Second-rate Companies Build Brands, First-rate Companies Set Standards

"This stuff of yours is pretty good."

With a pleased squint, Bibi Dong took a deep pull. One jade-white leg unconsciously lifted onto the stool, her elbow propped on her knee.

"This is ice-cold going down. What's it called?"

Xu Yuan stood beside her and smiled. "Immortal Happy Water!"

Bibi Dong nodded in satisfaction. "It really does make you happy when you drink it. Not bad, not bad. You can send more over in the future.

The weather's so hot now that herbal tea doesn't help at all. Your Happy Water is much better!"

Xu Yuan nodded with a smile. He left the box behind and quickly took his leave.

Bibi Dong said Xu Yuan did not need to deliver it himself. Cultivation was more important, so she would send Yue Guan to collect it every day from now on.

A dignified Title Douluo had been reduced to an errand boy. There was really no one else like him.

But it did make sense.

A round trip for Yue Guan only took a few minutes, while Xu Yuan needed at least half an hour to go up and down the mountain himself. Those capable should do more work.

Early the next morning.

After finishing his morning cultivation, Xu Yuan stayed busy making Happy Water until noon before finally stopping.

He made quite a lot and, as usual, set some aside for Hu Liena.

As for the rest, aside from the portion Yue Guan collected for Bibi Dong after lunch, Xu Yuan packed it all into small boxes.

Each box held two or three cups.

After putting them all into his Storage Soul Tool, he began making visits from one Archbishop to one Platinum Bishop.

The Storage Soul Tool had been a gift from Bibi Dong when he became her disciple.

It was an exquisitely designed bracelet with a huge internal space, roughly half the size of a basketball court.

If it had been a student from another Spirit Academy, they likely would not even have been allowed through the door for such a visit. A student was just a student; no matter how gifted, talent was only talent.

But with the identity of Bibi Dong's disciple, Xu Yuan had barely given his name before he was quickly ushered inside.

The man was a small old fellow who looked to be in his fifties. His hair was graying, but he seemed to be in fairly good spirits. His name was Fadanier.

He was currently one of Spirit Hall's five Platinum Bishops, responsible for Spirit Hall's logistics and logistical support.

He was also one of the Spirit Hall higher-ups who had encountered Xu Yuan a few days ago.

"Hehe, coming over was enough. Why bring a gift?"

Stepping aside to let Xu Yuan in, Fadanier smiled as he reproached him. "Don't do this next time. If the Pope finds out, I won't have an easy time of it."

Knowing it was only a joke, Xu Yuan still spoke up for Bibi Dong.

"It won't come to that. Teacher is quite magnanimous."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan handed over the small box. "It's nothing valuable, just a specialty drink from my hometown. I made it myself. Please give it a try and see how it tastes."

Fadanier immediately fell silent and accepted the box, opening it on the spot.

Looking at the two brown drinks inside, each sealed with a transparent lid, he hesitated before taking a sip.

Not for any other reason—after all, it was the boy's thoughtfulness.

He had even made up his mind that no matter how awful it tasted, he would smile and offer a word or two of praise.

Yet the moment it entered his mouth, Fadanier reacted much like Hu Liena had when she first tasted it. His brows lifted slightly. It felt strange, and the experience was novel.

Unsure, he took another sip.

Two sips, three sips, four sips...

Before long, both cups of Happy Water had gone into his stomach. Smacking his lips a few times, Fadanier wanted another taste.

His eyes were filled with confusion. This texture was simply too unusual!

Seeing this, Xu Yuan immediately asked with a smile.

"How was it? What did you think? Was it good?"

"That's not the question."

Fadanier offered no evaluation and looked at Xu Yuan with a smile. "Go on. What do you need from me?"

Showing up at his door and bringing a gift—he did not believe Xu Yuan had come merely for a casual visit.

Here it came.

Once the conversation turned to business, the smile on Xu Yuan's face vanished, replaced by a serious expression.

"I call what you just drank 'Immortal Happy Water.' What do you think its sales prospects would be if it were sold across the continent?"

Fadanier did not answer immediately. He gave Xu Yuan a surprised once-over.

"You want to do business?"

A genius with a Top-tier Tool Spirit and Innate Full Soul Power, who had also been accepted as the Pope's disciple—rather than cultivating properly, he wanted to go into business?

"Cultivation is naturally my first priority."

Xu Yuan grinned and rubbed his hands together. "This is just a personal hobby. When I was little, I saw merchants throwing around piles of money and thought it looked great, so I wanted to give it a try."

Fadanier was speechless. He said it as if he had already grown up.

Still, since Xu Yuan had put it that way, Fadanier could not exactly throw cold water on him. He was the Pope's disciple, so he had to show him some respect.

"So how do you plan to do it?"

In his eyes, Xu Yuan was merely a child playing on a whim, and he did not take it seriously at all.

Although the drink did taste quite good, how much could Xu Yuan make in a day by himself?

He still had to cultivate and attend lessons every day. At most, he would fool around with it on a small scale for a while before giving up soon enough.

"I haven't decided yet. I just came to give you a heads-up first. When I need your help later, don't refuse me!"

Seeing that it was about time, Xu Yuan prepared to leave.

"Of course not."

Fadanier shook his head. He had not paid Xu Yuan's little venture any mind at all.

Soon.

Xu Yuan said his farewells, left Fadanier's home, walked only a few steps west, and knocked on another door.

Red-Clad Bishops, Archbishops, Platinum Bishops.

Over the course of three days, Xu Yuan visited every one of Spirit Hall's mid- and upper-level officials, made his intentions known, and explained his plans in detail.

Although some of them were Bibi Dong's political rivals and disagreed with her policies, they still gave him enough face not to show him any displeasure.

Xu Yuan arranged a time with them for everyone to gather and discuss cooperation.

That was right—cooperation.

He had no intention of producing and selling it himself. Xu Yuan was only one person, and cultivation was his main profession. How much money could he make producing and selling on a small scale alone?

Xu Yuan only needed to provide the formula and let those Red-Clad Bishops, Archbishops, and Platinum Bishops handle the rest.

They managed all the Spirit Hall Branch Halls across the continent and had no shortage of manpower.

Spirit Hall's influence covered the entire continent, giving it sales channels throughout the land. Combined with the fact that Happy Water itself was excellent and had no competing products on the market, how could it not sell like crazy?

As the saying went, second-rate companies built brands, while first-rate companies set standards.

What Xu Yuan was doing now was giving these people a standard, then taking a cut. Every cup of Happy Water sold would earn him a share.

Even if he only took one percent, the total from the entire continent would still be an astronomical sum.

As for the other Red-Clad Bishops and Platinum Bishops, although they were only responsible for their own territories, they would receive the bulk of the profits.

As long as there was money to be made, there was no fear that they would not work hard.

And now that Xu Yuan was the Pope's disciple, he was not worried that they would kick him out once they started making money.

Timing, location, and support—everything was on his side.

And with shared interests binding them together, the gradually decaying Spirit Hall would become as solid and unbreakable as a sheet of iron in the future.