The Ancestor Hall, shrouded in a profound darkness akin to a desolate vastness, seemed like a dim world of chaos yet to be revealed. Immense copper pillars, like towering peaks, extended four chains that resembled pitch-black flood dragons, binding the corporeal body of the white-haired elder.

The surging spiritual energy flowed like turbulent and wide rivers, stretching across the uppermost region. Every few breaths, it would condense into a drop of crystal-clear dew, large as a dragon’s eye.

In just a brief moment, densely packed, it fell like rain!

The rich vitality contained within was enough to cleanse the impurities of the divine soul for any Daoist artist of the third or fourth realm.

Each thought was full and immaculate, increasing the chance of breaking through to the Ghost Immortal realm by seventy to eighty percent.

The Jade Liquid Pool long coveted by the Daoist Officials of the prefecture and county could not compare to this Ancestor Hall.

Yet the life-giving dew that could revive the dead and regenerate bones, allowing the divine soul to return to its innate state, seeped into the elder’s body like it was free, unable to heal even the slightest of the shocking cracks and wounds.

This Sect Leader of the Meridian Sword Sect seemed to have been struck by a world-shattering sword, his entire being split in half. A plume of energy, sometimes large, sometimes small, sometimes thick, sometimes thin, sometimes hidden, sometimes visible, traversed from his forehead to his chest.

Even the nearly flawless divine body, akin to those of legends, had not prevented him from being tormented to the point of exhaustion by this malignant sword energy.

It was as if he suffered the daily ordeal of a thousand swords piercing his heart, the anguish of heart-rending pain.

"Taiyuan... Jiuchen... Daoist Monarch!"

Yan Xin’s voice was hoarse, but his eyes shone bright and clear, as if an innocent child dwelled within his decaying body, possessing a purity untouched by the world.

He sat cross-legged and motionless, bound by chains, resembling a prisoner. During moments of lowered head and drooped eyes, his withered brow revealed a genuine delight.

Though the sword energy consumed his body, he savored it like a delicacy!

"A masterless sword already wields such deadly power. If I held it, I could cut down every Divine Buddha... even the Six Mysterious Divine Soldiers of the Dragon Court might not withstand."

His ravaged body, on the verge of collapse, was desperately absorbing the dew, replenishing his essence to maintain his fragile, flickering life force.

But it was akin to a leaky wooden bucket, where the pace of replenishment never matched the outpouring speed.

"Yihai Prefecture... Qiu Changtian indeed was not mistaken. Before the Dao perished, the Fallen Immortal Mansion indeed fell into the Nu Yun River, hidden within the Turbid Tide.

The White Sun Sect also guessed correctly, hence why someone named Chen appeared."

Yan Xin’s expression relaxed, and the excruciating pain of the sword energy devouring his body was promptly obliterated by his incredibly resilient and indomitable spirit.

This Upper Sect Leader raised his head, his gaze blocked by the vast, desolate Ancestor Hall.

After a moment, he smiled warmly and said:

"I just don’t know whether the person I killed ten years ago was the Qingyang Sect Leader Chen Yin or the White Sun Sect Leader Chen Du."

...

...

The next day, Bai Qi rose early before dawn, just as always.

Since he rose to prominence, he often felt that the day’s twelve hours were like the money bag from his harder times; no matter what, it was never enough.

He had too many matters to attend to: the fish market’s operations, social interactions.

He also had to balance his dual cultivation of Dao and martial arts, practicing Qi Blood by day, meditating to nourish his spirit by night...

Each of these tasks, constantly and persistently, kept Master Bai Qi’s life full and never without something to do.

"Brother, I’ve reviewed the ledgers sent this month. Overall, they’re in line with usual expectations, but there are some increases in expenditures. Uncle Changshun, following your instructions, ordered two sand ships and five wide ships. It’s quite a hefty sum."

Taking advantage of breakfast, Bai Ming reported the work seriously and meticulously.

Nominally, Bai Qi was the proprietor of the fish market, but he didn’t monitor the business operations constantly. The fine details of the ledgers, hiring new hands, launching ships onto the river—these intricate tasks were mostly arranged and managed by Bai Ming.

"Sand ships have a deep draft and can carry heavy loads of four to five thousand stones. I’ve reached an agreement with the people over at the kiln. The exquisite porcelain produced by the Cyan Flower Kiln was previously delivered to Yuan Sheng Prefecture by the Zhu Family, hence the fame of Yuan Blue-and-White Porcelain, highly preferred by noble families.

However, following the Zhu Shou Rang incident, Master Li finds it difficult to continue partnerships with the Zhu Family.

We’re taking over, holding onto this lucrative trade route. Not limited to weapons and porcelain, even the spirit rice and precious plants nurtured by Tai Sui Chen Earth can be continuously supplied to various prefectures in the future."

Bai Qi articulated the blueprint, stating that the purchase of ships was crucial for the fish market’s development and business expansion.

Sand ships, with box-like structures and broad, flat decks, low freeboards, and shallow hulls, are colloquially called "square sterns." They are well-suited for quick wave breaking with their large-beam arch and come equipped with retractable rudders, providing easy handling of the stern sails.

Even long-distance sea voyages are no problem, let alone using the waterways from the Nu Yun River to cross two prefectures.

As for wide ships, produced in the nearby Guangshun Prefecture, they have pointed bows and elongated bodies, with smaller arch beams, low ridged decks, robust structures, optimal for sailing and cruising, and could serve as escorts.

This time, Bai Qi’s significant investment was to establish a fledgling trade fleet. He connected with shipyards through He Jingfeng, paying a deposit of nearly ten thousand taels, throwing in almost half a year’s profit from the fish market.

"When the time comes, we’ll entrust the escort tasks to Lei Xiong, and bring in the Chai Market and Kiln. Hu Zhenshan and Bao Daqing are both capable experts.

With the Sitting Hall Master from the Inner City Martial Arts Association, even the notable water thieves and bandits from the Green Forest Dao will be unable to lay a finger on us, ensuring the goods’ safety."

Bai Ming nodded, knowing that his brother was the decision-making patriarch. As the name Bai Ji grew more renowned, there was a need for wider routes and greater wealth accumulation.