Chapter 348: Start of Luo Yue Translator: Tim Editor: Fish Creek

The remaining Dian Cang members stared dazedly at the gruesome scene, like Liu Rushan. They understood his actions. Another provocation of Ye Mo would result in Dian Cang's annihilation.

He hadn't completely annihilated Dian Cang not out of newfound kindness or tolerance, but because of Wu Dao qian bei's intervention. Ye Mo lacked confidence in defeating Wu Dao, and Liu Rushan's oath further halted him. Without Wu Dao qian bei's arrival, Dian Cang would have been utterly destroyed. Even so, Ye Mo killed Bian Xihai before leaving.

His killing of Bian Xihai in front of Wu Dao qian bei demonstrated Ye Mo's intolerance of threats. He knew their feud was irreconcilable, so he eliminated him.

Despite Liu Rushan's oath, if Ye Mo returned, Dian Cang would be defenseless. Therefore, Liu Rushan sealed the sect—the safest course of action.

Cultivating a black-level warrior in a hidden sect is arduous, requiring many years even for the most talented. Ye Mo had killed nearly seventy percent of Dian Cang's strong disciples, leaving the sect fragmented. Dian Cang’s destruction was imminent; any smaller sect could easily conquer them.

Dian Cang was now treading on thin ice, forced to proceed cautiously.

…

Ye Mo soared on his flying sword. While he had eliminated most of Dian Cang’s elite, he'd paid a price—injury and depleted chi. His fight with Wu Dao confirmed his current inferiority, prompting a decisive retreat.

His original plan—annihilation and looting—was thwarted. He wouldn’t return. While he felt threatened by Wu Dao, the threat was mutual. He couldn't defeat Wu Dao yet, but neither could Wu Dao capture him. A life-or-death battle’s outcome was uncertain.

Returning to Serenity, he found Tang Beiwei waiting. Seeing her brother's return relieved her. She knew his strength, but Dian Cang, one of the six major hidden sects (though the weakest), was still formidable.

“Let’s go; we’ll talk later. I’ll ask your master to help reset the chain,” Ye Mo smiled.

“No need; Master can fix it herself,” Tang Beiwei replied.

Ye Mo nodded. “In that case, I won’t. I’ll make some amulets for you when we get back.”

Unexpectedly, Jing Xian asked nothing about Dian Cang, despite frequent visits. Ye Mo, respecting her silence, remained at Serenity, gathering herbs and teaching Tang Beiwei cultivation, focusing on the blue flower blue leaf grass and the purple heart vine.

Life in Serenity was peaceful and slow. Wuliang Mountain's depths held many precious herbs. Two weeks later, Ye Mo completed another batch of chi-increasing pills and another batch of lotus life seed and face-preserving pills.

His first batch of chi-increasing pills failed, but he succeeded in making nine with Luo Xuan’s qi recovery pills. His third batch yielded twelve pills, owing to his now stage 4 chi gathering; a significant achievement.

He gave Tang Beiwei one, enabling her to reach stage two chi gathering, and left her with two more for after reaching stage two peak.

Feeling her brother's impending departure, Tang Beiwei lost her focus on cultivation, preferring to spend time with him. Though she hoped he would stay, she knew it was impossible.

This morning, finding only a letter and a small dagger he’d made for her, she knew he’d left. Though expecting his return, she felt despondent.

A sigh came from behind. Turning, she saw her master. Tiredly, she called out, “Master.”

Jing Xian approached, patting Tang Beiwei's hair. After a pause, she said, “Beiwei, your brother is extraordinary. You know that. You stayed here because of that. If you desire a wealthy life, merely ask, and he will provide.”

“Master, I don't like the bustling city. I prefer this peaceful life,” Tang Beiwei replied.

Jing Xian nodded. “Then cultivate diligently. Don’t disappoint him. He will return. Perhaps, next time, he’ll take you with him.”

Tang Beiwei remained silent. She could leave with him now, but preferred this peaceful life with her mother, away from the city. She understood his extraordinary deeds and wouldn't hinder him. Staying here eased his worries; she would help him once she was strong enough.

Right or wrong didn’t matter; her brother's actions were always right. She wouldn’t question or discuss them.

…

Ye Mo’s departure was unannounced. He’d noticed Tang Beiwei’s emotional shift since their reunion. The once prickly, subjective girl was changed by poverty and prejudice. To survive, she’d developed a tough exterior; her childhood lacked love, making Ye Mo’s affection precious.

…

Arriving at Flowing Snake, he was astonished. The chaos of months past was gone, replaced by countless diligently working laborers.

“Ye brother…” Fang Nan’s joyful voice broke the silence, accompanied by several underlings.

“Fang Nan, what is this?” Ye Mo asked, noting Fang Nan's yellow level middle stage cultivation, but more curious about the workers and their funding.

Fang Nan replied joyfully, “Ye brother, everyone rejoiced when you annihilated the Amphibian Gang. Our Luo Yue Trade Company now manages the borderland area… Zang brother and Xu brother are here.”

Zang Jiayan and Xu Ping approached, followed by Mo Hai, then Erhu and Lu Xiaozhen, excitedly greeting Ye Mo for the first time since Luo Cang.

“Let’s go inside,” Ye Mo said, happy to see his friends and brothers.

They gathered in a large room, united by their shared purpose.

“Where’s Yang Jiu?” Ye Mo asked, noticing their absence, along with Han Zai.

Zang Jiayan replied, “They’re at customs with Yu Miaodan and Yuan Meixiang. Jack shipped medicinal equipment from England.”

Seeing Ye Mo’s confusion, Mo Hai explained, “Jack is the British man you met on the boat. He manages Barry Medicinal Corporation’s Asian operations. Learning you own Luo Yue, he offered investment.”

Ye Mo remembered Jenny, the admiring girl.

Zang Jiayan continued, “CEO Ye, thanks to Mo Hai, we registered the company and re-established Flowing Snake. The Hong Kong Mo Corporation provided $200 million startup capital and brought in Jack. Regarding shares, we await your decision.”

Mo Hai quickly added, “Ye qian bei, my uncle’s investment in Luo Yue requires no shares. He supports your endeavors. Jack also seeks no shares, only cooperation.”

Ye Mo understood. Mo Kang repaid his earlier kindness; he wouldn't mistreat him. Jack, shrewdly, sought future collaboration.

Ye Mo gave Mo Hai two chi-increasing pills. “These are chi-increasing pills. Auction them. One suffices for a breakthrough below earth level.”

“Yes, qian bei,” Mo Hai replied excitedly.

Xu Ping exclaimed, “Third brother, your pill is priceless! I’m black level middle stage; an ascension is certain within half a year! Unthinkable!”

Ye Mo smiled, “Second brother, our company will be globally renowned. Many will cause trouble; your strength is crucial.”

“Dealing with ruffians is my forte. Don’t worry; they won’t see our technology,” Xu Ping assured him.

Ye Mo turned to Yu Erhu, “Erhu, when I’m gone, train in ancient martial arts with Xu. Don’t slack.”

“Yes, master,” Yu Erhu replied.

Zang Jiayan worried, “CEO Ye, Erhu’s pills can’t be mass-produced. Secrecy is hard to maintain; specialists could reverse-engineer them.”

Ye Mo smiled, “Zang brother, mass production is possible; copying won’t be.”

Turning to Mo Hai, Ye Mo said, “After selling the pills, buy $200 million worth of jade. Average quality suffices.”

“Okay, qian bei,” Mo Hai promised.

Ye Mo waved his hand, “Just call me Ye Mo.”

After two hours, Ye Mo established the Luo Yue structure: Zang Jiayan and Yu Miaodan for sales; Yuan Meixiang and Lu Xiaozhen for finance; Xu Ping as his substitute; and Yang Nan and Yang Jiu for security.

…

A month later, Mo Hai returned with Mo Kang, admiring Ye Mo deeply. The two chi-increasing pills sold for $300 million to a Hong Kong family.

Ye Mo sighed, lacking blood coral, which would have yielded more profit. The price was lower than at the hidden sect auction.

The $200 million worth of jade surrounded the Flowing Snake factories. Lacking spirit stones, he used lesser materials for a spirit-gathering formation, less potent, but still producing spirit chi. It sufficed for pill making, but not cultivation. He added formations to the beauty pill machines for quality assurance.

Ye Mo spent a month modifying the beauty pill formulation and teaching it to Yu Erhu. They required spirit chi, thus the formation’s necessity. On Earth, unlike the cultivation realm, spirit chi wasn’t readily available.

He then taught the heart-preserving pill, relieving fatigue and hidden dangers. He would teach more pills later, to avoid overwhelming the market.

His main goal was gathering spirit grasses. He provided lists to Zang Jiayan for procurement.

Completing these tasks, Ye Mo left Flowing Snake, knowing staying put wouldn’t facilitate his ascension. He began his solo search for Luo Ying across China.