"As long as our original plan remains on track, the Qian family will have at least thirty years of breathing room."
Qian Nishang mused, "Even Mingxin Pavilion could ascend to another level because of this!"
Given Mingxin Pavilion's current scale, another ascent would not only rival Hao Han Tower but also grant it a dominant advantage in the business arena.
As one of the three benefactors, Qian Nishang and the Qian family's status would naturally rise, leading to greater benefits.
And thirty years of breathing room would be enough for the Qian family to have at least an eighty percent chance of overcoming the current crisis.
Qian Nishang was confident that with this time, the Qian family could fully recover its vitality and establish a firm foothold in Luoxia County without relying on any external forces, ensuring no one could displace them from Mingxin Pavilion.
"Unless we're unbelievably unlucky, there shouldn't be any major variables."
Ji Yuan wasn't particularly concerned, appearing more relaxed.
Ultimately, the Qian family's fate wasn't of great consequence to him. Moreover, having broken the county yamen's stalemate and offered such a scheme, he felt he had already earned his special benefactor benefits.
Furthermore, various factions were now involved. To extricate himself from this situation would require a powerful figure to intervene, or someone with authority greater than the county governor. Otherwise, it was virtually impossible.
This wasn't to say his strategy was brilliant, but rather the greed of these factions drove them to attempt even if they knew it was a trap.
"We're here."
Qian Nishang's expression shifted, and as her words fell, the carriage they were traveling in came to a halt.
Upon disembarking, Ji Yuan saw a magnificent seven-story building, its facade alone spanning thirty to forty feet.
This seven-story structure could no longer be described as merely grand; it was like a celestial mansion descended to the mortal realm, exuding a faint, almost ethereal aura.
As the two entered the main hall of Mingxin Pavilion, four graceful maids stepped forward, softly greeting them as benefactors before standing demurely to the sides, awaiting further instructions.
"The first to third floors house Mingxin Pavilion's commercial counters, as well as private rooms for our collaborating cultivators."
Qian Nishang led Ji Yuan upstairs, providing a general overview. "Floors four and five are dedicated to appraising treasures for our patrons and distinguished guests. The sixth floor is usually closed, occasionally used for large auctions."
The topmost seventh floor was reserved for Mingxin Pavilion's high-level private chambers and its treasury.
According to her, Mingxin Pavilion was usually guarded by three cultivators of the third realm, representing the Qian, Li, and Zhuang benefactor families, to ensure the treasury's security.
In addition to the three benefactors' third-realm cultivators, numerous overt and covert forces were present. Attempting to raid the treasury would be as difficult as storming the mountain gate of a major sect.
Moreover, the entire seven-story building was protected by over a dozen powerful formations, both inside and out. If all were activated, even third-realm cultivators would struggle.
As they spoke, the two ascended to the seventh floor and proceeded directly towards Mingxin Pavilion's treasury.
However, along the way, Ji Yuan saw no guards, and even when standing outside the treasury, no one intercepted or questioned them.
Despite the apparent lack of personnel, he could sense more than ten pairs of eyes watching the place from the shadows. Furthermore, an incredibly subtle yet potent aura had been lingering beside him since he stepped onto the seventh floor.
If his guess was correct, this aura was the might of the formations.
As the two stopped before the treasury's main gate, Qian Nishang made no move, yet the large door swung open.
Ji Yuan peered intently and saw three elderly men seated cross-legged behind the gate. One of them was Elder Chen, whom he had met several times.
The other two elders were presumably the third-realm representatives from the other two families, responsible for guarding the treasury.
"This is a token. We've already spoken with the other two families about me coming to retrieve some items today."
Without pleasantries, Qian Nishang produced a token and, using her spiritual energy, sent it floating towards the two elders.
However, the two elders did not even open their eyes, allowing the token to land on the table before them.
Seeing this, she did not seem angered but rather accustomed to the situation. Without further ado, she led Ji Yuan past the three elders and into the treasury.
As they passed the trio, Ji Yuan took the opportunity to offer Elder Chen a respectful bow.
A pure martial artist of the third realm commanded sufficient respect even from cultivators of the same level, let alone from him, who had not yet fully broken through to the second realm.
"As agreed, you may choose one magical treasure, one cultivation method, and three divine abilities."
Qian Nishang stopped and turned to Ji Yuan.
Behind her, rows of treasure shelves were neatly arranged, filled with objects emitting radiant light – rare spiritual herbs, high-quality magical artifacts, and precious ores.
In addition, Ji Yuan spotted numerous finished elixirs and talismans, as well as formation plates, flags, and even alchemical furnaces and cauldrons.
The sheer quantity and variety of treasures here were beyond words.
He nodded, and at Qian Nishang's signal, began browsing the shelves.
The treasures here were all under the protection of a dozen formations, and each shelf had its own independent restrictions. Without the proper credentials or activation methods, it would be impossible to obtain them easily.
This ensured that no one could discreetly pocket any treasures using spatial bags or similar items.
Ji Yuan was currently in the area designated for magical treasures. He was not lacking in cultivation methods or divine abilities, as the Xuan Tian Guan had a complete lineage, and the Xuan Tian Dao Scripture contained numerous secret techniques.
Magical treasures, on the other hand, were what he most needed.
Both the White Jade Flying Sword and the ancestral master's leftover sword were of too high a grade for him to wield with his current cultivation. In combat, he relied primarily on their material properties and sharpness.
In desperate situations, he could expend a bit of stored spiritual energy to unleash a powerful blow.
However, this would place an extreme burden on his physical body, resulting in exhaustion at best, or severe damage at worst, requiring days to recover.
Of his other magical artifacts, only the San Cai Treasure Coins could be used for self-protection.
The bronze oil lamp had been gifted to Zhao Yue Bai, and the black saber obtained from the Zhao family's evil cultivators could only be used by those with malevolent intent.
Thus, he was in urgent need of a protective artifact. After all, he couldn't rely solely on talismans when fighting.
After a thorough inspection, he had indeed found several promising magical treasures. Among them, a set of thirty-six Heavy Water Beads particularly caught his eye.
"If you fancy this set of magical treasures, there's a Nine Yuan Heavy Water Scripture that perfectly complements it," Qian Nishang said from beside him.
These thirty-six Heavy Water Beads were the exclusive magical treasures recorded in the Nine Yuan Heavy Water Scripture. Mingxin Pavilion had acquired both from a water god's遗址 (yízhǐ - ruins/remains), intending them as a centerpiece for their year-end auction.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan displayed a conflicted expression. Generally, magical treasures exclusive to a specific cultivation method possessed immense power and grade but had a significant drawback: they could only unleash their full potential when activated by their corresponding scripture.
However, he already possessed the Xuan Tian Sword Art, and as his cultivation advanced, he needed to focus on comprehending the Daoist Law Scroll. Practicing another cultivation method might strain his focus, leading to failure in both.
While cultivating one or two additional cultivation methods was not detrimental to cultivators and could even be beneficial, the Xuan Tian Dao Scripture, whether its Daoist Law Scroll or Sword Art chapter, was profound. Each part alone was a rare technique that could lead to the Golden Core stage and beyond.
An ordinary person might spend a lifetime to comprehend only fifty to sixty percent of either one, let alone practicing both simultaneously.
Adding another scripture, and one that could likely lead to the Golden Core stage, would almost certainly result in a lack of focus, leaving him in a precarious position, hindering his cultivation path.
"If you worry about a lack of focus, you could seek a method of creating a clone in the future."
Qian Nishang's insight was sharp; she immediately perceived his underlying concern.
"A method of creating a clone?"
Ji Yuan was taken aback, not hiding his surprise.
Seeing his confusion, Qian Nishang patiently explained that there were special techniques in the world to refine a clone using various spiritual materials, and then split off a portion of one's soul to inhabit it.
Depending on the grade of the technique used, such a clone could possess some or even all of the original body's cultivation base. Furthermore, having a split soul, it could independently comprehend cultivation methods.
It was said that powerful beings beyond the Golden Core stage almost universally practiced such techniques, possessing one or even multiple clones, each practicing different cultivation methods or even acting on behalf of the original body in the mortal realm.
"Does Mingxin Pavilion possess such a clone-creating technique?"
Ji Yuan immediately inquired upon hearing this.
However, Qian Nishang shook her head. Such a technique, let alone for Mingxin Pavilion, was unlikely to be found even in Hao Han Tower.
Even if it existed, not a whisper of it would escape, for fear of attracting the attention of powerful factions or cultivators, potentially even inviting the covetous gaze of supreme beings.
After all, even divine beings beyond the Golden Core stage did not necessarily possess such miraculous techniques.
"Alright, I'll take this set of thirty-six Heavy Water Beads and the Nine Yuan Heavy Water Scripture!"
He stated decisively.
Now that he was aware of clone-creating techniques that could aid the main body in focusing on multiple cultivation methods, he had no further reservations.
As for whether he would find such a technique in the future, he felt no concern. With the advancement of his cultivation, opportunities would surely arise.
"In that case, you can also choose three other techniques."
Qian Nishang nodded, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, as if she hadn't expected his swift decision.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan pondered and then asked, "Can these three techniques be exchanged for other items?"
As he spoke, he retrieved a piece of paper from his怀 (huái - bosom/pocket) and handed it forward, hoping to exchange them for the items listed.
This idea was not spontaneous; he had conceived it on the journey to the county town, only choosing to bring it up now.
The fundamental reason was to see the situation first and perhaps find something he desired.
Having already acquired a set of magical treasures and a matching cultivation method, his gains were substantial. The remaining three techniques could perhaps be exchanged for other things.
Of course, while the idea was appealing, it depended on their agreement.
Qian Nishang accepted the paper and, after a glance, noticed that the items listed were medicinal ingredients. While not inexpensive, they were not spiritual herbs. Even if all were gathered, their value would be less than half that of the three techniques.
Without hesitation, she agreed. Compared to three techniques that could command high prices at auction, these medicinal ingredients, despite their quantity, were insignificant.
"With this, you will be a special benefactor of my Qian family from now on."
Qian Nishang smiled calmly, collecting a signed contract.
This type of contract was issued by the Great Yu Dynasty, with a single sheet being worth as much as a magical artifact. Those who defaulted on the contract and violated its terms would face the full sanction of the imperial court.
Upon signing the contract, Ji Yuan received the thirty-six Heavy Water Beads and the corresponding Nine Yuan Heavy Water Scripture. The large quantity of medicinal ingredients would be delivered to him shortly.