A Sect Elder's Rewrite - Chapter 4

While the most talented prospective disciples were usually claimed by one of the sect’s Elders, the rest were simply assigned to a valley based on where they could be most useful. 

According to Mo Duan’s memories, cultivation sects typically had many laborers who were barely disciples at all and instead served various roles in maintaining the sect’s daily operations. Mortal workers were often employed as well, but there were simply too many scenarios that required ‘disciples’ competent enough to use Qi for any reasonably large sect to function without them. 

These people were generally referred to as ‘Outer Disciples’, and they were usually given the minimum possible cultivation resources in exchange for acting as glorified servants. That was a pretty good deal all things considered, since even a paltry amount of resources was more than most mortals could ever hope to obtain. There was even a small hope that they would be able to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment stage and earn their place as an ‘Inner Disciple’, so long as they weren’t too old by then to be worth further investment.

However, it was those who were blessed by the heavens with enough talent or an impressive enough background to be directly chosen as an Inner Disciple who were the true focus of any sect’s efforts and resources. Mo Duan had secured one such disciple in the form of Ling Jun and he had big plans in mind for the boy… but that didn’t account for the rest of the kids who he was now responsible for. 

Using his Qi perception to study the line of nervous children following behind him, Mo Duan suddenly felt more than a little out of his depth. Despite the general excitement that appeared to be coursing through them, he could sense an undercurrent of fear and uncertainty among his new disciples. 

That was to be expected. For nearly all of them, this was their first time away from their families and friends. Moreover, they’d been unceremoniously handed over to an exceedingly powerful man they barely knew anything about, who now held absolute authority over their fates.

It was frankly an overwhelming situation for not only the children but also Mo Duan himself!

I barely survived raising a teenager the first time. How the hell am I going to deal with a dozen of them with superpowers?!

None of his inner turmoil showed in his expressions, but Mo Duan really wasn’t feeling all that enthused about the task ahead. He had been thinking about how to handle the situation from the moment that he’d woken up in this world. Mo Duan couldn’t afford to spread himself thin, coddling every kid who happened to find themselves assigned to his valley, but neither could he simply ignore them and hope for the best.

Their futures depended heavily on how Mo Duan decided to manage his valley, so he felt like he at least owed them a certain degree of consideration.

His memories of the demonic sect that his predecessor had grown up in were far from helpful in that regard, unfortunately. The methods they employed were both cruel and very deadly, which was obviously counter to what he was trying to achieve. Thankfully, Mo Duan had managed to come up with a plan that he thought would benefit both them and his valley.

But that was something that he could worry about later. The entrance to Tranquil Garden Valley was swiftly approaching and he had a bunch of kids who needed to be settled into their new circumstances.

By someone else, of course.

“Guest-Elder Mo! Welco—”

“You, take these new disciples and escort them to Disciple Xiao Li,” Mo Duan said to the disciple standing watch at the valley’s entrance as he interrupted their greeting. “I can sense him meditating in the newly finished training halls. Instruct him to assign living quarters to his new martial brothers and sisters, and perform the typical arrangements. Also, spread word that everyone is expected to gather at the assembly grounds at sunset. I’ll be addressing them then.”

The sun wouldn’t be setting for several hours, which was just enough time for Xiao Li to finish handling all of the responsibilities that Mo Duan didn’t want to deal with. 

Apart from simple laziness, Mo Duan was also giving Xiao Li these tasks so that the newest batch of disciples would see Xiao Li as someone they could turn to for assistance. Mo Duan didn’t have a half-dozen Hallmasters and generations of organizational infrastructure to help run his valley, so Xiao Li would likely be delegated many of these tasks moving forward.

He almost felt bad for the kid. But then Mo Duan remembered just how well he intended to compensate the boy and decided to work Xiao Li as much as possible.

A well-paid employee should be expected to earn their salary, no?

“Y-yes, Guest-Elder!”

Mo Duan summoned a humanoid Foundation Establishment puppet from his spatial ring, its body of wood and polished jade snapping into place to stand guard in the disciple’s stead. Without another word, he made his way deeper into the valley. He left a portion of his attention on the new disciples as they were promptly escorted away, making full use of his enhanced senses and multitasking abilities to keep tabs on them.

But the majority of his attention was on the robust presence he could sense waiting in his valley's recently finished administrative center. It belonged to an unfamiliar cultivator at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, making it clear that they weren’t one of Mo Duan’s disciples.

I wonder who decided to pay me a visit. Has someone already decided to respond to the mission I posted at the Hall of Assignment?

Mo Duan’s curiosity grew and he made his way to the administration building as quickly as decorum would allow. Which basically meant that he was forced to walk at a sedate pace while looking as composed and disinterested as possible. Mo Duan nodded calmly at all of the staring disciples who stopped to bow respectfully as he passed by, carefully hiding his discomfort at the overly deferential way he was being treated.

Unlike the sprawling halls or massive pagodas that other valleys favored as their primary administrative centers, Mo Duan’s valley could only afford a relatively humble, single story building and simple Formations to maintain its defenses and functions. He would eventually need to spend some Spirit Stones for an upgrade—both to increase his valley’s prestige and eventually to keep up with his planned expansions. But for now, the modest building would serve its purpose well enough.

Stepping inside, Mo Duan barely noticed the hasty and flustered greeting from the mortal servant posted behind the front desk. Instead, his fully and undivided attention had instantly been drawn by the Foundation Establishment cultivator calmly sitting in the main waiting area.

Regardless of the immense physical strength they wielded, the vast majority of cultivators possessed a slender, graceful appearance that would be more appropriate in a photo shoot than a battlefield. It was only those who favored Body Cultivation—such as Elder Wu Zhen—who actually had physiques that somewhat reflected the power they could unleash.

Mo Duan’s guest was very clearly such a person.

Despite the fully gray hair, wrinkled skin, and slight hunch that marked him as a cultivator approaching the end of his supernaturally long lifespan, the man looked anything but frail. Large and with a frame of solid, bulging muscles, the elderly cultivator radiated an aura that spoke of strength. 

It wasn’t nearly as powerful as Mo Duan’s own aura, but there was a… robustness and resilience to the man’s presence that immediately set him apart. Moreover, his eyes were filled with a kind of confidence born from experience, even while in the presence of a Core Formation cultivator. Mo Duan sensed that this old man wasn’t someone to be overlooked.

And it seemed that he wasn’t the only one who’d reached that conclusion.

Strength. Vigor. Devour. 

Mo Duan felt his bloodvines stir within his dantain, eager to feast on the cultivator’s Qi and flesh. The vines seemed to recognize something about the old man that it found particularly appetizing. This kind of reaction wasn’t something that Mo Duan had seen from the vines, not even while they were in the presence of other Core Formation cultivators or other body cultivators. 

Must have something to do with his Cultivation Method, Mo Duan speculated even as he forced the vines into submission. But I can worry about that later. I need to focus on the situation at hand.

After acknowledging the still-flustered servant with a nod, Mo Duan plastered a polite smile on his face and made his way over to the elderly cultivator, who calmly stood and bowed in his direction. An earthen-colored band around the cuffs of the man’s robes denoted him as a member of Elder Wu Zhen’s Thunder Fist Valley while three stalks of bamboo embroidered into his collar revealed that he held the rank of Deacon, which was a position of some authority but lesser than a full Elder or Hallmaster. 

As a Guest-Elder, Mo Duan was technically considered outside of the sect’s direct hierarchy, but the privileges afforded to him by the Patriarch and his personal cultivation level made clear that he was to be treated with respect.

“Well met, Guest-Elder. I am Deacon Han Kuang and I am here in response to your request in the Hall of Assignment for a Formation Establishment cultivator willing to be your Head Hallmaster.

The old man’s voice was gruff and rumbled deeply. He didn’t waste time on pleasantries or attempt to ingratiate himself with false flattery, something that Mo Duan appreciated.

“I see. Then please join me in my office, Deacon Han,” Mo Duan said smoothly, gesturing toward the door leading to his modest private study. He led the way, pushing the door open with a brief pulse of Qi. The room inside was sparsely furnished—just a simple wooden desk, a few chairs, and a set of scrolls neatly arranged on shelves.

As they entered, Deacon Han followed without hesitation, his large frame moving with surprising grace. Mo Duan took a seat behind the desk, while the older man took his own across from him, lowering himself into the chair with a soft creak as the door closed behind them and privacy Formations built into the walls activated with a burst of Qi.

“You seem to me like a man who prefers to do away with the pleasantries, so I will speak bluntly, Deacon,” Mo Duan said as soon as they were both seated comfortably. “I’ll assume from your age and experience that you’re qualified to serve as my valley’s Head Hallmaster and assist in teaching my Disciples, but there’s something that I wish to know. Why are you willing to leave your valley to join mine despite its… lack of development? And why should I choose you over anyone else who may express interest?”

A glimmer of appreciation in the old man’s eyes revealed that he had been right to directly get to the point. This wouldn’t be Mo Duan’s first time interviewing a prospective employee, and he’d learned that it was generally best to clear up the expectations on both sides.

From Mo Duan’s perspective, he and his valley desperately needed a reliable and experienced cultivator to help run the place. They would need to have experience with both administration and the teaching of Disciples, as neither Mo Duan nor the demonic cultivator whose body he took over had much experience with teaching magical kung-fu to teenagers. Even worse, Mo Duan had many obligations that would be eating up much of his time—such as dealing with the cannibalistic parasite living in his body or hunting down demonic cultivators on orders from the sect.

Needless to say, Mo Duan couldn’t afford to spend all of his time overseeing every aspect of the valley’s operations.

However, actually finding someone who is both capable of handling those responsibilities and is willing to do so for a valley with so few resources was no small feat. This world’s culture also placed a heavy emphasis on prestige and status, which Tranquil Garden Valley had little of. This was why Mo Duan hadn’t been expecting anyone to respond to his mission request so soon, despite the fairly generous compensation package he’d offered. 

But even so, Mo Duan sincerely doubted that Deacon Han would be the only person to show interest in his offer. There were bound to be others who had stalled in their cultivation who saw the opportunity in joining a new enterprise on the ground floor.

As far as new businesses go, Mo Duan’s valley had serious potential in the form of the sect’s support and his own talents. After all, Core Formation cultivators were an extraordinarily valuable human resource.

Tranquil Garden Valley was an objectively great investment opportunity, and he was confident that savvy entrepreneurs would be able to see that. It only remained to be seen if Deacon Han was one such individual.

“Hmm. It is good to know that the sect’s mysterious new Guest-Elder has some sense,” Deacon Han said, nodding in satisfaction as he crossed two massive arms over his chest. “Simply put, I wish to join your valley because I need what you are in a position to offer. Just as you clearly need the assistance of someone who knows his way around the sect. I doubt you’ll find anyone as experienced as me.”

Mo Duan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the old man’s confidence and curious as to where this was going. He already liked that the man was actually capable of speaking somewhat casually to him, unlike every other weaker cultivator who seemed slightly frightened by him at all times. 

He almost wanted to hire the Deacon based on that alone, as a healthy employer-employee relationship needed mutual respect to function.

“Oh? And what exactly am I in a position to offer?” Mo Duan asked, leaning back slightly in his chair. 

Deacon Han’s lips quirked into a brief, rueful smile before settling back into its previous stoicism. “You offer a unique opportunity for someone like me, Guest-Elder Mo. I was one of those in my generation who were injured during the Great Abduction incident. But unlike Senior Yuanlei, my wounds were far more than cosmetic. My cultivation was stalled at the Foundation Establishment realm indefinitely as a result, as well as my advancement in the sect.”

Mo Duan grimaced as the Deacon explained his circumstances. The Great Abduction was an event that took place a century ago which affected the entire Celestial Jade Empire and all of its major sects. Apparently, an unknown group of absurdly powerful cultivators had infiltrated all of the empire’s major factions and absconded in the night with their most promising young disciples.

Unique Body Constitutions, once-in-a-generation geniuses, and the children of influential families were all among those taken. And the absolute worst part of it was that no one had ever found out who was behind the abductions or what became of the victims!

Divinations returned nothing but gibberish, postcognition spells revealed only the victims vanishing in a flash of light, and even the most advanced tracking methods failed to uncover any  answers. The entire Celestial Jade Empire was thrown into turmoil, and countless resources were expended in fruitless searches. The impact of that event is still felt to this day, with many sects never fully recovering from the loss of their brightest stars.

Unsurprisingly, this led to a period of chaos and a loss of prestige for the Empire that demonic cultivators eagerly exploited to run amok. Skirmishes were frequent, and many suffered during this time. This was when Elder Yuanlei gained her puss-colored eye and the condition that made her appear far older than someone with her age and cultivation level should.

It seemed like Deacon Han had been far less fortunate. 

Mo Duan withheld a shudder as he recalled Ruo Xingchen’s memories of that time period. With nowhere to direct their overwhelming fury, many among the Celestial Jade Empire blamed the nearby demonic cultivators and attacked the Scorched Hollow. This was one of the contributing reasons why tensions with the demonic cultivators was still so high. Ruo Xingchen’s original sect was among those that had been slaughtered to the last over the next decade, and he’d been forced to flee and become a rogue demonic cultivator to survive. 

“I… see. My condolences for your injuries, Deacon Han,” Mo Duan said with a polite nod as he shook off his discomfort. “But I still don’t see exactly how that pertains to your interest in my valley. I’ve no doubt that the finest healers of Serene Blossom Valley have already examined your injuries. If you’re hoping that the sect’s ‘mysterious new Guest-Elder’ can provide a solution to what even Elder Ying could nott, I’m afraid you may find yourself disappointed.”

Deacon Han chuckled softly, though there was no real mirth behind the sound. “I don’t have any illusions, Elder Mo. Miracles cures like that only exist for those chosen by the Heavens, and I have given up on chasing such fantasies long ago. Instead, I decided that if this is the fate that the heavens have decided for me, that I would focus on my legacy. Specifically, my descendants.”

Ah. Now I understand.

“I take that you mean that you’ve founded a Clan,” Mo Duan said, piecing together the implications. “One that you wish to ally with my Tranquil Garden Valley.”

The local culture was one that very much emphasized lineage and the passing of knowledge or power through generations, generally via Clans. Almost every sufficiently powerful cultivator who wasn’t already a member of a Clan would eventually end up creating one once they approached the end of their lifespan, passing down their personal insights to their progeny.

For someone relatively successful like Deacon Han, it would be both easy and socially expected for him to gather a harem of mortal women and start pumping out children whenever he felt his cultivation path was nearing its end.

“Yes. While my cultivation may have stalled, I’ve learned a bit over the years that I think is worth passing down,” Deacon Han said confidently. “But my Han Clan will need a Core Formation cultivator’s support if it’s going to truly thrive. At least until one of my descendants manages to surpass this old man.”

That certainly made sense. Deacon Han wasn’t going to live forever and his Clan couldn’t count on the well wishes of the man’s current allies to protect them after his death. Ensuring that Mo Duan had a stake in their future could guarantee their survival.

“Why do you believe that I am the best candidate for such a role?” Mo Duan asked curiously after a moment of consideration. “As you say, I am quite mysterious. Do you not think it a risk to align your Clan with a cultivator of unknown origins? And how exactly do you intend to foster ties between me and your Clan?”

“I hadn’t considered you a viable option until recently, Guest-Elder. When it became clear that you intend to set down roots in our Verdant Valleys Sect,” said Deacon Han, his gaze sharp and piercing. “Nobody knows much about your past, but it is clear to me that both Senior Yuanlei and the Patriarch are aware of more than the rest of us. Which means that it’s unlikely that your background is excessively troublesome.”

Mo Duan struggled to keep a straight face at that conclusion. Patriarch Songyu was really too good at pretending that he didn’t have a few screws loose. Even if Mo Duan’s secrets were discovered, everyone was more likely to assume that a dastardly demonic cultivator had snuck into the sect than the truth. 

Who would ever believe that Songyu just wanted to keep a demonic cultivator around to use like a pet attack dog against the sect’s enemies? The lunatic. 

“As for ties between you and my Clan, there are a few different possibilities,” Deacon Han continued. “The Han Clan is well-regarded in Spirit Beast Butchering, which means that it would be simple to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with your valley. I will also ensure that any future descendants who join the sect become your disciple. Finally, I have several daughters who have expressed their willingness to join your household if you so desire.”

Mo Duan’s composure finally broke as he felt his jaw threaten to drop, though he quickly covered it up with a cough. Not entirely successfully, if the flicker of amusement in Deacon Han’s eyes was any indication. 

Well… this isn’t the first time that someone has tried to bribe me during a job interview, but I never thought someone would offer me their daughters, Mo Duan thought wryly. 

But aside from that final suggestion, Mo Duan couldn’t see any real downsides to employing Deacon Han as his Head Hallmaster. 

The alliance of a burgeoning Clan could provide the kind of stability and resources that Tranquil Garden Valley needed to grow. Spirit Beast Butchers were responsible for harvesting the extraordinarily valuable corpses of spirit beasts, and could provide his valley with a reliable supply of Qi-rich meats for his disciples at cost. That would help in their cultivation, and he could even negotiate to sell any slain beasts to the Han Clan at good prices. 

Given that many of the sect’s missions involved dealing with spirit beasts, that arrangement would be very beneficial to both parties.

Also, Deacon Han himself had already proven himself to be quite astute and must be quite well-connected given a lifetime of service to the Verdant Valleys Sect. The only downside was that the Deacon’s loyalties might be divided between the interests of his Clan and Mo Duan’s valley, but such complications were an inevitability with any decently powerful cultivator. 

All in all, this seemed to Mo Duan like a very good opportunity to employ a well-qualified manager for his new business venture. But Mo Duan wasn’t foolish enough to get ahead of himself and skip the technical assessment part of the interview.

“That… final suggestion won’t be necessary, Deacon Han,” Mo Duan said diplomatically. “However, the rest of your offer is quite appealing. Your expertise and the resources your Clan can provide would undoubtedly benefit my valley. But before we discuss the details of our agreement, I would like to first hear you detail your immediate plans upon becoming Head Hallmaster. As well as any suggestions you might have for me to make this valley successful.”

“Depends on the valley’s purpose and long-term goals,” Deacon Han said gruffly, a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. “There are some sect’s out there that do things differently, but the Verdant Valleys Sect has always pushed its Elders to specialize when building their own power-base. Both for efficiency and so that there are fewer conflicts. Everyone is very eager to see how your valley develops.”

That certainly made sense to Mo Duan’s inner businessman. The Theory of Economic Advantage was the foundation of any truly modern economy, after all! 

Specialization over generalization promotes innovation, as his economics professor liked to say.

But Ruo Xingchen’s understanding of how cultivators cooperated with each other revealed that had another benefit as well. The Verdant Valleys Sect could be considered a fiefdom within the Celestial Jade Empire, with its Elders each holding smaller domains within the sect. By encouraging specialization, the sect minimized conflicts over resources and influence, as each Elder’s valley became proficient in one aspect of cultivation that the others relied upon. It also gave the sect an edge, as every valley would excel in its chosen field, benefiting the sect as a whole.

However, it wasn’t only intra-sect conflict that Mo Duan needed to worry about.

“Just as the other Elders built their valleys to reflect their own strengths, I intend to do so with mine,” Mo Duan said, deciding that he would reveal the least troublesome part of his plans first. Relatively speaking. “As such, there are two primary services that I see my valley providing. The first of which is Spirit Plant farming.”

Deacon Han raised an eyebrow in surprise, no doubt caught off guard by Mo Duan’s plan. There was a good reason why the Verdant Valleys Sect didn’t already engage in growing Spirit Plants, despite having more Wood Qi favored cultivators than average.

Spirit Plants were notoriously difficult to cultivate, often requiring specific environmental conditions and extensive knowledge of Qi manipulation to reach their full potential. Furthermore, maintaining Spirit Plant fields consumed vast amounts of Qi, meaning only the most resource-abundant valleys or sects would dare attempt large-scale farming of such plants.

Mo Duan had the advantage of a Qi-rich valley, but even then the profit margins were slim compared to other possible endeavors, and he would need to compete against certain Clans who already had a foothold in the market.

But none of those issues were insurmountable, and there was an absolute fortune to be made if one could successfully establish a Spirit Plant farming operation. A fortune that Mo Duan would need in order to purchase the resources necessary for the immense task of modifying his Demonic Sublimation method, and dealing with the bloodvines wrapped around his dantian.

Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately for Mo Duan, as he had a solution—none of those were the largest reason why Spirit Plant farming wasn’t common among the sects.

“I doubt your disciples will appreciate all of their valley’s Qi being used by the Spirit Plants,” Deacon Han said dryly. “It would be unwise to prioritize enriching your valley’s fields at the expense of your disciples' cultivation, given that they will be your most valuable assets.”

“I’m aware, and I’ve prepared a method to mitigate that problem,” Mo Duan said confidently before standing up from his seat. “It’s something better demonstrated in person. However, I'll need to use a cultivation technique on you to safely bypass the Formations.”

Deacon Han studied him for a moment before standing as well and nodding, expressing his assent. Allowing Mo Duan to use a cultivation technique on him was a clear show of trust, and indicated that Deacon Han was serious about tying their fortunes. 

Seeing no reason to delay, Mo Duan quickly called upon his Qi and activated the Flourishing Passage technique. He was impressed when Deacon Han only showed a sliver of caution as a multitude of leaf-covered vines grew from the wooden floor and began to envelop them both. The vines moved swiftly but with a strange gentleness, coiling around their legs and gradually climbing upward, until they were entirely swallowed by the lush greenery.

For a brief moment, Mo Duan felt the familiar sensation of being pulled through space, the subtle shift in Qi that signaled they were moving at astonishing speeds. Then, just as swiftly as the vines had enveloped them, they were released.

The two cultivators emerged from the massive trunk of a Qi-rich tree that stood at the center of Mo Duan’s hidden garden. The bark of the tree shimmered with residual Qi, clearly marking it as an exit point of his Flourishing Passage technique and one of the nodes of the private teleportation network that Mo Duan had been setting up over the past few months. 

Around them, the secluded garden was bathed in soft sunlight, and every inch of the space radiated vitality. Exotic flowers bloomed in vibrant colors, and Spirit Plants of various types grew in carefully tended plots, each exuding a refined Qi that seemed to blend harmoniously with the air itself. This was where Mo Duan had decided to set up his experiments for the various Spirit Plants that he would eventually cultivate on a larger scale for the valley.

“...Impressive,” Deacon Han murmured as he took in the hidden garden and glanced back at the tree he’d just emerged from. “There were many who were confused when they failed to discover what you’ve been doing after joining the sect. Guest-Elder Mo has certainly been busy.”

Mo Duan was too good of a businessman to rub his neck nervously in front of a prospective employee, but he couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward. The reason that most of the sect considered him to be mysterious was because Ruo Xingchen had spent his first few months proving his worth by hunting down and slaughtering demonic cultivators for Elder Yuanlei. Not because he had been setting up secret gardens.

But Mo Duan certainly wasn’t going to say so.

“But even more impressively, I cannot sense the familiar lack of Qi that I expected to feel in a space this densely packed with Spirit Plants,” Deacon Han finished, a look of intrigued suspicion crossing his face. He swept his gaze across the garden, scrutinizing the plants as his Qi perception extended through the area, clearly trying to uncover the mystery. “Most Spirit Plants drain the local Qi for their own growth, yet this place feels... balanced, perhaps even more Qi-rich than other cultivation grounds. How is that possible?”

“Hmph. The answer to that is both simple and complicated,” Mo Duan began as he gestured toward a particular part of the garden. “To start, please direct your Qi perception to the group of shimmering, multi-colored orchids. I think you’ll notice something peculiar about them.” 

Deacon Han looked somewhat dubious, but quickly complied. It wasn’t long before his expression changed, his eyes narrowing as he focused intently. “How strange. It feels as if the Spirit Plants are breathing. The ambient Qi flows through them much more like it would through a human cultivator than a Spirit Plant. Are they actually… increasing the amount of Qi in the local environment?”

Deacon Han’s voice was laced with astonishment, and for good reason. Nobody truly knew where Qi came from, aside from vaguely pointing in the direction of the ‘Heavens and the Earth’. Cultivators knew that Qi tended to pool in certain places, drawn by natural formations that eventually formed self-perpetuating sources of Qi called Dragon Veins—or leylines, as Mo Duan thought of them.

Mo Duan didn’t think it made a whole lot of sense, but magic probably wasn’t meant to be all that coherent. 

But if Qi seemed to spontaneously appear out of thin air through unknown means, that didn’t mean that it couldn’t be exhausted. Otherwise, sects wouldn’t feel a need to fight to the death over valuable Qi-rich locations. So to see a patch of Spirit Plants actually replenishing Qi, rather than draining it, was nothing short of extraordinary. 

Which was likely the reason why Deacon Han’s expression swiftly shifted from astonishment to extreme caution as he studied the orchids. 

“What are these Spirit Plants, Guest-Elder? And how do they work?” Deacon Han asked, his tone laced with suspicion. “Such a thing cannot exist without significant cost, or every cultivator in the Empire would be well-aware of their existence. Either that, or you are suicidal.” 

Mo Duan snorted in amusement. “You’re not wrong. I’ve no doubt that I would be surrounded by a half-dozen Nascent Soul cultivators by the end of the day if these Qi-well Orchids were actually capable of producing Qi without cost. But that is why I said that the answer to your question is both simple and complicated. Tell me, Deacon Han, have you ever heard of the Abyssal Garden sect?”

“...No, I have not. Though the name sounds pointlessly nefarious, so I assume that it is a sect of demonic cultivators,” Deacon Han said sharply, suspicion growing in his eyes. “I hope that you are not about to reveal that these Spirit Plants have ties to demonic cultivation.”

“Of course not, Deacon Han,” Mo Duan lied, smiling smoothly. “I would never use such evil methods. Do you truly believe that I would be so reckless as to bring something like that into the heart of a sect as righteous as our Verdant Valleys Sect?”

Deacon Han hummed dubiously, but he seemed to lose some of the tension in shoulders.

Mo Duan knew that he needed to tread carefully. It would’ve been more convenient if he could have avoided bringing up Ruo Xingchen’s old sect altogether, but that wasn’t a viable long term solution. The fact that they lived for centuries meant that most cultivators were as clever as foxes and as cunning as serpents. 

As he got more involved in the cultivation world, Mo Duan would need to carefully weave both truth and lies if he wanted his secrets to remain that way. He had no doubt that Elder Yuanlei and Patriarch Songyu would throw him under the bus if he ever became a liability.

“But you are correct to assume that the Abyssal Garden sect practiced demonic cultivation. At least until they were destroyed after conflicts following the Great Abduction,” Mo Duan explained, ignoring the wariness that crept back into Deacon Han’s expression. “They were a fairly small sect from the Scorched Hollow. While most of their inheritance was seized by the Empire, I was fortunate enough to come across the corpse of one of their scattered members during my early years as a rogue cultivator. The Qi-well Orchids were one of the Abyssal Garden sect’s most prized creations, and can only be nurtured using rather… specific means.”

Everything that Mo Duan said was true, other than the small detail of him once being an actual member of the Abyssal Garden sect. But his story wasn’t at all implausible, as rogue cultivators often stumbled upon strange things while wandering the world.

It would have actually made less sense for someone without backing to become a Core Formation cultivator without finding some inheritance or powerful cultivation technique along the way.

“That makes sense, but it doesn't reassure me that these Spirit Plants are entirely safe to use,” Deacon Han interjected, his eyes narrowing. “If I am to tie my fortunes to yours, then I must know the exact details of these ‘specific means’.”

The old man’s tone was still polite, but demanding. Mo Duan couldn’t blame the man for being cautious—any alliance between them would involve far-reaching consequences for both sides.

Mo Duan pretended to think over his response before he eventually nodded in apparent agreement. “Very well. I doubt this will stay secret for long once this valley begins selling Spirit Plants anyway, though I’ll still expect you to keep certain information to yourself.” He waited a moment for Deacon Han to signal his agreement before continuing. “The specific mechanics of it are somewhat esoteric, but the Qi-well Orchids are limited by the fact that they must be incubated within a cultivator’s dantian through a unique cultivation method.”

A flicker of recognition in Deacon Han’s eyes confirmed that news about Mo Duan’s so-called ‘Botanical Sublimation Method’ had already begun to spread. He’d already planned for that to be the case after he shared information about it during the Disciple Selection Ceremony, but it was still surprising to discover just how quickly cultivators could gossip. 

While the primary function of Mo Duan’s cultivation method was simply to grow valuable Spirit Plants within the dantian and make use of their unique features, the Abyssal Garden sect had eventually discovered something rather strange about the plants it cultivated. Many of them developed qualities that could be considered extremely abnormal, such as greater degrees of sentience than warranted or unpredictable mutations.

The Qi-Well Orchids were strange in that they developed the ability to extract greater amounts of Qi from nearby Dragon Veins and expel excess Qi back into the environment. This was a very special and powerful ability that had the potential to make Mo Duan’s valley a Qi-rich haven for growing Spirit Plants and growing disciples alike, but it had limits. The small patch of Qi-Well Orchids in his secret garden had all been painstakingly nurtured by Mo Duan himself in preparation for future expansion. 

Every Qi-Well Orchid would need to be grown inside of a cultivator practicing the ‘Botanical Sublimation Method’ for a significant amount of time, and the enrichment provided by the Spirit Plants was modest at best. But despite these downsides, the Qi-Well Orchids had the potential to be the foundation of a thriving and unique cultivation base for the Tranquil Garden Valley.

Even Ruo Xingchen had recognized the value of his inheritance from his dead sect, though he’d never really had much interest in settling down in one spot long enough to make use of it. Mo Duan, on the other hand, had no intentions of allowing such an opportunity to pass him by.

Mo Duan spent the next minute explaining everything to Deacon Han. When he finished, the older man's expression turned pensive, and he fell into a contemplative silence. Mo Duan allowed him time to process the information, knowing that the full implications were significant enough to warrant careful consideration. 

After a long pause, Deacon Han seemed like he’d finally put together his thoughts, and Mo Duan perked up to hear what the old man had to say. 

“You know, Guest-Elder, your cultivation method reminds me of something I've come across before,” Deacon Han said thoughtfully, a spark of recognition in his eyes.

Mo Duan stiffened with tension, his bloodvines stirring uneasily in his dantian. Could someone else have known about the Abyssal Garden sect's techniques? He forced himself to keep calm, though internally, his mind raced. If there were other survivors of the Abyssal Gard sect’s massacre, then Mo Duan’s secrets—and thus his life—were all in extreme danger. 

“Oh?” Mo Duan asked, forcibly projecting an air of calm. “Please enlighten me, Deacon. I'm curious as to what sect you might be referring to.”

Deacon Han rubbed his chin, nodding slowly. “Yes… I believe it was the Heavenly Nurturers Sect. They were known for their highly unorthodox methods of cultivation. I think you may have heard of them?”

All of a sudden, every bit of tension that had been growing in Mo Duan disappeared in favor of bewilderment. The Heavenly Nurturers Sect was famous for producing talented heirs who were guaranteed to be suitable for cultivation for any wealthy cultivator who wished to procure their services. They accomplished this via a cultivation method that made them uniquely suited for… gestation. 

Looking at the glimmer of mirth in Deacon Han’s eyes, Mo Duan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the older man’s audacity. Especially since Mo Duan could see the similarities, and doubt that he could ever unsee them.

Mo Duan shuddered as he imagined his bloodvines as an overly troublesome child. Would the thing start calling him father once it developed intelligence?

“Well… my new Head Hallmaster is certainly brave,” said Mo Duan, chuckling slightly as he settled on amusement. “Not everyone has the boldness to compare a more powerful cultivator they hope to work for to a member of the Heavenly Nurturers Sect.”

“Ha! When you live as long as I have among temperamental cultivators, you learn to judge who’s likely to kill you for the slightest provocation and who can actually deal with a blow to their ego,” Deacon Han said with a deep, rumbling laugh as some of the old man’s previous formality melted away. “You keep a good face, but I can tell that you’re not one of those self-righteous Clan brats who take offense at every little comment. That’s good. Doubt we could have done business for long otherwise.”

“Then I’m glad that I could meet your expectations,” Mo Duan said dryly.

“Oh, you’ve more than met them, Guest-Elder,” said Deacon Han, seriousness returning as his laughter began to subside. “I can tell that you’ve got a good plan for this valley of yours. You’ll start earning Spirit Stones by the fistful if you use your disciples for this operation. That's assuming, of course, you can attract clients from the Shang Clan and the Spirit Bloom Consortium,” Deacon Han said, his voice turning serious as he mentioned the two dominant forces in the local Spirit Plant market.

Mo Duan raised an eyebrow, keeping his tone neutral. “And why should that be a problem? Surely, clients would flock to a better source of high-quality Spirit Plants—which my valley will be able to one day provide.”

Deacon Han snorted, a wry smile playing on his lips. “This isn’t about quality, Guest-Elder. You could grow the rarest Spirit Plants in the world, but all the major clients are already tied up in contracts with the Shang Clan or the Consortium. Those alliances run deep—generations of business, political favors, and even marriage pacts. You don’t have the face or the connections to pull them away from the groups they've been loyal to for centuries.”

Mo Duan frowned, feeling a familiar wave of frustration rising. This world’s economics were as inefficient as they were archaic. Back in his previous life, competition was encouraged by a system of open markets, regulations, and consumer choice. Here, everything seemed strangled by tradition, power, and “face.” It wasn’t enough to offer a superior product; you had to navigate the murky waters of sect politics, personal connections, and reputations.

In this world, business wasn’t about delivering value. It was about establishing who could command more respect, more influence—who could promise the right alliances. That was the inefficiency of this system: everything came down to cultivating personal ties. It made innovation slow, and the real opportunities were locked behind walls of entrenched loyalty to established families, sects, and factions. Face wasn’t just a metaphor; it was a currency and proof that a cultivator was worth forging ties with.

But Mo Duan had faced such challenges before. If it came down to establishing his credibility, he would simply have to show that his valley was worth their attention, that it had a future.

“That’s why the coming Annual Disciple Tournament is more important to your valley’s future than you might realize,” Deacon Han said, his expression growing serious. “If you can show that your disciples are strong and well-trained, you won’t just attract the attention of the sect, but also the major players in the market. Merchants, nobles, and anyone of note interested in buying Spirit Plants will want to forge ties with a rising power.”

It seemed ridiculous to Mo Duan that the future of his new business had anything at all to do with a bunch of teenagers winning a martial arts tournament of all things, but he could see Deacon Han’s point.

Kind of…

This was one of the reasons why having an experienced local like Deacon Han was a necessity, as Mo Duan would have never thought of it. 

“Then I suppose I’ll just have to ensure that my disciples are well-prepared,” Mo Duan said thoughtfully, already mentally rearranging some of his plans. “It’s a good thing that I already had a candidate in mind to become a Direct Disciple, and that I have a fair amount of combat experience.”

He’d planned to let Ling Jun stew for a while so that he could get a better idea about the kid’s character, but it may be better to simply start training as soon as possible.

And I’ll need to start training my disciples in combat soon anyway, given the second specialty I had in mind for the valley, Mo Duan mused. Though I’ll have to speak to Yuanlei about it before I tell anyone what I have planned.

Mo Duan was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn’t even notice the intense interest in Deacon Han’s expression until the old man spoke. “Ah, speaking of, I wonder if you would be willing to honor me by suppressing your cultivation and demonstrating some of that experience, Guest-Elder. It’s not often that one is able to spar with a senior.”

Mo Duan could only sigh. I suppose I should have seen that coming.