5: Chapter 5: Plan to Earn Spiritual Stones

Wang Bin had just finished arranging the matter of finding Huang Youcai when another idea for making a fortune popped into his head, and it was a method that could generate long-term income.

He wondered if he could invent a communication tool.

For example, by creating a special Jade Talisman. Every Cultivator could buy one, and as long as they left their mark on the Jade Talisman with their Divine Sense, they could achieve long-distance communication and even transmit messages and intelligence!

If it were even more advanced, they might even be able to develop a positioning function. At that time, he could establish a Commerce League, named “Mobile Communication.”

Then, every month, he would collect Spirit Stones from all Cultivators using the Jade Talisman. If this succeeded, just thinking about it felt thrilling.

With a massive amount of Spirit Stones then, what rare Cultivation resources couldn't be bought?

The path to Immortal Ascension would be bright. As he thought about it, Wang Bin couldn't help but grin, praising himself inwardly: “I truly am a business prodigy!”

Just as he was sitting there lost in thought,

“City Lord, Huang Youcai has come to report. What are your orders, City Lord?”

Huang Youcai’s voice sounded from outside the door.

“Bring tea!...”

Wang Bin instinctively called out, then froze as soon as the words left his mouth. He remembered that there were no servants in the City Lord’s Mansion, and he felt a bit awkward, coughing twice and saying:

“Cough, cough! Youcai, I just wanted to ask you a few questions.

This City Lord recently felt that White Cloud City’s defenses are still somewhat weak. If Yao Beasts were to attack one day, it might easily lead to accidents and endanger everyone’s lives.

I had intended to apply to West Sea City for a sum of Spirit Stones to repair the city and reinforce the Formation, but I was worried that the chances were slim and the application might not be approved. So, we still have to find a solution ourselves.”

When Huang Youcai heard this, his heart immediately skipped a beat. “He wouldn’t be trying to deduct my salary, would he?!”

He had already been relegated to such a remote area, and his salary was already quite low.

He had heard before that the previous City Lord of Qingmu was an upright person and a diligent Cultivator who focused solely on Cultivation, not paying much attention to other matters.

“Did he discover my little secret of making extra money on the side?”

Huang Youcai muttered to himself. For all these years, everyone had been getting along peacefully. He didn't expect to be exploited by the City Lord today.

Actually, he didn’t particularly care, after all, he usually relied on his own hard work for Cultivation. Now, he even grudged using the Qi Gathering Pills that would enhance his cultivation.

He was being frugal, just hoping that when his son turned ten, he could buy a few Yuan-Nurturing Pills to enhance his son's Aptitude.

But now that the City Lord had spoken, what could he do?

The City Lord was his superior and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Dealing with him would be like crushing an ant.

Huang Youcai sighed inwardly, gritted his teeth, and lowered his head, saying:

“Your subordinate is willing to donate 500 Low-Grade Spirit Stones for the construction of White Cloud City.

City Lord, you also know that your subordinate’s annual salary is only 180 Spirit Stones. I also have seven wives and over a dozen children at home, one of whom has already been tested and found to have Three Spiritual Roots. All of them need Spirit Stones for their upbringing.

These 500 Spirit Stones are most of your subordinate’s savings. Your subordinate is willing to contribute a small effort to resist the Yao Beasts.”

Huang Youcai spoke with his head bowed, passionately, trying his best not to let the City Lord see his pained expression, though his heart was bleeding.

Wang Bin, sitting in the City Lord’s seat, was first taken aback when he heard Huang Youcai’s words. He hadn’t expected him to misunderstand his meaning and even offer 500 Spirit Stones voluntarily.

To be honest, the moment he heard this, Wang Bin’s heart wavered, but it was only for an instant.

He immediately dismissed the thought. After all, he had spent a few years watching short videos in modern society before, and he had come to understand many principles.

He knew that a boss who exploits his subordinates would not last long or grow big.

Moreover, this was the Cultivation World, and there were no laws to protect everyone. This was a world where individual strength reigned supreme and was full of cruel competition.

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; no one could say what would happen in the future.

What if Huang Youcai got lucky one day, had a fortuitous encounter, and his cultivation surpassed his own, then came back to seek revenge? That would be troublesome.

And Huang Youcai also had a son with Three Spiritual Roots. What if his son became successful? Forget it.

Furthermore, for a mere 500 Spirit Stones, it was simply not worth it for his current plan.

“Haha, Youcai! Your intention is enough. How could this City Lord be such a person?”

Wang Bin said with a smile, “My idea is, don’t we have four Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivation Rooms in White Cloud City?

They’re idle anyway. I called you here to ask, if I were to rent them out, how many Spirit Stones per day do you think would be appropriate for the rent?

After all, some Fellow Daoists in the Qi Refinement Stage who want to Breakthrough a minor Realm will have a higher success rate if they Breakthrough in a place with abundant Spiritual Qi, wouldn’t you agree? Haha.”

When Huang Youcai heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief, secretly glad that he wasn't being asked for Spirit Stones. As for other matters, who cared? It turned out he wanted to rent out the Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivation Rooms in the City Lord’s Mansion.

When he was Cultivating in the Sect, he had been exploited by his superiors for Cultivation resources quite a bit, so when he heard this, he worried that the City Lord would treat him the same way.

Actually, he could still manage to come up with 500 Spirit Stones if he gritted his teeth, but he was afraid that if there was a first time, there would be a second, and he wouldn't dare to resist.

Now that he knew it wasn't about that, he was completely relieved.

As for whether renting out the Cultivation Rooms would harm the prestige of the Four Seas Commerce League, that was not for him to decide. As long as his Spirit Stones weren't deducted, it was fine.

Huang Youcai thought carefully and replied:

“Reporting to the City Lord, according to your subordinate’s observations in White Cloud City over the years, the Spiritual Qi in the Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivation Room is quite abundant for Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators, and it greatly assists them in Breakthroughs to minor Realms.

Your subordinate personally believes that a daily rental price of 50 Low-Grade Spirit Stones is appropriate.

After all, cultivating in seclusion within a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Room not only provides abundant Spiritual Qi but is also very safe. 50 Low-Grade Spirit Stones is truly not expensive at all.”

Wang Bin listened to Huang Youcai’s analysis, nodded thoughtfully, but still asked with some unease:

“Youcai, won’t this be too expensive? Look at you, at Qi Refinement Stage Level Eight, and still the Deputy Captain of White Cloud City’s Guard Team, your annual salary is only 180 Spirit Stones.

Renting a Cultivation Room for one day costs 50 Spirit Stones. Isn’t that a bit much?”

“Reporting to City Lord, your subordinate and Captain Chen are both Outer Sect Disciples of the Four Seas Commerce League. In addition to our regular salaries, we also receive some Four Seas Commerce League contribution points each year, which can be exchanged for various valuable items at the Four Seas Commerce League in West Sea City.

Furthermore, ordinary Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators in White Cloud City, aside from those like your subordinate who do not plan to continue Cultivating, those Cultivators who dare to venture into the Demon Beast Mountain Range are relatively wealthy.

They hunt Yao Beasts or collect medicinal herbs on the outskirts of the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Although the risk is great, the profits are also considerable.

Moreover, it often takes several years for a Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator to Breakthrough a minor Realm, and these years are enough for them to save some Spirit Stones.

This is only in White Cloud City, where the number of Cultivators is not large. If it were in West Sea City, the rent for Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivation Rooms there is 200 Spirit Stones per day, and one even has to queue. Of course, we, our own people, don't need to queue.”

Wang Bin’s heart leaped with joy when he heard this. He hadn’t expected adventuring in the Demon Beast Mountain Range to be so profitable!