Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

Chapter 237 - 181: Taking Stock of the Family Assets (2)

Still, one had to be on guard. At the moment, safety was paramount.

Besides, once the experts from the other sub-sects arrived, he would truly have nothing to worry about. These people could all be counted as combat power for the Ministry of Affairs.

’I wonder if Situ Jingyu will come this time. She just took fifty Top-grade Spirit Stones from me, which should last her a good long while. She probably wouldn’t risk her life for the Spirit Stones Lechuan is offering.’

Indeed, Lechuan had to offer Spirit Stones to invite disciples from the other Beast Taming Sub-Sects, and a considerable amount at that. Otherwise, relying on sect camaraderie alone wouldn’t get much effort out of them.

Only Spirit Stones could keep these Beast Taming Sub-Sects firmly allied with the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect. And only Spirit Stones could maintain that goodwill.

According to Lechuan’s directive, the Ministry of Affairs had established a pay scale: Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators would receive a monthly stipend of one thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones, mid-stage cultivators would receive two thousand, and late-stage cultivators five thousand.

This was a considerable expense in Spirit Stones. Each of the other five sub-sects had dispatched a team led by a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. For this, the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect had to pay nearly thirty Top-grade Spirit Stones annually to each of the other sub-sects.

For all five sects, that added up to an expense of around one hundred and fifty Top-grade Spirit Stones. And that wasn’t all. The Southern Border Beast Taming Sect was also responsible for all other expenses for these cultivators who came to help, including their food, lodging, and cultivation needs—all of which had to be guaranteed.

Thus, this group of nearly a hundred cultivators, including both Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation disciples, would cost the sect almost two hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones a year. There were still ten years until the Expansion War, and according to Lechuan’s plan, they were to face off against the Spirit Wood Alliance for all ten of them.

By that calculation, the ten-year cost would be two thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones. The Southern Border Beast Taming Sect was truly hemorrhaging funds.

After learning the details of the sect’s finances yesterday, Fang Qingyuan’s heart had gone cold. He even wanted to find Lechuan and convince him to rescind the order to hire outside help. Otherwise, after ten years, when the Expansion War began, the sect’s finances were guaranteed to collapse.

The Southern Border Beast Taming Sect’s current annual income was a total of eight hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones. This sum included revenue from the Celestial Gate Mountain Marketplace, the Crimson Iron Ore mine, taxes from the dozens of sects and Cultivator Clans within their two-thousand-li territory, profits from several sect merchant caravans, and income from various beast farms, Spiritual Lands, and other holdings.

Eight hundred was a huge number, but for a sect that had to support over a thousand cultivators and pay tribute to the Beast Taming General Mountain, what did eight hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones truly amount to?

Each year, a non-negotiable tribute of three hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones had to be paid to the Beast Taming General Mountain. On top of that, another one hundred went to the Huo Family. That left only four hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones.

The stipends and benefits for the thousand-plus cultivators couldn’t be cut. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators, led by Zhao Liangde, required an annual allocation of one hundred Top-grade Spirit Stones. Meanwhile, the far more numerous Qi Cultivation disciples—over a thousand of them—accounted for only fifty Top-grade Spirit Stones combined.

After all that, only two hundred and fifty Top-grade Spirit Stones remained. But that only covered the cultivators’ stipends. Other expenses—such as maintenance for the Mountain Protection Array, the daily costs of keeping arrays operational, diplomatic exchanges with other sects, pensions for the families of fallen disciples, and the training of new initiates—all required Spirit Stones.

With so many things to be done, two hundred and fifty Top-grade Spirit Stones a year barely covered their expenses. Now, there was a new two-hundred-stone deficit. How could they possibly fill that hole?

Fang Qingyuan recalled Lechuan’s magnanimous air that day. At the time, he’d thought his master was bold and decisive. But after doing the accounting, Fang Qingyuan realized that in the end, he was the only one getting hurt.

’The main reason Lechuan put me in this position must be for my talent for making money.’

At this thought, Fang Qingyuan sighed, casting aside these troublesome worries. He closed his eyes and began to cultivate. His daily practice wasn’t finished yet. Although his lifespan had greatly increased and there was no immediate rush, he couldn’t let his daily cultivation slide. ’Otherwise, as time goes by, I’ll be busy today, have no time tomorrow... when will my cultivation level ever increase?’

And so, Fang Qingyuan began to meditate earnestly, absorbing the surrounding Five Elements Spiritual Qi. Accompanied by the quietly burning stick of incense, his consciousness sank into a deep trance.

...

「Five days later.」

In a spacious study, Jinbao was in a corner, pouncing on a rattan ball. Meanwhile, a Crimson Young Bird that resembled a small hen watched Jinbao timidly, looking like it wanted to join in but didn’t dare.

After a while, the Crimson Young Bird let out a soft, faint chirp. Jinbao turned its head, shot her a glare, and went back to playing by itself.

Dejected, the Crimson Young Bird trotted over to Fang Qingyuan’s feet and gently rubbed its head against his trouser leg, seeking comfort.

Seeing this, Fang Qingyuan picked the bird up, placed it on the desk before him, and instructed it to fetch a distant book for him.

Fang Qingyuan was seated behind a massive sandalwood desk, intently reading a folded report. The desk was piled high with many more documents and reports.

Although jade slips could store information, making them much faster and more convenient to read, they were expensive to create and typically reserved for recording Cultivation Techniques. What Fang Qingyuan was reading now was information on the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect’s various vassal factions and their recent activities. Recording such things on jade slips would not be cost-effective; it would be far too extravagant.

When the Crimson Young Bird excitedly brought the book over in its beak, Fang Qingyuan set down the report, rubbed his eyes, and said:

"Zhan Zhi’Er, come in."

At Fang Qingyuan’s words, Zhan Zhi’Er pushed the door open and entered. She walked to his side and bowed.

"Elder Fang, what are your instructions?"

Fang Qingyuan looked at Zhan Zhi’Er, his voice tinged with exhaustion as he spoke.

"Go and ask Senior Brother Zou to come here. I have something to discuss with him."

Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s order, Zhan Zhi’Er gave a crisp "yes," then quickly turned and left, pulling the door closed behind her.

After Zhan Zhi’Er left, Fang Qingyuan exhaled slowly. She was the disciple on duty for the past few days, responsible for relaying his various commands. Most of her work consisted of running errands and summoning people like this.

It was strange. Ever since the day she’d seen him become the Elder and her expression had faltered for a moment, Zhan Zhi’Er had remained perfectly calm. She showed no intention of coming forward to acknowledge their past acquaintance.

Fang Qingyuan felt the same. Since she didn’t say anything, there was no need for him to bring up the past. And so, the two maintained a tacit understanding, leaving things unspoken.

In just a short while, Zou Yu arrived, rushing to stand before Fang Qingyuan’s desk. Fang Qingyuan eyed him for a few moments before speaking.

"Senior Brother Zou, is there something you wanted to say to me?"

Zou Yu froze. ’Didn’t you summon me? Why are you asking me?’

But looking at Fang Qingyuan’s expression, Zou Yu’s heart gave a lurch. He then said:

"I do have something to report to you, Elder. It’s just... I came in such a hurry that my mind went blank for a moment, and I’ve forgotten what it was. Perhaps the Elder could give me a hint to point me in the right direction?"

Fang Qingyuan snorted coldly and said softly:

"Thousand Feather Pool. Return Peak."

Hearing this, the color drained from Zou Yu’s face, and he began to stammer. He chose his words carefully, saying:

"That matter was spearheaded by Senior Brother Liangde. I was only following orders. While Thousand Feather Pool is under my management, I’m really not clear on the specifics of what goes on there."

"Don’t try to fool me. And don’t push all the blame onto Senior Brother Liangde. It’s true that he took a cut, but he certainly didn’t tell you to steal Spiritual Cranes to trade for Spirit Stones with the White Mountain Cultivators. You even dared to sell to Jiuye Square! Don’t you know they’re in league with Demon Cultivators?"

The more he spoke, the angrier Fang Qingyuan became. As his fury erupted, an immense spiritual pressure descended upon Zou Yu, instantly making it hard for him to breathe.

’Hasn’t he just reached Foundation Establishment? How is his spiritual sense so powerful? Even I, a Third-Layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator, can barely withstand it!’

These thoughts flashed through Zou Yu’s mind, but his full attention was on how to respond to Fang Qingyuan. He began to wonder how Fang Qingyuan had obtained this information. ’I was so careful. Even Zhao Liangde hasn’t found out after all these years. How could Fang Qingyuan know when he’s only been in this position for a few days?’

Before Zou Yu could think of a counter-plan, Fang Qingyuan spoke again, his voice cold.

"And then there’s the Turtle Breeding Pool, Qingbo Pool, Xiu Yan Valley..."

With every place name Fang Qingyuan uttered, Zou Yu’s face grew a shade paler. By the end, he was ashen-faced and collapsed to the floor.

Fang Qingyuan crouched down in front of him, looking at Zou Yu’s pallid face. After a few breaths, he offered a gentle smile.

"The floor is cold. Get up. Let’s talk."