Henry Parker gave an awkward dry laugh. “Just kidding, just kidding. I heard from a senior vampire that there’s an organization in England called BBL. It’s got all kinds of people—Light Priests from the Church, Paladins, even a Cardinal, I think. Plus, our vampire clan and some black wizards are involved too. I really don’t know how they get along.”

“There’s nothing strange about that. Driven by profit, even mice and cats can work together! By the way, disciple! Don’t tell me this is the lousy idea you came up with!” James Clark slowly sipped his tea.

“Of course not. Actually, we could go gambling. With Master’s abilities, wouldn’t money just fall into our hands?”

James Clark shook his head and said, “That’s not a good idea either. I heard back when I was in the antique business that some casinos in Macau have a few Southeast Asian sorcerers holding down the fort—they’re not to be messed with. Right now, we’re weak and alone, so it’s best not to stir up trouble. Heh, if I reach the Nascent Soul stage and refine a few more treasures with Samadhi True Fire, then the world would be ours to roam.”

“I never said we had to go to Macau! Heh, Master, since it’s so hard to make it in China, why don’t we go to Las Vegas in America? It’s a real mix of people there, plenty of powerful outsiders, and the money flows like water. We could win a few hundred million dollars, come back and start a company—wouldn’t that be even better? Besides, even if we robbed someone there, it wouldn’t be a big deal!”

“That’s actually a good idea. I just wonder if there are any tough characters in America? Hmph! Why worry so much? If a cultivator is afraid of this and that, what’s the point of cultivating? Once I have money and build my own power, that’ll be a comfortable life. Always hiding myself isn’t a solution. Besides, with such a treasure in hand, my power will increase sooner or later. Even now, as long as I don’t fight head-on, with my ‘Sword Qi Soaring to the Sky’ technique and flying sword treasures, especially the formations of our Artifact Refining Sect, as long as I don’t run into someone at the Nascent Soul level, I shouldn’t suffer any real losses.” James Clark calculated silently.

“All right, let me get ready. We’ll set off in three months. Once we have money and build our own power, you’ll have the strength to win your Jenny back! We’ll wipe out that Locke family or whatever—they’re not even Chinese. I still have to consider the Daoist sects in China, but as for foreigners, we can do whatever we want!” James Clark made up his mind, and instead cheered Henry Parker up, making him extremely excited.

Chapter 004: The Return of Mount Shu

Three months was just enough to review his cultivation and see what treasures he could use. James Clark knew that fighting would be inevitable once he went out, so it was best to be well prepared.

Dozens of miles from the city, there were a few elegant little mountains. The spiritual energy wasn’t especially dense, but it was still much better than today’s increasingly polluted cities. James Clark often came here to relax. He brought Henry Parker and picked an extremely hidden valley. Using his flying sword, James Clark carved out a small cave, set up several concealing formations, and used a few large stones covered in talismans drawn with cinnabar to form a primitive Taiji diagram at the entrance. This was to absorb the essence of the moon’s energy. Although it couldn’t compare to the jade talismans James Clark had painstakingly refined, two months would be enough for Henry Parker to evolve into an earl.

After giving instructions, James Clark entered the cave and began his seclusion. The path of formations follows the Dao of Heaven, borrowing the power of the world, and relies on sudden enlightenment. The ‘General Principles of Artifact Refining’ contained a vast array of formation techniques—demon-sealing, artifact-forging, talisman-crafting, spirit-summoning, and dozens of other chapters. To master them all would take centuries of hard work.

“These formations are truly profound! But there’s no cultivation method for oneself, no wonder our Artifact Refining Sect has fallen so far. Look! This Green Cord Sword was also refined by a Mount Shu expert at the Nascent Soul stage. It’s powerful, but in terms of formations, it’s far inferior to our sect. Why put such a complicated ‘Demon-Sealing Eight Trigrams Formation’ on the hilt? But their cultivation is deep! With Samadhi True Fire, nothing can’t be melted—they just forced it to work.

Hmph! Borrowing the power of heaven and earth is clever, but it’s not your own cultivation, and there are many drawbacks. Especially with advanced formations, without deep cultivation, you can’t comprehend them. But now I have the sword immortal’s cultivation method, and the two complement each other perfectly! With the ‘Sword Qi Soaring to the Sky’ technique and the formations of the Artifact Refining Sect, the Heavenly Dao Sect I create will one day flourish. Then I’ll be the revered founder, admired by all. A true man should make his mark—otherwise, what’s the point of living?”

Having made up his mind, James Clark summoned his flying sword. The Green Cord Sword, forged from Taiyi refined gold, turned into a stream of green light, enveloping James Clark’s body. Large waves of spiritual energy were drawn in by the Green Cord Sword, transformed into true essence, and sent into James Clark’s dantian. Meanwhile, James Clark’s mind sank into the spirit-summoning chapter he’d been pondering lately. Strange yet grand, ancient and desolate symbols appeared one by one in his mind. Talismans! The most fundamental laws of the universe, comprehended by countless Daoist sages and saints, using simple symbols and one’s own potential to drive the free energy of the cosmos, summoning powerful beings from various parallel dimensions.