Chapter 65: A lesson on Dao

Chen Ren stood in one of the biggest rooms he could find in the buildings he now owned. The space was large, its high ceiling, and the emptiness after the cleanup making voices echo slightly, and in front of him stood every new recruit of the Divine Coin Sect.

Although he had expected a decent number of people to join, he was still pleasantly surprised—twelve members from the nearby villages.

Twelve.

Zushi was the first among them. She stood near the front, looking calm but attentive. Her eyes were plastered on Chen Ren, and next to her was Luo Heng, the young man who’d no idea that he was a cultivator, and had lived his entire life as a farmer.

Then there was Tao Li, a man in his mid thirties who was partially blind but had the wits of someone who’s twice his age. He had answered every question effortlessly, but precisely—the answers fitting to each question. On the back sat the two brothers, Zi Wen and Zi Han, looking up at him and whispering something to each other.

And there was also Hong Yi puppet cultivator who hadn't joined the sect yet, but had come to meet him just as their arrangement. He kept his distance, as if unsure whether to stay or leave. Chen Ren hadn’t seen his puppet anywhere, but at least the man had come. That was a good sign. Convincing him to fully join would take work, but he saw potential.

Apart from these people, the rest of the men and women fit his standards enough to be taken inside. In a way, it was good to find literate people. That alone made things easier. But what excited him the most were the cultivators among them.

On the side stood his original members—Xiulan, Yalan, the kids, and Anji.

Taking a deep breath, he swept his gaze around the room for the final time and spoke.

“Everyone, I would like to first congratulate you on joining the Divine Coin Sect. All of you have shown qualities like grit, determination, good aptitude, and intelligence during our interviews. And I can promise you this—you won’t regret your choice.”

The mortal members straightened, excitement flickering in their eyes. Among the cultivators, only Luo Heng looked enthusiastic. The other two remained unreadable, their expressions giving away nothing.

Chen Ren continued. “Unlike other sects, we do not focus solely on martial arts. Our sect is built on business, trade, and wealth. But make no mistake—we will not neglect the path of cultivation. Strength and wisdom go hand in hand, and this sect will be a place where both flourish. No one will be cast aside based on their background, status, or cultivation. Everyone has a role, and everyone will benefit.”

He explained further, speaking of the sect’s future, the opportunities it would create, and the strength they would build—not through blind ambition, but through strategy, discipline, and profit.

When he finally asked, “Are there any questions?” Silence hung in the air for a moment. Some recruits hesitated, glancing at each other.

Then Zushi stepped forward. “Sect Leader,” she said, “our sect has both mortals and cultivators standing as equals. But does that mean we, the mortals, will also learn martial arts like them?”

Chen Ren met Zushi’s gaze and nodded. “The primary duty of mortals in the sect will be different. Your focus will be on sales, marketing, and delivery.” He paused, scanning their faces for any hint of hesitation. “The Divine Coin Sect already has its hands in a few businesses, and as we expand, you’ll be the ones managing them.”

Some of the mortal recruits looked at each other, murmuring.

“But,” Chen Ren continued, “that doesn’t mean you won’t be trained. Strength is important in all walks of life. You’ll be required to do basic physical training every day. More than that, you’ll learn about cultivators—their needs, their goods, and their methods. In the future, we’ll be selling to them, so understanding their world will be necessary.”

That got their attention. Zushi nodded, her small eyes flashing with understanding, while Tao Li stroked his chin in thought.

“And after some time,” Chen Ren added, “there will be special training for all mortals.”

That made a few of them straighten in interest.

Han Fei, a herbalist who’d been in the same stream for generations raised a hand. Chen Ren remembered his face well due to the bushy eyebrows he had. “What kind of training?”

Chen Ren only smiled. “You’ll know when the time comes.”

He let that settle before shifting his gaze toward the cultivators standing at the back. Zi Wen looked intrigued, Hong Yi’s expression was unreadable like usual, and Luo Heng–the youngster among the group-had an openly curious expression on his face.

“Mortals will focus on sales,” Chen Ren said, “but cultivators will be more involved in production. That means learning disciplines like alchemy, forging, and artifact crafting.” He let the words sink in before continuing. “There won’t be any force. You’ll be free to learn as you choose. But you will also be required for protection when necessary. Beyond that, you’ll have time to cultivate and walk your own Dao. The sect will support you in that.”

Zi Han crossed his arms, tilting his head. “How will the sect help?” he asked. “Do we have a lot of resources—pills, treasures, things like that? And what about masters? If we’re learning disciplines, who will teach us?”

Chen Ren took a slow breath. “Our sect is new. Right now, we don’t have a stockpile of resources, but we will. As we grow wealthier, we’ll buy what’s needed—pills, materials, manuals.”

Zi Han gave a small nod at that, but his eyes still held some doubt.

“As for masters,” Chen Ren continued. “We have books on various disciplines. They’ll serve as a foundation. And in time, we’ll attract more cultivators who can teach. But resources and masters aren’t the only things that help a cultivator grow.”

At that, Zi Wen finally spoke. “What else is there?” His voice was deep and calm. “What kind of support can you offer besides resources?”

Chen Ren’s gaze settled on him. “Insights into your Dao.”

Zi Wen frowned slightly, but before he could ask more, his expression shifted, as if another thought had struck him. He hesitated, then finally spoke again.

“I apologize if this is disrespectful, Sect Leader,” he said, carefully measuring his words. “But I would like to know—who is the strongest cultivator in our sect?” His sharp eyes met Chen Ren’s. “I know you are the sect leader, but—”

“But I’m only in the qi refinement realm, right?” he said, finishing Zi Wen’s unspoken thoughts. “You’re worried about the safety of the sect.”

Zi Wen nodded, but his eyes revealed a trace of concern. It was a question that probably rang in everyone’s mind but they refused to speak up.

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Chen Ren continued. “We have a sect guardian among our ranks—a meridian expansion realm cultivator, one of the strongest beings in the Kalian Empire. She’ll also be available to help with martial training if you have any problems.”

The words hung in the air for a moment before realization dawned on Zi Wen. His eyes widened. “A meridian expansion master?” he asked.

Someone from the group gasped out loud at that. But Chen Ren maintained his calm demeanor.

“Yes.” Chen Ren nodded. “She’s the protector of our sect. As long as she’s here, you don’t have to worry about our safety.”

Zi Wen slowly exhaled, processing the information before giving a firm nod. “I see.”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

From the side, Yalan smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction. The other recruits stirred, excitement buzzing among them. Even the mortals—despite not fully grasping the weight of the words—could tell this was significant.

Only one person remained quiet. The puppet cultivator, Hong Yi. His gaze flickered toward Yalan, lips pressing into a thin line, clearly remembering their interaction.

Chen Ren let the moment settle before shifting the conversation. “Any more questions for now?”

Silence. A few hesitant glances, but no one spoke up.

Satisfied, he moved forward. “Earlier, you asked what kind of insights the sect could give you. Let’s talk about that.” His tone shifted, drawing their full attention. “These insights will be about the different types of Dao—because the Martial Dao isn’t the only path.”

A few of the mortals looked puzzled, while the cultivators narrowed their eyes in thought.

“I know some of you may find this confusing,” Chen Ren admitted. “So let’s put it simply. Think of Dao as your path—the one you want to walk, the foundation your purpose is built around.”

He paused, scanning the room to make sure they were following. The mortals exchanged uncertain glances, but Zushi seemed to grasp it first, nodding in understanding.

“Most sects in the empire focus on a singular Dao—the Martial Dao,” Chen Ren continued. “Some sects and clans specialize in variations of it, like the Dao of the Sword, the Dao of the Spear, and similar martial paths. Others center around professions like alchemy or blacksmithing.”

He let the words sink in before raising a question of his own. “But are those the only Daos in the world?”

Chen Ren let his question linger in the air, watching the cultivators carefully. It was the puppet cultivator who broke the silence first.

“You’re talking about esoteric daos,” Hong Yi said.

A pleased smile tugged at Chen Ren’s lips. “Exactly,” he said. “These are the rare Daos—not many cultivators walk upon them, but those who do are considered strong simply because of how unpredictable they can be.” His gaze swept across the group, lingering on the ones who had been the most skeptical. “Divine Coin Sect is also based on such a Dao—the Dao of Money.”

A murmur spread through the group, some looking confused while others appeared intrigued. Yalan’s smirk widened slightly, clearly already aware of where this was going.

“Not only that, but our sect is going to specialize in these esoteric Daos. We will encourage every disciple to think deeply about their own path. Why?. Because not only is it the fastest way to reach the top, but it also makes the issue of low spirit roots meaningless.”

Zi Wen’s brows furrowed, his sharp mind latching onto the statement. “What do you mean by that?” he asked.

“Yeah, I don’t get it.”

One of the mortals spoke up. Chen Ren ignored the mortal and focused on Zi Wen.

“I knew you’d be interested.” He let the anticipation build for a moment before speaking again. “You already know how many spirit roots I have, don’t you?”

Zi Wen hesitated before nodding. “Yes.”

“And yet,” Chen Ren continued, “I’ve reached the qi refinement realm in just the last few months—from third star body forging realm.”

Zi Wen’s expression tightened as he put the pieces together. “It was because you focused on your Dao of Money,” he murmured.

“Exactly,” Chen Ren confirmed. “I focused on my Dao, pursued accomplishments within it, and paired it with the right amount of insight. You can do the same. And if you do, then spirit roots won’t matter anymore.”

Chen Ren had talked about this extensively with Yalan. Cultivation, at its core, was about taking in the energy of the world and refining it within oneself. That much was undeniable. But if one walked their Dao, the energy would begin to move as if it had a mind of its own, aligning with the cultivator’s path and empowering them naturally. It took the issue of spirit roots out of the game completely.

It was no different from how a sword cultivator’s strength increased not just by absorbing Qi but by mastering sword techniques, refining his understanding of the blade, and deepening his connection to it. A blacksmith cultivator didn’t rely solely on Qi intake—his cultivation progressed as he forged better and better weapons, strengthening his Dao of the Forge with each success.

As Chen Ren was lost in thought, Hong Yi spoke again. “Even if what you say makes sense, Sect Leader… esoteric Daos are called esoteric for a reason. They’re rare. Walking such a path and gaining insights into them is extremely difficult. Not many pursue these paths for a reason.”

Chen Ren’s gaze flicked to him, a knowing glint in his eyes. “Why do you think that is?” he asked. “Why are there so few esoteric Dao cultivators?”

Hong Yi frowned, arms crossing as he mulled over the question. Seconds passed. Then more. In the end, he let out a quiet breath. “I don’t know.”

Chen Ren’s voice was steady as he answered. “It’s because our cultivation structure is inherently flawed.”

That made a few people straighten up, their attention sharpening.

“Instead of letting a cultivator choose their own path, they are pushed toward the martial path—because to most people, that is the only way to create powerful cultivators,” Chen Ren continued. “Even in sects that allow disciples to learn alchemy, forging, or arrays, those disciplines are always seen as secondary to the Martial Dao. And by the time a cultivator has advanced too far on that path, it becomes nearly impossible for them to change their Dao.”

The room was silent for a long moment. Some looked contemplative, others seemed uncertain, and a few had eyes gleaming with realization.

“But what if we didn’t follow that structure?”

Chen Ren exhaled slowly. This had been something that he’d spoken with Yalan, and even she’d agreed throughout their conversations.

The whole system was flawed. In a way, it wasn’t different from how kids who were born and raised in Asian countries were being forced into STEM fields they had no passion for. Like how a child was being pushed into studying alchemy in this world when their heart lies with arrays. Or being forced into martial cultivation when they have a natural talent for healing.

“And unlike those children who can change careers later, cultivation isn’t so forgiving. Once a cultivator goes too far down a path, it’s nearly impossible to turn back. That’s why esoteric Dao cultivators are so rare. Most never get the chance to walk their true path. And the few who do? They tend to be rogues, because no sect would support them.”

At his words, he saw different reactions from the group. Anji stood to the side, eyes narrowed in deep thought. Luo Heng mirrored the expression, as if trying to make sense of it all. Zi Wen and Hong Yi however, seemed more analytical, searching him for any deception in his words.

They found none.

Chen Ren could see the shift in their eyes, the slight change in how they looked at him. It wasn’t trust, not yet, but it was something close.

Ignoring their reactions, he moved on. “And to prove my point, let me tell you something—there’s already an esoteric Dao cultivator in this room besides me.”

That got their attention. Eyes widened. Some glanced around, looking at each other. Even the mortals, who didn’t fully grasp cultivation, perked up in curiosity.

Chen Ren smirked. Then he raised a hand and pointed directly at Zi Wen.

“It’s you.”

Zi Wen blinked. “Me?”

“Yes.”

A stunned silence. Then Zi Wen frowned. “How? How is it me”

Chen Ren tilted his head. “You might not have realized it yet, but you’ve unconsciously walked onto the Dao of Taming. You just haven’t aligned with it yet, which is why you haven’t gained any benefits from it.”

Zi Wen’s expression flickered. “Because of Little Yuze?”

“Yes. Beasts aren’t supposed to be easily tamed. Even if you got him as a whelp, the connection between you two, the way he listens to you—it all points toward something much deeper than simple training. In the texts I’ve read, this is a sign of someone on the Dao of Taming.”

Zi Wen looked down, visibly processing the revelation. Some of the others exchanged looks. A murmur ran through the group.

He crossed his arms and waited, giving the man some time to process it. Zi Wen remained silent, his brows furrowed in deep contemplation. Chen Ren could tell that he was turning the idea over in his head, trying to grasp what it truly meant to walk a Dao that wasn’t tied to raw martial strength. But he had no doubt—given enough time, Zi Wen would connect with his path.

Letting Zi Wen dwell in his thoughts, he turned to the rest of the group. His gaze swept across them, taking in their mixed expressions of curiosity, excitement, and apprehension.

“I implore all of you to think carefully about your Dao,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be a martial one. You are all free to walk and learn any path that resonates with you. Even those of you who are mortals.”

A few of the non-cultivators blinked in surprise, as if they hadn’t expected to be included in such a statement.

“You may not be able to perform feats like a cultivator,” Chen Ren continued, “but having a path, a purpose that aligns with who you are, will still allow you to achieve great things. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sect Leader!” came the resounding reply.

Chen Ren nodded in satisfaction.

His gaze shifted towards Hong Yi. The man was still lost in thought, his fingers twitching slightly as if adjusting invisible strings. Chen Ren had initially suspected him to be reluctant about joining, but now… now he seemed to be taking this seriously. That was good. That was what he needed.

But still, there were things that needed to be settled.

Before he could move forward with his plans, he needed to deal with this man. Learn more about him. Decide whether he was truly someone who could be trusted in the sect’s ranks.

And after that?

Chen Ren’s lips curled slightly.

Then he could finally begin production on his next creations.

The ones that would sweep across the empire like a storm. The ones that would carve his name into history. It would be the prelude before dominating the immortal market.

***

A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon. Annual subscription is now on too.

Read 15 chapters ahead HERE.