My Scales Can Make Equivalent Exchange
Chapter 269: Stationed Location

Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Stationed Location

Wang Zijia didn’t have high hopes, after engaging with this man for the past several months, he felt he already knew his temperament. Unexpectedly hearing this, he was visibly taken aback.

"So, it’s settled?" asked Wang Zijia, probing.

"Great!" Amidst Ma Haoran’s hearty laughter, the conversation took another turn. He asked, "I heard that Junior Brother Wang is this year’s grand competition champion and also has the authority to establish a sect?"

"Yes, I intend to use this privilege to set up a sect in Tianhong," Wang Zijia, aware of what Ma Haoran wanted to ask, responded directly.

The various branches of Wanyu Sect had been established for many years and already had a well-established system. Setting up a new branch was no longer just about building a new complex within the sect.

They could also establish up to three sects or clans within their sphere of influence, acting as subordinate sects for the new branch. If these sects produced gifted disciples, the quotas for advancing to the Wanyu Sect would be provided by the new branch. This was a solid foundation for new branches, creating a complete cultivation ecosystem.

"If the sect provides backing, I know of an excellent place!" Ma Haoran said enthusiastically, steering his cloud climber in a certain direction, his face aglow with a smile.

"Oh? Where?" Wang Zijia urged his flying shuttle to keep up with Ma Haoran’s pace.

"Let’s keep it a mystery for now!" Ma Haoran said with a laugh.

"..."

They both flew south for about half an hour and finally stopped by a massive mountain peak.

"How do you like this place, Junior Brother?" Standing before the towering mountain range, Ma Haoran asked.

Staring at the magnificent mountain range and dense spiritual energy below, clearly possessing at least one top-grade spiritual vein, Wang Zijia seemed to recall something. He quickly took out his identity card, checked it for a moment, and exclaimed in surprise, "This is Jingchan Mountain...the base constructed by the sect before?"

"That’s right. Since the sect’s withdrawal, it has been abandoned. Because of the previous sect’s influence, no audacious independents dared to occupy this place over the years."

Looking at the mountain range below, Ma Haoran continued, "Although I’ve not been here for many years, I had people cleaning the place. So, even though it is somewhat ruined, it is still usable. Given your official privilege of establishing a sect, Junior Brother Wang, you could certainly get approval for this place."

Wang Zijia remained silent, controlling the Blood Fiend Jade Shuttle to descend towards the mountain top, with Ma Haoran following closely.

As he approached, Wang Zijia noted not just a cluster of buildings atop the mountain, but also many elegant pavilions from the foot of the mountain to the top. With its classical design, it was reminiscent of an immortal family’s Taoist field.

The grand buildings on the mountain top were antique-style and the main hall was even carved entirely from pure marble, giving off a semblance of a cultivation sect’s structure.

However, the place felt desolate due to a lack of inhabitants.

Upon reaching the building complex at the mountain top, Wang Zijia alighted, his senses picking up something. In surprise, he asked, "There’s still a formation here?"

"Yes, the Huanling Lineage originally planned to establish a sect here back in the day. But due to the disappearance of the disciple recruitment team and the subsequent suspension of Tianhong Practice World, the plan fell through. However, the established foundation was not dismantled and was left abandoned here."

As Ma Haoran was speaking, he activated a talisman with a fluctuation of his mana and continued,

"Since this mountain has a first-class advanced level spiritual vein, even without the magic money to maintain it, the formation didn’t become completely useless. The basic illusion formation is still barely operational. If not for this, the few disciples I arranged to stay here would probably have ruined the place already."

As soon as both men stepped into the main hall, a middle-aged Daoist priest hurried out with two young men at his heels. All three were at the initial stages of cultivation, one intermediate and two at the beginning. Seeing Ma Haoran, their faces immediately lit up with delight. "Disciple pays respects to Master!" they exclaimed.

"I’ve told you many times, I have no intention of taking in disciples. I merely allow you to cultivate here and you keep an eye on this place in return. It’s merely a business arrangement!" Ma Haoran said indifferently, regarding the three kneeling disciples with an excited look.

"If it weren’t for Master saving me from the clutches of the devil and bestowing the Tao Law upon me, I would have already perished. I will never forget Master’s benevolence," Wang Hongzhuang respectfully pledged with the two young men, honoring Ma Haoran with a reverent bow.

Without refusing, Ma Haoran accepted their bows.

Wang Zijia looked at Ma Haoran and then at the three kneeling people. He felt these three were disciples in fact, even if not in the name. He guessed that Ma Haoran probably considered his days numbered and hence wasn’t willing to take on disciples.

"Today, I brought Junior Brother Wang to look around the mountain. Lead the way!" Once the three had finished bowing, Ma Haoran ordered indifferent.

"Following Master’s decree!" the three stood up, saluted Wang Zijia, and said, "Martial Uncle, this way, please. The mountain is quite large and only the three of us are maintaining it. It takes around two months to clean the entire area, so it may look a bit abandoned. Please bear with us."

"..."

Guided by the three, the duo toured the main temple complex on the mountain top, with Wang Zijia being quite satisfied with what he saw.

With some help to clean and rearrange, the place would be ready to use without much effort.

"What do you think, Junior Brother?" Ma Haoran asked.

Wang Zijia nodded in satisfaction and said, "Very good..."

In the middle of their conversation, while Wang Zijia was inspecting the surroundings, he suddenly paused. His internal mana had inexplicably become very active. This unusual change caused his expression to alter as he abruptly looked towards a certain direction.

’Are there Sinners here?’

Confused by Wang Zijia’s reaction, Ma Haoran followed his gaze but didn’t notice anything.

"Is there anyone else here?" Wang Zijia abruptly asked, not waiting for Ma Haoran to speak.

Ma Haoran looked towards the three beside him. Wang Hongzhuang shook his head in confusion, stating, "No, we three brothers have been guarding the entire mountain sect for many years now!"

"What’s in that direction?" As his eyebrows furrowed, Wang Zijia pointed in a particular direction.

"Martial Uncle, are you asking about the back mountain? It was initially set up as a burial area to house the deceased disciples once the sect was formally established. It has been completely abandoned now," Wang Hongzhuang cautiously replied.

With a frown, Wang Zijia remained silent, turning towards that direction. Seeing him, Ma Haoran followed, and the other three exchanged glances of confusion before trailing after them.

Following his instincts, Wang Zijia kept moving forward. As he passed by the numerous buildings at the top of the mountain, his internal mana had nearly reached a boiling point. The presence of one or two Sinners wouldn’t excite his mana to such an extent.

Looking at the region behind the mountain, Wang Zijia abruptly stopped in his tracks.