In the ruins of the Wang family estate, Wang Xiong cradled the mangled remains of his child, his face appearing decades older in an instant.

"Yang'er, your father is useless... I failed you..."

Though his clan had been annihilated and his son brutally taken from him, Wang Xiong did not utterly break. His resolve was exceptionally firm, and more importantly, he still had a younger son currently cultivating within a sect.

Because that child had been taken away to cultivate, he had been spared from the horrific calamity of the Beast Tide.

This boy was now the sole beacon of hope left in Wang Xiong's heart. As long as his younger son could cultivate smoothly and attain success on the immortal path, the roots of the Wang family would endure.

Before long, the Wangchao dynasty dispatched troops alongside a newly appointed town chief to Baishi Town to oversee the reconstruction efforts.

The new town chief, named Gao Hui, was at the peak of the fifth level of Qi Gathering and had just reached thirty years of age.

On the second day after his arrival in Baishi Town, he paid a formal visit to the Yang family.

When he observed that the entire Yang family estate was functioning in perfect, orderly succession from top to bottom, his estimation of Yang Guanfeng increased significantly.

"To orchestrate such a swift recovery without the local populace falling into despair-this family head's methods are truly profound!"

Yang Guanfeng personally received him in the main meeting hall.

Upon meeting him in person, Gao Hui was momentarily taken aback, but he reacted instantly, cupping his hands in polite congratulations.

"Congratulations, Family Head Yang! You have broken through to the sixth level!"

"Thank you, Town Chief Gao. Please, be seated so we may converse."

Gao Hui took his seat as invited. Though his expression remained composed, his mind was racing with calculated thoughts.

According to the intelligence he had received before taking office, Yang Guanfeng was only at the fifth level of Qi Gathering. Now, however, the man had advanced to the sixth level.

With this development, the dynamic and standing between the Yang family of Little Pine Mountain and the neighboring two towns would completely shift.

With that realization, his demeanor grew considerably more respectful.

"To what do I owe the honor of Town Chief Gao's visit?" Yang Guanfeng inquired.

Although he could already guess the official's intent-which was undoubtedly to request the Yang family's wealth and labor to assist in rebuilding Baishi Town-such a request had to be voiced by Gao Hui himself.

Seeing that the family head was waiting for him to speak, Gao Hui did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point. "To be entirely frank, I have come to request Family Head Yang's assistance in reconstructing Baishi Town."

Gao Hui immediately followed with a set of concessions.

Should the Yang family provide aid, they would be granted their choice of three prime commercial storefronts in the rebuilt town, fully exempt from all taxes for the next thirty years.

Hearing this, Yang Guanfeng merely offered a light smile without giving an answer. Gao Hui immediately understood that his current offer was insufficient to move the cultivator.

Storefronts within a mortal town were nothing more than secular assets. It seemed this family head's gaze was fixed on higher matters.

Gao Hui sipped his tea, turning the matter over in his mind.

Yang Guanfeng did not press him, quietly keeping him company over the tea.

As a formally registered Wangchao cultivator, although Gao Hui's cultivation realm was modest, his official status granted him various privileges that ordinary cultivators could never possess.

And it was precisely these administrative privileges that Yang Guanfeng desired.

Unlike Xu Guang, that old fox who cared for nothing but immediate profit, Gao Hui was still young. Rebuilding Baishi Town was a stellar achievement delivered directly to his doorstep. If the town regained its prosperity under his watch, it would serve as undeniable proof of his leadership.

If he executed this duty flawlessly and leveraged the Yang family's deep cooperation for a few years, he might very well secure a Promotion Permit and advance to a lucrative post elsewhere.

Therefore, he was not short-sighted about minor material gains; instead, he focused entirely on how to generate substantial results here to pave the way for his future ascension.

"Greetings, Ancestor. Greetings, Town Chief Gao."

At that moment, Yang Lingrui walked into the meeting hall. After greeting the two elders, he stepped forward to gracefully refresh their tea.

Upon seeing this young cultivator of the Yang family, Gao Hui was first startled, and then a wave of sudden understanding washed over him.

He was startled because this youth had already attained the second level of Qi Gathering at such a tender age. In the future, achieving the Condensed Origin realm was well within his reach.

With such a prodigy in their ranks, it was only a matter of time before the Yang family elevated themselves into a prominent cultivator clan.

What he understood, however, was that Yang Guanfeng had deliberately allowed Yang Lingrui to appear to signal exactly what the Yang family sought.

"I see. Family Head Yang, this youth is truly exceptional-a pillar of your clan's future."

Gao Hui continued, "Let us do this. Though my rank is low and my authority limited, as the overseer of a town, I hold a small number of recommendation slots for the local sects. If Family Head Yang is willing to aid me in the reconstruction of Baishi Town, then when the Myriad Transformations Sect opens its doors to recruit disciples in ten years, I shall personally recommend one of your Yang family descendants. How does that sound?"

"Deal!"

Yang Guanfeng agreed without the slightest hesitation.

With their consensus reached, the finer details were swiftly negotiated and settled.

Elder Yu would lead two hundred laborers to Baishi Town to assist with the physical reconstruction, and the Yang family would bear half of all material costs incurred during the rebuilding process.

This arrangement effectively positioned the Yang family as the primary investor behind Baishi Town.

For Gao Hui, who had only just assumed office, this backing was incredibly well-timed. With the absolute support of the Yang family, he would be able to finalize the reconstruction well ahead of the timeline mandated by his superiors.

"Thank you for your resolute support, Family Head Yang. In truth, apart from the reconstruction of the town, there is one more matter I must bring to your attention."

"Please speak, Town Chief Gao."

"This Beast Tide was massive in scale, and countless Demon Beasts emerged from the wilds. Given the Yang family's formidable strength, you must have slain a considerable number of them."

Gao Hui explained, "Before I departed to take up my post here, the higher-ups issued a decree stating that the Wangchao intends to purchase these Demon Beast carcasses."

"Oh? There is such an initiative?"

Hearing this, Yang Guanfeng's interest was instantly piqued.

As established, for a cultivation family like the Yangs, a Beast Tide brought immense peril but also monumental opportunities.

The first opportunity was the chance to anchor themselves firmly through combat, building prestige within the region to attract greater numbers of mortals.

The second lay in the fact that the bodies of slain Demon Beasts were highly valuable commodities.

From their pelts, flesh, and blood to their internal organs and bones, every single part had a practical use in cultivation and could be exchanged for a substantial amount of Spirit Crystals.

Previously, the Yang family had entirely emptied their treasury to purchase the defensive protective formation. Now, by capitalizing on these Demon Beast carcasses, they could replenish a significant portion of their depleted reserves.

This was another distinct advantage of establishing their estate outside the town walls: as long as a clan possessed the martial strength to withstand the tide, every beast they slaughtered belonged entirely to them.

In contrast, the families residing within the town borders received only meager rewards from the authorities after defending the walls, while the lion's share of the materials was claimed by the Wangchao.

"May I ask what pricing the Wangchao is offering?" Yang Guanfeng inquired.

This was a vital point. If the compensation was too low, he would refuse to sell, regardless of the Wangchao's involvement.

Gao Hui pressed his five fingers tightly together. "Seventy percent of the current market value at the Fish Ridge River Market. Furthermore, we will accept whatever quantity you possess."

"Very well. When will the collection take place?"

Yang Guanfeng nodded, closing the deal immediately.

"Within a month at most, designated officials will descend to handle the transfer. I shall contact you the moment they arrive, Family Head Yang."

"Excellent. I shall leave the arrangements in your hands, Town Chief Gao."

With their business concluded, the two exchanged a few courteous pleasantries before Gao Hui took his leave.

Yang Guanfeng returned to the family's Restricted Grounds and shared the details of the agreement with the gathered elders and juniors.

"It is my first time hearing of the Wangchao conducting such a large-scale acquisition, but this is undeniably a fortunate turn of events for our family," Elder Yu remarked with a nod.

"Only seventy percent? Doesn't that mean our Yang family is forfeiting thirty percent of our rightful profits?"

Yang Linghu asked, his brow furrowing in confusion upon hearing the terms.

Noticing his bewilderment, Yang Lingqing stepped forward and gestured toward the courtyard to the side.

"Linghu, take a look at that mound of Demon Beast carcasses."

Yang Linghu turned his gaze toward the side courtyard of the Restricted Grounds, where the corpses of the slain beasts were piled high like a small mountain.

"I see them. What of it?"

"Even with Elder Yu's swift footwork, it takes three full days of travel to reach the Fish Ridge River Market. For cultivators of our level, it would take closer to five days."

Yang Lingqing explained in a measured, patient tone, "Our family currently possesses no Spatial Items. We would have to haul these carcasses from our estate to the market batch by batch, manual load by manual load. Every single time we pass through the market gates, we must pay an entry fee. Furthermore, traveling across the wilderness with such a massive bounty of beast materials would inevitably draw the attention of rogue cultivators and bandits. The time consumed and the dangers faced along the road are all hidden costs embedded in selling these materials ourselves. If we were to encounter a robbery and lose a portion of the cargo, it would result in completely pointless losses."

Hearing this, Yang Linghu finally understood the broader picture. He slapped his hand against his forehead in sudden realization.

"I see it now! If we were to sell them at the market ourselves, once you factor in all the travel expenses, entry fees, and potential losses along the way, the actual profit we would pocket wouldn't even amount to seventy percent of their gross value!"