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 carved out a training ground in their backyard, which now conveniently served Liang Ji's body-refining cultivation.

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

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

Liang Ji recalled some Bull Demon videos he had watched on the Human Path's official website. With a single shake, a Bull Demon's flesh throughout its body would quiver; not even a louse could cling to it!

Those cultivating the Ox Demon Great Strength Fist had to achieve the same—shake and tremble every inch of flesh across the body to attain the effect of Skin-and-Flesh Refining.

"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 more than a few times a day."

Liang Ji planted his feet on the ground like bull hooves, thrust out his hands like bull horns, and shook the flesh across his body.

Then, before he could even feel the agony of aching flesh, great currents of warmth emerged and coursed 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 restorative and nourishing effects far surpassed pills and medicinal baths, and it worked faster too!

"It's not that hard!"

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

Ding! Your delivery has arrived.

A notification sounded outside. Liang Ji ended his training and stepped out of the house. A delivery of spirit food had already been placed in the storage box by the door.

Although Star Lords had the support of their Natal Stars' Star Power and could go without food for long periods, the desire for food was not merely about filling one's stomach and staying alive. It was also a desire, an enjoyment.

If cultivation required one to abandon even this small desire and enjoyment, what difference would there be between that and being a stone?

What was more, within the Star Alliance, every path of cultivation had developed to its peak, and all kinds of arts had likewise been pushed to their limits. The spirit food made by Spirit Chefs possessed color, fragrance, flavor, and efficacy alike, making it impossible to stop once one started.

Naturally, Liang Ji would not mistreat himself. He often searched the Star Net for renowned nearby Spirit Chef restaurants and ordered spirit food delivery.

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

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

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

In the list for his Half-Demon Snake People Vassals, only the population entry had changed. The number of Half-Demon Snake People on Dragon Soul Star had already surpassed one 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 ruling position on Dragon Soul Star.

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

"Little Ji, this is the Manager Chen I told you about. His company does big business!"

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

Liang Ji had not known this cousin before. It was only when the man came to offer congratulations during the previous Star Lord Banquet, and Liang Ji's mother introduced them, that he learned he had such a relative.

The purpose of this cousin bringing someone to visit 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 knocking recently, hoping to invest in his Natal Star.

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

The materials from all sorts of investment companies that Liang Ji had received through his Star Net mailbox and communication number were even more numerous.

Investing in a Star Lord's Natal Star was a big business that could make huge money! There were plenty who wanted to get involved and take a share of the pie.

"Star Lord Liang!" Manager Chen set down the gifts he was carrying and greeted him with a broad 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. We are involved in spirit architecture, spirit food, 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, verifying his identity and showing Liang Ji the information displayed there.

"Mhm. Fine."

"Sure enough, it's a major company."

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

Liang Ji was already very familiar with dealing with people like this. As for what the other party said—the company information and the like—it would be impressive if even half of it were true.

They claimed their business spanned the Penglai Star Domain, but they had probably only just stepped beyond Sky Snake Star and had a few cooperative connections on other Main Stars in the Penglai Star Domain. Yet they already dared to claim their business covered the entire Penglai Star Domain.

The cosmic starry sky governed by the Star Alliance, beneath the shroud of the Xiantian Spiritual Treasure, the Celestial Star Array Diagram, was known as the Primordial Star Sea.

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

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

Seemingly noticing Liang Ji's lack of interest, 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 Vassals bred by your Natal Star underwent a beneficial mutation during their evolution."

"This is an extremely positive phenomenon. It indicates that your Natal Star possesses an environment capable of guiding beneficial mutations, which is highly advantageous for cultivating all kinds of spirit beings 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 excellent partnerships with multiple research institutions. We can engage specialized research institutions to study your Natal Star and your Vassals' mutations, then design subsequent cultivation and advancement plans to ensure that they continue to maintain beneficial mutations in later advancements."

Manager Chen proposed several favorable terms in succession.

"Oh?" Liang Ji was somewhat interested. He asked, "May I see the 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 through the information on those official websites, nodded, and said, "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 it go. He glanced around, leaned closer to Liang Ji, and lowered his voice. "Star Lord Liang, our company's upper management has certain channels through which they can obtain 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. Thinking there was hope, the smile on the other man's face immediately grew even more radiant.

But in the end, Liang Ji still lowered his gaze. "I'll look over the materials first."

Chen Tai's smile stiffened for an instant, but it quickly returned. He nodded with a chuckle. "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 the materials from the 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 side of the family, were ultimately limited by their social class and standing. Their network of connections was limited, and they could not provide him with much help.

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

Very soon, his teacher sent a video call directly. "I've reviewed all the materials. Based on my recommendation, you can choose one or two from Bai Cao Group, Sky Snake Mansion, Hong Lu Mining, and Shan De Lou to sign with."

"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 abundant research materials on the development and mutation of all kinds of Half-Demon Snake People."

"It should be the best fit for your situation and can offer you considerable help."

Liang Ji nodded slightly at this, then asked, "Teacher Du, what about Li Yang Group at the end of the materials? They also said they have ties with many research institutions, and they claimed to have channels for obtaining 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?"

"Leaving aside whether the research institutions they contact are legitimate, let's talk about their so-called channels for obtaining treasures." Teacher Du's expression turned solemn as he said in a deep voice, "Generally speaking, these so-called channels and treasures are things of unknown origin."

"Student Liang Ji, I am telling you again in all seriousness: your Natal Stars must never recklessly refine treasures of unknown origin. Otherwise, problems can arise very easily, and outsiders may exploit them."

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

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