Chapter 45: Investments and Ideas
By late afternoon, the mountain road finally began to level out.
The steep slopes that had surrounded the travelers for most of the day slowly gave way to rolling foothills, and the icy winds that constantly swept across Mistforge became noticeably gentler. The air was still cold enough for every breath to leave a cloud of white mist, but compared to the biting chill atop the mountain, it almost felt pleasant.
The caravan reached the final military checkpoint guarding the mountain pass.
A stone fortress had been built across the road, its high walls blending naturally into the surrounding cliffs. Watchtowers overlooked every approach, while heavily armored soldiers patrolled the battlements with practiced discipline. Ballistae pointed toward the valleys below, and signal towers stood ready to warn the entire territory should a powerful spirit beast descend from the mountains.
This checkpoint guarded the passage between Lord Shen's mountain heartland and the cities spread across the plains below.
Anyone travelling deeper into the mountains had to pass beneath its walls.
Captain Han's patrols rarely allowed anything dangerous to pass through.
The guards recognized Lin Guo immediately.
"Master Lin."
The middle-aged guard smiled warmly.
"Opening another shop?"
Lin Guo chuckled.
"So the news has already spread?"
"My wife bought one of your winter coats yesterday."
"I suppose that's answer enough."
After a brief inspection of the wagons, the captain waved everyone through without another question.
Safe roads were one of Lord Shen's greatest sources of pride.
Merchants remembered rulers who protected trade.
The road became much busier after leaving the mountains.
Merchant caravans traveled in both directions.
Farmers guided carts loaded with vegetables despite the cold.
Hunters returned with freshly skinned beasts tied behind sturdy horses.
Occasionally, Yun Che noticed cultivators wearing robes bearing unfamiliar emblems.
Travelers from neighboring cities.
Some perhaps from neighboring kingdoms.
The world suddenly felt much larger than Mistforge.
Before long, the walls of their destination appeared on the horizon.
The city rose proudly from the snowy plains, surrounded by thick stone walls nearly twice the height of Mistforge's outer defenses.
Above the gate fluttered Lord Shen's blue-and-silver banner.
Yun Che smiled.
Stoneford.
The largest trading city in Lord Shen's territory.
Mistforge might have been the military and industrial heart of the mountain range...
But Stoneford was where wealth flowed.
If goods entered or left Lord Shen's lands, they almost certainly passed through this city.
Unlike Tianyu's departure a week earlier, entering the city required little ceremony.
The guards recognized every member of the group.
"Back again, Young Yun?"
One elderly guard laughed.
"Buying more strange metal?"
"Maybe."
"And Master Lin?"
"Business."
"As always."
The guards recognised Lin Guo immediately, but familiarity did not remove procedure. Cargo seals were checked, travel documents inspected, and the rear wagon briefly opened before the captain allowed them through.
The heavy gates opened.
Within moments, the familiar streets welcomed them.
Yun Che had visited Stoneford many times over the years.
Usually once every month or two.
Even so...
Every visit reminded him how different it felt from Mistforge.
The streets were wider.
The buildings taller.
The crowds denser.
Mistforge had been built by blacksmiths.
Stoneford had been built by merchants.
Brightly painted signs hung outside shops.
Colorful banners fluttered above busy streets.
Flower boxes decorated windows despite the perpetual winter.
Formation heaters hidden beneath the main avenues melted most of the snow, allowing people to walk comfortably through the commercial districts.
The cold remained.
The Shen family's ancestral formations maintained winter throughout the territory. Lord Shen served as their current anchor, sustaining the environment that had shaped the region's people, crops, and spirit beasts for generations.But here...
Winter felt welcoming rather than harsh.
The caravan soon stopped before a modest two-story building.
Its walls were constructed from polished stone, while the upper floor featured sturdy timber painted in warm shades of brown.
A newly carved wooden sign still leaned against the wall, waiting to be installed.
Lin Guo climbed down from the wagon.
His eyes lingered on the building.
For years...
This had been nothing more than an idea.
Now it stood before him.
"Our second home."
He unlocked the doors.
The interior smelled of fresh wood.
Dust danced through shafts of afternoon sunlight.
It was completely empty.
Not for long.
Everyone immediately began unloading crates.
Bolts of cloth.
Finished clothing.
Rolls of leather.
Mannequins carefully wrapped in blankets.
Sewing machines.
Shelving.
Boxes of buttons.
Dyes.
Needles.
Ledgers.
Every item had been packed with meticulous care.
By sunset, the empty building had transformed into a maze of stacked crates.
Lin Xia looked around with bright eyes.
"It doesn't feel like a shop yet."
"It feels like a warehouse."
Her father laughed.
"It will take weeks."
"Maybe months."
She slowly walked around the first floor, imagining displays and customers.
"We'll need decorations."
"Better lighting."
"Signs."
"A proper fitting area."
"And flowers."
Yun Che, who was helping carry shelves inside, paused.
"Actually..."
Everyone looked toward him.
"Every Cloudweave shop should look similar," Yun Che said.
Lin Xia glanced around. "The same decorations?"
"The same sign, colours, uniforms and general layout. Customers should recognise the shop before reading its name."
Jin Wei pointed at him. "Exactly. Azure Wolf Consortium has done that for decades. Familiarity creates trust."
Lin Guo looked at the unfinished sign.
"Then perhaps it is time Cloudweave became more than one successful shop."
Lin Xia smiled.
"I like that idea."
As evening approached, everyone naturally separated.
Lin Xia remained behind with her father.
There was still far too much work waiting.
Jin Wei adjusted his expensive robes before stretching comfortably.
"I should visit headquarters."
Stoneford housed the regional headquarters of the Azure Wolf Consortium.
Every caravan traveling deeper into Lord Shen's territory passed through here.
Supplies arrived from Goldriver City.
Goods from Mistforge were sorted.
Contracts signed.
Merchants assigned.
It was the beating heart of the company's operations within the northern mountains.
"We'll leave tomorrow," Jin Wei said.
"I'll make sure the caravan is ready."
"Guards."
"Permits."
"Supply lists."
"The usual."
He waved casually before disappearing into the busy streets.
Left alone, Yun Che decided to explore.
Amon remained beside the shop where it wouldn't disturb the people.
The Frost Drake was simply too large for comfortably walking through crowded streets.
The massive beast settled down beside the building with a contented rumble.
Within minutes...
Children had already begun gathering nearby to stare at him from what they believed was a safe distance.
Mirage, meanwhile, fluttered happily onto Yun Che's shoulder.
Whisper peeked curiously from the Frost Necklace before disappearing back inside.
Yun Che smiled.
"You two need to become stronger."
Mirage puffed out her tiny chest proudly.
As if to declare she was already magnificent.
Yun Che laughed.
"Your confidence isn't the problem."
He knew their limits.
Mirage and Whisper were both weak species by monster standards.
Their cultivation had already reached the Seventh and Eighth Mortal Stages.
But their bloodlines simply weren't powerful.
Amon was different.
Although only considered a mid-ranked species, his distant draconic ancestry gave him enormous potential.
He had already reached the peak of the Mortal Realm.
The next step would be Foundation Establishment.
Mirage and Whisper would need help reaching that same level.
His mother had explained the process countless times.
Feed them well.
Allow them to absorb Frost Aura.
Strengthen their bodies naturally.
Then...
Defeat an appropriate Foundation Realm beast.
Its flesh, blood, and crystal core would provide the final push needed for evolution.
Yun Che looked affectionately at the little spirit perched on his shoulder.
"I'll get you there."
Mirage chirped proudly.
Whisper hummed happily inside the necklace.
"You are my friends."
He smiled quietly.
Stoneford stretched far beyond what Mistforge could offer.
The city was nearly twice its size.
Parks filled with snow-covered pine trees offered places for families to gather.
Stone fountains continued flowing despite the freezing weather, sustained by hidden formations.
Large ponds reflected the fading afternoon sky.
Statues honoring famous generals, scholars, and cultivators stood proudly throughout the plazas.
The market district overflowed with activity.
Brand stores displayed colorful signs.
Bookshops advertised newly copied cultivation manuals.
A public library occupied an entire square.
Inns bustled with merchants discussing prices over steaming bowls of soup.
Alchemist shops filled the air with strange medicinal aromas.
Yun Che also noticed something far less common than the buildings.
People who weren't entirely human.
A tall man with gray wolf ears laughed loudly outside a tavern.
His tail swayed happily behind him.
A pair of sturdy dwarves argued over the quality of iron ingots.
Several graceful elves browsed a nearby bookstore while speaking softly in an unfamiliar language.
Mistforge rarely saw such visitors.
Stoneford welcomed them almost every day.
His father had explained why years ago.
"They're descendants."
Some Foundation Realm spirit beasts eventually gained human forms.
Some fell in love with humans.
Their descendants became what most people simply called beastfolk.
The wolf-eared man walking past him wasn't a transformed wolf.
He had simply inherited the blood of one.
The neighboring kingdom beyond the mountain range was home to many such races.
Trade brought them here regularly.
Eventually, Yun Che stopped before one of the largest buildings in the commercial district.
Its entrance was framed by polished dark wood.
Elegant golden characters stretched across the signboard.
Heaven's Archive Pavilion.
One of the kingdom's most respected cultivation stores.
Weapons.
Manuals.
Talismans.
Formation scrolls.
Rare materials.
Almost everything a cultivator could need could be purchased here—provided they possessed enough money.
Yun Che stepped inside.
The interior resembled an enormous library far more than a marketplace.
Tall bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling.
Cultivation manuals rested inside protective glass cabinets.
Attendants quietly assisted customers while preserving an atmosphere of almost reverent silence.
The first floor displayed Grade One and Grade Two techniques.
The shelves were crowded with curious young cultivators eagerly comparing manuals.
Yun Che barely glanced at them.
He had long outgrown this section.
Without hesitation, he climbed the stairs.
-------------------------------
The second floor of Heaven's Archive Pavilion was far quieter than the first.
Only a handful of cultivators wandered between the polished wooden shelves, each moving with deliberate patience. Unlike the bustling floor below, no one hurried here. Every manual represented a considerable fortune, and most people spent more time thinking than buying.
Yun Che walked slowly along the rows of glass display cases.
The cultivation manuals themselves remained sealed behind transparent formation barriers. Once purchased, the formation would recognize its new owner, allowing only that cultivator to open the book.
Beside each manual rested a neatly written description.
Not enough to learn the technique.
Just enough to tempt the buyer.
Yun Che smiled to himself.
"A clever business model."
He stopped before the first manual that caught his attention.
Parallel Thought — Grade Three Mental Technique
A mental cultivation art that allows the practitioner to divide their concentration into multiple streams. Beginners may perform two simultaneous mental tasks, while masters can maintain several independent thought processes at once. Especially suited for cultivators requiring precise control over multiple techniques.
Yun Che's eyes brightened.
"This..."
This was exactly what he needed.
Even with his sharp mind, managing everything simultaneously placed enormous strain on his concentration.
If he could truly think in parallel...
His combat ability would increase dramatically.
It wasn't simply another technique.
It would strengthen almost every technique he already possessed.
He reluctantly forced himself to continue walking.
A few shelves later, another manual caught his eye.
Underground Swamp — Grade Three Earth Technique
Liquefy the earth within a chosen area, creating unstable terrain that drags opponents downward while greatly hindering movement.
Yun Che imagined using it together with his chains.
Or against heavily armored enemies.
Or while retreating.
Or to separate large groups.
His notebook appeared in his hand.
He quietly wrote the title down.
A familiar name appeared several shelves farther.
Frost Mist Domain — Grade Three Frost Technique
Release dense frost-infused mist that greatly reduces visibility. The mist naturally amplifies frost techniques while weakening the senses of opponents.
Yun Che smiled.
"So this is what Tianyu used."
The battlefield from their duel replayed inside his mind.
Limited vision.
Hidden attacks.
Frozen air.
It had been far more troublesome than he'd expected.
Now he understood why.
Again...
He added another name to his growing list.
Finally...
One last technique earned his attention.
Earth Wall — Grade Three Earth Technique
Raise reinforced stone barriers independent of the user's body. Effective for defense, battlefield control, and protection of allies.
Yun Che stood there for nearly a minute.
Most defensive techniques strengthened the cultivator directly.
This one was different.
Independent barriers.
Cover.
Temporary fortifications.
Obstacles.
His mind immediately began imagining dozens of possibilities.
He smiled.
"I like this one."
Another title joined the notebook.
Half an hour later, Yun Che closed the notebook with a sigh.
There were so many useful techniques.
Movement skills.
Mental arts.
Elemental techniques.
Support abilities.
The world truly was much larger than Mistforge.
Unfortunately...
His purse was painfully small.
He counted the remaining coins.
Travel expenses.
Food.
Emergency funds.
That was all.
Winning the tournament against Tianyu had earned him a respectable reward.
Most of it, however, had already vanished into Frost Crystals for Amon, Mirage, and Whisper.
He didn't regret the purchase.
His companions needed to grow stronger just as much as he did.
Still...
It meant these manuals would have to wait.
He looked once more toward Parallel Thought before quietly turning away.
"When I reach Goldriver..."
"I'll buy you."
As he walked downstairs, Yun Che found himself reflecting on how carefully cultivation knowledge was controlled.
The manuals sold here were not ordinary books.
The moment someone opened one after purchase, the formation embedded within its pages established a binding contract.
The owner could learn the technique.
Practice it.
Perfect it.
But deliberately teaching the complete manual to someone else would violate the contract.
Unless...
The cultivator had independently recreated or improved the technique through their own understanding.
Only then could it truly become their own creation.
It was a system that protected everyone.
The creators earned payment.
The stores remained valuable.
The kingdoms maintained control over dangerous techniques.
At the same time...
It made the path of cultivation far more expensive.
Power wasn't simply earned through talent.
Often...
It had to be purchased.
Leaving Heaven's Archive Pavilion behind, Yun Che made his way across Stoneford toward the headquarters of the Azure Wolf Consortium.
The building occupied nearly half a city block.
Merchants entered and exited constantly, carrying ledgers, contracts, and sealed documents.
Workers loaded wagons while accountants argued over shipment records.
The entire place hummed with organized chaos.
An employee recognized Yun Che immediately.
"Master Jin is upstairs."
"Thank you."
He found Jin Wei seated behind an enormous desk.
Several ledgers lay open before him.
Stacks of supply manifests covered nearly every available surface.
The young merchant looked thoroughly unimpressed.
"So..."
Yun Che asked.
"Hard at work?"
Jin Wei sighed dramatically.
"I wish."
He tapped one of the ledgers.
"The elders already handled ninety percent of everything."
"I'm just checking their work."
"As the future head of the company..."
"...I'm expected to know exactly where every shipment goes."
He flipped another page.
"If I don't..."
He grimaced.
"My father will throw me into one of our smallest shops."
Yun Che raised an eyebrow.
"That bad?"
"My older brother ignored his paperwork."
"And?"
"He's been managing a village branch for almost two years."
Yun Che blinked.
"...Your father is terrifying."
"He calls it character building."
Once Jin Wei finished checking another shipment list, Yun Che leaned against the desk.
"I need advice."
Jin Wei looked up.
"Says the inventor."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
"What is it?"
Yun Che hesitated.
"I need money."
Jin Wei laughed.
"Welcome to adulthood."
"No."
"I mean while we're traveling."
"I can't exactly build bicycles in the middle of the road."
"We won't stay long enough in most towns."
"So..."
"How do I earn money?"
Jin Wei answered immediately.
"Easy."
He held up one finger.
"Repair equipment."
"The caravan guards always damage weapons and armor."
"Offer your services."
A second finger.
"Make custom items."
"If someone wants a better spearhead or stronger armor buckle..."
"Charge them."
A third finger.
"And lastly..."
He stared at Yun Che in disbelief.
"I can't believe you forgot hunting."
Yun Che blinked.
"...Hunting?"
"Your mother is literally one of the best hunters in Mistforge."
"How did that not occur to you?"
Yun Che rubbed the back of his neck.
"...I spend most of my time inside a forge."
"I don't really think like a hunter."
Jin Wei burst into laughter.
"That explains a lot."
"I honestly don't think you notice the outside world unless someone drags you into it."
He shook his head, still smiling.
"Regardless..."
"I'll help spread your name."
Yun Che looked surprised.
"Really?"
"Of course."
"You're already known."
"The bicycles."
"The park equipment."
"The training machines."
"People recognize your work."
"If the Azure Wolf Consortium recommends you..."
"Customers will trust you even faster."
Jin Wei leaned forward excitedly.
"And while we're travelling, you could make toys."
Yun Che blinked. "Toys?"
"Children exist everywhere. And wherever there are children, there are parents willing to spend money."
His excitement suddenly faded into suspicion.
"Actually, why do you suddenly need money?"
Yun Che took out his notebook and opened it to a marked page.
"I found a cultivation technique."
Jin Wei glanced down. His eyebrows rose.
"Parallel Thought?"
"It would improve almost everything I do. My telekinesis, puppet control, wires, formations—everything that requires me to divide my attention."
Yun Che tapped the description.
"It won't let me control several complicated techniques immediately, but it gives me a path toward doing it."
"And you really want it."
"Very much."
Jin Wei considered the price for a moment.
"I'll lend you the money."
Yun Che looked up immediately. "Really?"
"No interest. You can repay me from whatever we earn during the journey."
"It may take some time."
Jin Wei waved dismissively. "We'll work something out."
Then a familiar sparkle appeared in his eyes—the same sparkle Yun Che had learned to fear.
"I do have one small suggestion."
Yun Che sighed. "Here it comes."
"You remember that puppet you used during your duel?"
"Yes."
"The large black one?"
"What about it?"
Jin Wei clasped his hands together.
"Shrink it."
Yun Che frowned. "Shrink it?"
"Children!" Jin Wei declared triumphantly. "Imagine small wooden versions with movable arms and legs. Mechanical warriors. Collectible statues. Dolls. Different weapons, different armor, festival editions—an entire product line!"
Yun Che stared at him.
"You're using my debt to create another business."
Jin Wei placed a hand over his heart.
"How could you accuse me of such shameless tactics?"
His innocent smile convinced no one.
"I'm merely helping my dear friend earn enough money to repay me."
He paused.
"In exchange for a very small commission."
"Until the debt is repaid?"
Jin Wei looked offended.
"Yun Che, friendship has limits. Business does not."