Standing amidst the crowd, Zhan Zhi’er gazed up at the young, high-spirited cultivator, her thoughts in turmoil. The man who had guided her into the sect and saved her from the Wei Family’s battle arrays all those years ago was now her Martial Uncle.
She still rembered it with vivid clarity: the loneliness and helplessness she had felt as a child leaving the Zhan Family, as if she had been abandoned by the entire world with no path forward.
Consequently, she had firmly committed Fang Qingyuan’s every word and action to mory. He was the first stranger, the first cultivator, to ever show her kindness.
He was also the only person who had helped her sincerely, asking for nothing in return.
A straw to a drowning person, a glimr of light in the darkness—it was more than enough to make him unforgettable to Zhan Zhi’er.
Watching her two Foundation Establishnt superiors, who were usually so arrogant and domineering, now bowing and scraping before this man, Zhan Zhi’er felt a sense of vindication mixed with a touch of confusion.
’This Martial Uncle is going to replace Elder Zhao as the new Elder, but only for twenty years. Back then, he was just a Mid-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator. How did he beco the Elder of the Miscellaneous Affairs Peak?’
Over the past twenty years, Zhan Zhi’er had often thought of finding Fang Qingyuan to thank him for his past kindness, but whenever she resolved to go, her heart would fill with hesitation.
’What would I even go see him for? He’s probably forgotten all about . Bringing here was just part of a sect mission; there’s no real connection between us.’
But seeing Fang Qingyuan now, her heart stirred once more. ’Maybe he still rembers ... Uncle Fang!’
.....
Fang Qingyuan, of course, rembered the little girl from back then. The Wei Family had been going to war and had rounded up their vassals, the entire Zhan Family. If he hadn’t arrived in ti, Zhan Zhi’er would have likely been taken away as well.
Even if Zhan Zhi’er wasn’t forced to fight on the front lines, her fate would have been far worse than joining the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect. She might have been promised to a powerful family as a reward for so ritorious cultivator.
Given the Wei Family’s lack of principles, that was a highly probable outco.
After doing that one good deed, Fang Qingyuan had shed his "nice guy" ntality, gradually evolving into the pragmatic, profit-driven cultivator typical of the Southern Border and White Mountain. In a way, Zhan Zhi’er marked the turning point in his mindset.
Even so, Fang Qingyuan rely swept his gaze over Zhan Zhi’er, pretended not to see her, and moved on. He then addressed the many cultivators in the courtyard:
"By order of my esteed Master, Senior Brother Liangde is currently indisposed. I will be temporarily assuming the duties of the Elder of the Miscellaneous Affairs Peak. I’ve only just arrived and am unfamiliar with your procedures, so for now, simply continue doing your work as you have been."
After saying this, Fang Qingyuan didn’t make the junior Qi Cultivation cultivators wait any longer. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed them and led his two Foundation Establishnt deputies to Zhao Liangde’s forr office.
Zhao Liangde’s office was naturally well-appointed. Fang Qingyuan didn’t touch anything, however. He simply invited the two Foundation Establishnt Cultivators to sit, instructed the mortal Servants outside to bring tea, and then began his "heart-to-heart talk."
These two Foundation Establishnt Cultivators were Zhao Liangde’s deputies, his trusted confidants, and were very loyal to him.
Fang Qingyuan showed them sufficient respect. After offering them tea, he said:
"Senior Brothers, I, your junior brother, am only temporarily filling this Elder position. Once Senior Brother Liangde has recovered, I will return the post to him. In the anti, I hope you two will cooperate with fully. Let’s work together to keep things running smoothly, lest our esteed Master find reason to reprimand us."
Faced with Fang Qingyuan’s friendly gesture, the two senior brothers didn’t dare take his words at face value. They still didn’t know the full extent of Zhao Liangde’s situation, and as the saying goes, a distant magistrate is no match for the official on the spot. If Fang Qingyuan were to report them to Lechuan, they would surely suffer the consequences.
They were well aware that their own records were far from clean. In the past, Zhao Liangde had protected them and Lechuan hadn’t pried. But now, with a new superior, their greatest fear was him digging up their old accounts.
Thus, the two senior brothers repeatedly assured Fang Qingyuan of their absolute and complete cooperation. It seed as though they were ready to go through fire and water if he but gave the word.
Lechuan had a total of six disciples; Fang Qingyuan was the seventh. Although the two n before him were Foundation Establishnt Cultivators, they ca from minor families—the "humble class" of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect.
His First Senior Brother, Zhao Liangde, was now severely injured and unable to manage affairs. His Third Senior Brother was Qu Jianyan, the Elder of the rit Peak, and his Fourth Senior Brother was Ling Ziqing, the Elder of the Precepts Peak.
As for his Second Senior Brother, he remained at the Beast Taming General Mountain, managing the assets Lechuan had left behind, guarding their foundation, and maintaining relationships with the other Beast Taming Clans.
Even though Lechuan himself had left, his connections at the General Mountain had to be maintained. Otherwise, with no one representing him there, Lechuan would truly beco nothing more than a local of the Southern Border over ti.
Lechuan also had a female disciple, Fang Qingyuan’s Fifth Senior Sister. However, she had married and now lived with her husband’s family. She didn’t normally reside in the Southern Border, only returning once a year for Lechuan’s birthday celebration.
Fang Qingyuan did not know the whereabouts of his Sixth Senior Brother. His other senior brothers never spoke of him, treating the topic as a taboo.
However, Fang Qingyuan had heard so rumors. This Sixth Senior Brother was supposedly a martial fanatic who, in his pursuit of power, lost his way and ended up practicing demonic arts. Consequently, Lechuan expelled him from the sect, leaving him to fend for himself.
Among all the senior brothers, this sixth one had best t Lechuan’s expectations. He had the highest aptitude and Lechuan had placed great hopes in him. Tragically, he fell to the demonic path, which truly broke Lechuan’s heart.
That was why Lechuan hadn’t taken another disciple for a full fifty years, only making an exception for Fang Qingyuan after he awakened his innate destiny.
Within the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect, the most prominent figures were Lechuan’s disciples, followed by the other Cultivator Clans that had co with him from the General Mountain.
Among these clans, the top tier was occupied by Lechuan’s own kin, the Le Family. Relying on their relationship with Lechuan, they acted tyrannically within the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect, looking down on all other families.
Fortunately, Lechuan was aware of his relatives’ arrogance and kept a close eye on them. However, given Lechuan’s esteed status, other families didn’t dare disturb him when bullying occurred, so they had no choice but to swallow their grievances.
Those who were unwilling to submit and tried to file complaints were blocked by Zhao Liangde. As a result, the Le Clan mbers beca even more conceited, turning into the undisputed tyrants of the Southern Border.
Besides the Le Family, there were also Zhao Liangde’s Zhao Family, Qu Jianyan’s Qu Family, and Ling Ziqing’s Ling Family.
These four were collectively known as the Four Great Clans of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect. Just hearing this title was enough to guess their reputation.
Originally, the Shen Family of Shen Wulei was also among them. But ever since that veteran Foundation Establishnt Cultivator t a tragic end at the jaws of a demonic beast, the Shen Family had fallen from its top position. Now, supported only by the newly advanced Foundation Establishnt Cultivator, Shen Wenyan, it was clearly in decline.
Further down the hierarchy were the local Foundation Establishnt Clans of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect. Seven or eight of these Foundation Establishnt Clans ford the middle tier of the Southern Border’s families. Together with the Four Great Clans above them, they exploited the smaller Qi Cultivation cultivator families and sects both inside and outside of Celestial Gate Mountain.
As for the She Family, although they possessed Foundation Establishnt Battle Power, they were at the bottom, among the exploited. If the She Family Patriarch, She Xi Yu, hadn’t decisively thrown his lot in with Fang Qingyuan, his family would have had to bleed a significant amount every year to feed these parasitic clans.
Fang Qingyuan was sowhat aware of this situation. Because of the Yuanling Square Marketplace, he had given benefits to Lechuan and Zhao Liangde and had received their protection in return. Therefore, although these families desperately wanted to bleed Yuanling Mountain dry, they were forcefully suppressed.
When Fang Qingyuan first learned of these internal dynamics, he had mocked himself, thinking, ’Yuanling Mountain has beco a model protected zone. It seems Lechuan and Zhao Liangde also know not to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.’
Seeing the two Foundation Establishnt Cultivators before him pledging their loyalty, Fang Qingyuan smiled faintly.
"I know what kind of person Senior Brother Liangde is. Out of respect for him, let’s not bring up the past. Let bygones be bygones. After all, I wouldn’t want to hear any news about a warehouse fire.
"But from now on, you will follow my rules. If I catch you giving reason, then you two Senior Brothers will be the ones to help light my first fire."
After saying this, Fang Qingyuan ignored the expressions on their faces and continued directly:
"Enough with the pleasantries. Now, Senior Brothers, tell about the sect’s tax revenue and expenditures so I can get a clear picture. Of course, if the numbers are too ugly, I won’t be inclined to show any leniency."
Cut off by Fang Qingyuan’s barrage, the two Foundation Establishnt Cultivators’ expressions turned sour. That Fang Qingyuan would want to audit the accounts right away was within their expectations, but pressured by his earlier words, they still felt a sense of unease.
’The ledgers are definitely fake,’ Fang Qingyuan knew without even thinking. But he didn’t care. He just wanted a reasonable figure. Any shortfall would have to be replaced, coming from wherever it had been embezzled.
Fang Qingyuan understood one thing clearly: financial authority must be held firmly in his own hands. Without it, the title of Elder would be empty, and no one would take him seriously.
Therefore, Fang Qingyuan needed to see just how much was left in the sect’s coffers. Only then could he plan his next move.
However, before the two n could even speak, Fang Qingyuan’s brow furrowed. A commotion erupted from the doorway, and then a woman strode in. She stared coldly at Fang Qingyuan and said:
"Junior Brother Fang, is this how you handle matters?"
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