Following his conversation with Mu Qingyao and Shen Xueyi, Damian returned to his private quarters and began reconsidering his immediate plans.
Originally, he had returned to Shengyuan expecting to confront a desperate military situation, with the Nightmare Corpse Sect threatening to overwhelm the two allied organizations.
Instead, he discovered that the enemy had already suffered catastrophic losses, while the Evergreen and Azure Water sects had established a substantial forward camp deep within hostile territory.
More importantly, the allied leadership had decided against launching an immediate decisive assault.
Their strategy involved gradually destroying the Nightmare Corpse Sect’s remaining strength through sustained pressure, eliminating isolated formations and denying the enemy opportunities to recover.
Although Damian had initially been rather disappointed by the lack of an exciting final battle, he couldn’t deny that the approach was considerably more sensible.
And it also meant he had time!
Well, if those fellows intend to spend the next several days grinding the enemy into dust, there’s no reason I can’t take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen myself!
Damian was currently at Qi Condensation Level 7, having advanced six minor Realms during his previous cultivation session in Valoria.
His perfected Five Elements Spiritual Canon provided an extraordinary foundation for further growth, and his increasingly ridiculous Intelligence and Wisdom made the prospect of reaching Foundation Establishment considerably less intimidating than it would have been for ordinary cultivators.
Furthermore, the Hundred Days of Foundation Establishment quest was still waiting to be completed!
The promised reward, the mysterious Special Power known as <The Sect Master>, was particularly tempting now that Damian had begun considering the establishment of his own organization in Shengyuan.
Naturally, he couldn’t simply abandon his responsibilities and disappear without making suitable arrangements.
There was business to handle first!
......
The following hours witnessed an extraordinarily unusual spectacle outside Damian’s residence.
Groups of disciples from the Evergreen and Azure Water sects arrived in succession, each carrying Storage Bags or accompanied by carts and other transportation equipment.
Under the supervision of their respective Deacons, they collected enormous quantities of goods that Damian continuously withdrew from his Exchange Storage.
Enchanted equipment, medicinal products, refined ores, rare materials and numerous other Valorian commodities were arranged into organized consignments before being transported toward the appropriate sect facilities.
It was an impressive operation!
Even the experienced quartermasters appeared somewhat overwhelmed by the volume of merchandise, especially since many of the goods possessed qualities rarely encountered within the Azure Water Sector.
Damian, however, was in an excellent mood.
"Careful with those crates! The contents are more valuable than the carts you’re carrying them on, and I’d rather not spend the afternoon explaining to your Sect Masters why half their purchases were smashed during transportation," Damian instructed cheerfully, watching several disciples hurry past.
The younger cultivators immediately became more careful, prompting him to nod with satisfaction.
Of course, not every item being distributed represented an immediate cash transaction.
Both sects had already agreed to purchase substantial quantities of merchandise through credit arrangements, allowing their treasuries to settle the outstanding obligations over time.
The relevant Deacons maintained careful records of the goods received, ensuring that neither organization could later become confused about what had actually been delivered.
Nevertheless, Damian also arranged immediate exchanges wherever suitable resources were available.
Spirit Herbs, cultivation materials, precious ores and various goods unique to Shengyuan were particularly attractive to him, especially considering how profitable their counterparts could become after crossing into Valoria.
Before long, the enormous storage capacity he had accumulated through Exchange Storage Logistics IV had been substantially cleared of its commercial cargo.
And that was when Damian began the second phase of his operation!
If the first half of the day involved distributing Valorian goods, the second involved acquiring practically everything valuable that the two sects were willing to sell.
Damian attacked their inventories with the enthusiasm of a starving beast presented with an unlimited buffet!
The Evergreen Sect’s quartermasters barely finished organizing their available Spirit Herbs before Damian began purchasing them in enormous quantities.
The Azure Water Sect’s representatives suffered similar treatment, watching their stockpiles of cultivation materials disappear into the young man’s storage as he exchanged increasingly attractive Valorian products for whatever they could provide.
Naturally, the two sects possessed considerable reserves.
Unfortunately for them, Damian possessed an even greater appetite!
"Come on, gentlemen! Surely that’s not everything your treasuries have available? I’m offering perfectly good enchanted equipment and medicinal products here, so don’t tell me you’ve already run out of things to exchange!" Damian complained with an expression of profound disappointment.
The supervising Deacons exchanged helpless glances.
They had originally been delighted by the opportunity to obtain Damian’s extraordinary foreign merchandise, especially since many of those products could provide enormous advantages to their disciples.
However, the young man’s purchasing enthusiasm was rapidly exhausting the readily available resources they had been authorized to exchange.
And he still wanted more!
Eventually, Damian turned his attention toward the personal collections maintained by the various Qi Condensation Deacons.
Now that was an interesting market!
Unlike ordinary disciples, these senior cultivators had spent years accumulating valuable resources through sect contributions, private expeditions and countless other opportunities. Many possessed impressive personal collections of Spirit Herbs, rare materials and unusual treasures that had never appeared within the official sect inventories.
Unfortunately, they had also developed a remarkable attachment to those collections.
Damian considered that a perfectly solvable problem.
"Hehehe! Elder, why are you hiding those precious materials away when I’ve got something much more useful for you? Come on, bring out your Storage Bag and let’s see what we can arrange!" Damian urged one reluctant Deacon, practically dragging the fellow toward his temporary trading station.
The older cultivator wore an expression of extraordinary reluctance, but his resistance rapidly weakened when Damian displayed several enchanted products that could directly improve his cultivation and combat capabilities.
After a lengthy negotiation, the Deacon finally surrendered several treasures he had been hoarding for years.
In exchange, he obtained merchandise that would ordinarily have been almost impossible to acquire within the Azure Water Sector!
And thus began an extraordinarily peculiar phenomenon.
One after another, Qi Condensation Deacons arrived before Damian carrying their precious private collections, only to depart some time later with expressions that were difficult to describe.
Several had tears lingering at the corners of their eyes.
Yet enormous grins adorned their faces!
Some repeatedly examined their new acquisitions while muttering about the fortunes they had surrendered, while others appeared unable to decide whether they should celebrate or mourn.
Damian found the spectacle absolutely hilarious.
Pffft! Look at these fellows! They’re practically crying over losing their treasures while grinning like they’ve just robbed an imperial treasury!
Of course, the exchanges were entirely voluntary, and Damian made certain that both parties understood the goods involved before completing each transaction.
Nevertheless, his methods were sufficiently enthusiastic that several Deacons began avoiding his gaze whenever he approached, lest he discover some additional treasure they had neglected to mention!
Unfortunately, their attempts at discretion were rarely successful.
Damian had become remarkably adept at recognizing the particular expression of a cultivator concealing something valuable, especially when that cultivator couldn’t stop glancing toward his merchandise.
By the end of the operation, his Exchange Storage had once again become heavily occupied.
Only now, the contents were overwhelmingly Shengyuan products!
Spirit Herbs, rare minerals, cultivation resources and assorted materials filled the space previously occupied by Valorian merchandise, providing him with another tremendous consignment for his expanding commercial network.
Damian inspected the accumulated goods with immense satisfaction.
His enthusiasm wasn’t merely motivated by greed, although he certainly wasn’t going to pretend that acquiring enormous quantities of valuable merchandise was somehow unpleasant.
Back in Valoria, Vivienne had already arranged a massive procurement operation involving numerous suppliers and distributors, with outstanding orders far exceeding the family’s previous trading volumes.
Damian needed to satisfy those demands!
The first major mobilization of his commercial network represented a critical opportunity to establish reliable relationships with suppliers and customers alike.
If he could deliver sufficient merchandise during this initial expansion, future transactions would become considerably easier to organize.
However, if the Baines Family repeatedly failed to satisfy its partners’ expectations, those relationships could deteriorate before they properly matured.
And Damian had absolutely no intention of allowing that to happen!
Good! This should give Vivienne plenty to work with, and once the next Valorian consignment is ready, we can repeat the entire process!
With his commercial objectives satisfied, Damian finally returned to his quarters.
There was one last matter to settle before leaving Shengyuan.
......
Mu Qingyao and Shen Xueyi were naturally surprised when Damian informed them that he intended to return to Valoria so soon.
However, their surprise quickly disappeared once he explained his reasoning.
The allied sects had already established a favorable military position, and the campaign’s gradual nature meant that Damian could afford to devote several more days to personal cultivation.
More importantly, he had previously demonstrated that Valoria possessed unusually favorable conditions for his cultivation methods.
"Husband, if cultivating in Valoria allows you to advance more efficiently, then you should naturally take advantage of it," Shen Xueyi acknowledged, her expression becoming thoughtful.
"The war is proceeding according to the Sect Masters’ plans, and there’s little reason for you to remain here merely to observe developments."
Mu Qingyao nodded in agreement.
"Besides, you’ve already provided our sects with enough resources to keep the quartermasters busy for quite some time. We can handle matters here, so don’t worry about us," Qingyao assured him warmly.
Damian appreciated their understanding, although another thought occurred to him before he departed.
There was something else his two Shengyuan wives needed to know.
"Actually, before I leave, there’s something about my household in Valoria that I should explain properly. I mentioned having other women in my life, but I don’t believe I’ve told you much about them individually," Damian began, settling beside the two beauties.
Naturally, both immediately became attentive.
Damian proceeded to describe the Four Valkyries and how their relationship had developed throughout his adventures in Valoria.
There was Eunice, the compassionate Princess of Rastia whose devotion and responsibilities had initially complicated their relationship.
Paulina, the spirited Wolf Beastwoman whose competitive temperament and extraordinary determination had made her an invaluable companion.
Then came Julia, the beautiful Elven Ranger whose gentle personality concealed considerable courage and an increasingly impressive willingness to stand beside him during dangerous circumstances.
And finally, Janet!
Damian couldn’t help smiling while describing the mischievous little Rogue, whose sharp intelligence and occasionally outrageous behavior had repeatedly complicated his adventures.
He also explained how the four women had supported him through various conflicts, including the dangers encountered in Moonveil and his struggles against enemies far more powerful than ordinary Adept-level combatants.
Naturally, Qingyao and Xueyi were rather interested in hearing about these extraordinary companions.
Although the existence of four additional women was certainly something to consider, neither had entered the relationship under the illusion that Damian intended to maintain an exclusively monogamous household.
More importantly, his descriptions made it increasingly clear that the Four Valkyries weren’t simply beautiful ornaments collected during his travels.
They had fought beside him, supported his ambitions, shared his dangers and chosen to participate in his future.
Qingyao’s expression gradually softened as she listened.
"Then I suppose we owe these four sisters considerable gratitude. They’ve been protecting and supporting our husband while we remained here in Shengyuan," Qingyao observed thoughtfully, a faint smile appearing upon her face.
Shen Xueyi nodded.
"If they have already accepted our existence, then there’s no reason we should reject theirs. We’ll need to meet them eventually, but I see no purpose in creating unnecessary hostility before that happens," Xueyi stated matter-of-factly.
Damian smiled with relief.
The Four Valkyries had certainly expressed their reservations about welcoming women they had never met, but they had accepted his intentions and agreed that the matter could be addressed properly when everyone eventually gathered together.
It was encouraging that Qingyao and Xueyi appeared equally reasonable.
Of course, that didn’t guarantee every future interaction would proceed perfectly.
Six beautiful women with different backgrounds, temperaments and personal expectations would undoubtedly create some interesting situations once they finally met!
Nevertheless, Damian was confident that such difficulties could be resolved with sufficient consideration and communication.
After exchanging affectionate farewells, he finally returned to his private cultivation chamber and activated the Permanent Realm Passage.
The familiar portal appeared before him, connecting the forward camp in Shengyuan to his residence in Valoria.
Damian stepped through without hesitation.
......
Only a single day had passed in Valoria since Damian’s previous departure.
Nevertheless, that apparently insignificant period had been more than sufficient for several important developments to occur!
The moment Damian emerged inside his villa, he extended his Divine Sense outward, intending to locate the Four Valkyries and discover what his beloved women had been doing during his absence.
However, the information returned by his supernatural perception immediately caused his expression to change.
His eyes narrowed, then a cold smile gradually spread across his face.
Oh? What’s all this, then?
Damian took a single step forward and his figure abruptly disappeared, leaving behind only a faint swirl of purple and silver mist that quickly dissipated within the empty chamber.
......
Outside Baines Manor, a considerable crowd had gathered near the estate’s main entrance.
And that crowd was growing larger with every passing moment!
Townspeople, passing merchants and curious onlookers surrounded the open space before the manor, many pointing toward the unusual gathering occupying its entrance.
Their expressions ranged from astonishment and confusion to unmistakable disgust, while hushed conversations spread through the spectators as they attempted to understand what was happening.
Three distinct groups occupied the center of the disturbance.
The first consisted entirely of nonhuman beings, their unusual appearances immediately distinguishing them from Rosewood Town’s ordinary residents.
At their head stood an imposing woman whose upper body resembled that of a beautiful humanoid female, while her lower body possessed the powerful four-legged form of a horse.
Her centaur-like physique was complemented by elegant natural ornaments and an unmistakably otherworldly appearance, giving her the bearing of a formidable forest noblewoman rather than an ordinary Beastwoman.
Her expression was extremely cold.
The woman’s gaze remained fixed upon the people opposing her, while several equally unusual creatures stood behind her with expressions ranging from impatience to open hostility.
Each possessed an unmistakably powerful presence, making it clear that this wasn’t some ordinary traveling delegation.
More interestingly, a familiar Moon Elf stood beside the centaur woman.
Serra!
The silver-haired beauty had folded her arms across her chest, her expression carrying a distinctly smug sense of vindication.
She occasionally glanced toward the Baines Household’s representatives with a look that practically screamed that her previous claims had finally been validated!
The second group consisted entirely of humans.
Unlike the unconventional attire worn by the nonhuman delegation, these individuals were dressed in magnificent white-and-gold garments, their appearance suggesting considerable wealth and social standing.
Leading them was a portly middle-aged man whose expensive clothing did little to conceal his substantial figure.
His round face carried an expression of practiced dignity, but the greedy glint within his eyes was considerably less refined.
Those eyes repeatedly wandered across the people standing before him, displaying a covetousness so poorly concealed that several nearby spectators were openly disgusted.
Standing beside him was a tall, exceptionally thin middle-aged woman wearing a pair of glasses.
Her appearance was considerably more severe than that of her companion, with neatly arranged clothing and a stern expression that suggested she possessed little patience for unnecessary conversation.
She occasionally examined the opposing group through her lenses, her gaze carrying a distinctly calculating quality.
Behind them stood several other regally dressed humans, all maintaining an appearance of considerable self-importance.
And finally, opposing both delegations stood the representatives of the Baines Noble Family!
At their forefront were the Four Valkyries!
Eunice, Paulina, Julia and Janet stood together, their expressions grim as they confronted the two powerful groups occupying the estate’s entrance.
Behind them were the retainers of the Baines Household, their postures equally tense as they faced the combined pressure of the unfamiliar visitors.
The atmosphere was extraordinarily unpleasant.
And with the surrounding crowd growing larger by the moment, the confrontation outside Baines Manor was rapidly becoming impossible to ignore!