Chapter 197 - 193: Establishing a Faction, Lin Sha’s Core Formation Ceremony

After his initial meditation on the *Blood Slaughter Sword Scripture*, Du Youqian came out of seclusion for a short time.

The main reason was to assign tasks to his subordinates, as he was establishing a new faction.

He didn’t have much ambition.

If he had to claim an ambition... it would be to lay a good foundation for his next life, preparing for a rainy day.

But he was currently in the prime of his life. At only 44 years old, he was already at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

In another twenty or thirty years, he could begin considering Core Formation.

Once he reached Core Formation, he would have several hundred more years to live.

Therefore, the matters he was arranging now didn’t require any short-sighted pursuit of quick gains.

Besides, the subordinates he recruited were Cultivators themselves. They needed to focus on their own Cultivation and couldn’t be driven like 996 office workers.

Du Youqian discussed matters with Luo Jinyu and Gu Xiaofang, establishing many rules and regulations.

Everyone who pledged allegiance to him would, based on their Cultivation, be able to collect a certain amount of interest each year.

It was a little less than what the Sect distributed, but roughly on par with what other True Inheritors with their own factions offered.

For example, a Qi Cultivation Late Stage disciple could receive 100 Spirit Stones from him annually.

It wasn’t much, but it was an extra source of income they could get without having to do anything.

And if they performed tasks for Du Youqian, they would be compensated accordingly.

Countless people had used these kinds of regulations over the past few thousand years. Du Youqian saw no need to reinvent the wheel, simply adopting them with minor adjustments.

Additionally, Du Youqian gave his first major order.

They were to open a small shop in every Marketplace in the Nine Countries of Momenan Desert.

What the shops sold was unimportant. Du Youqian’s subordinates could trade amongst themselves to stock the inventory. For instance, those skilled in Alchemy could provide some Elixirs, while those skilled in Artifact Refining could supply some Magical and Spiritual Artifacts...

But every shop had to acquire one specific item.

A fragmented Jade Scroll.

No one objected to this.

They might have their suspicions in private.

But on the surface, they would all carry out the order diligently.

Du Youqian arranged a few more matters, and Gu Xiaofang accepted them all.

"Oh, right, Brother Fei, your True Inheritor ceremony is about to begin. People from the Internal Affairs Hall have come by several times. There are some things that require your decision."

"I don’t care," Du Youqian said. "What’s there to celebrate about a True Inheritor ceremony? We can have a grander celebration for my Core Formation Ceremony in the future. Just handle them for me. If a decision needs to be made, you can make it."

When it came to worldly affairs, Gu Xiaofang was leagues ahead of Luo Jinyu and Fang Hua. Du Youqian trusted him completely.

"Alright then, Brother Fei, don’t you worry about it. Leave it all to me."

Du Youqian reminded him, "You need to focus on your Cultivation, too. Don’t tell me you’ll have died of old age by the time my Core Formation Ceremony comes around."

Gu Xiaofang dismissed the notion. "How could that be! Brother Fei, you’ll reach Core Formation in thirty to fifty years at most. You think I can’t even live for another thirty or fifty years?"

~~~~~~~~~

Du Youqian’s True Inheritor ceremony was a lively affair. Many sects from the Demon Dao sent representatives to celebrate.

Du Youqian’s demeanor was calm and composed, his bearing elegant. He looked every bit a virtuous True Cultivator from a Profound Sects Orthodox Sect.

He seemed completely out of place with his surroundings.

After becoming a True Inheritor, there was no shortage of flattery and adulation.

But Du Youqian was used to it.

It wasn’t his first time being a True Inheritor, after all.

Back then, at the Zhongxuan Sect, he had also experienced the prestige of a True Inheritor.

It was just that a True Inheritor of the Zhongxuan Sect could only show off their prestige within their own sect.

A True Inheritor of the Holy Blood Sect, on the other hand, could show off their prestige across the entire world...

After the ceremony, these envoys lingered for a while, trying to get closer to Du Youqian.

After all, in a Major Sect like the Holy Blood Sect, becoming a True Inheritor meant that reaching Core Formation was almost a certainty.

That meant for the next four or five hundred years, Du Youqian would be a high-ranking, lofty figure in the Holy Blood Sect.

With a single word, he could demote Third or Fourth-class Sects; with a single word, he could also promote Fourth or Fifth-class Sects.

This wasn’t to say that Du Youqian could break the rules just by speaking. Rather, as a True Inheritor, he controlled enough power that sending people to suppress a Third or Fourth-class Sect was effortless, and supporting a few people to help a Fourth or Fifth-class Sect get promoted was a trivial matter.

Many of Du Youqian’s old acquaintances also came, such as Shuyue Hua.

Over the past decade or so, she had cultivated several more peerless beauties. Instead of trying to curry favor with others, she sent them all packaged up directly to Du Youqian.

These beauties had mediocre Cultivation, but each was as beautiful as a Celestial Immortal and proficient in the Secret Techniques of the bedchamber.

In the past, Shuyue Hua would never have been willing to give such beauties to a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator. Only a dignified Core Formation Master was worthy of enjoying them.

However, since Du Youqian had become a True Inheritor of the Holy Blood Sect, he had essentially reserved a spot for Core Formation. Gifting these to him was not a waste.

"Rest assured, I remember your matter. If you fail to reach Core Formation, I will also cultivate Fang Hua until she reaches Core Formation, and she can lead the Hundred Flowers Sect to be promoted again," Du Youqian promised.

Shuyue Hua bowed deeply, grateful that she had made the right investment all those years ago.

When beauties were delivered to his door, Du Youqian naturally accepted them all with a smile.

However, he didn’t actually *use* them. It absolutely wasn’t because of the sharp, eager Sword Intent in Fang Hua’s eyes—really, it wasn’t—nor was it because he was worried about Lin Sha’s imminent success in Core Formation, ahem.

’A real man taking one or two beauties for himself—what’s there to worry about, right?’

’In any case... I’ll just keep them for now and reward them to meritorious subordinates in the future.’

For example, if Fang Simin advanced further and was on the verge of Core Formation, Du Youqian would bestow beauties and Spiritual Artifacts upon her to win her over.

If Fang Simin truly succeeded in Core Formation, Du Youqian would even help her establish an Immortal Cultivation Clan.

Another example was Luo Jinyu. He had always been loyal to Du Youqian, and his strength had grown over the years to the point where he could hold his own. He even had a decent chance of reaching Core Formation.

If he made significant contributions in the future, Du Youqian certainly wouldn’t be stingy with his rewards.

Then there was Meng Xiao. If he ever got tired of playing raising sims with paper people... oh, slip of the tongue, I mean Ghost Cultivators.

Du Youqian would be happy to bestow one or two beauties upon him to win his loyalty.

And then there was Gu Xiaofang. That kid had never been polite with Du Youqian in the past. If someone sent beauties to Du Youqian that he didn’t use, Gu Xiaofang would ask for them.

But now, he seemed to have had a change of heart.

Upon asking, Du Youqian learned that he was now head over heels for that little beauty from the Taihe Sect named Yin Ruozhen.

Du Youqian inquired a little and found that this Yin Ruozhen hadn’t been particularly outstanding in the Taihe Sect before.

But after the incident at the Relics, she had suddenly begun to rise.

Now, it looked like she was about to reach Foundation Establishment.

’The woman is only in her twenties, in the prime of her youth, and with outstanding aptitude. I have no idea what she sees in Gu Xiaofang. I guess the kid really knows how to chase women...’

After the envoys from the various sects gradually departed, Du Youqian finished handling some worldly affairs. Then, led by Feng Xiaoyi, he paid visits to and familiarized himself with the Core Formation seniors in the Sect. Only then, under Feng Xiaoyi’s urging, did he resume his seclusion.

"In thirty years, it will be my turn as your master to stand Garrison at the Desolate Abyss. If you don’t reach Foundation Establishment Perfection within thirty years, don’t blame me for giving you a little punishment!"

Du Youqian: *An awkward but polite smile.*

’Seclusion. Time for seclusion.’

This round of seclusion hadn’t lasted long. He was summoned out after only a little over two years, which was far from enough time for him to break through to the Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer.

For the past two years, he had spent most of his time rectifying the flaws caused by forcefully raising his Cultivation with the *Seven Elements Purple Mansion Qi Eating Skill*.

This was to avoid suddenly discovering that his Dao Foundation was flawed when he tried to reach Core Formation in the future.

In addition, he had been diligently meditating on the *Blood Slaughter Sword Scripture* and felt that he was not far from comprehending a new Sword Intent.

Being forcibly summoned out of seclusion at this time, he was naturally a bit displeased.

"What is it this time?"

Luo Jinyu’s expression was a little strange. "At the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect, Lin Master has successfully reached Core Formation and is about to hold her Core Formation Ceremony. She specifically requested you by name, Senior Brother, to attend the ceremony and offer congratulations. You know how it is, women... and a Core Formation Master at that, not to mention one of those craz... anyway, the Sect didn’t want to go against her wishes, so they agreed."

Du Youqian was momentarily speechless.

But a smile couldn’t help but appear on his face.

’She reached Core Formation... That’s really good.’

As for why Lin Sha would specifically request him to attend her Core Formation Ceremony, Du Youqian wasn’t surprised.

’She’s not stupid. She must have guessed a little something.’

But he would never admit it.

Some things could be understood implicitly, but not spoken aloud.

He had originally thought a Core Formation Master would have the power to protect themselves, but then he recalled the scenes he had witnessed in the Relics... In the face of higher-level powers, even Core Formation Masters were just slightly stronger cannon fodder.

Therefore, he would not admit to the fact that he could reincarnate endlessly and overcome the Mystery of the Womb.

Because even for Nascent Soul cultivators, or even the Great Powers above them, while they might be able to reincarnate, it was extremely difficult for them to overcome the Mystery of the Womb on their own without any Guiding.

"Also, all of this generation’s True Inheritors have been decided," Luo Jinyu said.

"One of them should be Nong Jiasong, right?"

"Correct."

Du Youqian was not surprised.

He had slaughtered the previous number one True Successor Candidate.

Nong Jiasong had been the second-ranked True Successor Candidate, but after the Sect’s grand competition, he was automatically promoted to number one.

"And the other?"

"Wandering Dragon."

Du Youqian nodded slightly.

This was a name that was somewhat surprising... but upon reflection, it made sense.

Although this person’s ranking among the True Successor Candidates wasn’t high, he was a smooth operator and skilled at socializing. As a result, in the past few decades, no one had thought to team up and eliminate him first.

Then, over the years, as True Successor Candidates were continuously eliminated, Wandering Dragon’s rank automatically rose higher and higher. It was reasonable that after so many years of accumulation, he would finally have his moment.

"Senior Brother, I heard some news."

"Speak."

"This Wandering Dragon... seems to have been getting a little too close with Yin Ruozhen these past two years."

Du Youqian was a little surprised. "What about Xiaogu?"

"That Yin Ruozhen has already reached Foundation Establishment, and she’s grown distant from Junior Gu over the past two years. And Junior Gu, as you know, Senior Brother, is someone who can take things as they come and let them go. He already has a new love and doesn’t mind."

"That’s good."

"Senior Brother, there is one more thing. Senior Sister Yan Jiao is interested in joining your faction along with her Dao Companion."

Du Youqian naturally remembered that decades ago, Yan Jiao had done him a favor regarding the matter with the Hundred Flowers Sect.

"She’s at Foundation Establishment Late Stage, isn’t she? What’s the situation with her Dao Companion?"

"She reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage a long time ago." Luo Jinyu then explained the situation with Yan Jiao and her Dao Companion in detail.

He then asked, "If Senior Sister Yan Jiao joins, she’ll be the first Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator under your command—those of us who followed you early on don’t count as a reference; others will definitely be watching her. I think you, Senior Brother, could ’buy the bones of a thousand-li horse’ and give her favorable treatment. That way, in the future, maybe even Inner Disciples at Foundation Establishment Perfection will be scrambling to join you."

Du Youqian thought for a moment, then nodded. "Agreed."

Luo Jinyu added, "Senior Brother, should we consider expanding our influence and recruiting people from other sects? Do we need to plant our people in certain places?"

Du Youqian had considered this. It was part of his plan. In the future, he could establish a system that "recognizes the token, not the person." That way, even if he reincarnated, he could continue to control this faction remotely.

But for now, the time was not yet ripe for such actions.

He had to at least wait until he reached Core Formation.