Chapter 191

It must be understood that according to the secret method’s description, the ideal form of a fully-formed Demonic Embryo is the faceless state. If the embryo develops facial features, it means it has been eroded by the evil thoughts of a Heavenly Demon. His demonic embryo spiritual root was in its perfect state.

This matter was not something Wang Yu pondered over for long. After all, the Nascent Soul stage was still far beyond him, and for now he needed only to focus on the present.

The fact that the Eastern Extreme Capital ruins had returned to calm was a good thing. The business plan he had long prepared could finally be tested.

Wang Yu wanted to rely on the specialty of the Scent Perceiving Sect to host the Fragrance Gathering in Jade Spirit City.

This gathering was not for spirit stones, but rather to assemble the circle of powerful cultivators in Jade Spirit City and the surrounding regions.

He intended to build an exchange platform centered on himself, the City Lord.

When the time was right, he could then establish his own treasure-exchange meeting. His ultimate goal was to attract cultivators possessing Core Formation spiritual items to participate.

This was a bright and open path.

It required him to maintain a good reputation, trustworthiness, and sufficient strength, to ensure that during the treasure-exchange meeting no one would attempt to betray or ambush others.

For this, he had devised an excellent plan.

He had a palace building constructed on the edge of the City Lord’s manor. It had three floors and covered about eight hundred acres, half of which was enveloped by a formation.

That half, within the formation, was the place he had carefully prepared for treasure exchanges.

The other half, outside the formation, was for enjoyment and social interaction. He spent a large sum and used Zhuo Shouqing’s connections to invite a formation master to arrange a directional-misleading concealment formation.

This formation could guide people into its range while making them think they were still outside it, ensuring the treasure-exchange meeting would be safe, and not because he had sinister intentions.

With the Fragrance Gathering as the foundation, he would release certain rare benefits.

Once enough participants were gathered, he would then propose the treasure-exchange. By then he already had a solid base: the Guan family, Jiang family, Ink-Water Sect, Purple Dragon Mountain, and the Scent-Perceiving Sect would all send representatives.

This was connected to his earlier strategy of yielding profits. Following him earned spirit stones, and more than before, gaining him trust through small benefits. It was not a loss.

Of course, back then he had been fishing, offering bait with the intention of harvesting gains after his term ended, before departing.

Later, when the incident with Jin Miaoshan occurred, it just so happened to link seamlessly into his treasure-exchange plan.

Moreover, Jade Spirit City’s northern district was also filled with experts. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators were present, such as from the Violet Gold Merchant Association, the Cloud Dream Pavilion, and more.

This would be a long-term venture.

Once the platform was built, if Wang Yu wanted certain treasures, it would become much easier to obtain them.

Even if the venture failed, it would still stimulate Jade Spirit City to become the center of the region. Neighboring Sanmao City, Inkstone City, and Cloudmist City also had many powerful cultivators.

Scattered sects, families, and even strong rogue cultivators were potential participants for the Fragrance Gathering. If Jin Miaoshan had not seized her opportunity and left, borrowing Golden Abundance Tower’s venue would have been even safer, but now it no longer mattered.

While everyone was still immersed in the aftereffects of the Eastern Extreme Capital, Wang Yu secretly arranged a meeting with the second strongest person in the Scent Perceiving Sect.

This was a Core Formation early-stage cultivator named Golden Flower True Personage.

“Senior Golden Flower, I have long admired your name.”

This person was quite aged, destined in this lifetime never to break through to a higher realm. She had also never taken a Rejuvenation Pill. Such cases were rare among female cultivators.

Thus, Golden Flower True Personage’s appearance was that of an old crone nearing death. Her head was full of hair, half white and half gray, tied up into a topknot, decorated with a few golden flowers inlaid with jade.

Her figure was slightly hunched, but her face radiated kindness, giving off an aura of warmth and amiability.

“City Lord Wang, you flatter me. Your reputation is even greater than that of the Scent Perceiving Sect. There is no need for such courtesy.”

After all, in the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain, to live safely into old age was no simple feat.

As the saying goes, the older the demon, the more cunning. Though Wang Yu’s thoughts were not fully visible to her, she knew nothing good was behind this.

Wang Yu smiled, invited her to sit, and then said, “In the Crimson Kite Domain, strength is revered. Senior Golden Flower’s cultivation far surpasses this junior, and you are also a respected elder. Naturally, you deserve respect. Today’s meeting is for a good matter I wish to discuss with your sect.”

Hearing this, Golden Flower True Personage sighed inwardly. Surviving on another’s territory always left one without full freedom. These words could not be refused.

“City Lord, speak directly.”

“Very well. Since the end of the ruins matter, I have been determined to continue strengthening Jade Spirit City. I want to host a Fragrance Gathering...”

Wang Yu went on at length, explaining his idea in full detail.

The Fragrance Gathering was the opening act before the treasure-exchange.

Every participant needed to gain some benefit, and this benefit was fragrance. The Scent Perceiving Sect bore the name of fragrance, and their incense could be shared among many, perfectly suiting his needs.

[TL notes:- btw 'Scent' of Scent Perceiving could also be translated as Fragrance, but because the word Scent was more all-encompassing I went with that]

When he finished, Wang Yu sipped his tea to moisten his throat, then revealed his true request.

“I have heard the Scent Perceiving Sect possesses a unique skill called ‘Twelve Twists of Fragrant Clouds,’ a rare third-rank incense-crafting art.

“Your sect produces the Clear Source Profound Dao Incense, which has four wondrous uses: enlightenment, purification of the heart, nourishment of the spirit, and condensation of essence. If a Foundation Establishment cultivator lights one stick when facing a bottleneck, it can increase their success chance by thirty percent.

“Even for Core Formation cultivators, regularly burning this incense during cultivation can yield an additional five percent improvement. Within ten thousand kilometers, this incense’s reputation is well known.”

True Personage Golden Flower could only smile bitterly.

“City Lord Wang, you have exaggerated it too much. This incense has a name, but where could it truly possess such power.”

She knew very well that Wang Yu’s purpose was to build up the reputation of the Scent Perceiving Sect, so he directly targeted the “Clear Source Profound Dao Incense,” which was extremely scarce in the sect.

Offering incense itself was not a major issue. The problem was that for the sake of strengthening the treasure exchange gathering, Wang Yu would certainly go all out in praising this item.

If it failed, it would not matter much. But if it succeeded, the immense fame would be unbearable for the Scent Perceiving Sect. Within the sect, only she and the sect master were Core Formation cultivators.

And they were not even the highest tier. Even the sect master was only at the mid Core Formation stage.

After hesitating for a while, she probed.

“The production of this incense may not be able to meet the City Lord’s demand. How about replacing it with the inferior product, the Clear Source Incense?”

“No!”

How could Wang Yu allow meat that had already reached his mouth to fly away. He roughly guessed True Personage Golden Flower’s concerns, so he made a suggestion.

“How about this. Senior Golden Flower joins the Jade Spirit City Lord’s Mansion as an offering elder. Then the incense will be produced under the name of Jade Spirit City. How about it?”

This solution only treated the symptoms, not the root.

Because anyone with eyes could see where this incense really came from. In truth, no matter the craft, once it reached the third-rank, it would always attract coveting eyes.

Among the Hundred Arts of cultivation, alchemy, crafting, talismans, and formations were ranked at the top. These masters’ connections and resources were far beyond those of minor paths.

True Personage Golden Flower immediately fell silent.

She realized Wang Yu had an ulterior meaning.

That is, to pass the “Twelve Twists of Fragrant Clouds” technique to the City Lord’s Mansion disciples, with her personally guiding and cultivating them. After a hundred years or so, they could completely replace the role of the Scent Perceiving Sect.

If Wang Yu had known this was her suspicion, he would have shouted his innocence. He truly did not mean that.

In his plan, the Scent Perceiving Sect must establish its name within the first three gatherings. Then, with the treasure exchange gathering running for thirty to forty years, it would naturally mature.

Training a new incense master? That would take too long, with low returns, and was completely unnecessary.

Moreover, rashly prying into another’s means of making wealth was the same as becoming a mortal enemy. He truly had no such intention.

After a long time.

Perhaps because she recalled that Wang Yu had only come to Jade Spirit City little more than ten years ago, yet had already created dazzling achievements, still vivid in memory.

Destroying the Tuoba Clan, suppressing the Bai Mansion, crushing the Golden Abundance Tower.

Any one of these would have been a major event in the past. Yet this person, relying on his status as a member of the Blood Reversal Sect, lived in boundless prosperity. Scent Perceiving Sect’s expression grew more complicated.

“Alas.

“The Scent Perceiving Sect is not skilled in combat. To have endured in this region until today, our greatest strength lies in adapting to circumstances and following the flow of nature. Since the City Lord has spoken to this point, this old woman has no reason to refuse.”

Seeing Jin Hua Zhenren directly agree, Wang Yu was a little surprised. He had actually prepared two backup plans, intending to offer heavy profits in exchange for the Scent Perceiving Sect’s support.

Unexpectedly, she agreed this easily.

“As for the incense offering, aside from normal trade, I have one more condition.”

“Please, speak freely.”

“May the City Lord change the name of this incense, and say it was purchased from the Blood Reversal Sect. Would that be acceptable?”

Wang Yu was momentarily stunned but agreed.

“Very well.

“But Senior Golden Flower, are you certain. Risk always accompanies opportunity. Sometimes fame itself is a blessing. Perhaps this will be the chance for the Scent Perceiving Sect to advance further. If you shrink back, you can only gain the bare minimum profit.”

True Personage Golden Flower decisively shook her head.

“To stand at the water’s edge and envy fish is not as good as retreating and casting a net. We too have our own path of survival. City Lord Wang… to cut through thorns with a blade, not only you have the courage to pioneer with clever thought. Many others have fallen broken in the attempt.”

This was the advice of someone experienced. Wang Yu selectively listened. Such gatherings as the Treasure Exchange had surely been tried by others.

For small-scale affairs there was no problem. But if it grew too large, it might well attract ferocious, bloodthirsty sharks, and who knew when disaster would strike.

Yet in this Crimson Kite Demonic Domain, what endeavor was not dangerous.

In the early stage, formations could guard him. In the mid stage, once he refined the Lunar Yin Fiend Corpse, he would have more methods to maintain order. Later, he himself would be enough.

The risks were far outweighed by the profits this matter would bring.

He had no shortage of spirit stones, but lacked effective ways to liquidate them into rare treasures. He could also continue to deepen relations with Zhuo Shouqing. Multiple avenues flourishing was the true path.

After negotiating the arrangements, Wang Yu personally escorted True Personage Golden Flower out of the City Lord’s Mansion.

Everything was ready. Only the east wind was lacking.

Thus.

City Lord Wang restrained his thoughts and continued his routine of cultivation, alchemy, and raising fox. Even with five Idle Slots assisting, his main body was still extremely busy.

He had to refine spiritual qi to accumulate true essence, cultivate the Yin Nether Demonic Flood Dragon Art, continuously refine the new types of the Dragon Blood Elixir to condense more vital blood.

At the times of sunrise, noon, and midnight, he also cultivated the Ancient Soul Art. Afterwards, he still had to go into the secret chamber and breathe out a mouthful of Lunar Yin Moon Fiend Qi to nourish his zombie.

Whenever there was a bit of spare time, he processed the official documents of the City Lord’s Mansion that required his personal confirmation. This workload was not small, and he was already attempting to delegate some of it to Xu Ruzhou.

And besides all this, there was an even more important matter.

During the Eastern Extreme Capital exploration, many resource sites under the jurisdiction of Jade Spirit City Lord’s Mansion had been seized by cultivators from outer prefectures. He still had to find a way to resolve this.