingyao was puzzled but still explained: “To maintain daily Cultivation for one month, I need six bottles of Soul Nurturing Pills. For black crystal honey, I estimate I’d need one catty.”

“Miss Qingyao, I have a proposal for you to consider. If you agree, I am willing to give you one catty of black crystal honey every month until you fully recover.”

Yan Qingyao was startled!

“What proposal?”

Liu Xuan looked into her eyes and sincerely said:

“Be my Dao Companion!”