224: Chapter 224 Settling Down!

...

Hearing Qian Guangjin's request, Zhao Yanchuan spread out a beast catalog on the table.

"Brother Qian wants a Spirit Mouse?"

Zhao Yanchuan flipped through the beast catalog and pointed to a few: "These types all have decent self-preservation abilities. See which one you find appealing."

Qian Guangjin leaned over to look, the smile on his chubby face freezing slightly.

"Brother Zhao, why are the varieties in your beast catalog not quite the same as those sold in the outside markets?"

"That is naturally different."

Zhao Yanchuan pushed the teacup over: "White Cloud Temple has been raising Spirit Beasts for a hundred years. Some special Bloodline varieties, or improved and mutated fine breeds, naturally have their unique features."

Qian Guangjin sipped his tea, his gaze falling on the picture of a grey-black Spirit Mouse.

"What is the origin of this one?"

"Grey Mist Spirit Mouse, skilled in digging, Peak of the first stage."

"This mouse has extremely fast digging speed and is also extremely alert. It is a Spirit Beast with comprehensive functionality for vigilance, searching, and reconnaissance."

"It's just a bit ugly."

Qian Guangjin waved his hand: "It's for self-preservation, who cares if it looks good? As long as it can run."

"How much for one?"

"Three hundred Spirit Stones."

"This is a bit expensive."

"This mouse is raised with secret medicine from a young age; its nose is sharper than a dog's. Besides digging for self-preservation, it can also help you search for mineral veins and geography. Three hundred Spirit Stones, you can't buy a loss, you can't be fooled."

"It's the cost price, not expensive anymore."

Qian Guangjin pondered for a long time, then slapped his thigh: "Fine! Give me ten first. If they work well, I will order long-term in the future."

"Straightforward."

Zhao Yanchuan nodded slightly, then sent someone to get the goods, and the transaction was completed.

As for the Holy Blood Sect, Zhao Yanchuan casually asked a couple more questions: "What is the origin of that Holy Blood Sect? Are they very fierce?"

"They can't be considered fierce, but they are annoying."

Qian Guangjin shook his head: "Every few days they hijack a few batches of goods on the trade route, grab them and run. You can't hit them, and the various forces of the Righteous Path are too lazy to care."

"The four great Schools of Liang Kingdom are too busy to care for themselves; where would they have the energy to wipe out an evil Sect?"

"The various Golden Core families and Schools below will not easily offend people and waste their own heritage and resources to fill the pit."

"And the various small Foundation Establishment clans that came down, even if they have the heart to encircle and suppress, they might not be able to beat the Holy Blood Sect, so it just drags on like this..."

"To put it bluntly, everyone is dragging it out."

"In the end, it depends on which family can't stand it, can't afford to spend the effort to encircle and suppress. Once that family loses its strength, the other forces will naturally turn their spearheads and wipe out this force that put in the effort. In the end, the trouble is not only solved, but everyone can also take a big bite of meat, so naturally, no one will put in the effort..."

"After all, I put in the effort to eliminate harm for the people, and in the end, I have to put myself on the dining table for others to eat. Naturally, no one will do such a thankless job."

Understanding the ins and outs, Zhao Yanchuan nodded and did not ask further.

He was not interested in the Holy Blood Sect.

For this kind of thing, knowing it is enough. If he encounters them on the trade route in the future, he will just walk around them.

After sending Qian Guangjin away, Zhao Yanchuan sat in the courtyard, calculating the next step.

The first step of the task entrusted by the Old Ancestor had been taken; the trade route was opened, connections were established, and next, he had to set up industry.

...

Half a year later.

Forty miles north of Tianyuan City, a stretch of barren hills.

Zhao Yanchuan stood on the hillside, watching countless Mortals busy below.

Thousands of Mortal craftsmen were digging Foundations and building stone walls at the bottom of the valley.

Further away, some Disciples of the clan were cutting mountain rocks with Spiritual Qi, shaving giant rocks into regular stone blocks.

This was a Medium Grade Spiritual Vein that Zhao Yanchuan had rented from the Guiyuan Sect for tens of thousands of Spirit Stones...

The quality of the Spiritual Vein was not top-tier, but its advantage was its remote location, surrounded by mountains on all sides, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

What's even better is that the trend of the Spiritual Vein goes downward, deep into a valley, naturally forming a closed Spiritual Qi cycle, suitable for raising beasts.

"Encircle that low slope on the east side as well."

"In the future, a beast park needs to be built, and the place cannot be too small."

Zhao Yanchuan was planning his grand blueprint.

This Spiritual Vein would be the Foundation of the Zhao family in Yuan Prefecture in the future.

At that time, along the trend of the Spiritual Vein, he would build houses on the top of the mountains; open up a medicine garden in the middle layer to plant Spiritual Plants; and in the valley and forest at the bottom, he would set up a beast park to raise Spirit Beasts.

At that time, he would also need to recruit some Loose Cultivators to establish a Mortal town, so as to be self-sufficient.

Once the scale is up, he would gradually expand, swallowing up the nearby low mountains and designating them as his own territory.

As for the Guiyuan Sect, although the 40% profit was painful, what it bought was a protective umbrella, so it was fine.

In this area of Yuan Prefecture, Loose Cultivator families without backing cannot live past three generations.

Zhao Yanchuan looked at the distant mountains, his mind already calculating which mountain tops were suitable for raising large Yao Beasts, and which valleys were suitable for grazing Spirit Mice...

When he arrived, his clan brother Yanshan said that opening up a Mushou Mountain was the top priority.

The Mushou Mountain of White Cloud Temple provided the Sect with countless resources. Every few years, it would produce a large amount of Spirit Medicine and Spiritual Plants, as well as a large amount of Yao Beast wealth.

If another one could be established here in Yuan Prefecture, this place could also become a resource production base for his White Cloud Temple, supplying the development of this place.

This matter could not be rushed; it had to be managed step by step.

...

In the blink of an eye, time passed quietly.

In the third year of the Zhao family taking root in Tianyuan City, the storefronts expanded from two to eight, and the business scope expanded from Spirit Beasts to Spirit Medicine, Talisman, and Artifact Refining Materials.

The monthly net profit was stable at around ten thousand Spirit Stones. After deducting the 40% tribute to the Guiyuan Sect and various expenses, the amount falling into the Zhao family's hands was still over five thousand Spirit Stones.

Most of this money was invested by Zhao Yanchuan into the construction of the Spiritual Vein.

In three years, continuous pavilions and immortal palaces were built on the Spiritual Vein, and various affiliated facilities rose from the ground one by one.

Seven halls: Alchemy, Talisman, Formation, Artifact, Beast Control, Spiritual Planting, and General Affairs.

Various palaces, residences, Immortal Caves, and long corridors extending across the mountains transformed this place into an immortal scene in just three years.

Two additional mountain Peaks were opened up specifically to receive passing trade caravans and guests.

The beast park among the mountains was the top priority.

Zhao Yanchuan transferred a batch of Spirit Mouse cubs, two litters of Black Dog puppies, and a dozen multi-colored Spirit Birds from White Cloud Temple.

The beast park area was quite large, and there was plenty of room for growth.

In a few years, when the beast population grows, they could be sold to the outside world.