Chapter Ninety-Seven: He's Engaging in a Business Without Capital

After some exchanges, dusk had already fallen.

The yield of spirit stones was quite good; combined with what he had previously obtained, Su Jian now possessed nearly ten thousand spirit stones.

However, the other spiritual items he converted were of average quantity.

Almost all were resources used by cultivators at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages.

Just as he had anticipated, there were very few storage rings belonging to cultivators at the Nascent Spirit stage among the spoils this time.

This was inevitable.

Next, Su Jian converted another five thousand spirit stones.

He did not convert all the remaining stones but kept nearly five thousand for emergencies.

Besides, he currently had no urgent need to unlock anything.

If anything, the only thing to unlock was spirit stones themselves.

But unlocking spirit stones required a million spiritual energy points.

This was not something he could gather quickly.

Unless he immediately plundered an ancient sect passed down for a thousand years; with their millennium of foundation, perhaps he could accumulate that million spiritual energy.

If he unlocked the spirit stones, he could also purchase spiritual items through Blue Star players.

Before long, Zhao Qianxue returned home, and Su Jian learned from her that the shop’s sales today were quite considerable—two hundred spirit stones earned by the two shops combined.

This was well within Su Jian’s expectations; it was a no-cost business.

In contrast, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in Cold Mountain City made a daily profit of several dozen spirit stones, which was already quite good.

And that was just from one city. Although sales would inevitably decline over time, making a few thousand spirit stones a month should not be a problem.

After all, Cold Mountain City was only secular, with a limited number of cultivators.

Moreover, the modes of linked partners and summoned players had already advanced successively, but the creation mode had remained stagnant.

Su Jian was curious about what an advanced version of the creation mode would be like.

As for the ultimate version of linked partners mode, Su Jian had some guesses.

It might increase the number of bonded partners.

But exactly how, he did not yet know.

No choices had been triggered recently.

Zhao Qianxue also said, “Moreover, in just a few days, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in Cold Mountain City has reopened.”

Su Jian nodded slightly and said, “It seems the Pavilion had planned for this, but there’s no need to worry too much.”

Having suffered such a heavy blow, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion would hardly have the leisure to reopen shops in Cold Mountain City.

The Pavilion and the Righteous Alliance were now at odds, like fire and water; although the Pavilion could not be eradicated immediately, it was ultimately weaker than the Righteous Alliance.

Over time, one would rise as the other fell.

Su Jian certainly welcomed this outcome, as he was tasked with destroying the Pavilion.

Feng Chen, assigned by him, had recently entered the body cultivation stage—an ideal time to infiltrate the Pavilion.

Even if he failed, it was not a grave matter.

A single Cold Mountain City branch of the Pavilion was not worth too much concern.

Su Jian’s true initial aim was for Feng Chen to one day infiltrate the Pavilion’s headquarters.

Starting as a clerk, once he grew stronger, he would surely be valued by the Pavilion.

If Feng Chen joined after becoming strong, he would only ever be a tool.

He just hoped Feng Chen’s talent was not too poor; otherwise, even with pills to boost cultivation, he might never fulfill Su Jian’s wishes.

Now, everything was finally on the right track.

...

Yingdu City.

After cautious and detailed investigation, the Overlord discovered that the treacherous Xi Wang remained constantly vigilant against him, having secluded himself recently.

Clearly, Xi Wang had likely laid a vast net, waiting for the Overlord to appear and attempt an assassination again.

The Overlord dared not act rashly and began to hide in the shadows, closely observing Xi Wang’s movements.

He refused to believe that Xi Wang had no frequent haunts.

When the time came, the Overlord’s plan would come into play.

...

Two days later.

More than half the players had undergone body cultivation, reaching the Qi Refining stage.

Su Jian had already anticipated this; those still not breaking through likely had poor talent.

Even among the first batch to cultivate, talent differences were already evident, though not yet obvious.

Meanwhile, the players heading to the Feixian Sect were discussing in the player channel.

After arriving near Feixian Sect, the nine of them did not act rashly.

Because of disputes along the way, they had split up.

At this moment, in the player channel:

Humble Rat said, “The Righteous Alliance and Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion have clashed, and since Feixian Sect is under the Righteous Alliance’s protection, wouldn’t joining it implicate us?”

Promise replied, “That’s true. We’d better not go to Feixian Sect. Yingdu City is magnificent; surely there are opportunities here.”

Wang Runxue said, “Ha, Rat, don’t be fooled by this shameless guy. He just wants to scare you off to reduce competition. As long as we don’t act recklessly, we’ll revive. Even if there’s danger, it’s just the usual monster-fighting and leveling up.”

Promise retorted, “Old hag, you’re just a lowly clerk. What right do you have to talk big in front of me? When I cultivate successfully at Feixian Sect, I’ll kill you.”

Wang Runxue replied, “I think you’re just a diver and woodcutter.”

Promise’s words thoroughly offended other players in the Immortal Guest Tower, and several took turns angrily retorting until all ten remarks were used up.

...

Su Jian withdrew his gaze.

It seemed news of the enmity between the Righteous Alliance and Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had spread widely.

This time, both sides suffered heavy losses; the Pavilion’s reputation was utterly ruined.

If they could still reconcile, it would only prove the Pavilion was completely cowed.

At that moment, Su Jian suddenly received a report from the Overlord.

[The Overlord has been hiding in Yingdu City for two days and discovered that Xi Wang secretly goes to the Brothel Department every night, heavily guarded by many escorts.]

Su Jian raised his brow upon reading this: “There must be something strange in the Brothel Department. This must be the real reason Xi Wang is hiding in Yingdu City.”

This was clearly a double strategy—an overt front concealing a covert plan.

Using his position as city lord, Xi Wang was secretly conspiring something unspeakable.

Su Jian’s eyes narrowed: “Most likely related to an evil cultivation path... possibly the art of sexual alchemy.”

If the Overlord failed to assassinate this time, Su Jian would need to take the matter of eradicating Xi Wang more seriously.

He absolutely could not delay any longer.

[The Overlord then decided to infiltrate the Brothel Department immediately. He noticed many women there kept kittens, so he secretly killed one and took its place.]

At last, this simple-minded fellow showed some cleverness.

Previously, his repeated clumsy attempts had alerted Xi Wang, making him more cautious.

Whether this would succeed was still unknown.

Xi Wang was a cunning fiend not to be underestimated.

But if the Overlord could successfully use the paralysis talisman on Xi Wang, he could achieve his goal and retreat safely.

The twelve talismans were truly mysterious; in terms of magic, even a practitioner at the Return to Void stage might not compare.