After distributing the Spirit Herbs, Du Busi dismissed the other disciples but summoned Vice Sect Master Jin Peng and Heavenly Soul Princess Weina alone to his room.
"Old Jin, Weina, there's one more matter I need you to handle." Du Busi closed the door and solemnly took out the Lake Bottom Fishing proposal personally written by Ye Linyuan.
He detailed Ye Linyuan's plan for cooperating with the Heavenly Soul Royal Family to open a hotpot restaurant, resolving the Body Sect's financial difficulties while deepening ties between the two sides.
Jin Peng slapped his thigh after hearing it, his old face flushing red with excitement. "Brilliant!"
"How was the Young Sect Master's brain even wired? This Buffet Model is simply perfect!"
"It saves on labor while giving customers maximum freedom. Add hotpot's unique flavor, and how could it possibly not become popular?!"
Weina accepted the proposal, her fair fingers trembling slightly as her beautiful eyes remained fixed on the orderly, rigorous, and forward-thinking business insights written across the pages.
As a member of the royal family, Weina's vision, ideas, and knowledge far surpassed those of ordinary Body Sect disciples.
Had this business proposal come from the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, reputed to be the best merchants on the continent, she might not have been overly surprised.
But it had come from a six-year-old boy who had only just awakened his martial soul. That was truly shocking!
She looked at Du Busi, and waves churned within her usually gentle, calm eyes. "Sect Master, the Young Sect Master... is he really only six years old?"
Seeing her shocked expression, Du Busi inexplicably felt a trace of pride. Stroking his beard, he laughed. "Absolutely!"
"That brat Lin Yuan was a natural monster. He cannot be judged by common sense."
"Weina, you are the Heavenly Soul Princess, so you will handle the negotiations with the royal family."
"Jin Peng, assist her from the side. Get the first Lake Bottom Fishing opened in Heaven Dou City as soon as possible!"
"Yes, Sect Master!" the two replied in unison.
Weina was about to take her leave when she suddenly recalled something. Stopping, she asked, "Sect Master, since this is a partnership, will the fifty-one percent stake representing our Body Sect be registered under your name or Elder Jin's?"
Du Busi waved his hand without hesitation and declared firmly, "Neither."
Amid Jin Peng and Weina's stunned gazes, he said in a deep voice, "The concept for Lake Bottom Fishing was conceived and created entirely by Lin Yuan alone."
"Jin Peng and I are merely running errands and putting it into practice."
"This enterprise, including every bit of profit it generates in the future, will all be registered under Lin Yuan's name!"
"This is the contribution he made to the sect. No one can take it from him!"
Du Busi's eyes gleamed with exceptional resolve.
He had his reasons for doing this.
First, he did not wish to steal the credit from his precious disciple.
Second, he wanted to use this opportunity to further establish Ye Linyuan's unmatched prestige and status within the sect.
He wanted everyone to remember that this Young Sect Master possessed not only supreme talent, but also the grand vision and ability to create wealth for the sect and lead everyone toward prosperity!
Weina's heart trembled.
Clearly, she had also sensed from Du Busi's words just how highly he regarded Ye Linyuan.
Weina bowed slightly and said earnestly, "Weina understands. I will not fail the Sect Master and Young Sect Master's trust."
After leaving the Body Sect, Weina did not delay in the slightest and immediately returned to the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Palace.
In the Imperial Study, she presented the Lake Bottom Fishing proposal and Ye Linyuan's complete cooperation plan to her father exactly as they were.
The current Heavenly Soul Emperor.
After reading the proposal, the Heavenly Soul Emperor remained silent for a long time.
At last, he slowly set down the papers in his hand and let out a long sigh.
He said with heartfelt admiration, "Your Young Sect Master truly is an outstanding man!"
"Though he is still young, the vision, scope, and boldness displayed in this business proposal show that even if he were merely an ordinary person without any Soul Power, he would surely become a titan of the business world in the future!"
He looked at Weina. "Weina, I'm placing this entire matter in your hands."
"You may freely deploy the royal family's personnel and venues."
"Make sure you cooperate fully with the Body Sect and turn this Lake Bottom Fishing into a brand-new calling card for our Heaven Dou Empire!"
"Yes, Father!"
With that, Weina prepared to turn and leave to begin handling the matter.
But just as she was about to walk out the door, the Heavenly Soul Emperor suddenly called her back.
"Weina."
"Hmm? Father, do you have another instruction?" Weina asked in confusion.
The Heavenly Soul Emperor looked at his favorite daughter and suddenly revealed a meaningful smile. "When you spoke to me of this Young Sect Master just now, the light in your eyes was completely different from before."
"Could it be that you have feelings for him..."
Weina froze at his words, and a blush instantly spread across her gentle oval face.
She stomped her foot instinctively. "Father, what are you saying?!"
"I haven't even met the Young Sect Master. How could I possibly feel... feel that way about him..."
"Your daughter is merely curious and admires his wisdom, that's all!"
Seeing Weina reveal such a rare girlish manner, the Heavenly Soul Emperor's smile only widened.
He gently shook his head, his voice softening. "Weina, you once said that you did not have those feelings for Long Aotian."
"But I think you are clearly far more interested in the Young Sect Master named Ye Linyuan than you ever were in Long Aotian."
"The Body Sect's Young Sect Master has now changed from Long Aotian to Ye Linyuan. According to our original plan, you should shift your target as well."
"But what Father wants to tell you is that if Ye Linyuan is someone you truly like and admire, then you should take the initiative and pursue him."
"To meet someone you like who also serves our royal family's interests is your good fortune. Father is sincerely happy for you as well."
"This is what I wanted to say to you as your father."
Weina looked at the Heavenly Soul Emperor, and her gaze became gentle once more.
She nodded softly. "I understand. Thank you, Father."
"Mm, go on."
With the Heavenly Soul Emperor's full support, Weina immediately displayed the decisiveness and capability befitting the royal family's legitimate princess.
She personally acquired a three-story restaurant in the most prosperous central district of Heaven Dou City, in an excellent location.
She then transferred the royal family's finest imperial chefs and managers, training staff, renovating, and stocking supplies at breakneck speed according to the requirements in Ye Linyuan's proposal.
Once all preparations were complete, Lake Bottom Hotpot City formally debuted in Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, in an unprecedented fashion.
On opening day.
The novel self-service dining model, the abundant variety of soup bases, and the distinctive spicy, fragrant flavor.
Along with the mysterious recipe said to have been passed down by some reclusive sect, instantly set all of Heaven Dou City ablaze!
There was no need for extensive promotion. The unique sensation that made one's soul tremble after eating, along with the lively atmosphere of sitting around a table and fishing ingredients out of bubbling red broth, swiftly conquered the palates of everyone from commoners to noble merchants.
Long lines formed outside every day, the restaurant was always packed, and reservations often had to be made several days in advance.
As it exploded in popularity throughout Heaven Dou City, Lake Bottom Fishing's reputation spread as though it had grown wings, quickly carried by merchants and travelers to other cities in the Heaven Dou Empire and even to empires such as Dou Ling and Star Luo.
Weina struck while the iron was hot, immediately preparing the second and third branches. The speed of expansion was astonishing.
The returns generated by the fifty-one percent stake under Ye Linyuan's personal name also swelled like a snowball, rapidly becoming a vast fortune that made every faction green with envy.
The Body Sect's long-standing financial predicament was thus resolved with ease.
Although most ordinary people did not know that Young Sect Master Ye Linyuan had single-handedly created this miracle.
His name had already quietly etched itself into the hearts of the few high-ranking members of the Body Sect and the Heaven Dou Empire who knew the truth, becoming synonymous with mystery and legend.
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