I Was Forced to Marry a “Trash” Cultivator, But She Turned Out to Be a Reborn Empress!

Chapter 280: Sect Conception, Power Obtained

The news that the Cold Soul Sword had triggered a Weapon Tribulation did not merely spread; it detonated across the Holy City like a metaphysical storm.

“Master Wang of the Duobao Workshop… he actually forged a True Spirit Treasure capable of invoking a Heavenly Tribulation?!”

“The Holy City hasn’t seen a Tier-5 Artificer emerge in centuries!”

“The Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce has already pledged their full support to Duobao Workshop! And rumor has it, their commission fees are lower than the other two giants!”

…

In a mere half-day, the tectonic plates of power within the Holy City shifted violently. Countless cultivators swarmed the streets, creating a suffocating tide of humanity outside the Duobao Workshop’s entrance. Some desperate souls were even booking refining slots half a month in advance.

“Master Wang! I’ll pay double the market rate! I beg of you, grant me a True Spirit Treasure!”

“My clan offers a thousand-year-old spirit herb as a greeting gift! We only ask for priority in the queue!”

The workshop, already bustling, was now operating at a fever pitch. The order log was booked solid for the next six months.

Shadowy figures from various sects lurked at the periphery, desperate to uncover the true lineage of this newly ascended Tier-5 Grandmaster.

Meanwhile, inside the headquarters of the two major rival chambers of commerce, emergency meetings were underway. The atmosphere was grim.

“We must adjust our strategy immediately. If we don’t, our refining market share will be annihilated.”

For years, the trade of True Spirit Treasures had been a comfortable monopoly. But Shen Xian had crashed onto the scene like a meteor, shattering the status quo and instilling a primal sense of crisis in the established giants.

The Holy City was a cauldron of undercurrents, and Shen Xian stood calm and untouched at the eye of the storm.

…

“Master, this is the apology gift sent by the Li Family.”

Su Mu walked in, holding a delicate, exquisite Storage Ring. Her white robes were pristine, her hair pinned up elegantly to reveal a face glowing with astute intelligence. Her clear eyes crinkled with a satisfied smile.

After witnessing Shen Xian forge a legend, the Patriarch of the Li Family had panicked. He couldn’t sit still, fearing retribution, and had immediately dispatched envoys with a heavy tribute to beg for forgiveness.

In the cultivation world, there was a golden rule: You might survive offending a king, but you never offend a high-tier Artificer.

Especially not a Tier-5 Grandmaster.

Shen Xian’s Divine Sense swept casually over the ring. Inside lay a mountain of Tier-4 materials, a few rare Tier-5 ores, and a staggering pile of High Grade Spirit Stones.

*The Li Family certainly knows how to buy their life,* Shen Xian thought, his expression impassive.

He pocketed the Storage Ring and glanced at his disciples. Tie Shan looked at him with fanatical worship; Ai Xiao’s eyes burned with the thrill of their rising status.

But Su Mu…

The light in her eyes was different. It was calculating. Sharp.

The news of the True Spirit Treasure had brought fame and an explosion of orders. But if they merely continued accepting commissions, they would remain ‘craftsmen’—servants to the powerful, rather than a power unto themselves.

The political web of the Holy City was dense and treacherous. Shen Xian was strong, but without a deep foundation, the combined weight of the Hundred Arts Sect and the Dao Xuan Sect would eventually press down on him.

If the goal was to accumulate connections and influence, why stop at a shop?

Why not establish a Sect?

Using the name ‘Duobao’ to gather resources and propel her Master into the true apex of the Holy City’s hierarchy.

Su Mu’s lips curved slightly. She took a step forward, her voice clear, resonant, and brimming with conviction.

“Master, this disciple has a proposal.”

“Since the various powers are scrambling to curry favor with us, why not seize the momentum and establish the ‘Duobao Sect’?”

Since arriving in the Holy City, this meticulous second disciple had sensed Shen Xian’s desire to build a network and accumulate power. Her suggestion was merely the logical next step.

Shen Xian’s brow twitched with interest. Before he could respond, Su Mu launched into a clinical analysis.

“Operating as a Sect allows us to recruit disciples openly, cultivating a new generation of refining talent to handle mass production. We can leverage our current alliances—the Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce and Venerable Zi Yun—to stand as our initial backers, deterring any petty schemes.”

“But most importantly…”

Her eyes narrowed like a fox spotting prey. “A Sect can establish the position of ‘Guest Elder.’ We can use these honorary titles to bind the Holy City’s heavyweights to our war chariot.”

As she spoke, she produced a jade slip. Spiritual light danced at her fingertips as she projected a holographic organizational chart she had already drafted.

**Refining Hall:** Overseen personally by Shen Xian. Handles only supreme-tier orders.

**External Affairs Hall:** Managed by Su Mu. Handles commerce, negotiations, and diplomacy.

**Guest Elder Pavilion:** Positions reserved exclusively for “Void Refinement Celestial Venerables and Clan Patriarchs.”

…

Tie Shan’s jaw dropped. “Second Senior Sister… you already prepared all of this?”

Su Mu smiled silently. *While Master was refining the sword, I was calculating the endgame. Opportunity is only for those who are prepared.*

Shen Xian studied his second disciple, a flicker of genuine appreciation in his eyes. He hadn’t expected her to be this thorough. She hadn’t just thought about the art; she had dissected the business.

Expanding the Duobao Workshop was inevitable, especially since the True Spirit Treasure had secured him half the authority over Black Profound City. He had been pondering how to structure his empire.

Now, his disciple had handed him the blueprint on a silver platter.

“If Master agrees, this disciple can contact the relevant parties immediately,” Su Mu said, her beautiful eyes shining with the confidence of a general on the eve of victory.

She was once a top-tier refiner with her own workshop. She knew the game.

Shen Xian looked at her deeply, then a rare, faint smile touched his lips.

“Good. You have full authority to handle this.”

***

Three days later, the Holy City shook again.

Venerable Zi Yun personally arrived to officiate the opening. The Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce announced a “Strategic Alliance” with the newly formed Duobao Sect. Powerful figures like Luo Tianxiong and other Clan Patriarchs lined up to accept honorary titles as Guest Elders.

And orchestrating it all…

Su Mu stood atop the high platform in her white robes, smiling as she watched the titans of the city vie to present their gifts.

*Step one: Establish a foothold. Step two: Aggressive expansion,* she recited internally. *Master provides the prestige; I will monetize it.*

No one noticed the transmission jade talisman glowing faintly inside her sleeve.

A secret message from an Elder of the Hundred Arts Sect floated into her mind:

*”Miss Su, regarding the terms you proposed… perhaps we can renegotiate.”*

…

The Duobao Sect flourished with terrifying speed.

Beyond her daily refining duties, Su Mu moved effortlessly between the major powers, securing lucrative contracts.

She introduced a ruthless profit-sharing scheme: cultivators seeking treasures could waive fees by providing rare raw materials. This solved the sect’s supply chain issues while stockpiling a treasury of precious resources.

Even more brilliant was her invention of the “Spirit Stone Futures” system—clients who prepaid large deposits received priority placement in the queue. In half a month, she had absorbed liquid capital equivalent to three years of the workshop’s previous revenue.

Facing a labor shortage, Su Mu subcontracted the grunt work. She struck deals with several mid-sized refining shops to handle the rough forging of blanks, leaving only the core array inscription for the Duobao Sect. Production capacity quintupled overnight.

Shen Xian watched from the shadows, impressed. He realized he had underestimated her.

She hadn’t lacked talent; she had simply lacked a stage large enough to perform.

Now, the spotlight was hers.

***

“Wang Yu, someone from Black Profound City has arrived.”

Qiu Ruoli sent a mental transmission. Since the workshop’s explosion in popularity, even the Saintess of the Tianyao Sect had been drafted into service as a receptionist. They were simply too short-staffed.

Moments later, Shen Xian received the envoy—a Soul Formation Venerable named Yan Hao—and a half-dead prisoner, Sun Chenzhou.

Upon seeing Shen Xian, the Soul Formation expert bowed deeply, his posture radiating absolute submission.

“Subordinate Yan Hao pays respects to the Deputy City Lord!”

Shen Xian’s eyes flashed.

It seemed the Black Profound Celestial Venerable was a man of his word.

“Rise,” Shen Xian said indifferently.

Yan Hao straightened but kept his head lowered. He reverently presented a black token with both hands. Carved from an unknown abyssal metal, it depicted a phoenix spreading its wings, surrounded by pulsating, ancient array patterns.

“Deputy City Lord, this is the Black Phoenix Token. It is the counterpart to the City Lord’s Black Dragon Token. With this, you wield authority over half the city. You may command anyone within Black Profound City—excluding the City Lord himself—at will.”

Shen Xian took the token. It was cold to the touch, humming with a heavy, dormant power.

Yan Hao continued, “The City Lord has instructed that you need not reside in Black Profound City. You are only required to provide a batch of Spirit Treasures monthly. All materials will be supplied by the city.”

He then produced a Storage Ring and offered it with trembling respect.

“Your first stipend.”

Shen Xian swept his Divine Sense inside. Beyond a mountain of rare materials, there sat one hundred crystals that glowed with a blinding, pure light.

Spirit Crystals.

The currency of the true elite. Just these one hundred crystals were equivalent to one million High Grade Spirit Stones.

A generous signing bonus.

“Deputy City Lord, as for this traitor…” Yan Hao gestured to the heap on the floor. “The subordinate leaves him to your disposal. If you have further orders, simply summon me.”

With that, he grabbed the limp body of Sun Chenzhou and tossed him at Shen Xian’s feet like a sack of garbage.