Advance, Tycoon Li Mu

As dawn broke, casting a dim light, Li Mu stood at the entrance of his dormitory courtyard.

The area was already packed with nearly a hundred people, all students from the Profound Tier Class. Their excitement was palpable, with a constant buzz of conversation and discussion filling the air, creating a lively scene.

Before this, Senior Hao had explained Li Mu's plan in detail to all the Profound Tier Class students. After all, mobilizing the entire class to boost one person's combat power in a short period required everyone's support and approval.

What they expected to be a difficult persuasion turned out to be surprisingly smooth. As soon as the students heard they would challenge the Earth Tier Class in the academy competition, their eyes gleamed with fierce determination. It seemed the humiliation of being suppressed at the bottom of the academy for so many years had become unbearable. With someone taking the lead in resistance, a long-suppressed resentment instantly erupted, stirring up immense passion among the crowd.

Li Mu felt like he had only just fallen asleep. In his dream, he had just obtained the Dragon Slaying Saber and commanded the world, with no one daring to disobey. A cacophony of noise rudely dragged him out of this pleasant vision.

Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he discovered the courtyard was already teeming with people.

"He's here, he's here! The class monitor is out."

Someone shouted the first line, and suddenly, all eyes snapped to Li Mu, who stood there with messy hair and a dazed expression.

Being stared at so intensely by over a hundred people so early in the morning instantly jolted Li Mu awake, chasing away all his sleepiness.

"Why is everyone here so early? As the saying goes, conserve your energy and strike with full force. Sufficient sleep is still necessary."

Li Mu forced an awkward smile while swiftly tidying his disheveled hair and clothes. After all, with so many female classmates standing below, image was extremely important.

"Class monitor, we heard you have a way to lead us to defeat the Earth Tier Class in this competition. Such a major event, how could we possibly sleep?"

"That's right! Those arrogant bastards in the low-tier classes have not only snatched our resources these past few years but have also bullied us everywhere. I've put up with this long enough."

"Class monitor, just give the orders. All hundred of us are yours to command."

As the tail-end class of Qinglan Academy, the Profound Tier Class had always been at the very bottom. For years, the students in this class seemed to have accepted their fate of being bossed around by students from the Heaven and Earth tiers. Over time, even their cultivation began to stagnate, making breakthroughs difficult.

Cultivation inherently requires a spirit of progress and the courage to overcome all obstacles. If one accepts being inferior, how can they hope to step through the threshold of the immortal path? This is also why, over the years, there had been no precedent of a Profound Tier Class student breaking through to the Core Formation Realm from within their own class.

The emotions of everyone present also infected Li Mu. Since there was no precedent, he was determined to create a miracle. They were all cultivating immortality; why should there be distinctions of rank? This time, he would break these corrupt rules. Not only would he help Senior Hao break through, but he, Li Mu, and many more Profound Tier Class students in the future would also break through. To hell with wealth disparity and social hierarchy! If heaven does not favor me, I will defy heaven; if people do not submit, I will beat them into submission.

Thus, the grandest wealth-gathering plan since the establishment of Qinglan City began its magnificent chapter in the academy dormitory courtyard.

In the following days, across Qinglan City, in all sorts of clothing stores, jewelry shops, and accessory stores, anywhere with a large female customer base, you would see a young man or woman in a Qinglan Academy uniform.

They would constantly hand out colorful pieces of paper and a mysterious small black box to passersby, accepting nothing in return. They would simply whisper a few words into the ears of the target women. No one knew what they said, only that the women's expressions shifted from confusion to surprise after listening, but ultimately, none refused and accepted the paper and the small black box.

"Junior, is giving them away for free really effective? In just a few days, we've already given out a thousand boxes of Noble Lady Cream, almost a third of our inventory."

Senior Hao and Li Mu sat in a high vantage point of Qinglan City's most prosperous restaurant, watching the bustling crowds below. They noticed that one out of every five women held a small black box in her hand.

"Senior, don't worry. The advertising has been done. They'll come to us soon."

Li Mu downed the wine in his cup, a confident smile on his face. Although Senior Hao was still treating them to this meal today.

After a full week of distributing the small black boxes, Li Mu finally ordered a halt to the free giveaways and recalled all the students who had been distributing them.

That evening, at the most renowned theater in Qinglan City, Xianmeng Residence, a highly anticipated play was underway. Ladies of noble families and prominent socialites, adorned in jewels and finery, fanned themselves with exquisite fans, lamenting the tragic lives of the characters on stage. The famous actress Feng Qiuhuang performed her final flourish of the night, her breathtaking beauty leaving the audience mesmerized.

However, after putting away her spear tonight, Feng Qiuhuang did not exit the stage but instead took out a small black box and displayed it to every audience member present.

"Young Master Li, are you satisfied with my arrangements?"

At this moment, the owner of Xianmeng Residence was rubbing his hands together, fawning over Li Mu. Although he didn't know the purpose behind the City Lord's second son's actions, simply having his star actress utter a few lines he provided after the play in exchange for the City Lord's son's friendship was something he was more than willing to do.

"The advertising is done, the trial samples have been distributed, and the endorsement has been made. Now it's time for the final step."

Li Mu was full of confidence. All the steps had proceeded very smoothly. The seeds had been sown, and now it was time to strike the decisive blow.

In Qinglan City, at the Li Mansion, in Liu Ruoying's private chambers.

"Aunt, this is the medicinal paste I told you about. Just apply it to your face like this, and it will slow down the passage of time and preserve your beauty."

Li Mu held the small black box and explained its efficacy to Liu Ruoying. The City Lord's wife was clearly intrigued. Although she was still stunningly beautiful, with eyes like autumn pools and lashes like feathered wings that could captivate anyone, only she knew that as age crept up, faint wrinkles had begun to appear at the corners of her eyes. Indeed, unless a woman breaks through to the Core Formation Realm, she is ultimately unable to resist the ravages of time.

"Very well, I shall try it. Mu'er, how have you been at the academy? Has anyone bullied you?"

Liu Ruoying knew of Li Mu's reputation. While he was safe staying at the Li Mansion, entering the academy would inevitably provoke resentment from other students.

"Aunt, I've been doing very well at the academy. Moreover, I've made true friends and have my own goals to strive for."

Hearing Li Mu's answer, Liu Ruoying was relieved. Although she had no blood relation to this nephew, his mother had been a devoted wife to her husband for many years, and they had long been like sisters. Now that Li Mu was left alone, it was only natural for her, as his aunt, to be concerned about his well-being.

Several days later, Li Mu, returning to the Li Mansion from the academy, was stopped directly by Liu Ruoying. The foremost lady of Qinglan City was trembling with excitement, holding Li Mu's hand tightly and refusing to let go.

"Mu'er, the medicinal paste you gave me earlier actually had a miraculous effect! After using it, my entire face feels so much more relaxed, and those wrinkles have all disappeared."

Liu Ruoying's excitement was well within Li Mu's expectations. After all, what woman could resist the temptation of eternal youth?

Li Mu soothed his aunt's emotions and handed her ten more boxes of Noble Lady Cream. He also reminded the City Lord's wife to promote it widely among her friends and mentioned that those who wished to purchase it could come to him.

Liu Ruoying readily agreed, happily taking the Noble Lady Cream and eagerly returning to her room.

From then on, in the noblewomen's circles of Qinglan City, a legend began to circulate about a miraculous beauty product called Noble Lady Cream. With just a light application, one could bid farewell to wrinkles and dark spots. This legend completely captivated all the women in the city, who scrambled to find ways to purchase this magical ointment.

Concurrently, Qinglan City's largest merchant guild, the Azure Dragon Merchant Guild, announced that they would be the exclusive distributor of this immensely popular Noble Lady Cream. Overnight, the streets emptied as tens of thousands of people flocked to the shops, and every branch of the Azure Dragon Merchant Guild was swarmed by frenzied women.

And the instigator of it all was currently fast asleep in his dormitory at Qinglan Academy. The days of staying up late to produce Noble Lady Cream had greatly depleted Li Mu's energy. Now that everything was settled, all he wanted was a good, undisturbed night's sleep.

The sun was high in the sky when Li Mu stretched and reluctantly got out of bed. After a simple wash, he opened his door, intending to find something to eat at the cafeteria.

Unexpectedly, Senior Hao was walking towards him. This senior, usually stern and prone to practicing martial arts at the slightest disagreement, now wore an indescribable smile on his face. Li Mu felt that if he didn't prompt him, he might even drool.

"Junior Li, I just returned from the Azure Dragon Merchant Guild. Do you know how much our Noble Lady Cream sold this past week? A full five hundred thousand Cangyun Coins! More than half the ladies in Qinglan City are our regular customers."

Hearing Senior Hao's words, Li Mu was startled. His original plan was to earn the necessary money before the academy competition to exchange for weapons, magic treasures, and elixirs for Senior Hao. He never expected to exceed the goal a month in advance. He had underestimated the spending power of the women in Qinglan City.

"Junior, our inventory is also running low. Should we continue producing more?"

Senior Hao hesitated before asking the question that was most on his mind. Such a speed of wealth accumulation would make anyone excited, even infatuated.

"Teach the production method to reliable servants. Ensure a minimum monthly output and let the Azure Dragon Merchant Guild handle all sales. The income generated will be used for purchasing elixirs and equipment for future Profound Tier Class students. We shouldn't focus our energy on this anymore. Five hundred thousand is enough to equip you from head to toe."

Li Mu unhesitatingly proposed canceling the large-scale sale of Noble Lady Cream, maintaining only a small production output. The profits would be used to support the cultivation of Profound Tier Class students from less affluent backgrounds. Senior Hao also supported this decision. After all, they both knew that while equipment and elixirs might help win one competition, the long path of cultivation depended more and more on oneself. External items could only assist. To overcome arduous trials and reach new heights, strengthening oneself was the only true path.