Fairy, don't go! I have a mod.

Having followed his master for so many years, he knew all too well what that one word, "hmm," meant.

If his master hadn't blamed him, he would have said, "It's good that you're back," or gently said, "You must have had a hard journey..."

This time, there was only one thing... well, that is, he was unhappy... but he couldn't show it in front of all the elders...

Oh no... I hope they don't hang me up and beat me up later...

He silently calculated in his mind that his trip had indeed delayed him for some time, and he would have to think of a way to appease his master later...

However, this was not the time to think about that. The attention of everyone in the hall quickly returned to the important matter, and Mu Tianmiao stood quietly to the side, intending to listen first.

The elders on both sides had no objection to him listening in.

Firstly, he is the sect leader's personal disciple, so his status speaks for itself.

Secondly, his cultivation level was already close to the Nascent Soul stage, not much different from the elders present.

In the cultivation world, strength speaks volumes. He is able to stand in this hall because of his true abilities and cultivation.

Furthermore, he had an excellent reputation within the sect, and no one wanted to cause him trouble.

"metropolitan."

A female cultivator with a gloomy expression stepped forward, holding a ledger in her hand, her tone heavy.

"In recent years, the sect's output of spirit stones has been consistently at a loss."

Li Xizhao's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

The female cultivator continued speaking.

"Last year, the sect's total income was equivalent to 420,000 spirit stones, but all expenses added up to 510,000."

"Maintaining the grand formation alone cost 80,000 spirit stones, purchasing pills cost 120,000, disciples' salaries cost 180,000, and there are also repairs to each peak, subsidies for disciples going out, and spirit beast feeding... Every item is increasing..."

“I’ve calculated it. If this trend continues, the sect’s spirit stone reserves will be depleted in less than thirty years. At that time, we won’t even be able to pay the disciples’ salaries.”

After she finished speaking, she closed the ledger and sighed.

No sooner had he finished speaking than another elder took over the conversation.

"The production of Immortal Shadow Dew has always been the sect's most important source of income, accounting for 70% of the total revenue."

"But in recent years, Xianluquan's production has reached its limit, and expanding production is impossible."

"However, expenses have been increasing year by year, and it is really difficult to sustain relying solely on Fairy Shadow Dew."

"I have considered refining weapons and selling them."

Another elder spoke up.

"But our sect is not known for its weapon crafting. The quality of the items we make is generally low, and they don't fetch a good price in the market."

"The same goes for pills. The sect doesn't even have enough pills for its own use, so how can it have any surplus to sell to others?"

"Could we cultivate a few more spirit fields?"

“To cultivate spirit fields, you need to set up a spirit-gathering array, which requires spirit stones to operate. Spirit stones are already scarce, so isn’t this a vicious cycle?”

"Could we reduce the allowance for disciples going out for training?"

"If we cut the price any further, no one will be willing to go out. Exploring secret realms is an important channel for sects to obtain resources."

"How about raising the price of the sect's Immortal Shadow Dew?"

"I've mentioned it once already, and if I mention it again, all the regular customers will leave... If they all leave, will you come and buy from me..."

Everyone chimed in, creating a noisy commotion in the main hall.

Li Xizhao sat in the main seat, his expression visibly growing numb.

She has lived for nearly a thousand years, progressing from Qi Refining to Deity Transformation. She has killed countless demons and monsters, proving her Dao with strength and breaking through all laws with a single sword strike. She has always been decisive and efficient.

Now, sitting in this grand hall, listening to talk about the deficit of spirit stones, the distribution of salaries, the management of assets, and the reduction of expenses, every word felt like a tight headband drilling into her brain.

She suddenly realized that compared to these things, the nine heavenly lightning bolts she endured when she was undergoing the tribulation of becoming a god were nothing.

I should have known better than to set up this sect.

When she broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, the world was shaken and people from all directions came to offer their congratulations.

According to the conventions of the cultivation world, powerful cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul stage must establish their own sects and pass on their lineage.

At the time, she thought it was a good thing: to establish a sect, take in a few disciples, and pass on all her knowledge. That would be a meritorious deed.

The results of it?

The sect was established, disciples were recruited, and the lineage was passed down.

But this also meant providing food, drink, and sanitation for over a thousand people.

The spirit fields must be managed, spirit stones must be earned, salaries must be paid, and leaky main halls must be repaired.

If disciples fight, they should be punished; if a neighboring sect occupies a spirit mine, the sect should intervene and negotiate.

Which one can be solved with a sword?

A thousand years of cultivation, and in the end, a group of elders surround you in the main hall discussing how to save money. What kind of situation is this?

Li Xizhao's temples throbbed. He took a deep breath and swept his gaze across the crowd in the hall.

Her gaze passed over the arguing elders and landed on Mu Tianmiao, who was standing in the corner.

The kid had been standing there quietly since earlier, without saying a word.

She narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "Mu Tianmiao."

Will I get beaten for giving my master a dual cultivation technique in Chapter 5?

"Mu Tianmiao".

Upon hearing his master call his name, Mu Tianmiao quickly looked up, took a step forward, and bowed in response.

"The disciple is here."

Li Xizhao sat upright in the main seat, her flowing, wide-sleeved fairy dress cascading down like water, the hem embroidered with the flowing cloud patterns of the Immortal Shadow Sect in dark thread.

The layers of light gauze piled up to create a misty, ethereal texture, making her look like a fairy in the clouds.

This dress was designed for his master when he first joined the sect, but Li Xizhao said it was too flashy.

As a result, he wore it for decades, and he couldn't bear to wash it, only using magic to cleanse it of dust again and again.

She wore a simple white jade hairpin in her hair, with a twin lotus flower carved on the head. The lines were simple and smooth, and the hairpin was warm and smooth.

That was brought back by Mu Tianmiao when he first explored the secret realm alone decades ago. It wasn't of high quality, but it was unique.

He presented it to his master like a precious treasure, but Li Xizhao simply said it was alright.

Then the next day I put it in my hair, and from then on I wore it almost every day.

These details were nothing new to the elders in the main hall.

The sect leader's doting on this disciple is something that everyone in the Immortal Shadow Sect can see.

At this moment, Li Xizhao parted his thin lips slightly, his voice cool and carrying a hint of business.

"How was your trip to the secret realm?"

Mu Tianmiao perked up and began to report.

"Reporting to Master, this disciple has gained quite a lot this time. I killed a dragon that was about to transform into a dragon and obtained its complete corpse, which was of peak Golden Core stage quality and was full of treasures."

The elders in the hall nodded slightly. A dragon at the peak of the Golden Core stage was indeed rare and could fetch a good price in the market.

If an elder skilled in crafting weapons were to step in, they could even forge several spiritual artifacts.

Mu Tianmiao continued.

"There are still many spiritual fruits and seeds in the secret realm. I have picked them all and will give them to the spirit fields to see if they can be transplanted."

"There are also some miscellaneous materials, which I will compile into a booklet and present to Master for review later."

Li Xizhao nodded slightly; all of this was within his expectations.

As Mu Tianmiao was speaking, her mouth beat her brain faster than she thought.

"There's also a top-tier cultivation manual... no... um..."

As soon as he said it, the corner of his mouth began to twitch.

Done!

It just slipped out of my mouth!

The Yin-Yang Harmony Technique was extracted by the system and is now lying peacefully in his sea of ​​consciousness!

He could recite it from memory if his master wanted to see it, but the content... the methods of dual cultivation, the complementarity of yin and yang, entering the Dao through emotion, and proving truth through desire...

"A top-tier cultivation technique?" Li Xizhao raised an eyebrow slightly.

The elders in the hall all turned their gazes toward them.

The top-tier cultivation techniques that can be found in the Golden Core stage secret realm are often the inheritances left by ancient powerful beings. Such things are extremely rare and hard to come by.

For a moment, the entire hall was filled with curious gazes.

"Such a cultivation technique exists in the Golden Core stage secret realm?"

Li Xizhao was clearly interested and reached out his hand.

"Let me see it."

Mu Tianmiao's face was bitter, and he stood still.

"Ok?"

Li Xizhao narrowed his eyes slightly.

With a heavy heart, Mu Tianmiao took out a blank jade slip from his Qiankun bag and imprinted the contents of the cultivation technique in his sea of ​​consciousness into it.

The movements were slow and sluggish, as if they were sculpting a masterpiece.

But no matter how long you dawdle, the content of the technique is limited, and it will be finished in a few breaths.

He held the jade slip in both hands, walked forward step by step, and respectfully handed it to his master.

Then he quickly took three steps back, ready to run out of the main hall at any moment!

The expected anger did not materialize.

Li Xizhao placed the jade slip on her forehead, probed it with her divine sense, and put it down after a moment, a strange look flashing in her beautiful eyes.

It was an expression that Mu Tianmiao couldn't quite understand.

Li Xizhao raised her head and glanced at him.

This glance sent chills down Mu Tianmiao's spine, but he stubbornly refused to look away, maintaining the respectful expression befitting a disciple.

“…This cultivation technique.” Li Xizhao spoke, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

"That's interesting. I'll go back and study it carefully."

Mu Tianmiao breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Whether his master genuinely thought the technique was useful or was simply saving face for him in front of all the elders in the hall, he had at least passed this test.

He quickly lowered his head, adopting a humble and obedient demeanor.

Li Xizhao put the jade slip into his sleeve, his face regaining its usual coldness, and his gaze swept over the elders in the hall.

"I already know about the spirit stones. You should also consider the opinions of your disciples. Some of them come from merchant families and are better at business than we are. Perhaps they have some ideas."

The elders all agreed.

Li Xizhao stood up, her flowing, wide-sleeved dress billowing like ripples on water. Her gaze fell on Mu Tianmiao, her tone calm yet brooking no refusal.

"Mu Tianmiao, come with me."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the back of the hall.

Mu Tianmiao's expression tightened.

Calling someone away separately is no longer official business. The score for that "uh-huh" from earlier will likely be settled now.

He took a deep breath and, amidst the sympathetic or gloating gazes of the elders, steeled himself and followed.