Cultivation, Inc.I Use Capitalism to Fix a Dying Sect

Chapter 183: The First Wave of Rogue Cultivators

Five streaks of light cut through the sky, carrying five Qi Refining cultivators toward the territory of the Qingyun Sect. Among them, two had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, while the other three were at the seventh.

“The Qingyun Sect is just ahead,” the leader, a weathered old man at the eighth level of Qi Refining, said as he gazed at the horizon, his expression etched with the caution of a lifetime spent in the wilderness.

“Fellow Daoist Lu,” a middle-aged cultivator flying beside him frowned, his voice laced with worry. “Do you truly believe the Qingyun Sect will pay high prices for Demon Beast corpses? It sounds too good to be true.”

“Sigh. We have to try our luck,” Lu replied. “We risked our lives to hunt these few Demon Beasts. Selling them to the vultures in the market for scraps… it’s just not worth it.”

“Since the Qingyun Sect dared to broadcast this news so widely, I believe their offer must be genuine,” another chimed in. “You all know how loud their reputation is right now.”

A cultivator at the rear shook his head in disbelief. “It really is terrifying. In such a short time, the Qingyun Sect wiped out the Black Wind Stockade, Evil Spirit Valley, the Xuanyin Sect, and the Zhou Family. When I first heard the news, I thought it was a drunkard’s tall tale.”

“Indeed. Evil Spirit Valley and Black Wind Stockade had Nascent Soul grand cultivators sitting in command. To think they were extinguished just like that…”

“Heh, what is so strange about it? Rumor has it the Qingyun Sect recruited over a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators from the Heavenly Saint Commandery. Those bandit sects were simply outmatched.”

“Regardless of where the help came from, the Qingyun Sect led the charge. We can only say the Black Wind Stockade and Evil Spirit Valley ran out of luck.”

“However,” the leader mused, “the rules established by the Qingyun Sect are a blessing for people like us. Strictly prohibiting ‘Killing to Seize Treasures’ within their domain… it makes us Rogue Cultivators feel a rare sense of safety. Even the wicked cultivators have started to restrain themselves lately.”

“True. The Qingyun Sect has done a great merit. But I still don’t understand why they protect mortals. I heard they are building Qingyun Dao Palaces in mortal cities, stationing cultivators there to assist commoners. What could they possibly gain from that?”

“Forget it, the thoughts of great sects are not for us to guess. We’ve arrived. Let’s descend.”

The five cultivators dropped from the clouds, landing squarely in front of the Qingyun Sect’s majestic mountain gate.

Their feet had barely touched the stone pavement when a figure flew toward them.

It was a young man, appearing no older than twenty, yet the spiritual pressure radiating from him was unmistakably that of the Foundation Establishment stage. The five Qi Refining cultivators stiffened, instinctively bowing low in fear and respect.

“We pay our respects to Senior!”

“Heh, no need for such formalities, Fellow Daoists.”

The young man landed lightly, a warm, professional smile on his face. “I am Zhang Han. I am responsible for the external exchange of Supplies for Rogue Cultivators. You may call me Manager Zhang. Are you here to trade?”

Zhang Han was one of the disciples Er Gouzi had handpicked to manage the front-end operations. For days, the reception area had been empty. Now that customers had finally arrived, he rushed over with the enthusiasm of a shopkeeper seeing his first patrons.

“Manager Zhang,” the old cultivator, Lu, asked tentatively, “we heard rumors that the Qingyun Sect is purchasing Demon Beast corpses and demon souls at a premium. Is this true?”

“Absolutely,” Zhang Han replied, his tone brimming with confidence. “The Qingyun Sect values integrity above all else. Please, follow me.”

Zhang Han led the group to a grand hall situated just outside the main mountain gate. Two massive stone steles stood like sentinels at the entrance, covered in glowing script.

“Please observe,” Zhang Han gestured with a sweeping hand. “The stele on the left lists our acquisition prices for various Demon Beast materials. The stele on the right displays the resources available for exchange.

“Our rules are simple: We assess your Demon Beasts and convert their value into ‘Points.’ You may use these Points to redeem high-quality Supplies from the Qingyun Sect. If you do not wish to exchange for goods, you may convert your Points into Spirit Stones. However, please note—Spirit Stones cannot be used to purchase exclusive Qingyun Sect Supplies, nor can they be converted back into Points. Take a moment to look. If you have questions, I am here to answer them.”

The five rogue cultivators crowded around the steles, their eyes scanning the glowing text. As they read, their jaws began to drop.

“It… it really matches the list we saw on the flyers,” one cultivator whispered, his voice trembling. He turned to Zhang Han. “Manager Zhang, are you truly willing to exchange at these rates?”

They had been burned too many times by false advertising from unscrupulous merchant houses.

“Of course,” Zhang Han laughed, standing tall. “My Qingyun Sect is a titan of the region; why would we deceive Fellow Daoists over such small matters?”

He continued, his tone professional yet firm. “As long as you produce the goods, I will settle the bill immediately. However, you know the industry standards, yes? We do not accept artificially reared beasts. Furthermore, a corpse without its demon soul will naturally fetch a lower price.”

“We understand the rules, Manager Zhang!” The old man hurriedly unhooked a Storage Bag from his waist and presented it with both hands. “Please, take a look. How many Points are these worth?”

Zhang Han accepted the bag. His Divine Sense swept through it in an instant.

“Ten Low Grade first-tier, five Middle Grade first-tier, and three High Grade first-tier beasts… Excellent condition.” Zhang Han nodded. “Total value: 3,500 Points. If you wish for cash, I can give you 3,500 Spirit Stones right now. Or, you can spend those Points on our internal resources.”

“Manager Zhang… 3,500 Spirit Stones? Truly?”

The five cultivators looked at each other, seeing the shock mirrored in their companions’ eyes. In the outside markets, these carcasses would have sold for 1,000 Spirit Stones at best, and that was after haggling until their throats were dry. The Qingyun Sect was offering more than triple the market rate without blinking.

“It is the truth,” Zhang Han assured them. “But I suggest you look at our resource list first. Our prices are far more… competitive than the outside world.”

The cultivators turned their attention to the right-hand stele.

“Heavens! Peiyuan Pills, Lanling Pills, Yiqi Pills… the prices are ten percent lower than the market floor price!”

“Look at these first-tier Spirit Weapons! How are they so affordable?”

“Even the Spirit Talismans and formation flags are cheap!”

Gasps of astonishment filled the air. For rogue cultivators who scraped by on meager earnings, every Spirit Stone was precious. The Qingyun Sect wasn’t just paying them more; they were selling to them for less. It was an economic paradise.

After a feverish discussion, the five men made their decision. They didn’t take a single Spirit Stone. They converted every last Point into resources—Spirit Pills to aid their cultivation and Spirit Weapons to safeguard their lives.

Zhang Han, carrying a mobile inventory, handed over the goods on the spot. The transaction was seamless.

“One more thing,” Zhang Han added, pointing toward a verdant hill nearby. “The Headmaster has specially designated a cultivation zone for our guests. If you wish to process your new pills immediately, you may stay there. The first year of residence is free of charge.”

The cultivators looked toward the hill. Rows of neat, newly constructed courtyards lined the slope. Although it was outside the main sect’s Spiritual Vein, the ambient Spiritual Qi there was still far denser than the chaotic energy of the wilderness or the crowded, dirty market lodgings.

They had just bought pills and needed a safe place to absorb them. This offer was not just generous; it was a lifeline.

“Thank you, Manager Zhang!” the old man said, his voice thick with emotion. “We will gladly stay and cultivate for a time.”

“Please, make yourselves at home. If you have further questions, the inquiry desk at the hall entrance is staffed daily.” Zhang Han pointed to a reception counter nearby.

“Thank you. Manager Zhang, your arrangements are truly too thoughtful.”

Zhang Han waved his hand, his expression turning solemn and reverent. “Do not thank me. This is not my arrangement, but the will of our Headmaster. Only he possesses the vision to care for all cultivators under heaven.”

Zhang Han’s eyes shone with hero-worship as he spoke of Sun Yi. Since Sun Yi had taken the mantle of Headmaster, the Qingyun Sect had undergone a metamorphosis. Even someone like Zhang Han, possessed of a mere Low Grade Spirit Root, had achieved Foundation Establishment thanks to the sect’s new abundance.

He looked at the five rogue cultivators before him. Their Spirit Roots were superior to his, yet they lived like hunted dogs, scraping for survival. It was the Headmaster who had given Zhang Han dignity, hope, and a future.

“He is a Peerless genius,” Zhang Han whispered, more to himself than to them. “And he is changing the world.”