Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy

Bo Gu led Wu Tian to the blacksmith, who was an old friend of his. Upon hearing that a young man like Wu Tian had created the Art of Blood Refinement, the blacksmith was so shocked he turned pale. It took him a long time to regain his composure.

Wu Tian, however, wasted no time on pleasantries. He told the blacksmith directly that he wanted a bronze mask with a specific design: a green face with fierce fangs, in the style of "Young Master Yu."

A bronze mask was not normally so expensive, but the design Wu Tian described presented a considerable challenge. Nevertheless, the blacksmith forged it without charging a single coin, doing so simply to thank Wu Tian for creating the Art of Blood Refinement.

When Wu Tian put on the mask, his aura changed drastically. A sinister, chilling energy emanated from him, making the title "Blood Refiner" seem all the more fitting. He exuded an abyssal sense of dread that made it impossible for anyone to take him lightly.

"It’s time to establish the Blood Refiners Guild," came a voice from beneath the Bronze Ghost Mask.

At these words, Bo Gu, Meng Tian, and the blacksmith couldn’t help but smile. They called themselves Blood Refiners, but without the Art of Blood Refinement, they couldn’t be considered true masters of the craft. Afraid of being ridiculed, they had always chosen remote locations—underground lairs and mountain caves—to conduct their research. But now, the Art of Blood Refinement had been brought into the world! Finally, they could practice their craft openly on the surface, under the sun, in bustling places, without fear of being laughed at.

Bo Gu sighed. "For this first-generation Blood Refiners Guild, we only have one option: purchase an existing building."

Meng Tian and the blacksmith nodded in agreement, though their expressions betrayed a sense of helplessness. They were about to establish the very first Blood Refiners Guild, the future headquarters, yet they had to buy a pre-existing building instead of constructing a new one. The disparity between them and the Array Masters or Alchemists was immense. Even the branch guilds of the Array Masters and Alchemists were magnificent, newly constructed edifices, to say nothing of their grand headquarters. And what did the Blood Refiners have? Their very first guild would be a second-hand building. However, there was no helping it. The art of the Blood Refiners lagged behind that of the Array Masters and Alchemists by a full ten thousand years.

Bo Gu, Meng Tian, and the others could only hope for the rapid development of their craft. If branch guilds could spread far and wide, the Blood Refiners would grow powerful. Only then would their headquarters earn the right to be built on land abundant with Spiritual Energy.

"Please follow me," Bo Gu said, leading the way with Wu Tian and Meng Tian behind him. The blacksmith remained in his forge, wishing them success.

Not far away was the largest brokerage in the Xiuyuan Realm. As soon as Wu Tian, Bo Gu, and Meng Tian entered, a flamboyantly dressed woman approached them. "What can I get for you handsome gentlemen today?"

Sometimes, women were more successful in business than men, provided they dressed scantily. This proprietress, for example, wore so little that one could discern the outline of her "bunnies" with a careful glance.

"Handsome?" The address made Bo Gu and Meng Tian flush with embarrassment; they knew their own looks well enough.

Wu Tian, wearing his Bronze Ghost Mask, had no time for small talk. "I want to buy a large, impressive-looking building," he stated directly. "It needs to have a major river on the property or connect to the ocean."

"Such properties are rare, but as it happens, I have one," the proprietress said, not expecting to land a deal so quickly. She smiled faintly. Her brokerage handled many types of business; in Wu Tian’s eyes, she was a true intermediary, able to take clients to buy anything from chairs and weapons to Formation Patterns from the Array Masters Guild. The proprietress knew that selling such a property would earn her a substantial commission, but she hesitated as she sized up the cheap clothing on Wu Tian, Meng Tian, and Bo Gu.

"Judging by your attire," she said, choosing her words carefully, "you don’t exactly look like you can afford it." Despite her words, she spoke politely, not daring to be presumptuous. She was clearly intimidated by the man in the Bronze Ghost Mask.

"If the building is satisfactory, the price is not an issue," Wu Tian declared with a wave of his hand.

Despite his simple attire, he was by no means poor. In the Immortal Emperor Realm, of the trio of Wu Tian, Qin Yuhan, and the little one, the wealthiest was by far the little one. As the president of the Array Masters Guild, her monthly dividends were enough to make countless people green with envy.

Wu Tian himself didn’t have much money. His fortune was back in the Heavenless Immortal Domain—also known as the Endless Divine Realm—and currently held by the Undead Martial Sovereign. He would have to settle that score eventually. For now, the cash-strapped Wu Tian could only tap into his daughter’s funds, as Yang Ziwei had entrusted all of the little one’s dividends to his care.

Wu Tian’s confident air convinced the proprietress he had the money, so she led the way. Wu Tian, Bo Gu, and Meng Tian followed her to a grand building in the royal capital of Xiuyuan Country.

"This building used to be an auction house," the proprietress explained. As an experienced broker, she was a natural at self-promotion. "After the auction house moved, the deed was left with me to sell. The location is excellent, and the architecture is sublime. Would you like to have a look inside?"

While speaking, she tried to read Wu Tian’s eyes, since his expression was completely hidden by the Bronze Ghost Mask. She had no other way to gauge her client’s thoughts.

"Let’s go in," Wu Tian nodded.

The proprietress led the way, unlocked the large doors, and they all stepped inside. The building was arranged around a large courtyard. Tender green blades of grass peeked out from the soil, carpeting the garden in vast patches. Peach, apricot, and pear trees competed to bloom, their blossoms a riot of color—red as fire, pink as the dawn, and white as snow. Beneath the flowers, thousands of bees buzzed in a lively clamor while butterflies of all sizes fluttered about. Wildflowers were scattered everywhere, some with names and some without, dotting the grass like blinking eyes or twinkling stars.

Most importantly, the property connected directly to the ocean.

"This is the one," Wu Tian said, having made up his mind instantly. He didn’t waste any more words. "Name your price."

"To rent this property, it’s 150,000 Gold Coins a month. To buy it, the price is 50,000,000 Gold Coins," the proprietress replied.

"So expensive?" Bo Gu and Meng Tian were dumbfounded.

Wu Tian, however, simply nodded, deciding to buy it outright. The Array Masters Guild in the Xiuyuan Realm was now the foremost in the Three Realms, and the president’s dividends were unimaginably high. A single month’s dividend amounted to 30,000,000 Gold Coins, so he purchased the property for 50,000,000 without hesitation, confident he had a way to repay his little one.

The proprietress was overjoyed and continued to show them around. When they reached the kitchen, however, Wu Tian suddenly stopped.

"What’s wrong?" she asked, seeing the troubled look in his eyes.

Wu Tian’s demeanor darkened. "These pots have all been soaked in filthy water. These chopsticks have been mixed with dust and other grime... Who has been cleaning this place?"