Investment

In the Liang family's backyard, Liang Ji was practicing the Ox Demon Great Strength Fist.

His father cultivated the Human Immortal Path. Though he had never achieved much with it, he had opened up a training ground in their backyard, which now made Liang Ji's body-refining cultivation convenient.

Ox Demon Trampling Ground! Ox Demon Horn Thrust! Ox Demon Lice Shake!

Trampling Ground was the horse stance, Horn Thrust was a standing-post exercise, and Lice Shake was the key.

Liang Ji recalled some videos of ox demons he had seen on the Human Path's official website. With a single shake, the ox demons' flesh and skin quivered all over, not allowing even a louse to cling to them!

Those cultivating the Ox Demon Great Strength Fist had to achieve the same—shaking and trembling every inch of flesh and skin throughout their bodies to temper their flesh.

"I heard that when Human Immortal cultivators practice this move, their entire bodies ache terribly. It's extremely difficult, and they have to use pills and medicinal baths to recover and nourish themselves. They can't practice it many times a day."

Liang Ji planted his feet like ox hooves, thrust out his hands like ox horns, and gave the flesh across his body a shake.

Then, before he could even feel the agony of sore flesh, a great surge of warmth emerged and circulated through his entire body. All he felt was comfort, along with the sensation of his flesh growing stronger.

He knew this was the effect of his Natal Star's Star Power. Its recovery and nourishment far surpassed pills and medicinal baths, and it worked much faster!

"Not that hard after all!"

Liang Ji practiced the Ox Demon Great Strength Fist once more, even becoming somewhat immersed in the sensation of Star Power circulating through and nourishing his body.

Ding! Your delivery has arrived.

A notification sounded outside. Liang Ji stopped cultivating and walked out of the house. A spirit-meal delivery had already been placed in the storage box by the door.

Although Star Lords had the Star Power of their Natal Stars to support them and could completely abstain from food for long periods, the desire for food was not merely about filling one's stomach. It was also a desire, a pleasure of being alive.

If cultivation meant abandoning even this bit of desire and enjoyment, then how would one be any different from a stone?

What was more, the various paths of cultivation in the Star Alliance had developed to their peaks, and all manner of skills had likewise been pushed to their limits. The spirit meals made by those Spirit Chefs possessed color, fragrance, flavor, and effects in equal measure, making them impossible to resist.

Naturally, Liang Ji would not mistreat himself. He often searched the Star Net for famous nearby Spirit Chef restaurants and ordered spirit-meal deliveries.

As he enjoyed the delicious spirit meal, Liang Ji checked the information on the Starlight Treasure Mirror.

Both columns of information had changed somewhat, though neither change was significant.

On Liang Ji's information list, the cultivation entry had changed from "None" to "Nine-Rank Body Refining (Flesh Tempering 30%)."

On the list for his Half-Demon Snake People followers, only the population entry had changed. The number of Half-Demon Snake People on Dragon Soul Star had already surpassed a thousand.

At present, the Half-Demon Snake People were more like wild beasts. They had yet to develop intelligence, awaken their bloodlines, or advance to the first rank. They had not yet established a dominant position on Dragon Soul Star.

All of this still required the passage of time, the investment of resources, and the guidance of a Star Lord.

"Xiao Ji, this is Manager Chen, the one I told you about. Their company does big business!"

That afternoon, one of his distant maternal cousins brought a short, plump middle-aged man to the door and introduced him with a cheerful smile.

Liang Ji had not known this cousin before. It was only when the man had come to offer congratulations at the Star Lord Banquet last time, and his mother had introduced them, that Liang Ji learned he had such a relative.

The purpose of his visit with someone in tow was obvious: he wanted to introduce an investor to Liang Ji.

Just as his homeroom teacher, Teacher Du, had said before, quite a few companies and people had come calling recently, seeking to invest in his Natal Star.

This distant cousin was not even the first relative to bring someone to his door.

Meanwhile, he had received even more materials from various investment companies through his Star Net mailbox and communication number.

Investing in a Star Lord's Natal Star was big business and could make huge money! Plenty of people wanted to get involved and take a slice of the pie.

"Star Lord Liang!" Manager Chen set down the gifts in his hands and greeted him with a beaming smile. "Forgive my presumptuous visit. Please allow me to introduce myself."

"My surname is Chen, given name Tai. I am a manager in the investment department of Li Yang Group."

"Our Li Yang Group does business throughout the entire Penglai Star Domain, covering spirit architecture, spirit meals, spirit plants, Security and Escort, and many other fields. Every year, we sign contracts with and invest in multiple Star Lords."

As Manager Chen spoke, he logged onto the Star Net and opened Li Yang Group's official website to verify his identity and show Liang Ji the information displayed there.

"Mhm. Fine."

"Quite a large company indeed."

"Leave me your contact information. I'll consider it."

Liang Ji was already thoroughly familiar with handling people like this. As for what the man said and the company information he showed, it would be good enough if even half of it was true.

He claimed their business covered the Penglai Star Domain, but they had probably only just expanded beyond Sky Snake Star and established some cooperative relationships on other Main Stars in the Penglai Star Domain, yet already dared to say their business spanned the entire Penglai Star Domain.

The cosmic starry sky governed by the Star Alliance and covered by the Xiantian Spiritual Treasure, the Celestial Star Array Diagram, was called the Primordial Star Sea.

Below the Primordial Star Sea were the various star domains, and beneath the star domains were star systems dominated by their respective Main Stars.

Sky Snake Star and the Sky Snake Star System it governed belonged to the Penglai Star Domain.

Perhaps seeing that Liang Ji was not very interested, Manager Chen hurriedly changed tack. "Star Lord Liang, our company has reviewed your information on the Star Alliance's official website."

"According to the information, the followers bred by your Natal Star underwent a beneficial mutation during their evolution."

"This is an excellent phenomenon. It indicates that your Natal Star possesses an environment that guides beneficial mutations, which is extremely favorable for cultivating all kinds of spirit creatures in the future."

"Therefore, our company is willing to raise our offer by another twenty percent above the market investment price!"

"Furthermore, our company has good partnerships with several research institutions. We can ask specialized research institutions to study your Natal Star and your followers' mutations, then design follow-up cultivation and advancement plans to ensure they continue maintaining beneficial mutations during future advancement."

Manager Chen presented several favorable terms in quick succession.

"Oh?" Liang Ji showed some interest and asked, "May I see information on those research institutions?"

"Of course!"

The smile on Manager Chen's face grew even brighter. He immediately pulled up the official websites of several research institutions on the Star Net and introduced them to Liang Ji.

Liang Ji looked over the information on those official websites and nodded. "How about this? I'll review these materials first. I'll contact you once I've made a decision."

Hearing this, Manager Chen seemed somewhat unwilling to let the matter rest. He looked around, moved closer to Liang Ji, and said in a low voice, "Star Lord Liang, our company's upper management has certain channels through which we can acquire some treasures that are difficult to find on the market."

"If you sign with our company, we can provide you with some such treasures afterward."

Liang Ji looked at him upon hearing this. Thinking there was hope, the smile on the other man's face immediately became even more radiant.

But in the end, Liang Ji lowered his gaze and said, "I'll review the materials first."

Chen Tai's smile stiffened for an instant, but it quickly returned. He nodded with a cheerful laugh. "All right! All right! Then I'll await your good news."

After seeing off Chen Tai and that distant cousin, Liang Ji logged onto the Star Net and contacted his homeroom teacher, Teacher Du. He bundled together all the materials from various investment companies he had received over the past few days and sent them to him.

The Old Liang Family, as well as his mother's family, were ultimately limited by their class and standing. Their network of connections was limited, and it was difficult for them to provide him with much help.

Liang Ji still decided to hear his teacher's opinion.

Very soon, his teacher directly sent over a video call. "I've looked through all the materials. My recommendation is that you choose one or two to sign with from among Bai Cao Group, Sky Snake Mansion, Hong Lu Mining, and Shan De Lou."

"They are all legitimate large companies with guaranteed reputations."

"Sky Snake Mansion in particular was left behind by the Sky Snake Sage. It has a dedicated research department and possesses the most extensive research materials on the development and mutation of all kinds of Half-Demon Snake People."

"It should suit your situation best and be able to offer you considerable help."

Liang Ji nodded slightly upon hearing this, then asked, "Teacher Du, what about Li Yang Group at the end of the materials? They also said they had connections with many research institutions, and that they had channels to obtain some extraordinary treasures."

Teacher Du directly shook his head. "You cannot choose Li Yang Group."

"Why?" Liang Ji could not help asking. "Is there something wrong with them?"

"Never mind whether the research institutions they're connected to are legitimate. Just consider their claim that they have channels to acquire treasures." Teacher Du's expression turned stern as he said gravely, "Usually, these so-called channels and treasures are items of unknown origin."

"Student Liang Ji, I must solemnly tell you once again: your Natal Stars must absolutely not recklessly refine treasures of unknown origin. Otherwise, problems can easily arise, allowing outsiders to take advantage."

"I understand. Thank you, Teacher." Liang Ji nodded thoughtfully and thanked him.

New book seeking support! Seeking investment!