Chapter Fifty-Seven: Building a House

When Dao Sansheng awoke, he realized, to his astonishment, that he had broken through to another level. It seemed cultivation required patience and gradual progress; one could not rush it. When the time was right, everything would fall into place naturally—was this not precisely the result before him now?

Zhao Jinqian had kept a constant vigil by the bedside for four days and nights, finally breathing a sigh of relief when Dao Sansheng opened his eyes.

Seeing Zhao Jinqian, the chief manager, at his bedside, Dao Sansheng suddenly recalled something: he had tasked Zhao with a job some time ago, yet had heard no report of its completion.

“How many shops have you acquired so far?” Dao Sansheng asked directly.

Zhao Jinqian, just now emerging from his daze, realized he had never given Dao Sansheng an update.

“I just finished acquiring the last one. Nearly all were bought up on the first day, except for Luo Wanshan’s. He held out, but I finally negotiated an agreement with him—my clerk just reported that he signed the contract, so it’s all settled now.”

“Demolish the entire street for me. Here’s a pouch of puppets,” Dao Sansheng said, handing over a storage sack.

Zhao Jinqian did not quite understand, but he agreed nonetheless.

“If we’re tearing this place down, we’ll need to move,” Zhao Jinqian remarked.

Only then did Dao Sansheng recall that he was currently living in the finest shop on the street.

“Very well. We’ll move—right now.”

A team of puppets carried out the move in an hour, emptying the shops completely. After another two hours, the entire street was reduced to rubble.

Many old residents of Qiuchi City gathered to watch the spectacle, speculating whether a manor was to be built there, or if a wealthy family had made the purchase. But Manager Zhao simply shook his head—he did not know either.

Once the demolition was finished, Dao Sansheng hurried to the outskirts of the city, where two people were resting. He quickly handed them the cement recipe, then brought out more puppets.

According to his plan, construction and production would proceed in tandem, and the project would be completed swiftly—ideally before the Zixian City Trade Conference, allowing for a grand introduction.

Returning to the city, he found the site cleared by the puppets. Dao Sansheng took out his prepared materials and prepared for the next phase.

He unrolled a white blueprint: on the paper appeared a glass house, open from north to south, transparent on two sides—beautiful and pristine.

Zhao Jinqian leaned in for a look, astonished to see such a design. He could hardly imagine a house like this.

There was not enough time to produce glass, but during his search for materials, Dao Sansheng had discovered a lode of transparent mineral. This mineral was tough and durable—he fashioned several slabs, each several square meters in size, so hard that even stones could barely chip them. However, carving them was time-consuming.

Dao Sansheng had already dispatched some puppets to begin the work, and they made swift progress. Within a few days, the steel frame of the building was finished, and cement production was nearly complete. Dao Sansheng visited the mine, found the mineral slabs cut and ready, and packed them into a storage pouch.

By the time he returned, the cement had arrived, and Chao Xiong and Wang Xiaohong had returned as well.

“You two have worked hard; go get some rest. I’ll need you again next week,” Dao Sansheng said, feeling a pang of sympathy at the sight of their fatigued, panda-eyed faces.

After the two transparent slabs were installed at the front and back, the concrete was poured. The process was efficient—within three days, the main structure was complete, and the building’s shape emerged.

People flocked from all over Qiuchi City, never having seen such a tall and striking structure.

“Look at that beautiful building!”

“Yes, I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s simply stunning.”

The city was abuzz with excited conversation, and even people from neighboring Zixian County came to see.

Dao Sansheng was satisfied with the results. The row of buildings featured ten entrances, each opening onto a clear, unbroken view from the ground floor to the twentieth floor—a design feature that allowed people to ascend by flight, distinguishing this mall from all others.

With the main structure complete, Dao Sansheng had Zhao Jinqian gather local carpenters to install wooden partitions inside the mall.

There were two months left before the Trade Conference; the building had to be finished ahead of schedule, and he aimed to complete it within a month.

As time passed, news spread far and wide. Sects across the continent heard tales of a unique building in Qiuchi City, and resolved to visit it during the Trade Conference.

The news made its way back to Dao Sansheng’s sect. In Forgeheaven Valley, images of the building circulated wildly. Tu Tianxiong learned of it immediately.

At Broken Peak, a disciple bowed as he finished delivering the report. Tu Tianxiong watched the images in disbelief. He never imagined that, in less than a year, this fellow could transform the place so thoroughly. Even as a scion of a noble family, he had never seen such things.

“Do the sect leader and elders know of this?” Tu Tianxiong asked.

“Reporting to Young Master, everyone knows. The sect master and elders are delighted. Elder Guo Tianmeng, upon hearing the news, declared that this person is his personal disciple, and after the Trade Conference, a formal apprenticeship ceremony will be held.”

Elder Guo Tianmeng—Tu Tianxiong had heard of him. Once a direct disciple of the previous grand elder, he had ceded the sect leader’s position to the current head and retreated to Fengming Peak, the principal mountain of the sect. The old man was usually elusive, seldom involving himself in sect affairs—why was he intervening now?

Tu Tianxiong frowned, puzzled, when suddenly a voice broke the silence.

“The sect matters have all been reported.”

Tu Tianxiong recalled himself. “You may go.”

He needed to devise a plan to deal with this upstart. Tu Tianxiong went in search of the leaders of the other two factions.

In the gathering place for Forgeheaven Valley’s inner disciples, two young men were playing Go. One wore plain clothes and had an unremarkable face; the other was dressed richly, with extraordinary, almost androgynous beauty—a delicate, graceful kind rather than the usual masculine handsomeness.

The latter picked up a Go stone with slender fingers, hesitated, then placed it on the board. His hands were pale and nimble.

Suddenly, a darkened yellow hand darted onto the board, pointing at five stones. “I win! I win...”

A rough, hearty laugh rang out. The graceful young man covered his ears in exasperation, looking at the crooked line of five stones. He had never won a game against this fellow—unless, as now, it was by cheating.

When the laughter faded, the graceful youth lowered his hands.

“Qian Chuan, I’m done playing. I’m leaving.” He’d long since wanted to go, but had stayed only to win a bit more.

“Zhao Jian, I’ve lost to you so many times—can’t you let me win once? Really, you’re too much. All the resources are in your Tianbao Sect now. Most of Forgeheaven Valley’s elite are from Tianbao, while our Craft Pavilion earns the most for the sect.”

Though the leadership of the two factions had changed hands many times, disputes over resources were common—sometimes erupting into brawls.

“Qian Chuan, my parents are wealthy, my family has cultivation resources. If you’re unhappy, ask your family for more! How many times do I have to say this?”

Just then, Tu Tianxiong entered, saw the two bickering, and strode straight toward them.