She Xi Yu’s expression was bitter as he recalled, "When our She Family first arrived in the Southern Border, we attached ourselves to the Wei Family. We had planned to establish ourselves by crafting Silver Armor Talismans, but the Wei Family exploited us terribly. A Silver Armor Talisman that cost one thousand low-grade Spirit Stones to make would only earn us a little over eight hundred Spirit Stones in return. We lost money on every single one we crafted. Later, the Patriarch from two generations ago died from depression, and the art of crafting this Talisman was lost to us."

Hearing She Xi Yu recount the past, Fang Qingyuan was a little surprised. He asked doubtfully, "They didn’t even cover your costs? Who would work for the Wei Family under those conditions? Wei Tong couldn’t have been that foolish, could he?"

She Xi Yu sighed and said helplessly, "Although our She Family could craft the Silver Armor Talisman, we had no cost advantage compared to the other major powers. Outside the Southern Border, this Talisman sells for only a thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. The Wei Family also had no need for them in war for the past hundred years. They had to sell the Silver Armor Talismans to the outside world, so to avoid a loss, they only gave us a little over eight hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. The rest, they said, was a ’channel management fee.’"

After She Xi Yu finished, Fang Qingyuan understood a bit of the Wei Family’s reasoning from back then. Although the She Family could make the Silver Armor Talisman, they were just a small workshop. Their costs couldn’t compete with White Mountain or Nanchu. The Wei Family couldn’t work for free, so their only option was to exploit the She Family.

’Besides, the Wei Family wasn’t at war a hundred years ago. They were protected by the three-generation enfeoffment rule, so Wei Tong didn’t place much importance on the crafting technique for the Silver Armor Talisman, a crucial weapon of war. Rather than supporting the She Family and constantly spending Spirit Stones, it was better to squeeze them for all they were worth and just keep the basic capability on hand.’

’Unfortunately for Wei Tong, he never imagined that a hundred years later, his Wei Family would end up in such a state.’

A trace of melancholy flashed through Fang Qingyuan’s mind, and then he asked the most critical question: "So, what is the She Family’s current production cost? And what advantages do you have compared to the crafting standards for the Silver Armor Talisman in the lands of White Mountain and Nanchu?"

Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s question, She Xi Yu became a little evasive. He said in a low voice, "Right now, it costs about twelve hundred low-grade Spirit Stones to make one Silver Armor Talisman. As far as I know, the cost over at White Mountain is anywhere from seven hundred to a thousand. For the Artifact Talisman Alliance, it’s nine hundred, and for Nanchu, it’s eight hundred."

"So you’re saying it costs the She Family four hundred more low-grade Spirit Stones to make a Silver Armor Talisman than the Nanchu Sect? That’s far too much."

Seeing Fang Qingyuan’s displeased expression, She Xi Yu quickly explained, "It’s more expensive in the early stages. But once our She Family disciples become familiar with the Talisman’s crafting process and we’ve trained enough people, the cost of the Silver Armor Talisman should come down later."

After hearing She Xi Yu’s explanation, Fang Qingyuan’s expression softened slightly. He asked, "What’s the lowest it can go?"

"Around a thousand!"

"Then start preparing. When I return from this trip, we’ll begin manufacturing the Silver Armor Talismans."

"Ah? Thank you, Mountain Master! Thank you, Mountain Master!"

After a beaming She Xi Yu turned and sat back down, Fang Qingyuan picked up his wine cup and toyed with it in his hands. ’The final cost She Xi Yu mentioned is still higher than in other regions, but I’ve decided to support the She Family and get this Silver Armor Talisman workshop up and running anyway.’

’After all, the Silver Armor Talisman is no ordinary talisman. In a real war, a single one could save several lives. It’s better to stockpile more of them now, to avoid having to send Beast Taming Sect disciples to their deaths to fill the gaps when we go to war.’

’Besides, although we can currently buy talismans produced in other regions, it’s better to make our own. If the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect gets into a conflict with another sect, they might refuse to sell to us, and then we’d be completely screwed.’

’In comparison, an extra one or two hundred low-grade Spirit Stones in cost is nothing. I just hope that old fellow She Xi Yu doesn’t disappoint me.’

...

The Southern Border Beast Taming Sect’s military formation stopped at Yuanling Mountain for three days before continuing toward the Wilderness Forest. After another five days of travel, Fang Qingyuan finally reached his destination: a hastily constructed gathering place for Cultivators.

As Fang Qingyuan, riding on Yinbao’s back, led the Beast Taming Array into the settlement, his brow was constantly furrowed.

The ground was covered in filth and stench. Skeletons lay strewn by the roadside. The shacks were a chaotic mess. And then there were the streetwalkers, leaning against door curtains, striking seductive poses at his military formation. All of it displeased Fang Qingyuan.

This settlement was spontaneously established by the numerous Loose Cultivators who came here to strike it rich after the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect conquered the territory.

Years ago, the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect’s Crimson Iron Ore camp was overrun by demon beasts from the forest, and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was even abducted. At that point, Lechuan swallowed his pride and asked Huo Gan to take charge. In one fell swoop, they killed three Golden Core Demon Beasts, drove away the local Nascent Soul Ancient Beast, and seized this eight-hundred-li territory.

However, conquering a territory is easy; governing it is hard. The Southern Border Beast Taming Sect didn’t have enough manpower to populate the newly opened Wilderness Forest with the lives of its disciples.

So, they lifted the restrictions on the area, allowing Loose Cultivators eager to get rich to operate here. The plan was to use these Cultivators, year after year, to transform this eight-hundred-li stretch of Barbaric Wilderness into a semi-developed land.

This strategy of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect was completely out in the open. Even if the Loose Cultivators knew the sect’s intentions, they didn’t care.

Over the past decade, tens of thousands of Loose Cultivators flooded into this area like a wildfire sweeping across the plains, scorching these eight hundred li of land. The Cultivators who died here became fertilizer, nourishing the earth.

But now, it seemed that fire was threatening to die out. So, Fang Qingyuan had come, intending to add some fuel to it.

Walking into the largest shack in the area, Fang Qingyuan looked at the low-hanging crossbeams and said expressionlessly, "Bring them in."

At Fang Qingyuan’s command, seven or eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators were brought before him. Their expressions all changed the moment they saw him.

Inside the shack, Fang Qingyuan sat high in the main seat, a crimson Spirit Bird perched on his shoulder. By his side, a dozen or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators were arrayed to his left and right. Including the various Spirit Beasts beside these Cultivators, the shack now contained the combined might of twenty to thirty Foundation Establishment Battle Powers.

Ordinarily, a single Foundation Establishment Cultivator could enjoy being treated like a lord in this settlement. But now, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had been brought in had lost all of their arrogance.

The Southern Border Beast Taming Sect only permitted those below the Golden Core Cultivator realm to enter this conquered land. Any Golden Core Cultivator who wished to enter needed the sect’s approval.

This meant the strongest combatant here was only at the late-stage Foundation Establishment realm. However, the one who had been at that level, a Loose Cultivator, had already succumbed to demonic corruption.

"Elder Zhang went crazy! We originally thought he was just a bit domineering and eccentric, but who would have thought that half a month ago, Elder Zhang would suddenly rush out of his cave abode, shouting, ’I’ve had an epiphany! I’ve had an epiphany!’ while going on a killing spree. He was already a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and after going mad, his cultivation level actually rose. The dozen or so of us Foundation Establishment Cultivators were no match for him."

One of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators below cried out his grievances to Fang Qingyuan. After speaking, he tore open his robes, revealing a horrifyingly large wound. "I was a bit too close that day, and he ripped out one of my kidneys. If he hadn’t been in such a hurry to gnaw on it, I never would have escaped. Beast Taming Immortal Master, you must avenge me!"

Fang Qingyuan stared at the man’s wound and wondered inwardly, ’Are kidneys really that delicious?’

After that man finished his tearful account, the other Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators also shared their experiences. These were all Cultivators who had faced Elder Zhang that day and managed to survive. However, as Fang Qingyuan looked them over, he noticed they were all missing a few parts, more or less.

Cultivators who succumb to demonic corruption enjoy feeding on other Cultivators. This is because a Cultivator’s physical body is rich in Spiritual Power, making it very nourishing to consume.

’But even if that Elder Zhang has fallen to demonic corruption, why is he so crazy?’

’Huo Hu has been tainted by Demonic Qi for years, and I’ve never seen him clamoring to eat kidneys.’

Faced with the crowd’s laments and their pleading gazes, hoping he would deliver justice for them, Fang Qingyuan was about to say something encouraging. But the next moment, he suddenly froze. He closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.

Fang Qingyuan couldn’t be bothered with the people before him now. Just a moment ago, a series of fluctuations had suddenly emanated from within his Immortal Mansion. The Bee Queen was about to awaken.