“One cannot push another up the ladder unless the latter is willing to climb.”

A week later, Teng Gui came with the news that they were able to buy out a small shop and asked Qai for some spare Darkgold bricks to start renovating the shop.

Qai readily agreed and even promised to secretly send 2 giant Ants to help them in their work.

Within that period, Ji Wuheng came as well together with 5 pairs of level 1 Blood Horses.

In response, Qai instructed him to use the still large portion of land at the back of the halls as a breeding ground for the herd.

Meanwhile, the Ant Workers returned one by one as well, bringing in precious materials that would at least replenish their treasury even if they were not really of great value.

Old Ye Mo also came to him with his new Dagger and a dozen sets of ‘Robe Armor.’

After some examination, Qai praised the Old Ye Mo with his work and immediately sent each one of his group a pair of the Robe Armor and requested the old tool refinement master to produce some more.

“We might have more people soon on this mountain peak, so we're definitely needing more of your masterpiece.”

Old Ye Mo did not complain as long as he could use the Dark Flame. In fact he even expressed that he would soon advance in his proficiency with tool refinement.

Thereafter, Qai went to the training grounds to test his new Dagger.

And with just a day of practice, his own achievement in his ‘Sky Piercing Dagger’ technique broke through to late rank.

“There really is a huge difference when the right weapon is used!”

Qai soon visited his shop in the city and strolled around to listen to some rumors about the war.

Even if there were plenty of mortals in the city, Qai could clearly see that cultivators did not discriminate them much, in fact, there were even mortals and employed in some shops selling items that only immortals could use.

And apparently, it was the mortals who would often talk about matters related to the war.

However, Qai did not find anything new—and it appeared that in a couple of months' time, the Scarlet Feather Sect would just be a part of the history of the continent.

He then looked around at the other shops and could already judge that, once his own store got known to the public, it would cause an uproar. His items were evidently a cut above the rest from the common standards.

Most cultivators in the city were in the Qi Condensation stage with some in the Foundation Establishment stage.

And apparently, his shop would offer quality medicinal pills, talismans, formation Flags, and treasures valuable for their levels.

Qai also learned that a lot of people had already referred to his mountain peak with several names like ‘Cloud Peak’ and ‘Black Walls’—of course, thanks to the intruders some time ago, the name ‘Saints Hall’ also came to be known among them as well.

However, what Qai found amusing in his trip to the city was that the city lord had actually began to launch a drive to attack his Saints Hall.

The city lord was a mid Foundation Establishment stage cultivator himself but rumors said that he apparently engaged the services of a Devil Dao Core Formation stage cultivator to lead the charge.

And accordingly, the city lord offered 70% of the treasures to be found in the mountain to the said cultivator. But as for those who would join the cause, they would be paid handsomely in Spirit Stones depending upon one's performance.

Qai sneered in his thoughts as he learned of the news but also hurried back to his mountain peak in case the Core Formation cultivator would suddenly appear before the Saints Hall.

So he dropped by his still closed shop and told the Crag Brothers to return first at the mountain peak—and with their mid Foundation Establishment stage cultivation bases, heading back to the Saints Hall didn't take much time.

Qai spent some more eavesdropping to gossips along the way as he fully extended his Spiritual Sense. Apparently, he found nothing else worth taking note so he finally decided to proceed to the his mountain peak.

When he was about to step his foot outside the city gates, a sudden voice called out to him.

“Senior!”

He turned around and immediately saw 3 familiar faces rushing towards him—and once they got near in front of him, they quickly bowed with cupped hands.

“Senior, it was rude of us not to thank you when you saved us in the forest days ago. Please don't take offense.”

Qai was surprised that they even recognized him even after that simple chance encounter.

The one who actually spoke was the male cultivator who appeared to be the leader of the group.

“Well, I only happened to pass by that time. I just felt assisting you back then.”

“Senior, how can we accept it just like that. Senior saved our lives. We may not have much to offer in gratitude but we could offer our services if you need the help of us 3 in anything.”

Qai paused for a moment and sized up the 3 before taking a deep breath.

“If you really wanted to repay me, then go to that mountain peak. I am the Lord of the Saints Hall. I am inviting you to see my place.”

“Ah!?”

‘Saints Hall!?’

‘The Cloud Peak!?’

Of course, they already heard about the Saints Hall and seeing Qai pointing towards the mountain peak only confirmed about its very existence.

And when their savior said he was the ‘Lord’ of that mountain peak, the 3 did not know what to say.

There were mixed emotions welling up in their minds. To them, Qai’s invitation was either out of goodwill, which should be for the best, or it could also be a scheme, which could mean disaster.

But they had already offered to repay Qai’s gratitude so there was no longer anything they could do lest they caught the ire of the young lord’s anger should they suddenly shifted their attitude and refuse the invitation.

Qai saw the predicament in their eyes and did not whether to laugh or cry.

He simply gestured his hand to stop saying anything and sighed.

“I’ll be waiting for your arrival later today.”

As he said that, Qai summoned his Eland and mounted it. Then he commanded the Spirit Beast to rush back to their mountain peak.

The 3 saw this and instantaneously forgot about their thoughts as they felt amazed at having a beast mount.

In the Rising Sun City, considering that the cultivators were mostly in the Qi Condensation stage, not many owned a beast mount or a Spirit Beast companion.

The 3 young cultivators did not hesitate any longer and started their trip on foot towards the mountain peak which actually took them half a day to reach the clouds just before walls.

They were already expecting such sight as per rumors. And from there, one of the Crag Brothers immediately received them and allowed them inside.

When the 3 young cultivators stepped inside, their jaws immediately dropped with their eyes opened wide as they swept their glanced around.

From their vantage point, they could already see several structures. They weren't exceptionally large but they knew they were intricately refined from some kind of precious stones.

Several steps to their right were a dozen dueling stages while to their left were varying halls with different names written above this entrances. And far away to their front, about half a mile in distance, they could already see a massive hall.

The immediately got confused and did not what to make of the so-called Saints Hall.

From there, Ji Wuheng came on top of a familiar level 1 Blood Horse, followed by another 3 more Blood Horses.

He hopped down and saluted before the 3 young cultivators then gestured to take the Blood Horses to ride and them.

“Honored guests of our Saints Hall, please take these Blood Horses from here. Our Young Master is waiting for you in the main hall.”

The eyes of the 3 blinked from astonishment and could not believe what they're hearing.

“Are we in a sect!?”