He had already taken a major step forward. Out of the two thousand drops of True Essence required for the peak of the Foundation Establishnt middle stage, he was now short by only a little over five hundred. It was estimated that within two years, he would touch the threshold of the Foundation Establishnt late stage.
At that ti, his cultivation speed would return to the sa slow pace as during the Qi Refining stage.
He had already prepared the Two-Pattern Condensing Essence Pill.
The upgrade from the Spring of True Essence to the Lake of True Essence would be a great enhancent in terms of capacity, allowing his True Essence endurance to increase severalfold.
Walking out from the secluded cultivation chamber.
The Heavenly Fragrance Palace located at one corner of the City Lord’s Mansion was now bustling with activity. Compared to last ti, when there were only a few people and Wang Yu had to arrange soone to help liven up the atmosphere, this ti he hardly needed to supervise at all.
Aside from those from allied factions, wandering cultivators such as Dragon-Tiger Wanderer, Nine-Curve Talisman Master, and Daoist Rainflower—all mid Foundation Establishnt experts—had arrived quite early and were currently introducing the friends they had brought.
Wang Yu’s arrival imdiately drew attention.
“City Lord Wang, this is Fellow Daoist Jinshi, whom I invited this ti. I hope he is welco.”
This Jinshi, like Dragon-Tiger Wanderer, was also a rogue cultivator. His complexion was dark and ordinary, but two eyes drawn with golden powder decorated his cheeks—likely part of so secret art. His cultivation was also at the late Foundation Establishnt stage.
To a strong cultivator, Wang Yu was naturally welcoming. The more who attended, the greater the fa of the Fragrance Perceving Gathering, and the better the effect of the Treasure Exchange eting held alongside it. Hence, Wang Yu smiled lightly and said,
“Brother Dragon-Tiger, you jest. Since Fellow Daoist Jinshi has co to participate, then he is a friend of ours.”
“I have t City Lord Wang.”
The atmosphere among the three was quite harmonious, evidently prearranged before they arrived. Seeing this, Daoist Rainflower and the Nine-Curve Talisman Master also ca over with their respective companions.
They were all cultivators joining the Fragrance Gathering this ti, which was, after all, a welfare-oriented event with no strict requirents.
Daoist Rainflower said, “City Lord Wang, this is my Dao companion—Feng Huazi. Her cultivation surpasses mine, and she has reached the peak of the Foundation Establishnt stage.”
A strong woman and a weaker man—such a pairing was not rare in the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain.
This Feng Huazi was indeed beautiful, graceful, and mature, exuding a charming allure. Wang Yu could not help glancing at her a few tis.
The woman was amiable in deanor. With a gentle movent, she offered a polite bow.
“This concubine greets City Lord of Jade Spirit.”
“No need for formality. Daoist Rainflower has visited once before. Let him show you around the Heavenly Fragrance Palace. The Fragrance Gathering will begin in the afternoon.”
When Nine-Curve Talisman Master saw they had finished their greetings, he began introducing his own guest. This one, however, had a far more notable background. The old man even bowed slightly as he spoke.
“City Lord Wang, everyone, this is Little Talisman Lord Luo Chen, City Lord of Sanmao City, a Core Formation True Personage.”
Everyone was startled.
None expected this young and handso cultivator to be a Core Formation True Personage. Clearly, he possessed great mastery in concealing his aura.
Wang Yu, however, knew more than the rest. Over the past five years, he had connected with the nearby circle of city lords through Han Jia of the Heaven Treasure Pavilion, and Luo Chen was among those he had invited.
“Brother Luo, long ti no see.”
“Junior Brother Wang, your Jade Spirit City is truly impressive. Had I known, I would have held a Talisman Appreciation Gathering myself.”
“Hahaha, Brother Luo is truly humorous. Please, co in.”
“I shall gladly accept your hospitality.”
As the two left together, the Nine-Curve Talisman Master seed sowhat confused. He was based in Sanmao City and naturally did not understand the intricate ties of the Blood Reversal Sect.
Little Talisman Lord Luo Chen was the youngest disciple of Black Heaven Talisman Lord of the Evil Sword Peak, one of the Nine Peaks. Though less than a hundred years old, he had already condensed a Golden Core, displaying extraordinary talent.
He possessed a rare Heavenly Yin Spiritual Root, which earned him the title “Little Talisman Lord.” His mastery of talismans had reached the third-rank mid-grade, even surpassing his own cultivation realm—a testant to his prodigious aptitude.
He was far more outstanding than True Disciple Su or Wei Zhong, a genuine Nascent Soul Seed–level genius, on par with Jin Miaoshan of the Golden Abundance Tower, though his influence was limited to Evil Sword Peak.
The Black Heaven Talisman Lord himself was the husband of a matriarch from the Zhuo Clan, having married into the Ghostfang Zhuo Family in his youth and risen under their resources.
That matriarch happened to be Zhuo Shouqing’s aunt, making their two bloodlines closely connected. Thus, in terms of status, Luo Chen stood two ranks higher than City Lord Wang, deserving utmost respect and courtesy.
Sanmao City, Cloud Mist City, and Jade Spirit City were all prosperous territories under the Zhuo Clan’s control, specifically used to train talented juniors.
However, the Lord of Cloud Mist City seed to be a rival to Zhuo Shouqing.
Hence, Wang Yu’s association with Little Talisman Lord Luo Chen developed quickly, with the intent to establish trade routes and exchange resources.
While Wang Yu accompanied the important guest, his four disciples and Xu Ruzhou handled reception duties at the entrance, while Qingyang oversaw operations from the third floor of the Heavenly Fragrance Palace.
He would only appear personally if a Core Formation cultivator arrived.
In summary.
The Fragrance Perceving Gathering expanded at a speed far exceeding Wang Yu’s expectations, to the point that early participants such as Dragon-Tiger Wanderer began to feel sowhat restrained and uneasy.
……
……
“Today is truly lively.”
“Who would say otherwise?”
The second floor of the Heavenly Fragrance Palace had been newly expanded, accommodating over a hundred cultivators—mainly of the Foundation Establishnt stage, with only a few in the Core Formation stage.
As the gathering was about to begin, the graceful maidservants from Cloud Dream Pavilion, professionally trained and charming, presented censers and incense in order of increasing quality, for everyone to savor gradually.
During this process, so guests inevitably whispered among themselves, discussing the various experts present.
"That person is the Earth Puppet Old Devil from the Demonic Valley. He actually ca... Wasn’t it said that he had a feud with the Jade Spirit Clan..."
"Shh, mind your words."
"Look over there. The Yellow Sand Master has also arrived. I heard he broke through to the third layer of Core Formation. He’s looking for a spiritual vein nearby to establish his own sect."
"This—"
"Over there, that’s True Personage He Gu. Isn’t he a cultivator from Poison Scorpion City? I didn’t expect him to co so far to attend the Fragrant Gathering."
"Hiss... Together with True Personage Qingyang, that makes four Core Formation cultivators here, not to ntion the many at the peak of Foundation Establishnt."
"Not only that. Look at the one sitting beside the City Lord of Jade Spirit. That is Little Talisman Lord Luo Chen, a disciple of the Nascent Soul cultivator."
All of the discussion below reached Wang Yu’s ears.
It could be said that this second Fragrant Gathering had practically drawn in all the elites within a three-thousand-kiloter radius of Jade Spirit City, with many powerhouses from even farther regions also attending.
That ant more possibilities. Those Foundation Establishnt peak cultivators were most likely here hoping to exchange for spirit materials useful for Core Formation.
Wang Yu was pleased to see this outco.
He was not afraid of people having too many ideas, only that they wouldn’t co. As long as this gathering beca a regular event, Jade Spirit City would naturally turn into the center of this entire region.
By then, various rare and precious heavenly materials and earthly treasures would converge toward this city. When the ti ca, Wang Yu could intentionally offer a Core Formation spirit item to obtain the things he desired.
Of course, it was still early. At least until he reached the peak of Foundation Establishnt and gained more Core Formation-level strength, he would not yet consider releasing such bait.
The ti was almost right.
Without anyone reminding them, as the dancing maidens stepped forward and the music of silk and bamboo instrunts began, the venue naturally quieted. Light refreshnts and candied fruits were placed on the tables.
So guests sat upright and dignified, others reclined to watch the performances, so even exposing their chests. From ti to ti, they picked up the hand-warrs prepared by City Lord Wang, inhaling deeply and showing intoxicated expressions.
A thousand people, a thousand faces—Wang Yu sought nothing less than the ultimate experience.
Whether they gained anything in the later Treasure Exchange mattered little.
After such an experience, it would surely leave a deep impression. Even in the incense they inhaled, Wang Yu had secretly mixed in a trace of a subtle guiding powder that positively affected body and mind.
Beside him, Little Talisman Lord Luo Chen sighed with emotion.
"Junior Brother Wang’s talent in managent surpasses even his talent in cultivation."
At that, Wang Yu’s expression turned slightly strange.
When it ca to Wasted Spiritual Roots, there was no room for argunt. And compared to his Mysterious Demonic Embryo Physique, his so-called ‘business talent’ was nothing in comparison.
How could he not envy Luo Chen’s Heavenly Spiritual Root of Yin attribute? If only he could devour it...
"Hiss—"
"Junior Brother Wang, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing much, Senior Brother Luo. Weren’t you asking about my managent strategy? Actually, it’s quite simple."
"Oh? Let’s hear it."
As expected, once the topic was ntioned, Luo Chen’s interest was imdiately piqued. His purpose in accepting Wang Yu’s invitation was precisely to learn the City Lord’s thod of governance.
Although Sanmao City was located in a fertile area, it had been repeatedly exploited by several disciples of the Black Heaven Talisman Lord. Its population and cultivation foundation were inferior to Jade Spirit.
It had only seven or eight independent Foundation Establishnt cultivators, represented by the Nine-Curve Talisman Masters, and two Foundation Establishnt Talisman families whose bloodlines were already withering. After paying offerings to their sect,
the remaining resources barely supported cultivation needs. There was no way they could afford to raise nurous experts or host large-scale events like Wang Yu’s Fragrant Gathering.
When it ca to teaching managent principles, Wang Yu had accumulated so experience over the years. He was serious, and he tailored his words to fit the larger environnt of the Crimson Kite and Cloud Ridge region.
After pondering for a mont, Wang Yu said,
"The royal path thod takes longer to show results and carries certain risks. You expand outward, seeking new resources.
Internally, distribute profits. Let the people under you hold spirit stones. You only need to control the output of essentials like food, shelter, magical equipnt, and adventure supplies. In the end, the spirit stones will naturally flow back into your hands."
Luo Chen frowned slightly.
"That won’t work. I can only remain City Lord of Sanmao City for about two hundred years. I need resources sufficient to cultivate up to the peak of Core Formation."
Wang Yu was silent for a mont.
"Then there’s the second thod. I rember Sanmao City has a branch of the Heaven Treasure Pavilion. Senior Brother can use his connections to invite people from the Golden Abundance Tower l to open a sub-branch in the city.
These large foreign firms will bring in substantial capital that can fuel Sanmao City’s developnt. By then, you can expand the city guard and establish trade routes with other cities. The tax revenue will increase by more than fifty percent."
Luo Chen first nodded, then shook his head.
"That still won’t do. It would offend the two major rchant houses. Junior Brother Wang, isn’t there a more direct way to earn spirit stones?"
Wang Yu scratched his head.
To be honest, this was difficult. Economics had not been his area of study in his previous life—he had majored in physical education.
Jade Spirit City’s current prosperity had co from a combination of timing, luck, and bold risks.
He roughly understood Luo Chen’s concern—he simply didn’t want the spirit stones to go into other people’s hands.
But that was a paradox.
To develop a city, the people must be prosperous. If the market were desolate, where would the tax inco co from?
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