My Master Knows It All

84: Chapter 80: The Road to Wealth_1 84: Chapter 80: The Road to Wealth_1 “What are you two shuffling back and forth?

It’s as if you actually have any say over which disciple goes where…”

Just as Cao Zhen was considering that if he still couldn’t persuade Chen Shizhi, he might as well find an excuse to lure him away, knock him unconscious, hide him, and then release him after the disciple selection, thereby minimizing the chances of Yi Sheng joining Four Treasures Peak.

Suddenly, someone outside the courtyard gate started mocking them provocatively.

Deng Qixing?

Cao Zhen saw the Seven Star Peak Master holding a jade box that emitted wisps of scorching heat, immediately realizing that it must contain the Wind Fire Dragon Pearl!

“Did you forget about my Wind Fire Dragon Pearl?” Deng Qixing looked smugly at Chen Shizhi and Cao Zhen.

He had been making rounds at the Returning Heart Taoist Hall every day, even though he had never seen the reclusive Yi Sheng, but he firmly believed!

With this bead, Yi Sheng should know whom to choose.

The people from other peaks who had come to the Returning Heart Taoist Hall all frowned in unison, unable to comprehend how a Peak Master ranked ninety-nine could be so lucky as to get something like the Wind Fire Dragon Pearl that was irresistible to a True Yang Body.

“There is still two hours.” Deng Qixing was very happy, “In two hours, the disciple selection will officially begin!

Our Seven Star Peak has lain dormant for many years, and now we are finally rising!”

“Just a broken bead…” Qiu Wuxing also arrived in Chen Shizhi’s courtyard, revealing a confident smile, “Cultivation is a systematic matter.

The system of my Five Elements Peak is the first in the Hundred Peaks Sect!”

“You’re the first?

Then why are you ranked behind my Flying Immortal Peak?” Wang Yijian, with his hands behind his back, flew in on his sword to Chen Shizhi’s courtyard.

“Our Azure Pheasant Peak…”

“Our Vermilion Bird Peak is the first in fire path among the Hundred Peaks Sect!

What you have, Vermilion Bird Peak may not lack, and what we have, you definitely don’t have!”

“Really?

I’m quite curious, how about Tu Zhuque?

What does Vermilion Bird Peak have that our Azure Pheasant Peak lacks?”

“My first Senior Disciple Li Ke hasn’t found a Dao companion yet.

If she were to find one with a True Yang Body, and the two fused their fire paths…”

Chen Shizhi’s courtyard suddenly fell into a hushed silence, even Deng Qixing’s face changed.

The Wind Fire Dragon Pearl could assist a True Yang Body for a long time, but if the talented Li Ke formed a Daoist pairing with Yi Sheng, that would benefit both sides for a lifetime.

No one had expected that Vermilion Bird Peak would come back after a few days of consideration with such a move for acquiring a disciple.

Cao Zhen cheered inwardly.

Having seen the other Peak Masters’ excessive demands on Yi Sheng in previous days, he was abundantly clear that taking such a disciple would mean offending almost half of the mountains.

For one disciple?

There’s no need!

“Master…” Ling Xi whispered next to him, “I also have a few others in sight.

If we don’t stand a chance with this one, why not try for the others?

Perhaps that could liven up our Four Treasures Peak a bit.”

Cao Zhen really didn’t have any intention of expanding Four Treasures Peak, nor did he want to accept a bunch of disciples.

When someone kowtows and calls you master, that’s a lifetime responsibility.

“No!

Let’s fight for this Yi Sheng.” Fearing that Ling Xi might actually finalize the others, Cao Zhen hurriedly said, “If we are to recruit, we recruit the best!

I have set my sights on him for a long time!”

Aside, Chen Shizhi sneered internally; Cao Zhen’s foxy tail finally showed, all the while he had been saying not to worry, yet his true desire couldn’t be hidden!

“Old Cao, we are classmates.” Chen Shizhi transmitted a secret message to Cao Zhen, “For you, I’m willing to break my life’s principle for once.”

Cao Zhen couldn’t help feeling emotional, recalling how the old Cao Zhen, so dull and straight-laced, could have made a couple of good friends.

It’s no wonder Chen Shizhi lingered so deeply in his memory.

Perhaps this was the greatest legacy left to him by the Cao Zhen of the past?

“Old Chen, I can’t be so selfish.” Cao Zhen hurriedly refused.

He knew that if Chen Shizhi refused to offer favors to Yi Sheng on behalf of everyone and then accepted what he himself offered, Yi Sheng would surely be deeply moved, and he might indeed join Four Treasures Peak.

Although this probability was extremely small, such a small probability should be completely eliminated to be safe.

When Chen Shizhi heard the reply, his heart stirred with another feeling.

So Cao Zhen had made up his mind not to give money, yet he wanted to move me with the sentiment of our fellow studentship, get me to help him for free and without reason?

Wishful thinking!

Help you pass a message?

I won’t pass any message!

“Mr.

Chen…”

Another person approached, greeting Chen Shizhi.

At this moment, Cao Zhen didn’t plan to waste time on his fellow student and instead turned his attention to Ling Xi.

“Oh…

You really don’t help my peace of mind, child.” Cao Zhen sighed.

Ling Xi, thinking they had failed to secure Yi Sheng, quickly retreated and completed a kowtow: “I failed to carry out my duties, please punish me, Master.”

Seeing Ling Xi’s speed, all the Peak Masters present were inwardly amazed.

Who knew that Four Treasures Peak harbored such hidden talent?

Aside from Cao Zhen and the suddenly advancing Yan Yourong, was this disciple’s speed so exceptional?

Was the speed I just witnessed something my cultivation base and martial prowess could intercept?

Many of the higher-ranking Peak Masters were pondering the same question.

This Ling Xi should not be underestimated, eh?

If her movement technique was to advance instead of retreat, how many among my disciples and I could evade?

And if she had a powerful talisman in her hand…

what then would be the consequences?

“Return and write ‘master is the greatest’ a thousand times…” Cao Zhen familiarly arranged the punishment, “Tell me, how has Four Treasures Peak developed while I was away these days?”

Ling Xi promptly fished a ledger out of her bosom.

Cao Zhen opened it and saw that Qi, the official he had swindled before, had diligently been making the most basic talisman for Four Treasures Peak, the ‘Gathering Spirit Talisman’, daily for over a month.

After deducting all material costs and defective products, they could earn Thirty-two Spirit Stones for Four Treasures Peak in one month.

And Ling Xi herself, while having to cultivate and take care of her junior brother, managed to earn over twenty Spirit Stones of pure profit for Four Treasures Peak in a month.

“You didn’t teach Qi how to make talismans?” Cao Zhen flipped through the ledger, curious, “Or is it that Qi wasn’t working diligently?

His cultivation base should suffice!”

“Disciple hasn’t taught him…” Ling Xi shook her head and said, “For one thing, he is not a disciple of our Four Treasures Peak; how could I pass on the talisman-making technique Master has taught me to him…”

“Heh…”

The moment Ling Xi’s words fell, snickers came from different directions.

The meaning within those sneers was clear: What’s so secret about a talisman-making technique from Four Treasures Peak?

If you really were outstanding, would you be ranked last?

Unaffected by the various mocking voices around her, Ling Xi continued, “Also, this Qi official showed disdain for Four Treasures Peak’s method of talisman-making.”

Cao Zhen, perusing the ledger, realized through his experience as a businessman from Boss Ma that talisman-making was a lucrative way to make money!

If he could recruit a large number of talisman-makers…

“That’s right!

Old Ma used to say he wanted to make business easy for everyone, and as a result, he monopolized many industries and made a fortune.

I can do the same!

Let there be no difficult talismans to make in the world…” Cao Zhen’s brain was whirring at top speed as he thought about how to share a part of Zhang Daoling’s talisman-making methods with others, while still earning a copious amount of money every moment.

The rules of Hidden Dragon Observatory were probably due for a change; wool-gathering would become much harder.

After all, it was necessary to earn money on one’s own.

Upgrading via medicines already carried a hefty cost.

Combined with the need for herbs for the breakthroughs of his four disciples, with their Ancient Immortal Bodies and present Waste Immortal Bodies, finding a long-term and stable source of income was essential.

“A business plan is needed,” Cao Zhen clapped Ling Xi on the shoulder and said, “Call your junior brothers; we’re going back.”

“But Master…

we still have to wait for the selection of disciples…” Ling Xi said, puzzled.

“What I have to do is more important.

Leave Yi Sheng to the other Peaks!

Whether he joins another Peak, it still brings glory to the Hundred Peaks Sect.”

Cao Zhen waved his hand carelessly as if to leave, but was stopped by Chen Shizhi.

“Old Cao, you can’t leave!

Our Hundred Peaks Sect’s rules say that you must wait until the disciple selection is finished before you can go,” Chen Shizhi spoke overtly, while secretly transmitting a message, “Are you worried about losing face if Yi Sheng doesn’t choose you?

Don’t worry!

I’m here for you!”

“That’s right!

Since you’ve participated in the selection, you must stay until the end,” Qiu Wuxing shook his head with a sigh, “The new Peak Masters these days are becoming less and less disciplined.”

Cao Zhen listened to Qiu Wuxing’s targeted remarks but still couldn’t understand why Qiu Wuxing was targeting him.

“Peak Master Cao, don’t be discouraged.

You’ve said before, the path of immortal cultivation is controlled by my will, not by heaven!

It’s not decided who will triumph until the last moment,” someone said.

Controlled by my will, not by heaven?

Cao Zhen thought when did I say such a cringe-worthy thing.

Turning back, he saw that it was Lan Pili, the Peak Master of Lightning Peak, wearing a kind smile, and then he suddenly remembered that he had said this while duping Ling Xi and that it had been overheard.

“Controlled by my will, not by heaven?

Hah…” Qiu Wuxing’s laugh was filled with disdain, and although other Peak Masters didn’t speak up, their expressions also showed mockery of the sentiment.

“Master, we should say that less in the future,” Xiang Ziyu suddenly looked up at Cao Zhen, “Only protagonists can bear the weight of those words.

At other times, those who say it are mostly villains; you can’t turn to the dark side.”

Eager to end the disciple selection, Cao Zhen didn’t say much else.

He asked Chen Shizhi for a pen and a stack of paper and, using his business acumen inherited from Capitalist Ma, began to seriously write the business plan for “Making Difficult Talismans a Thing of the Past.”

Seeing Cao Zhen fall silent, everyone else busied themselves with their affairs.

Occasionally someone curious about what Cao Zhen was doing would come close to take a look but would then be seen with a face full of bewilderment.

What are empowerment ecosystems, combined boxing methods, strategic missteps, recirculating in the economy…

forming a closed loop…

One after another, these quasi-human terms baffled those who saw them, leaving them completely unsure what it all meant.

Some also asked curiously, and upon hearing the answer, more and more people began to think that no one in Four Treasures Peak had a normal brain.