Chapter Thirteen: The Seal of the Daoist Warrior

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PS: Previously, the number of spirit stones given by Lady Yang was revised; she gave a total of one thousand spirit stones, with nine hundred offset by a magical artifact.

The next day, Yang Xuan accepted the supplies prepared for him by Yang Huaiyun and began making the final preparations for his departure.

Perhaps yesterday’s conversation had filled Yang Huaiyun with confidence in Yang Xuan.

During the handover, Yang Xuan discovered that the actual supplies he received far exceeded what Yang Huaiyun had initially promised.

In addition to three thousand spirit stones, Yang Huaiyun also gave him a hundred sets of armor forged with Black Star Iron, and allocated thirty soldiers from the Yang family’s cultivator troops to him.

On top of that, there were three drops of Faith Water, greatly enhancing a cultivator’s magical power, numerous copied books of various kinds, and a Dao Soldier Seal.

“This Dao Soldier Seal was a trophy I won from a noble captive in my youth. It allows you to form contracts with up to a thousand Dao soldiers. On your journey to the Sea Tribe, you can use this seal to recruit more Dao soldiers along the way.”

As he handed the seal—resembling a mundane military tally—to Yang Xuan, Yang Huaiyun spoke thus.

“Thank you, Father!”

Yang Xuan took the Dao Soldier Seal with some excitement.

After all, this was a world of cultivation, where might reigned supreme.

The reason noble families could command so many martial cultivators without fear of betrayal lay in the secret of the Dao Soldier Seal.

The Dao Soldier Seal was a special contract forged from rare materials. Once a Dao soldier left a drop of blood upon it, the contract took effect automatically, and betrayal became impossible for the duration of the agreement.

Of course, since it was a contract of equality, it did not allow the master to arbitrarily control the Dao soldier’s life or death like a slave contract.

There were checks and balances—such as forbidding the master from killing Dao soldiers at will, and requiring the provision of monthly resources for their cultivation, among other terms.

On the whole, it was a contract that favored the noble houses, but not one that could be abused at will.

After obtaining the Dao Soldier Seal, Yang Xuan first had the contracts for Man Niu and the others transferred to him. Then, with two days remaining before his departure, he spread word throughout Yellow Maple Mountain, intending to recruit more warriors within Yang Huaiyun’s domain.

Though Yang Xuan had already received substantial support from the family, his decision to recruit more men in the territory drew no objection from Yang Huaiyun, who allowed him free rein.

Within a single morning, news of Yang Xuan’s recruitment for his pioneering expedition spread throughout Yellow Maple Mountain.

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Because pioneers traditionally offered generous terms in their contracts for Dao soldiers, all the free martial cultivators in the territory grew interested and flocked to answer the call.

A great number of warriors gathered at Yellow Maple Mountain, bringing liveliness to what had once been a stagnant, lifeless place.

Servants and Dao soldiers alike were excited, rushing to the training grounds to witness the spectacle.

There, Yang Xuan held an impromptu martial tournament. The victors would not only be rewarded with a Blood Qi Pill, but could join the Dao soldier ranks and enjoy their superior benefits.

“Hmph! He’s bound to die during his pioneering!”

The bustle at Yellow Maple Mountain had nothing to do with Yang Qian. Ever since Yang Huaiyun had kicked him yesterday, he’d been in poor spirits, lying on his sickbed and weeping silently.

When Lady Yang informed him that Yang Xuan was recruiting free warriors from the territory, he could not help but curse.

“Qian’er, try to see things clearly. Your father is in a difficult position. What you did—trying to seize Yang Xuan’s Foundation Establishment Pill—was far too serious; he had to take a stand, otherwise…”

Seeing her son’s haggard appearance, Lady Yang tried anxiously to comfort him, but before she could finish, Yang Qian interrupted her angrily.

“Enough! It’s just to appease those bastards, isn’t it? Wasn’t my earlier punishment harsh enough? Must they destroy me completely? We’re all his sons—why must I always be beneath them?

Just because I was born later? I can accept not inheriting, but why must they get first pick of all resources? Doesn’t he always claim to be fair? Is this what he calls fairness?”

Lady Yang had heard such near-roaring complaints countless times, but these were simply the rules of noble families, far beyond her power to change.

She knew, in fact, that Yang Huaiyun had been more than fair. Thanks to her influence, Yang Qian had enjoyed better treatment than Yang Xuan and the others since childhood.

Still, she was dissatisfied—resentful of the lost inheritance rights, resentful that her son could only languish at the Qi Refining stage.

She had almost come to terms with reality, but Yang Qian’s bitterness now rekindled her own sense of grievance.

Perhaps out of anger or bitter disappointment, Lady Yang slapped Yang Qian hard across the face.

“Hold your tongue! How many times have I warned you? Some things must never be spoken aloud. If your father had heard what you just said, you’d already be cast out!

You’re nothing but a Qi Refining cultivator—if you’re expelled from Yellow Maple Mountain, you’ll have nothing!

Would you really rather end up like the wandering cultivators outside, toiling your whole life for a few spirit stones, never seeing a way forward?”

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No matter her resentment, Lady Yang was acutely aware of just how fortunate Yang Qian was.

She herself had wandered the world with her father since childhood, and knew well the hardships of a rogue cultivator.

They would risk their lives for just a handful of spirit stones!

With his abilities, she was certain that if Yang Qian became a wanderer, he wouldn’t last three days.

“Hmph… So what if I became a wanderer? How is my current situation any different?

Without a Foundation Establishment Pill, even if I reach the peak of Qi Refining, I can only wait—wait another ten years until the family can exchange for another pill.

Ten years! How many decades does a man have? By then, Yang Li and Yang Xuan will be well on their way to the Golden Core stage.

I can’t stand watching others advance by leaps and bounds, while I waste my youth away.”

Perhaps Lady Yang’s words had frightened him, for Yang Qian’s tone grew subdued, though the bitterness and anger were still plain to hear.

“Don’t worry! You won’t have to wait ten years. As long as you change your ways, and with me pleading your case, the family can borrow one from outside.

Cultivators aren’t prolific; not every family is blessed with children.

To the north, on Little Green Creek Island, their lineage has passed single-handedly for generations—they must have spare Foundation Establishment Pills. If we offer enough resources, they’ll surely sell one.”

Lady Yang tried to sound calm and reassuring.

But even she knew these were empty words. To sell a Foundation Establishment Pill—she could not guarantee anyone would agree.

Ninth-rank families could only acquire one such pill every ten years. Even if they had no heirs, they’d rather grant it to loyal retainers than sell it outside.

In all her years married into the Yang family, she had never heard of anyone selling a Foundation Establishment Pill.

True, some appeared at the county auction house, but the price—just thinking of it made her breathless with anxiety.