The Maoshan Sect's Grand Plan and the Spirit Hall's Grand Plan

After Salas left with his people, several among the onlooking crowd quickly departed as well.

Clearly, they were spies from various factions, intending to report what had just happened.

Shi Jian naturally noticed them, but he did not care in the slightest. He continued telling fortunes for people, while Ye Zhou assisted him from the side.

Before long, it was noon.

"Everyone, that will be all for today. If any friends still wish to have their fates calculated, you may come again tomorrow," Shi Jian said as he rose to address those still waiting in line.

At this, disappointed looks appeared on many faces. They had queued for so long and were just about to be called, only for Shi Jian to suddenly pack up his stall.

After so many people ahead of them had tested him, everyone had confirmed that Shi Jian truly possessed the ability to divine matters for others, and that his calculations were extremely accurate.

As for feng shui readings, no one had hired him for one yet.

They looked up at the sky. It was noon. It seemed even a Titled Douluo had to eat lunch.

"Alas..." No one dared complain. After sighing inwardly, they all cupped their hands to Shi Jian in salute and said they would return tomorrow, asking him to make sure to calculate their fortunes then.

Shi Jian did not refuse. After all, he was here to make money.

However, he had already begun considering whether he should raise his fees.

Like that first woman who had fallen in love with her cousin—he should not have charged her one thousand Gold Soul Coins. He should have charged ten thousand. That would have made money much faster.

Shi Jian had said earlier that he needed money, land, and talent to revitalize Maoshan. He had not been lying to Salas. He truly needed those things, and he truly wanted to create a Maoshan Sect here on Douluo Continent.

Inside the inn room.

"Uncle Jian, if you want to establish the Maoshan Sect here, setting up a stall won't work," Ye Zhou said while eating.

"Oh? You have an idea?" Shi Jian asked as he shoveled rice into his mouth.

"I studied that Douluo Continent book. The reason Tang San was able to establish the Tang Sect and make it flourish in this world was mainly because he cooperated with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and earned a massive amount of Gold Soul Coins. If you only tell fortunes for ordinary Soul Emperors and Soul Saints, you won't earn that much even in ten years."

"As for talent, Tang San subdued the Four Single-Attribute Clans, and he also had Shrek behind him, which had merged with Blue Tyrant Academy and several major elemental academies. Every year, the academies produced outstanding graduates, giving him a natural advantage in recruiting them into the Tang Sect."

"He also had an industry. Hidden weapon sales brought in a constant stream of income."

"The Tang Sect's secret arts were also highly coveted."

"On top of that, the Heaven Dou Empire supported him with policies aimed at opposing Spirit Hall."

"For all those reasons, the Tang Sect leapt up to become an existence comparable to, or even surpassing, the Top Three Sects."

"Uncle Jian, if you want to revitalize Maoshan, you can't do it by fighting alone."

Ye Zhou spoke unhurriedly.

As Shi Jian listened, his brows slowly furrowed.

He was old, and though his temper was fierce, he was not stupid. He had thought of everything Ye Zhou mentioned.

It was just that...

Thinking of it was one thing. For the time being, he had no good solution.

Tang San could make money from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but how was he supposed to do that? By reading feng shui for Ning Fengzhi?

It was not as though Ning Fengzhi was moving house or had someone die in his family.

Or perhaps he could calculate how Ning Fengzhi could evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?

That might work, but would Ning Fengzhi really give him a large sum of money over a single sentence?

Besides, he could not possibly tell him where the immortal herbs were. At most, once he acquired some immortal herbs in the future, he could sell that Aromatic Silk Beauty to him.

And then there was talent. Shrek had merged with Blue Tyrant Academy because the two academy heads were old comrades, practically family. As for him...

Wait!

Blue Tyrant Academy.

That woman who had asked him to calculate her romantic fate seemed to be Liu Erlong!

But how was he supposed to take the academy from her? Buy it? He did not have enough money!

Shi Jian felt that this was still very difficult.

"Uncle Jian, I know of a world called Naruto. They have a weapon there called an Explosive Tag. It seals the power of an explosion into a talisman. When they encounter an enemy, they tie the talisman to a throwing knife and toss it out. Then, with a bang, the talisman explodes and blows the enemy to death. You're the Maoshan Senior Brother and skilled in lightning arts. Could you draw a similar talisman?" Ye Zhou asked Shi Jian.

Shi Jian froze at the question, then quickly understood.

"You mean for me to do business with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect using Thunder Fire Talismans?"

"Thunder Fire Talismans?" Ye Zhou exclaimed. There was no need to specifically invent them? Such talismans already existed?

"Didn't you just describe Explosive Tags that can blow people to death? Aren't those Thunder Fire Talismans?" Shi Jian asked in return.

"They can blow people to death... then they should be about the same. Uncle Jian, are those talismans difficult to draw?"

"Not difficult. I can draw around a hundred a day."

"Then we can absolutely cooperate with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and fleece that rich bastard!" Ye Zhou said excitedly.

Helping Shi Jian establish the Maoshan Sect would also bring him great benefits.

After all, wasn't Shi Jian's power my power?

"Drawing Thunder Fire Talismans requires certain materials. Yellow paper is easy enough, but the brush and cinnabar are particular," Shi Jian said with a frown.

"Have the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect prepare them. We only need to draw some talismans first and let him inspect the goods, so he'll believe in our talismans," Ye Zhou said.

Didn't Tang San also have the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect prepare his materials? If they could agree to Tang San's request, they could agree to Shi Jian's as well.

Business was business—whoever they did it with made no difference.

"Mm." Shi Jian nodded. That could work.

"What about the academy?"

"Uncle Jian, we'll first make some money from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, then establish an academy. With a Titled Douluo as its headmaster, it'll definitely attract plenty of renowned teachers and gifted students. Then, you can teach some Maoshan Arts that can be passed on publicly at the academy, letting them get a taste of it. After that, tell them that only by joining Maoshan and becoming Maoshan Disciples can they learn the truly profound arts. Wouldn't that solve our talent problem?"

"That makes sense!" Shi Jian nodded, secretly thinking that this kid was sharp.

"As for a sect headquarters, Uncle Jian, since Swordsman Yan has gone to Spirit Hall, why don't you follow Dugu Bo's example and become a Guest Elder of the Heaven Dou Royal Family? The Heaven Dou Royal Family has plenty of land and plenty of fools. They can grant titles and fiefs even to Soul Ancestors who perform well in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. You're a dignified Titled Douluo—if you become their Guest Elder and ask them for some land as Maoshan's base, would they really refuse?"

"That's right!" Shi Jian's eyes lit up. The Heaven Dou Empire might have far fewer cultivation resources than Spirit Hall, but it certainly had an abundance of land.

"Uncle Jian, before long, Maoshan will surely become one of the continent's top sects!" Ye Zhou said seriously to Shi Jian.

"Mm." Shi Jian nodded forcefully. What you said makes perfect sense. We'll follow your plan!

Meanwhile, at the Crown Prince's Mansion.

Upon learning that Salas had returned empty-handed, Qian Renxue frowned.

That mysterious Titled Douluo had no favorable impression of Spirit Hall and had rejected Salas's recruitment. For her, the young mistress of Spirit Hall, this was not good news.

However, just as Porcupinefish Douluo had said, since Shi Jian disliked Spirit Hall, if she approached him on behalf of the Heaven Dou Empire, the chances of winning him over would be high. At the very least, she could improve their relationship and learn more about his background before deciding on the next step.

In any case, there absolutely could not be the slightest mishap in Spirit Hall's plan to scheme for control of the continent!