Volume 1, Chapter 26: Staggering Profits! Sky-Severing Island Hits the Jackpot!

Three days later, the grand Ascension Assembly was simultaneously launched across the four major islands, excluding Heaven-Absolute Island. Having gained experience from the first attempt, this iteration was significantly more efficient, saving a great deal of time. It was concluded in just seven days.

This time, Wang Mu tested over twenty million mortals for their aptitude, successfully discovering nearly five hundred thousand "immortal seedlings" possessing spiritual roots. It was a staggering number. Even the well-informed ancestors at the Transformation stage, such as Li Yuanhua and Huang Xiao, were deeply shocked upon hearing the news.

Of course, this also meant that within a mere ten days, Wang Mu had scattered an astronomical sum of spirit stones. This amount exceeded the limits of his personal pocket money. Using his authority as the young master of the Langya Chamber of Commerce, he requisitioned a portion of funds. This was only because Wang Mu did not usually have many places to spend spirit stones, so his allowance was less than one hundred million. The items he possessed that were truly valuable were not things that could be appraised in spirit stones, such as the Dragon Pearl or the defensive immortal artifact around his neck. Naturally, Wang Mu had no intention of selling these to raise cash. If he was short on funds, he would simply ask his family. He had never considered the notion of investing independently without relying on his family’s influence. Now was not the time for affectation; if one has resources and refuses to use them, it is not just a matter of losing one’s dignity—it is a matter of losing one’s life.

"However, blindly throwing money around will eventually lead to an empty treasury. It is time to make preparations to earn some money. Only with a virtuous cycle can investment be sustainable."

In the scripture library of the Great Liang Imperial Palace, little Nannan was buried deep in a sea of cultivation manuals and classics. Wang Mu sat at a nearby table, taking out pen and paper, and began to write and sketch earnestly. The two remained undisturbed, enveloped in a quiet atmosphere.

...

"I can't take it anymore! I’ve had enough!"

At the headquarters of the Langya Chamber of Commerce, Ren Pingsheng, one of the ten primary directors, looked at the stack of bills, his anger reaching a boiling point. "For hundreds of years, I have worked diligently and devoted myself entirely to the Chamber! I rose before the rooster and slept after the dogs! Whenever the Chamber’s business dipped, I was too distressed to eat or focus on my cultivation. I treated the Chamber as my second home! I have dedicated almost all my energy to it! I have bled for this Chamber, and I have risked my life for it!"

"This money was earned through our blood and sweat! Yet he, on the other hand, spends over a hundred million in one go! He truly feels no heartache. Does he even know how long it takes us to earn that much?" Ren Pingsheng slammed his hand on the table and rose to his feet, his beard and hair bristling like an enraged old lion, his eyes filled with a desperate resolve. "I must submit a petition to the President! Even if the President is displeased, even if I am dismissed from my post, I cannot stand by and watch that wasteful playboy squander our fine Chamber! At worst, I’ll fight him to the end!"

Another director, Sima Yuan, reached out to restrain him. "Old Ren, calm down. Sit down!"

Ren Pingsheng shook him off. "I cannot calm down!"

Sima Yuan said, "Look at the ledgers for Heaven-Absolute Island from last month first."

Ren Pingsheng retorted, "Look at what? I’m not looking!"

Sima Yuan replied, "It earned quite a lot last month."

Ren Pingsheng sat back down abruptly and held out his hand. "Really? Let me see."

Sima Yuan’s mouth twitched slightly as he handed over the ledger. Ren Pingsheng pored over it, his expression turning to one of shock. "How could it be this much?"

Sima Yuan pulled out another volume and flipped through it. "These are the restocking records for the various branches on Heaven-Absolute Island from last month. Previously, they only replenished stock every three months. But last month, almost every branch replenished more than three times! And each time the volume was larger than the last, and they nearly sold out!"

Ren Pingsheng was incredulous. "How is this possible? How could the cultivators on Heaven-Absolute Island consume such a massive amount of goods? It defies reason!"

Sima Yuan curled his lip. "Heaven-Absolute Island is under your jurisdiction. If you don't know, how could we?"

Ren Pingsheng fell silent.

Sima Yuan continued, "However, I have heard some things."

"What?"

"The Young Master held a grand Ascension Assembly on Heaven-Absolute Island and detected a vast number of cultivators with spiritual roots! And those cultivators were then absorbed by the various cultivation sects on the island... Out of gratitude, when they purchase cultivation resources, they prioritize our Langya Chamber of Commerce!"

"Just because of that?" Ren Pingsheng raised an eyebrow, finding it somewhat fantastical.

"Do you think it's exaggerated?" Sima Yuan countered.

Ren Pingsheng opened his mouth, then pressed his lips together, unable to find words. He occupied a high position and had been away from the grassroots for many years, but he had not forgotten the things he had once witnessed. Longevity, becoming an immortal—for cultivators, these were temptations impossible to resist. How much more so for those mortals struggling at the very bottom of the world? Standing in their shoes, if someone were willing to show mercy and grant them a chance to step onto the path of immortality, what kind of grace would that be? Working like beasts of burden to repay the debt would be the least of it; they would even pledge their very cycles of reincarnation and all their future lives as collateral.

And for the cultivation sects, being able to recruit satisfactory disciples, ensuring the orderly passing of their heritage, and keeping their incense burning and their strength growing was the most important thing in the world. For this, what did a few spirit stones matter? Thinking of it this way, was it really exaggerated? Perhaps a little. But was it logical? It was entirely logical!

Although Wang Mu spent a great deal of money on Heaven-Absolute Island, in this back-and-forth, not only did he not lose, he even turned a profit!

...

"A lively discussion, isn't it?"

Nalan Rongyun walked in from the doorway, draped in a fox-fur cloak, looking dignified and noble, carrying a faint sense of majesty. Everyone stood up in unison to offer their respects. Sima Yuan respectfully handed the ledger to Nalan Rongyun.

Nalan Rongyun scanned it briefly, a hint of emotion appearing on her face. "As business people, we all know the importance of reputation. But in the past, we only focused on the quality of the goods. We always thought that as long as what we sold was good and we dealt fairly with all, a reputation would naturally follow. But now, Mu'er has taught us a solid lesson. I, too, am deeply inspired."

The others sighed and agreed one after another. Regardless of whether Wang Mu had done this by chance, the result was before them, and it was indeed beyond their expectations.

"If I remember correctly, Heaven-Absolute Island is under Director Ren's jurisdiction, isn't it?" Nalan Rongyun asked suddenly.

Ren Pingsheng stepped forward and nodded respectfully. "Yes!"

Nalan Rongyun closed the ledger, set it gently on the table, and smiled. "The surplus of Heaven-Absolute Island last month broke all previous records. According to the Chamber’s rules, there should be a grand reward!"

Ren Pingsheng felt his old face flush with heat and quickly shook his head. "This matter has nothing to do with me; I dare not claim the credit!"

Nalan Rongyun insisted, "Rules are rules! Even if you didn't do anything, you didn't obstruct it either. Inaction, is that not also a form of contribution? That’s enough; it’s not a major issue, I have made my decision!"

Nalan Rongyun’s word was final. The matter was settled. Ren Pingsheng bowed and respectfully watched Nalan Rongyun depart, his face still burning intensely. He gazed at the ledger belonging to Heaven-Absolute Island on the table, his eyes full of complex emotions, lost in thought.