Charge Forward, Tycoon Li Mu

Early morning, when the sky was only beginning to lighten, outside the gates of Li Mu's dormitory courtyard.

The place was already packed with nearly a hundred people, all students from the Profound Tier Class. Their emotions ran high, with chatter and discussion rising without end. It was a lively scene indeed.

Before this, Hao Meng had already told every student in the Profound Tier Class about Li Mu's plan exactly as it was. After all, raising one person's combat strength in a short time with the power of the entire class required everyone's support and approval.

What they had expected to require a great deal of persuasion instead went exceptionally smoothly. The moment they heard that they would challenge the Earth Tier Class in the academy tournament, every one of them glared fiercely. The humiliation of being suppressed at the very bottom of the academy for so many years had apparently become unbearable. Now that someone was leading them in resistance, the resentment they had bottled up for so long erupted in an instant, and the crowd was fired with passion.

Li Mu felt as though he had only just fallen asleep. In his dream, he had just obtained a dragon-slaying treasured saber and commanded all beneath heaven—who would dare defy him? Then a burst of noise forcibly dragged him out of that beautiful scene.

Rubbing his bleary eyes, he discovered that the area outside was already buzzing with voices.

"He's here! The class monitor is out!"

No one knew who had shouted first, but everyone's gazes immediately snapped onto Li Mu, who stood there with hair like a chicken's nest and a face that had not yet woken up.

So early in the morning, being stared at so fervently by over a hundred people gave Li Mu an instant jolt, driving away all his sleepiness.

"Why did everyone come so early? As the saying goes, conserve your strength, and you can sweep everything away in one burst. Adequate sleep is still necessary."

Li Mu wore an awkward smile as he tidied his disastrously messy hair and clothes with lightning speed. After all, there were plenty of female classmates down there. His image was extremely important.

"Class Monitor, we heard you have a way to lead us in defeating the Earth Tier Class in this match. With something this important happening, how could we possibly sleep?"

"Exactly! Those arrogant bastards from the Earth Tier Class have not only seized our resources these past few years, but bullied us at every turn. I've endured this anger long enough."

"Class Monitor, give the order. The hundred of us are at your command."

As the bottom-ranked class of Qinglan Academy, the Profound Tier Class had always occupied the lowest rung within the academy. Over the years, its students seemed to have accepted their lives of being ordered about by the students of the Heaven and Earth Tier Classes. As time passed, even their cultivation began to stagnate, making breakthroughs difficult.

Cultivation itself required a heart and courage that pressed forward sharply and shattered every obstacle. If one accepted being inferior to others, how could one step across the threshold of the immortal path? This was also why, throughout the years, no Profound Tier Class student had ever broken through to the Core Formation Realm while still in their class.

The crowd's emotions infected Li Mu as well. Since there was no precedent, then he would insist on creating a miracle. Everyone cultivated immortality, so why should they be divided into ranks of high and low? This time, they would smash these rotten rules. Not only would Senior Hao break through, but he, Li Mu, and even more students of the Profound Tier Class would break through in the future. To hell with the gap between rich and poor, high and low, noble and base. If heaven refused him, he would defy heaven. If people would not submit, he would beat them until they did.

Thus, the greatest money-making scheme since Qinglan City had been founded unfolded its magnificent chapter within the academy dormitory courtyard.

Over the following days, in every clothing shop, jewelry store, and accessory shop large or small throughout Qinglan City—any place frequented mostly by female customers—you could see a young man or woman dressed in Qinglan Academy uniforms.

They continuously handed colorful slips of paper and mysterious little black boxes to passersby, asking for not a single coin. They merely leaned close to their target women's ears and whispered a few words. No one knew what they said. All anyone knew was that the women wore puzzled, astonished expressions after hearing them, yet ultimately none refused. They all accepted the papers and little black boxes.

"Junior Brother, will giving them away for free really work? In just a few days, we've already handed out a full thousand boxes of Noble Lady Cream. That's nearly one-third of our inventory."

Hao Meng and Li Mu sat high above the busiest restaurant in Qinglan City, watching the bustling crowd below. They found that one out of every five women carried a little black box in her hand.

"Senior Brother, don't worry. The advertising has already gone out. They'll come knocking very soon."

Li Mu drained the fine wine in his cup in one gulp, confidence appearing on his face, even though Hao Meng was still paying for today's meal.

After giving away little black boxes for a full week, Li Mu finally ordered the free distribution suspended. Even the students he had originally sent out were all recalled.

That evening, at Xianmeng Residence, Qinglan City's most renowned theater, a highly anticipated play was being performed. Rich young ladies glittering with jewels and famous noblewomen waved their exquisite feather fans as they sighed over the tragic life of the character onstage. The celebrated actress Feng Qiuhuang played with the last flower spear set of the night, and her peerless bearing left the audience utterly enchanted.

But after withdrawing her spear that day, Feng Qiuhuang did not take her curtain call and leave the stage. Instead, she took out a little black box and displayed it to every audience member present.

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

At that moment, the proprietor of Xianmeng Residence rubbed his hands together as he spoke fawningly to Li Mu. Though he did not know what the second son of the city lord intended to accomplish, merely having his star actress recite a few lines provided by him after the play could earn him the friendship of the city lord's son. He was willing a hundred times over.

"The advertisement has been done, the samples have been given out, and the endorsement has been released. Now it's time for the final step."

Li Mu was brimming with confidence. Every step had gone smoothly. The seeds had already been sown; now it was time to strike the final blow.

Qinglan City, Li Mansion, inside Liu Ruoying's bedchamber.

"Auntie, this is the cream I told you about. You only need to apply it to your face like this, and it can slow the passage of time and preserve your beauty."

Holding the little black box, Li Mu explained its effects to Liu Ruoying. The city lord's wife was clearly tempted. Though she remained breathtakingly beautiful, her eyes like autumn waves and her lashes like wings, enough to make souls linger in longing, only she herself knew that faint wrinkles had begun to creep up at the corners of her eyes as she aged. Sure enough, unless a woman entered the Core Formation Realm, she could never ultimately withstand the ravages of time.

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

Liu Ruoying knew of Li Mu's former reputation. Nothing had happened while he remained in Li Mansion, but now that he had entered the academy, he would surely provoke other students' resentment.

"Auntie, I've been doing very well at the academy. I've also made real friends and found a goal to strive toward."

Hearing Li Mu's answer, Liu Ruoying was reassured. Though she and this nephew had no blood relation, his mother had served the same husband alongside her for many years, and they had long been as close as sisters. Now that Li Mu had been left alone, it was only natural for her, as his aunt, to worry about him.

Several days later, Li Mu returned to Li Mansion from the academy once more, only to be stopped directly by Liu Ruoying. Qinglan City's foremost lady was trembling with excitement as she tightly grasped Li Mu's hand, unwilling to let go.

"Mu'er, the cream you gave me before truly has miraculous effects! After Auntie used it, my entire face felt so much more relaxed, and all those wrinkles vanished without a trace."

Liu Ruoying's excitement had long been within Li Mu's expectations. What woman could resist the temptation of everlasting beauty?

Li Mu soothed his aunt's emotions, then took out another ten boxes of Noble Lady Cream and stuffed them into Liu Ruoying's hands. He did not forget to ask the city lord's wife to spread the word among her friends, adding that anyone who wished to buy it could come find him.

Naturally, Liu Ruoying readily agreed. Delighted, she carried the Noble Lady Cream and hurried back to her room impatiently.

From then on, a legend began circulating among Qinglan City's noblewomen, though no one knew precisely when it started. It spoke of a miraculous beauty-preserving treasure called Noble Lady Cream. With a single light application, one could bid farewell to wrinkles and dark spots. This legend thoroughly ignited the women of the entire city, and they all sought connections to purchase this miraculous cream.

At the same time, Qinglan City's largest merchant guild, the Azure Dragon Merchant Guild, announced that it would become the exclusive agent for this wildly popular Noble Lady Cream. Overnight, the streets were emptied as every Azure Dragon Merchant Guild shop was crammed full by frenzied women.

Meanwhile, the mastermind behind it all was snoring away in his dormitory at Qinglan Academy. Staying up night after night to make Noble Lady Cream had greatly drained Li Mu's strength. Now that everything had settled into place, all he wanted was a peaceful, steady sleep.

By the time the sun stood high in the sky, Li Mu stretched and reluctantly crawled out of bed. After washing up simply, he pushed open his door, intending to find something to eat at the dining hall.

To his surprise, Hao Meng was walking toward him. This senior brother, who was usually stern and reserved and would start practicing punches at the slightest disagreement, now wore an indescribable smile. Li Mu felt that if he did not remind him soon, drool would start dripping from his mouth.

"Junior Brother Li, I just came back from the Azure Dragon Merchant Guild. Do you know how much our Noble Lady Cream has sold for this week? A full five hundred thousand Cangyun Coins! More than half the married women in Qinglan City are now our customers."

Hearing Hao Meng's words, Li Mu was startled as well. His original plan had been to earn enough money before the academy tournament to exchange for weapons, magical treasures, and pills for Senior Hao. He had not expected to exceed the goal a full month early. He had underestimated the spending power of Qinglan City's women.

"Junior Brother, our stock is nearly exhausted too. Should we keep making it?"

After hesitating for a moment, Hao Meng finally asked the question weighing most heavily on his mind. Such a terrifying rate of wealth accumulation would stir anyone's heart, even drive them mad.

"Teach the method to trustworthy servants. Guarantee a minimum output each month, and let the Azure Dragon Merchant Guild handle all sales. The income can be used to buy pills and equipment for future Profound Tier Class students. We shouldn't put any more energy into this matter. Five hundred thousand is already enough for me to arm you to the teeth."

Without hesitation, Li Mu proposed ending the large-scale sale of Noble Lady Cream, retaining only limited production. The proceeds would be used to support the cultivation of Profound Tier Class students from poorer households. Hao Meng supported this as well, because they both knew that equipment and pills might win one competition, but on the long road of cultivation, the farther one went, the more one could rely only on oneself. External things could only assist. To cross countless hardships and climb one peak after another, strengthening oneself was the only proper path.