Business Opportunity

Chapter 3: Business Opportunity

***2 days later***

'Today I finally finished learning the Yggdrasil's Path cultivation method. That's good, but there's a big problem.'

"Sigh. How troublesome."

Kai just completely absorbed all the information in the Yggdrasil's Path manual 1 hour ago but he was in a dilemma. This cultivation method is a bit special compared to what he knows of normal cultivation methods.

Based on what he knows of cultivation methods, there are grades among them from mortal grade to Earth grade to heaven grade. Each grade is divided into 4 levels namely, low, middle, high, and peak. Long story short, cultivation methods are different from each other but they are generally just breathing methods.

There shouldn't be something like the Yggdrasil's Path cultivation Method.

"Is this method a higher grade than heaven grade methods then?" Kai naturally knew some things about cultivation. At least more than average men. This is because of his father's influence as well as his siblings' involvement with academies and sects. He also has his 2 uncles who developed their own cultivation methods based on their previous background before meeting Zhou Bing — Kai's Father.

"Sigh. I guess that's that. It's not like I can cultivate in any other way. At least with this method, I can become stronger."

With that, Kai got off his bed and clothed himself with simple and fresh commoner robes.

"Uncle Chen, I'll have to use the null elemental crystal in our treasury."

Almost Immediately, a reply behind the door came."Yes Chief. I'll prepare it right away."

"Thank you Uncle."

***At the Village hall. Just beside the Chief's house***

"Chief. Place your hand and insert some Qi into the null elemental crystal and it will show what your elemental affinity is." Wu Chen said calmly while bowing down just like a butler of some high noble. But, deep inside he wanted to just grab Kai's hand and quickly put it on the crystal to know if his nephew did awaken an element.

How could he not be excited?

Wu Chen knew of Zhou Kai's talent which was sadly nonexistent. But, all of those are put to the past as he and Wu Chun witnessed how Kai glowed in greenish light and just broke through a minor realm like it was nothing.

"Ok!" Zhou Kai was enthusiastic. Deep down, he already knew his affinity but, for assurance and convenience, he ought to show how he discovered his affinity.

Just like that, Kai put his hand on the fist sized crystal and willed some of Qi to go into it.

Suddenly, Dark green light shone from the crystal.

No, the null elemental crystal which was almost glass-like and transparent became an emerald crystal.

"Wood Element affinity! Peak grade!" Wu Chen suddenly blurted out. Unable to hide his excitement anymore.

"W-What?!" However, Kai was also surprised. He knew he had wood affinity but not peak wood affinity.

"Chief! Try removing your hand from the crystal!" Wu Chen urged his nephew with a flushed face. Clearly he was excited.

"What? O-Ok." Kai didn't know why but seeing how his normally composed uncle was like this, he followed his request.

After removing his hand though, the crystal did not return to being a null crystal anymore.

It just stayed dark green in color and released a Dark green hue aura. Kai was taken aback because he did not know this could be possible.

Wu Chen has different thoughts though. With a shaky body and voice Wu chen spoke.

"T-This…N-Nephew!"

"W-What is it Uncle?! What is it that you know? Tell me!"

"N-Nephew. Kuhum~ I mean Chief! You have awakened a perfect affinity with the w-wood element." Wu Chen tried to calm himself but to no avail. This news was just too astonishing.

"Perfect?! I'm really a genius!"

Wu Chen's mouth finally twitched due to Kai's narcissistic remark. 'Like father, like son.'

But, having a perfect affinity is no way a small achievement. If you were not considered a genius at this state, you might as well call scholars retards.

Kai was elated. He only heard about this in legends! The Flame emperor and the Saint of the Empire are both known throughout the Dawn Continent. It was said that they had perfect affinities for their element. Sadly, history said that they died during the first years of the appearance of the enemies of the empire from the west side of the Dawn continent.

"Anyway, because of this, you can now make Wood elemental crystals from null elemental crystals. This is how you identify individuals with perfect affinities." Wu Chen said with a bright smile that he usually doesn't have.

"Hmm?!" Wu Chen's voice suddenly interrupted Kai's stupor.

Thinking for a moment, Kai suddenly realized something.

"Uncle, This wood elemental crystal, Can it be sold?"

"Oh!" Wu Chen immediately got what Kai was on about so he thought for a moment and replied. "Hmm. I would say yes Chief. This kind of crystal is highly sought for. An elemental crystal of this grade which is low-grade crystal can usually be sold for 100 gold coins if I am not wrong. But given that it is a wood elemental crystal which belongs to the advanced elements, it might go for more just because of its rarity. Ii would say that…"

Wu Chen continued to mumble about the prizes, where it could be sold and the possible profit, Zhou Kai was in a daze the moment he heard that it could be sold.

'Isn't this a win?'

The reason for this was because of the special way of cultivation that the Yggdrasil's Path method offered.

This method requires Kai to eat.

Yes, eat.

But, not just any grass lying about. It turns out that to advance in his cultivation, he has to eat raw spirit herbs and then digest and refine the Qi and life essence stored in it. After refining, he would send it to every single cell in his body, not into his dantian. Kai did not really know what cells are but he felt he could do it.

Although Cultivators do utilize spirit herbs to reinforce and enhance their cultivation, they do not chew them raw like goats and horses. They extract its essence and refine them into pills.

Kai's method however is to eat first then refine.

At first, he was really hopeless because of the condition he and his Iron beast village was in. His Iron Beast Village was once a prosperous village almost the size of a town but because of the death of Zhou Bing, and because of their location being in the outskirts of the Fox Maple Dukedom, they are having a hard time keeping up.

Villagers often migrate from here to the inner parts of the Dukedom where stronger cultivators are present and therefore safer.

Due to the decline in population, the village cannot survive very well. Income and food become scarce. The only reason this village still survives is because of the advantageous geographical location.

Iron Beast Village is situated atop a high and wide plateau. Its land is also rich in nutrients making the Iron Beast Village popular in agriculture in the past. The plateau is between 2 clean rivers for the water supply and also a source of fish.

This was the primary reason why elders have not abandoned this place. This was their home that they built together with Zhou Bing and his retainers.

Sadly, Zhou Bing and retainers all died during a massive wave of Banshees 2 years ago. Among his loyal retainers, Only his Oath brothers Wu Chen and Wu Chun survived.

'This village is really pitiful. But, now there is hope!'

Kai was naturally elated by this news. He then blurted out.

"Uncle Chen, Is there any more of this null elemental crystal?"

"Having said that we mus- Huh? O-Oh Yes there are 9 left in the treasury." Wu Chen was interrupted by his mumblings.

"Kinda little." Kai complained.

"Y-Yes. Most had been sold off to sustain the village during these 2 years of our decline." Wu Chen replied honestly.

"Sigh. Its inevitable uncle. So, how can we get more?" Kai said with a wide grin on his face. His image was like a suspicious villain.

"Oh!" But Wu Chen instantly knew what Kai meant by this.

"Acquiring null crystal would be easier! This. This could be a great and fast way to gain profit!"

Wu Chen Pumped his fist triumphantly in the air but suddenly a thought came to him.

"But Chief. You shouldn't announce that you could make wood crystals now. In the 40 years of my and Chun's life, we only knew of 1 cultivator with perfect affinity. He made his talent known to the world and he ended up dying young without reaching his peak." Wu Chen's face became sullen.

"Worry not Uncle. I already decided to grow in secret and make our village shine more vibrant than it has ever been before." Zhou Kai patted Wu Chen's back to comfort him.

"Yes Chief. So will you still enter the business of selling elemental crystals?"

"Naturally. I'll leave the important details to you uncle. What I need is a supply of null crystals of any grade. We will also need a supply of spirit herbs of any grade that we can afford. Use the remaining money on the treasury." Zhou Kai blatantly gave out his orders to his trusty Uncle Chen. As the Chief for 2 years now, he knew how to work easy and diligent in this field. Just give out important orders and your lackey's will do it for you.

Basically, just live like every King and Emperors. Know the problem, then try to solve it

"Will do. But what are the herbs for?" Wu Chen thought for a moment but couldn't get why Kai needed herbs.

After thinking, Kai replied in half truth. "I need it for my cultivation method."

"Is that so? Then I wouldn't pry deeper about this."

"Thank you Uncle." Zhou Kai then turned his back and planned to go back home to study the other booklet but a thought suddenly emerged in his mind.

"Oh Uncle, do you have reports for me?"

"Ah! Yes. Red Sparrow Village had fallen 2 days ago. Even old Wang had evacuated." Wu Chen's mood was now like a widow left by her husband with no child support.

"Red Sparrow old man? Sigh. That means our village is the last in the southern outskirts." Zhou Kai's usual demeanor of being optimistic and narcissistic can't be seen. He looked up at the sky, reminiscing. He looked like a top scholar or a noble senior if not for his commoner robes.

"Uncle Chen. find loyal partners for our new business. I'll cultivate."

"Yes Chief. I'll see myself out. Remember to not disclose anything that happened here." Wu Chen quickly left.

"Sigh. lets go cultivate!"

Zhou Kai was no idiot that would just sit by and wait for Banshees to come and collect debts. What he needs is strength! Strength to fight for his and his village's survival.

"Hmm? Speaking of…" His sad face suddenly crunched up like someone who hit their toenail in a desk's feet.

'Aren't I in danger here?!'

'I'm not a dry stick anymore! I'd be a banshee delicacy! No. There are still 2 months till the first snow. I can be at least strong enough to last 3 months fighting off Banshee summon passers by, right?