ATG : NCF Chapter 9 : Complications (Patreon)

Two and a half years later...

[Soul Power(E): 69/100]

I stared at the notification with a mixture of pride and frustration.

Nearly six years of dedicated cultivation—thousands of hours of meditation and meticulous practice—and still, I remained at E-rank.

The progress had slowed to a crawl, with nine hours of daily practice now yielding less than 0.02% improvement.

Only six months remained until my twelfth birthday.

I can finally begin profound cultivation without risking my future potential and harness the knowledge and resources I'd spent years accumulating.

The anticipation was almost unbearable.

Once I begin profound cultivation, everything will change.

My soul power would finally have a practical application in pill refinement. My alchemical knowledge could finally be put to use.

I rolled up my meditation mat and prepared for my monthly meeting with Bai Ning Ning.

At eleven and a half, I was granted considerably more freedom than most children my age—a benefit of my "genius" reputation and my father's growing preoccupation with grooming Lin Feng for succession.

As I made my way through the capital's busy streets, I reflected on the dramatic evolution of our business empire over the past few years.

Golden Pavilion had expanded beyond my most ambitious early projections.

From a single location in the Blue Wind Empire's capital to an economic force spanning three nations, our growth had been nothing short of extraordinary.

We now operate branches in every population center across Blue Wind Empire, Divine Incense Nation, and Navy Tide Nation—from the grandest cities to the smallest villages.

Each location was tailored to its local economy, with menus and pricing adjusted to maximize sales and profit.

In major cities, our premium establishments served dishes costing hundreds or even thousands of yellow profound coins, catering to wealthy merchants and lower-tier cultivators.

In modest towns, simplified menus offered affordable options for ordinary citizens. Even the smallest villages had access to basic Golden Pavilion items, creating universal brand recognition.

The numbers were staggering: approximately seven hundred million daily customers across all locations. Our daily profit had reached one million purple profound coins, and our monthly revenue surpassed the annual income of major sects and even the Imperial family combined.

My net worth had grown to six hundred million purple profound coins. A fortune that could, theoretically, purchase entire nations.

The Blue Wind Empire's annual government budget was estimated at around 20 million purple profound coins—I could fund it 30 times over and still have reserves.

On Earth, such wealth would have transformed me into a celebrity.

Private islands, luxury estates, media empires—all would have been within easy reach.

But here, I kept it hidden, channeling resources into secure investments.

The teahouse where we held our meetings came into view.

Unlike our business, it remained deliberately unchanged—the same peeling paint, the same worn sign, the same elderly proprietor who recognized me with a nod but asked no questions.

I found Bai Ning Ning in our usual private room, but immediately noticed something was wrong. Her typical composed expression had been replaced by a grave countenance, her brows furrowed with concern.

"What's happened?" I asked without preamble, taking my seat across from her.

She pushed a scroll toward me. "We have a problem."

I unrolled it to find a detailed report of incidents across the Blue Wind Empire. "Explain."

"For the past fifteen days, our branches have been targeted. Initially, just small establishments in remote areas, but the pattern is expanding." Her voice remained steady, but I could detect the underlying tension.

"Money stolen, property damaged, staff intimidated."

I scanned the report. Twenty-seven incidents in fifteen days, escalating in frequency and severity.

"Cultivators?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

She nodded. "Mostly Nascent Profound Realm, working in small groups. They're careful to avoid witnesses and leave minimal evidence. Were it not for our internal security measures, we might have attributed the losses to ordinary criminals."

"Which empire?"

"Only Blue Wind, so far. Our newer operations in Divine Incense and Navy Tide remain untouched."

A hint of bitterness yet relief entered her voice. "Apparently, they still consider us too insignificant there to warrant attention."

I leaned back, considering the implications.

This development wasn't entirely unexpected.

I had prepared for this eventuality—just not quite so soon.

"The financial impact is negligible for now," Bai Ning Ning continued, "but the pattern is clear. They're testing our defenses, escalating gradually. If left unchecked..."

"They'll eventually target our major operations," I finished. "And once they confirm we lack cultivation protection, we'll face coordinated attacks from stronger practitioners."

Her expression confirmed my assessment. In this world, wealth without power was simply a target waiting to be claimed.

"Do we have information on who's behind this?" I asked.

"Nothing definitive, but our intelligence suggests involvement from the Burning Heaven Clan." She hesitated briefly. "They've been expanding their commercial interests recently and view Golden Pavilion as competition."

The Burning Heaven Clan—one of the four major sects of the Blue Wind Empire, known for their aggressive tactics and fire-attribute cultivation.

A formidable opponent, but not an insurmountable one, with the right approach.

"They're testing us," I said, thinking aloud. "Probing for our backing, trying to determine if we're connected to a powerful sect or family."

"And when they confirm we aren't..." Bai Ning Ning left the sentence unfinished.

I smiled faintly, surprising her. "Don't worry. I've anticipated this scenario."

"You have a plan?" Hope flickered in her eyes.

"I've had contingencies prepared since we opened our first branch." I rolled up the incident report and handed it back to her. "This is simply happening sooner than expected."

In truth, I had been preparing for this moment for years.

In a world where power determines justice, businesses without cultivation backing eventually become akin to sheep waiting to be slaughtered once they have grown successful enough.

The fact that we'd operated independently for this long was the true surprise.

"What do you need me to do?" she asked, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly.

"Prepare for a journey. We leave tomorrow morning."

Confusion flickered across her face. "A journey? Where are we going?"

I allowed myself a small smile, feeling the pieces of a long-planned strategy finally clicking into place.

"North," I said simply. "To Frozen Cloud Asgard."

Her eyes widened. Frozen Cloud Asgard—one of the four major sects of Blue Wind Empire, home to the empire's most powerful female cultivators, renowned for their untouchable purity and devastating ice techniques.

"But... they do not like men in their territory, will they even see us? Should I go alone?" she stammered, her usual composure momentarily forgotten.

I gave her a deadpan look, "I'm a child." 

I had spent years researching the sect's history, structure, and leadership. I knew exactly what to offer them—and what they couldn't afford to refuse.

"Pack appropriately for mountain travel," I instructed, rising from my seat. "And bring the special gifts we've been reserving for important connections."

As I left the teahouse and walked back toward the Lin family compound, a sense of anticipation replaced my earlier frustration. 

The timing wasn't ideal—I would have preferred to begin this phase after starting my cultivation—but adaptability was essential in this world.

Frozen Cloud Asgard would provide the perfect solution to our immediate problem.

This was my first contact with a major force and it had to go right.