The weeks bled into a month, and the raw, chaotic energy of conquest in the Ironmaw Range was replaced by the steady, prosperous hum of commerce. Traveler's Rest was no longer just a name on a blueprint like when they first started; it was a thriving, vibrant town, a beacon of stability and opportunity.
This sudden, explosive prosperity, however, did not go unnoticed. While the larger, more established sects were now staunch allies, the northern demonic territories were filled with countless smaller, opportunistic sects. They heard of a new, wealthy town run by an unknown merchant guild, guarded by nothing more than defeated bandits. They did not hear about the sovereigns.
One evening, a coalition of three such sects—the Black Vulture Sect, the Crimson Fang Cult, and the Stone Maw Clan—launched a surprise attack on a large, outgoing caravan laden with precious ores.
The attack was a chaotic, bloody affair. The caravan, guarded by twenty of Xylia's newly trained White Paw mercenaries, was hit hard. But the attackers, expecting a swift victory, were met with a wall of steel and ferocity. The White Paw warriors fought as a coordinated pack, their defensive formations holding firm against the initial overwhelming numbers.
The alarm was sounded. In the Guild's headquarters, Fat Pig, who was gleefully reviewing the day's profit ledgers, slammed his fist on the table, his face turning a furious, mottled red.
"Insolent fools!" he roared, a terrifying echo of his Bandit King days. "They dare to steal from my caravans? Big Brother, we must crush them! We must grind their bones to dust and take everything they own!"
Kui, who was sitting opposite him, simply took a calm sip of his tea. A cold, shrewd light gleamed in his ancient eyes. "Patience, little brother," he said, his cheerful voice now devoid of all warmth. "A wild beast must first be allowed to fully commit to its trap before the steel jaws snap shut. You have learned the art of profit. Now, you will learn the art of war."
He gave a series of calm, precise orders. The gates of Traveler's Rest were sealed. The town's defensive arrays were activated. And from the White Paw keep, Xylia herself emerged, leading thirty warriors, their movements a silent, deadly river of black armor and cold steel.
The battle was a slaughter. The attacking demonic sects, their attention focused entirely on the caravan, were suddenly hit from the rear by Xylia and her pack. At the same time, Kui and Fat Pig appeared on the battlefield, their Core Formation auras descending like two separate mountains.
Fat Pig, in a roar of pure, greedy fury, charged into the fray. He fought in his portly human form, his fists and feet a blur of motion, each blow carrying the crushing weight of his true cultivation, his movements surprisingly agile as he smashed through the enemy ranks. Kui was more direct; with a casual wave of his hand, he unleashed a devastating blast of concussive water energy that sent an entire flank of the enemy flying.
The bandits, caught in a pincer, completely broke. Their coalition shattered into a terrified, fleeing mob.
The next morning, Kui sat with a bruised but triumphant Fat Pig, looking over the spoils of war. "A fine battle, little brother," Kui said approvingly.
"It's not enough!" Fat Pig snarled, his eyes gleaming with a vengeful, greedy light. "They attacked us! We should go to their homes and take everything! It is only fair!"
Kui let out a hearty, booming laugh. "An excellent idea! An attack on our business cannot go unanswered. It is a matter of sending a message."
For the next week, Fat Pig was a demon of vengeance and commerce unleashed. He led a punitive expedition, visiting each of the three offending sects. He did not slaughter the common disciples. He simply walked into their main halls, defeated their remaining elders with contemptuous ease, and, with a cheerful grin that was a perfect imitation of Kui's, looted their entire treasury.
He returned to Traveler's Rest a week later, his storage rings overflowing, the coffers of the Golden Shell Guild now bursting with the wealth of three liquidated sects. After that, there were no more attacks. It was then known in the region that the Golden Shell Company shouldn't be messed with.
With the region now truly, utterly pacified, Li Yu knew his work here was done. On his final evening, he summoned his retainers to his private chambers. The five of them gathered, a council of beings whose collective power could have flattened the entire mountain range.
"The foundation is laid," he began, his voice calm and steady. "The time has come for me to return to my own seclusion. The management of our enterprises now falls to you."
He turned his gaze first to Kui. "Guild Master Kui. You are the heart of our commercial empire. You will oversee the grand strategy for the company. I leave the direction of our growth in your capable hands. Continue to forge alliances, expand our trade routes, and let the river of spirit stones flow."
"Rest assured, Wise Host!" Kui boomed, his fawning smile full of a deep, genuine confidence. "This old turtle will build you an empire of wealth that will be the envy of every merchant in this world! Our banners will fly in every major port!"
Li Yu then looked at Xylia. "Commander Xylia. Your pack has been forged in the fires of discipline and battle. They are the shield that protects our interests. The Maelstrom's Eye will be a fine base of operations for you to begin developing our forces. Use its natural defenses to create an unbreachable fortress.
From there, your White Paw Company will have unparalleled access to the untamed wilderness and the deep seas. Hunt the most powerful beasts, gather the rarest materials, and ensure that our sword is the sharpest and most feared in all the lands."
"The Paw will be a weapon worthy of your hand, Master," Xylia stated, her voice a low, rough rumble. "Our fangs will be sharp, and our claws will be ready. No one will threaten what is ours."
His gaze then fell upon Fat Pig. "Vice Guild Master. For now, your knowledge of these lands is needed here. Solidify Traveler's Rest, ensure its prosperity is unshakeable. Once the foundation is truly set, you will rejoin Guild Master Kui. You two will be the twin pillars of our Guild's management, splitting up only when necessary to handle our growing empire. Learn everything you can from him."
"Big Brother and the Wise Host have shown me the true path to wealth!" Fat Pig declared, bowing so low his portly belly nearly touched the floor. "This Fat Pig will not fail! This town will be a mountain of pure gold!"
Finally, Li Yu looked at his two newest retainers. "Fengliu. Your Whispering Wing Pavilion is a crucial and difficult venture. From your bases here and in Coralspire, you will weave your web of secrets. Your primary task remains unchanged: find any and all information regarding the Molten Heart Colossus, the shattered moon ruin, and the mysterious, cloaked human who links them both. Find the threads of this conspiracy. You will have unlimited resources and the full support of all our branches. You are our eyes. See everything."
Fengliu's elegant, sky-prince form gave a deep, respectful bow. "The shadow you hunt will be found, Master. I will not rest until every one of its secrets is laid bare before you."
He then turned to Cyra, his expression softening slightly. "And you, Cyra. You will return with me to the Green Mountain Sect, there might be things that I need you to do there."
A look of quiet, serene gratitude passed through her silver eyes. "As you command, Master."
The transfer of authority was complete. The finality of the moment hung in the air. Li Yu had set the pieces on the board, and now he was stepping away, trusting his powerful, loyal subordinates to play the game.
The next morning, there was no grand, public farewell. In a secluded valley on the edge of the range, Li Yu's retainers gathered to see him off. The townsfolk knew only of the powerful Guild Master Kui and the fierce Commander Xylia; the quiet young man who was the true master remained a secret, just as he wished. There were no grand speeches, no tearful goodbyes. There was only the quiet, profound understanding between a master and his most trusted retainers.
Li Yu and Cyra stood alone as he summoned his transport. A shimmering, watery portal opened, and Tempest, the magnificent Skyshroud Leviathan, rose into the air, his presence a symbol of a return to normalcy, a return to the quiet path.
Li Yu and Cyra leaped onto the great beast's back. With a powerful, silent beat of his massive flukes, Tempest rose into the sky, piercing the clouds and turning southeast, towards the distant, familiar green of home.
As they soared through the heavens, leaving his new, burgeoning empire behind, Li Yu looked down at the world scrolling by below. He had faced down arrogant sects, dueled with others, explored ancient ruins, take part in a trail, and toppled a tyrant. He had gained new, powerful allies, a vast fortune in resources, and a profound, new understanding of his own soul. His life had been irrevocably changed.
He was getting to see more of this vast world and partake in events he never would have dreamed of before. This was all possible because he had strength, power. In the world of cultivation that was everything, the one with the bigger fist generally got what they wanted.
But as he flew towards the quiet, peaceful valley that was his only true home, he did not feel the ambition of an emperor or the restlessness of a conqueror. He felt a deep, profound, and utterly satisfying sense of contentment. He was not a king who sat on a throne. He was a quiet gardener who had just planted a new, sprawling, and ferociously well-defended forest. And now, he could finally go home and tend to his own, private pond and grow quietly.