Currently, Ascension Gate has eight disciples. Acquiring eight disciples in a year is quite good, but it's still not enough. Compared to the Great Tang Prison, Ascension Gate still feels quite lonely. Even though Celestial Craft Workshop might exist, Yuchi has always firmly believed in a most fundamental principle.
Cooperation can be achieved, but one must still be strong on their own. If the Xufu Town United Commerce Association is just a salted fish, even if Celestial Craft Workshop wants to help, they wouldn't even know how to help. Moreover, others would pity the association, rather than regard it as a legitimate partner.
That won't do.
If you want others to respect you, you must become strong yourself. Looking at the problem from another angle, if you currently possess the strength of Fellow Daoist Feng in the Ascension Gate competition, being a master at the Spirit Storage Stage, would the Great Tang Prison dare to bear down on you while fleecing you?
That's impossible.
