Calculating Gains and Losses

"Moo!"

In Xinghua Village, an old water buffalo in the distant mountains let out a bellow.

The villagers were also toiling day after day.

And at the entrance of Xinghua Village, Meng Haoran was walking alongside more than ten juniors from the Meng Family.

Today was the second time their Meng Family was selling Spirit Beasts in the West Market, and half a month had passed since the last time.

Upon their return to the Meng Family, the Meng Family Patriarch, Meng Jingshan, personally emerged from the Spirit Spring to welcome Meng Haoran and the others.

Half a month prior, the Meng Family had sold a total of thirty-one Spirit Beasts in the West Market, bringing in an income of twenty-four thousand eight hundred and fifty Spirit Stones.

That first sale of Spirit Beasts had given the Meng Family a taste of success.

Even Meng Jingshan, the Meng Family Patriarch, hadn't expected selling Spirit Beasts to be so profitable. At this rate and frequency, the profit from their Spirit Beast sales was almost on par with that from the Second-Tier Spirit Plants, the Six-Pattern Wheat, in their spirit herb land.

Seeing Meng Haoran enter, Meng Jingshan strode forward, took his hand, and asked, "Haoran, how was today's income?"

Meng Haoran cupped his fists and replied, "Today, we sold a total of forty-three Spirit Beasts, with a total income of thirty-four thousand four hundred Spirit Stones."

Hearing such a massive income in Spirit Stones, Meng Jingshan beamed, unable to close his mouth, and repeatedly praised, "Good, good, good! The kitchen will prepare a feast for you juniors today!"

All the juniors responded in agreement.

Meng Haoran helped Meng Jingshan back to his room and said, "Patriarch Jingshan, our Meng Family's scope of operation in Xinghua Village is currently very limited. The five mu of spirit herb land in the backyard is already being cultivated. If we want to expand our Spirit Beast business, we'll need to increase the size of our Spirit Beast grounds. However, our Meng Family is only so large, and this restricts our development in the Spirit Beast aspect."

Meng Jingshan nodded, "Haoran, how can I not understand what you're saying? Although the income from selling Spirit Beasts is almost as good as that from the spirit herb land, if we calculate the costs, the Spirit Beast income is still not as good as the spirit herb land's income. Therefore, once the Six-Pattern Wheat in the spirit herb land matures next time, I plan to use the Spirit Stones from its sale to first expand our Meng Family's operational scope within Xinghua Village."

Meng Haoran listened, thought for a moment, and then asked, "Patriarch Jingshan, trading Spirit Stones and expanding our Meng Family's operational scope in Xinghua Village isn't impossible, but Haoran wonders if this might attract the attention of the Lin and Chen Families?"

After pouring Meng Jingshan a cup of cool tea, Meng Haoran continued, "Originally, our Meng Family has already been quite conspicuous due to the matter of the Spirit Taming Talisman and selling Spirit Beasts in the West Market. The Lin and Chen Families are watching our Meng Family's every move. If expanding our Meng Family's operational scope in Xinghua Village leads to the exposure of the five mu of spirit herb land in our backyard, that would be a loss outweighing the gain!"

Their Meng Family had finally gotten on the right track, almost entirely thanks to the Second-Tier Spirit Plant, the Six-Pattern Wheat, in the five mu of spirit herb land in their backyard.

This "Six-Pattern Wheat" could not only earn their Meng Family a large amount of Spirit Stones but also enhance their Meng Family's overall strength.

Even if they didn't sell Spirit Beasts in Qingyang County Town, or sell "Spirit Taming Talismans" in Qingyang County Town, Meng Jingshan would never reveal the secret of the spirit herb land in their backyard.

Meng Jingshan chuckled upon hearing this, "Hahaha, I, this old man, was indeed muddle-headed. I didn't think as far ahead as you did!"

Meng Haoran smiled, "Patriarch Jingshan, you flatter me."

As their conversation ended, Meng Bohai's voice came from outside the door.

"What did Haoran say to make Patriarch Jingshan laugh so heartily?"

As he spoke, Meng Bohai's broad figure stepped through the doorway.

Meng Jingshan nodded, "Bohai, you've come at the right time. I have something to discuss with you."

Hearing this, Meng Haoran cupped his fists, "Then I shall take my leave."

Meng Jingshan waved his hand, "Haoran, don't go. Stay and listen."

Meng Haoran felt a bit suspicious, but since Meng Jingshan had said so, he could only stand quietly to the side.

Meng Bohai sat beside Meng Jingshan and asked, "What is it, Patriarch Jingshan?"

Meng Jingshan smiled, "It's nothing major. It's just that our Meng Family has recently come into some Spirit Stones, and you are at the tenth level of the Qi Refining Realm. Therefore, I was thinking of using the family's resources and my own protection to help you reach the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Bohai was slightly taken aback.

Meng Haoran, standing nearby, cupped his fists and chuckled, "Congratulations, Uncle Bohai!"

Meng Bohai calmly replied, "Patriarch Jingshan, this matter might not be appropriate. Our Meng Family's top priority right now is to quickly and steadily accumulate all the Foundation Establishment resources for you to successfully advance from the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Wouldn't this be putting the cart before the horse?"

"Although I am currently at the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm, I am already old. In the future, when the family has accumulated enough Foundation Establishment cultivation resources, my chances of success will only be fifty-fifty."

Meng Jingshan explained, "So, rather than pursuing something with such low odds, I'd rather help you advance to the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm first. Even if our Meng Family accumulates enough resources in the future for me to attempt a breakthrough, I won't have any regrets."

Meng Haoran finally understood the old man's good intentions after hearing Meng Jingshan's words.

Currently, for Meng Bohai to break through from the tenth level of the Qi Refining Realm to the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm, it was merely a matter of resources.

He was only one step away from the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm, and in Meng Jingshan's eyes, it was a sure thing.

Since Meng Jingshan's own chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm was only fifty percent, if he failed, it would at best waste the cultivation resources the Meng Family had painstakingly accumulated during this time, and at worst, it could lead to his death during the breakthrough.

If Meng Jingshan were to die unexpectedly, and the Meng Family had no cultivators at the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm, they would be like fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of others.

Moreover, the County Magistrate Song Zhiyi at the County Office had already extended an olive branch of cooperation to their Meng Family. The Meng Family absolutely could not afford any mistakes at this critical juncture.

Meng Bohai, who had strived for the Meng Family for many years, understood Meng Jingshan's words immediately.

Seeing Meng Bohai nod slightly, Meng Jingshan stood up, "Bohai, there are enough Spirit Stones on the table for you to absorb and refine. Haoran and I will wait outside for your good news."

With that, Meng Haoran helped Meng Jingshan walk out the door.

Meng Bohai cupped his fists, "Bohai will not fail Patriarch Jingshan's expectations!"

The door was closed by Meng Haoran, and he and Meng Jingshan sat on the stone steps outside, waiting quietly.

Not long after, a powerful suction force emerged from within the room. Visible streams of heaven and earth spiritual energy formed a massive vortex, rapidly pouring into the room.

Seeing this, Meng Jingshan waved his hand, and an invisible formation covered the area, concealing the fluctuations.

He looked down at Meng Haoran and asked, "Haoran, do you think Bohai will succeed?"

Meng Haoran nodded solemnly and smiled, "Patriarch Jingshan, please rest assured, Uncle Bohai will definitely succeed!"

.:wap.

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