Chapter 64: Searching for a Supplier

At that exact moment, the system's prompt suddenly echoed in Ye Chentian's mind:

[Ding-dong! Detected that the Return to Void Secret Realm, a forbidden zone in the Eastern Region, is about to open! This secret realm was left behind by ancient cultivators and conceals numerous supreme treasures. It is a crucial opportunity for the disciples to break through their cultivation realms!]

[Main Quest Issued: Dispatch direct disciples to the Return to Void Secret Realm to seize the core supreme treasure of the realm and help the disciples break through their current realm bottlenecks! The more treasures acquired, the more bountiful the sect's rewards will be!]

"A year from now, the Return to Void Secret Realm in the Eastern Region will open," Ye Chentian said with an authoritative voice, his gaze sweeping across Xiao Huo and the other three.

"The secret realm holds opportunities capable of allowing you to break through your realms. This upcoming year will be your crucial period for healing your injuries, bitter cultivation, and preparing for the secret realm."

"Go. Gather outside the mountain gate one year from now. Remember, you must not slack off during this time. Only with sufficient strength can you seize the supreme treasures. Do not disappoint this deity!" Ye Chentian waved his hand.

The four bowed respectfully, answering in unison, "Understood, Master!" Then they turned and sped away toward their respective cultivation abodes.

A spark of expectation for the future and fighting spirit burned deep within each of their eyes.

Inside the Sect Master's Main Hall, wisps of sandalwood smoke coiled around the profound jade throne. Ye Chentian tapped his fingertips rhythmically against the armrest.

"Currently, the sect has over a hundred disciples, and given their exceptional aptitude, the resources consumed are even greater."

"The spiritual stones consumed by outer sect disciples every month are numerous, while the middle-grade spiritual stones and medicinal pills required for the cultivation of inner sect disciples are steadily climbing."

"As for direct disciples like Xiao Huo, Su Wan, Lin Wan'er, and Zhao Hao—whether they are cultivating the rebellious fire of fate, forging immortal swords, nurturing their Dao embryos, or repairing magical artifacts—none of these can do without rare resources. The monthly consumption of just these few individuals is enough to hollow out the inventory of a mid-tier sect."

Ye Chentian mentally tallied the costs, his brows raising slightly. "Even though the spiritual vein has been upgraded to the fourth tier, and the concentration of spiritual Qi is sufficient to support cultivation in the Great Ascension realm, it cannot withstand the massive consumption of so many people. Furthermore, there is a shortage of talents in artifact forging and alchemy!"

"It is time to expand our sphere of influence."

Ye Chentian's gaze turned sharp, and he immediately commanded, "Sword Master Lingxiao, come to the Sect Master's Main Hall immediately!"

Scarcely three breaths later, Sword Master Lingxiao arrived at the main hall.

At this moment, he knelt on one knee, completely retracting the pressure of his Ninth-Layer Great Ascension realm, leaving only reverence.

"This subordinate has been summoned by the Sect Master. How may I be of service?"

Ye Chentian raised his hand in a gesture of gentle support, and a wave of soft spiritual power lifted him up.

"Lingxiao, the sect's disciples have surged recently, and there is a massive deficit in spiritual plants, medicinal pills, and materials for magical artifacts."

"The Treasure Gathering Pavilion, the largest merchant house in the Eastern Region, controls eighty percent of the Eastern Region's resource channels. Take this deity's token and go negotiate with them. Ensure they permanently guarantee the supply of cultivation resources for all disciples within the sect, covering the distinct tiered demands of the direct, inner, and outer sects continuously."

Before his voice faded, a flash of light danced across Ye Chentian's fingertips, and two supreme treasures materialized, suspended in mid-air.

The first was a pill furnace swirling with purple-gold radiance. The furnace body was engraved with profound dragon patterns; it was none other to than the Upper-Tier King-grade Purple-Gold Profound Dragon Cauldron.

Faint pill flames flickered within the cauldron. Rumored to automatically refine and purify medicinal flames and increase the success rate of concocting pills by thirty percent, it had been the natal magical artifact of a mighty figure in the Dao of Alchemy during ancient times.

The second item was a jade box. The moment it opened, wisps of white mist carrying an intoxicating fragrance drifted out. Resting inside the box were three tea leaves glowing with a golden sheen.

This item was none other than the thousand-year-old Enlightenment Tea. A single leaf could plunge a cultivator into a state of sudden enlightenment, rivaling a hundred years of bitter cultivation.

Sword Master Lingxiao's pupils constricted sharply. As he reached out to receive the supreme treasures, his fingertips trembled slightly from shock. "An Upper-Tier Heavenly-grade Purple-Gold Profound Dragon Cauldron! Thousand-year-old Enlightenment Tea... Sect Master, treasures of this caliber are already sufficient to buy half the resources of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion!"

"It is of no consequence. Take these as a deposit, and settle the prices at thirty percent above market value," Ye Chentian said indifferently, though a trace of understanding flashed in the depths of his eyes.

"This subordinate obeys!" Sword Master Lingxiao bowed respectfully, transforming into a streak of light with the two supreme treasures as he sped toward Exquisite City, the location of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's headquarters.

Three days later, inside the headquarters of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion at the center of Exquisite City, Pavilion Master Su Muqing was pacing anxiously.

She was dressed in a purple gown embroidered with dark gold cloud patterns, a jade hairpin pinned beside her temple. As she raised a hand to stroke her forehead, beads of cold sweat began to emerge.

Last night, she had experienced another nightmare. In the dream, the figure shrouded in black mist had grown increasingly clear, and its outstretched claws had almost choked her soul.

"Pavilion Master, Sword Master Lingxiao, the protector of the Profound Heaven Sect, has arrived outside the pavilion!" her subordinate reported hurriedly, their voice tinged with tension.

"What? The protector of the Profound Heaven Sect?"

Three months ago, the battle at Myriad Thunder Valley, where the four major disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect annihilated three Deity Transformation realm experts, had long since spread throughout the Eastern Region. Even the Immortal Alliance steered clear of them.

If they could cooperate with such a sect, it would undoubtedly become a powerful backing to resist the pressure of the Immortal Alliance.

If they could become an affiliated force of the Profound Heaven Sect, the Treasure Gathering Pavilion might even have the chance to become the true overlord of the Eastern Region's resource industry.

Su Muqing forcefully suppressed the piercing pain in her soul, abruptly clenched the silk handkerchief in her hand, and strode forward, saying, "Quick! Open the central gates to welcome him! Prepare the thousand-year-old spiritual bud tea; I will receive him personally!"

She knew this was an opportunity for the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

Before her voice had even faded, she had already strode briskly out of the pavilion gates. She saw Sword Master Lingxiao standing with his hands behind his back atop the steps. Although the pressure around him was restrained, it still appeared formidable. By this time, he had concealed his cultivation realm to the appearance of the Void Refinement stage.

She immediately stepped forward quickly, bending her knees in a humble bow as she saluted, "Su Muqing, Pavilion Master of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, pays her respects to Protector Lingxiao! Unaware of the Protector's honorable arrival, I failed to welcome you from afar. I hope you will forgive me!"

Sword Master Lingxiao nodded faintly and raised his hand to display Ye Chentian's token.

A purple-gold token inscribed with the two characters "Profound Heaven" appeared, and the mere presence of the token caused the surrounding spiritual Qi of heaven and earth to tremble slightly.

"This deity is Lingxiao, protector of the Profound Heaven Sect. Commanded by Sect Master Ye, I have come to negotiate with the Treasure Gathering Pavilion regarding the supply of resources."

"This sect has only one demand: permanently guarantee the cultivation resources for all disciples within the Profound Heaven Sect, spanning the direct, inner, and outer sect tiers."

"Outer sect disciples require monthly low-grade spiritual stones and foundational Qi-gathering pills; inner sect disciples require middle-grade spiritual stones and upper-grade Mind-Calming Pulse-Restoring Pills; direct sect disciples require high-grade spiritual herbs and artifact-repairing materials. These are the deposits, and prices shall be settled at thirty percent above market value. I wonder if Pavilion Master Su can satisfy these terms?"

With that, Lingxiao produced the two supreme treasures Ye Chentian had given him.