178: Chapter 178: Taking Control of Six Branches on Kui Xing Island! Obtaining the Ancient Ruins Map!

Chapter 170: Taking Charge of the Six Major Branches of Kuixing Island! The ancient ruins fragment map is Obtained!

After becoming an Elder of the Liulian Hall, Lu Qiu's status on the entire Kuixing Island was second only to the Island Master, Wood Dragon.

Though not a ruler in name, by holding the resources and connections of the six branches of Liulian Hall, his influence had long since permeated every aspect of Kuixing Island's cultivation world.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators would respectfully address him as "Elder Lu" upon meeting him, and even the peak masters of the thirty-six peaks of Qingyun Peak would proactively give way and show courtesy.

With power and people at his disposal, many things he could only think about in the past could now be put into action.

On this day.

Tiandu Street, the third floor of White Water Tower.

Inside the spacious meeting hall, six people sat on either side. All were at the Middle Stage or Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, with varying expressions, yet all carried a sense of solemnity and tension.

Cao Hu, the manager of White Water Tower; Ouyang Gong, the manager of Yuhuan Residence; Liu Feng, the manager of Shanhai Pavilion; Ma Rulong, the manager of Stardust Hall; Sun Miao, the manager of Tingchao Pavilion; and Qian Buduo, the manager of Wanmiao House—the managers of the six major branches of Liulian Hall on Kuixing Island were all present today.

Third Mother Feng was also seated. Although she held the status of a deacon, she was an appointee from the main hall with a special status, and Lu Qiu had also called her to observe today.

At the head of the table, Lu Qiu sat upright, his aura as deep and steady as water, his calm gaze sweeping over everyone.

"Everyone is here," he said indifferently. "I have summoned you all today to announce a few matters and to discuss some ideas with you."

Cao Hu quickly smiled apologetically, "Elder Lu, please give your orders; we will certainly comply!"

The others also nodded one after another, their attitudes respectful.

Lu Qiu smiled slightly and got straight to the point:

"As you all know, our Liulian Hall has been established on Kuixing Island for centuries, with a deep Foundation and stable business. But while it is stable, saying there is significant growth would be an overstatement. I'm sure you all have a clear idea of the profit growth of the six branches over these years."

As soon as these words were spoken, the managers looked at each other, their expressions somewhat embarrassed.

Cao Hu gave a dry laugh, "Elder Lu has a Wisdom Eye... Indeed, business has not been easy to conduct these years. Tiandu Street is crowded with shops and competition is fierce. Combined with those great families and Loose Cultivators having their own channels, it's not easy for us just to maintain our current share..."

Lu Qiu waved his hand, interrupting him:

"Stability is not wrong, of course. But seeking only stability without progress means being overtaken by others sooner or later. The reputation of our Liulian Hall cannot just survive by coasting on its past laurels."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and said slowly:

"I have a few ideas here. Listen to them and see if they are feasible."

For the next burning of an incense stick, Lu Qiu spoke eloquently, blending business concepts from his past life with the actual situation of the cultivation world.

"First, implement a 'Membership System'. Any Cultivator whose cumulative spending at this shop reaches a certain amount can apply for a membership jade tablet. Tablet holders will enjoy a ten percent discount on future purchases and priority in buying limited resources."

"Second, establish 'Trade-ins'. Old Magical Artifacts and waste Materials in the hands of Cultivators can be discounted towards the purchase of new goods. The old items we collect can be reforged or resold at low prices to low-level Cultivators."

"Third, launch 'Customized Services'. If high-level Cultivators have special needs, such as custom Magical Artifacts with specific attributes or refining certain niche Medicinal Pills, we can take orders, collect deposits, and use all the hall's channels to find Materials or an Artifact Refiner to refine them."

"Fourth, hold 'High-Level Auctions'. Once a year, centralize promotion and put those rare items up for public Auction to the highest bidder. This will both enhance our reputation and fetch a good price."

"Fifth, broaden supply channels. Do not only look to the headquarters' allocations. Proactively contact Loose Cultivators and small families on surrounding islands to purchase their local specialties. Keep the prices low, and the resale will be profit."

...After Lu Qiu finished each point, the meeting hall fell into an eerie silence.

Several managers widened their eyes, their mouths slightly agape, as if they were listening to some heavenly scripture.

Cao Hu was the first to snap out of it, slapping his thigh hard, his face flushed with excitement:

"Brilliant! Brilliant! I, Old Cao, have managed shops for thirty years, and I never thought of any of these ideas of Elder Lu! If this is truly implemented, I'm afraid the business of our six shops will double!"

Ouyang Gong also nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of amazement, "Membership System, trade-ins, customized services... Elder Lu's ideas are simply unheard of! But thinking carefully, they hit the mark everywhere. If they can be implemented, there is indeed much to be gained!"

Liu Feng, Ma Rulong, Sun Miao, and Qian Buduo were also full of praise, expressing their support one after another.

Sitting to the side, Third Mother Feng's heart was in turmoil, unable to stay calm.

She had known Lu Qiu for years, knew he was proficient in Formations, knew he had a deep relationship with True Person Hei Sha, and knew his cultivation speed was staggering—but she never expected that this young, newly-promoted Core Formation True Person would also be so well-versed in the ways of business!

The words he just spoke were organized and hit the nail on the head. How did he seem like a Cultivator newly exposed to shop management? He was clearly an old hand who had been immersed in this path for years!

"This Elder Lu... just how many skills does he have that I don't know about?" Third Mother Feng lamented inwardly, her awe for Lu Qiu deepening further.

The meeting proceeded very smoothly.

The managers were all shrewd individuals; they knew these ideas were feasible as soon as they heard them and immediately expressed their willingness to cooperate fully.

Lu Qiu discussed the specific execution details with everyone, finalized a preliminary plan, and then declared the meeting adjourned.

"Third Mother, please stay for a moment." Lu Qiu called out to Third Mother Feng, who was about to stand up.

Third Mother Feng was slightly startled, then respectfully sat back in her original place.

After everyone else had left, only the two of them remained in the meeting hall. Lu Qiu took out a Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch and handed it to her.

"There is a list here with some Materials. Use the Liulian Hall's channels and do your best to purchase them for me. Price is not an issue; the faster the better."

Third Mother Feng took the Jade Slip, sent her Divine Sense into it, and examined it closely.

The list enumerated dozens of Materials, including Spiritual Plants for refining pills, cinnabar and spiritual ink for drawing Talismans, special Ores for setting Formations, and some strange things she couldn't even name.

Among them were no shortage of rare varieties, some of which she had only ever seen in ancient texts.

She looked up, a troubled expression on her face, "Elder Lu, these Materials... some are indeed rare, and I'm afraid it will take some time, and the price..."

Lu Qiu waved his hand, his tone flat, "I said, price is not an issue. As long as they can be bought, offer whatever price. If Spirit Stones are insufficient, come to me anytime to withdraw more."

He paused, then added, "If you handle this matter well, I will reward you appropriately. I have a 'ningxin pill' in my hand, which is a pill that assists Foundation Establishment Cultivators in breaking through the Core Formation Bottleneck. You are now at the False Core Realm; I imagine you have quite a need for this pill."

Hearing this, Third Mother Feng's body shook violently!

A ningxin pill!

A pill to assist in Core Formation!

She had been stuck in the False Core Realm for years, never daring to rashly attempt Core Formation because she lacked sufficient confidence.

With the help of a ningxin pill, her success rate could increase by at least twenty percent!

She suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with unbelievable wild joy and excitement, her voice even trembling slightly:

"El... Elder Lu, are you serious?!"

Lu Qiu smiled indifferently, "I have always been a man of my word."

Third Mother Feng took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart, and solemnly clasped her hands, her tone firmer than ever before:

"Elder Lu, rest assured! I, Third Mother, will definitely do my utmost. Even if I have to travel to all the surrounding islands, I will gather these Materials!"

...After seeing off Third Mother Feng, Lu Qiu stood by the window with his hands behind his back, looking down at the people coming and going on Tiandu Street, his gaze profound.

"It's time to get my hands on that ancient ruins fragment map."

He thought to himself.

Previously, wary of the Liulian Hall's power, he hadn't dared to act rashly.

Although Li Yun was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, as a manager of Liulian Hall, if something happened to him, it would surely lead to an investigation by the headquarters.

As a newly arrived Guest Elder, the risk of rashly attacking a colleague was too great.

But now—

The branches of Liulian Hall on the entire Kuixing Island were under his jurisdiction, and Li Yun was nominally his subordinate.

Dealing with an "Enshrined Official" in the capacity of an "Elder," who would dare say anything?

Of course, it couldn't be done too crudely on the surface.

After all, that fragment map was Li Yun's personal property. If he forcibly demanded it, it would inevitably leave a bad impression.

However... a faint, almost imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of Lu Qiu's mouth.

If open methods won't work, won't covert ones do?

...That night.

The moon was bright and stars were few, and the lights of Tiandu Street were gradually fading.

Lu Qiu changed into a set of black night clothes, his aura restrained to the extreme. His figure was like a ghost as he silently slipped into the depths of Tiandu Street.

He had already sent people to scout out Li Yun's residence.

It was a small independent courtyard located on the edge of the northern district of Tiandu Street, quiet amidst the bustle, and mostly inhabited by middle and low-level personnel of Liulian Hall.

He stopped a hundred zhang away from the courtyard, his eyes slightly closed, and circulated his magic power between his eyes.

The next moment, he opened his eyes, and a faint golden glow emerged deep within his pupils.

Xuanji Pupil!

This secret technique was specifically used to peer through the flaws and spiritual power flow nodes of Formation Restrictions.

Lu Qiu had already cultivated this secret technique to Major Achievement. Although it couldn't compare to a true Formation Grandmaster, it was more than enough to see through the protective Restrictions set by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

He concentrated his gaze.

The small courtyard was shrouded in a pale green light shield, with runes flowing upon it, faintly forming a "Greenwood Profound Light Formation."

This Formation could block Divine Sense probes and resist external attacks, which was considered decent among Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

But under the gaze of the Xuanji Pupil, several weak nodes in the spiritual power flow on the light shield were clearly visible.

Lu Qiu's figure flashed, and he silently glided to the shadow of the courtyard wall.

He pointed his fingers like a sword, condensing an extremely faint wisp of Chixiao True Fire at his fingertip, and lightly tapped a node on the light shield.

"Chirp—"

A sound so soft it was almost inaudible.

A tiny gap, just large enough for one person to pass through, opened on the light shield and vanished in an instant.

Lu Qiu had already slipped through in that moment and landed inside the courtyard.

The courtyard was silent, with only a faint candlelight flickering in the main room.

Lu Qiu's Divine Sense quietly reached out, instantly locking onto the aura inside the room.

Early Foundation Establishment Stage, steady breathing, currently sitting in meditation.

It was him.

With a movement of his body, he was already at the window outside the room.

Through the gap in the window paper, a figure could be vaguely seen sitting on a prayer mat, eyes closed and regulating his breath.

Lu Qiu no longer hesitated.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, a Spirit Shocking Thorn suddenly condensed and shot out silently!

Inside the room, Li Yun seemed to sense something, his brow furrowing as he was about to open his eyes—

The next moment, sharp pain flooded his Sea of Consciousness like a tide!

He didn't even have time to let out a scream before his eyes rolled back, and his body slumped onto the prayer mat, completely losing consciousness.

Lu Qiu flashed inside, waved his hand to set up a soundproofing Restriction, and then quickly walked to Li Yun.

He first took the Storage Pouch from Li Yun's waist, used Divine Sense to violently break the Restriction, and quickly searched through it.

A moment later, his eyes lit up.

Deep inside the Storage Pouch lay a palm-sized fragment map of special material.

The fragment map was made of some unknown beast skin, warm to the touch, with a faint fluorescent glow flowing through it.

The map depicted parts of a sea area's terrain, marked with some strange symbols and text, but it was incomplete, only showing that it pointed to the sea area near a certain island.

Lu Qiu examined it carefully for a moment, confirming that this was indeed the "ancient ruins fragment map" mentioned in the gold intelligence years ago.

He carefully tucked the fragment map into his robe and hung the Storage Pouch back on Li Yun's waist.

Then, he took out a gray "soul forgetting pill," pried open Li Yun's jaw, and fed it to him.

He also used magic power to help him dissolve the medicinal strength.

After doing all this, he checked the scene again to ensure no Divine Sense marks or spiritual power residues were left behind, then silently exited the room and returned the way he came.

The entire process, from infiltrating to obtaining the item to withdrawing, took less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Back at the Tianmen Peak Immortal Cave, Lu Qiu took out the fragment map and examined it closely again.

The sea area marked on the map seemed to point to an island quite far from Kuixing Island.

Unfortunately, there was only half, making it impossible to determine the exact location.

"I hope to have the chance to get the other half of the fragment map in the future," he murmured to himself, carefully putting the map away... With Liulian Hall as a "tool," Lu Qiu's efficiency in gathering resources had increased by more than tenfold!

Relying on the Opportunity information System, he had accumulated a large amount of cultivation resources over the years—various Spiritual Plants, Ores, Yao Beast Materials, Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts... but these things piled up in his Storage Pouch could not be liquidated, nor could they be directly transformed into what he needed.

And Liulian Hall had naturally become an excellent "transfer station."

Whatever he lacked, he only needed to issue a list, and Third Mother Feng would naturally use the channels to search for it.

Once found, he would not hesitate to buy it at a high price—anyway, those accumulated resources could just be used for payment.

Third Mother Feng took his lists very seriously, operating with almost her full effort.

In just half a year, various rare resources were continuously transported to Tianmen Peak.

Spiritual Plants for refining pills, spiritual ink and cinnabar for drawing Talismans, special Ores for Formations, Yao Beast Materials for feeding Spirit Pets... everything was available.

Lu Qiu's Immortal Cave warehouse was becoming more substantial day by day.