The old eunuch lowered his head even further and cautiously reported in a high-pitched voice, "Your Majesty, I have heard that a strange thing has happened in Qiantang County recently."
"A plague broke out in the area, and a newly established Daoist lineage called ' Medicine King Valley ' concocted a miraculous medicine called ' Peace Preservation Decoction,' which not only completely eradicates the plague but also has the miraculous effects of strengthening the body and prolonging life. It is currently being distributed free of charge in the area, saving countless lives."
" Medicine King Valley? Peace Preservation Decoction?" The official narrowed his eyes slightly, repeating these two names.
He snorted coldly, his tone chilling. "Ha, a miraculous medicine that can cure diseases and prolong life? Such a treasure, after its appearance, you didn't even present it to me immediately? Do you have no respect for your sovereign and father?!"
He hesitated for a moment, then decided to bestow a great favor and instructed the chief eunuch:
"Considering that this lineage is newly established and may not be familiar with the rules, I will not investigate further this time and will not confiscate their property or punish them."
With a flick of his sleeve, he issued an unquestionable order:
"By imperial decree, order Medicine King Valley to immediately present the prescription for ' Peace Preservation Decoction,' along with all their stockpiled medicinal herbs and any rare and precious materials they can gather, as tribute! There must be no error!"
"Your servant obeys the decree."
The Medicine King Valley successfully resolving the plague in Qiantang and saving countless lives with its " Peace Preservation Decoction " without charging a penny has spread like wildfire through the mouths of countless beneficiaries.
In Qiantang and the surrounding areas, the names " Medicine King Valley " and " Chen Jin " have become synonymous with "benevolence and skill" and "supernatural abilities," accumulating unprecedented prestige and trust.
Just as his reputation was at its zenith, the Financial Isotope found Chen Jin's true form.
His tone was filled with barely suppressed excitement:
"Our opportunity is now unparalleled! Merely manipulating ' Peace Preservation Hall's' stock price from behind the scenes would be a terrible waste of our current resources and this excellent momentum."
Chen Jin looked back at his counterpart. He knew that he was not an expert in complex financial operations and capital expansion. After entrusting financial operations to his financial counterpart these days, his wealth had indeed increased much faster.
"Oh?" Chen Jin gestured for him to continue, his tone calm, "What do you think we should do?"
The financial entity immediately began to articulate its points clearly and concisely. "We now possess three priceless assets: First, the lofty reputation and unquestionable credibility of Medicine King Valley in saving lives and helping the people; second, the near-monopolistic supply of top-tier medicinal herbs and their future development potential brought by Purple Essence Dragon King Ginseng and its clan; and third, the offline distribution network and public support we have initially established in the process of resolving the plague."
"My plan is to issue ' Medicine King Valley Merit Bonds ' using the reputation of Medicine King Valley as collateral, raising idle funds from the public. The interest rate can be slightly higher than that of money shops. With our current prestige, we won't have to worry about finding subscribers. Part of the funds raised will be used to expand the scale of medicinal herb cultivation and elixir refining, while the other part can be used to establish ' Medicine King Bank,' providing storage and lending services, thus taking control of the financial lifeline."
"At the same time, we can launch the ' West Lake Gathering ' and ' Medicine King Valley Select ' projects, targeting high-end clients and providing customized elixirs, health consultations, and even longevity services to maximize the value of top-tier resources. We can also leverage our reputation among the people to integrate some shops and lands that have been devastated by the plague, and carry out unified planning and development..."
Chen Jin listened to him outlining a grand blueprint for a business empire... he realized he couldn't understand a word he said.
He pondered for a moment, then made a decisive decision.
"Can."
Chen Jin interrupted him, his tone filled with absolute trust and delegation, "You are more knowledgeable than I am about these business and financial operations. From this moment on, I grant you full authority to mobilize all available funds and resources under our name, and to conduct necessary operations in the name of Medicine King Valley and myself, Chen Jin. The specifics of how to operate are entirely up to you; you do not need to report to me on every matter. I will only look at the final result."
Upon hearing this, the financial counterpart's eyes gleamed, and a spirited smile appeared on his face.
What he wanted was this unhindered decision-making power.
"Understood! Rest assured, I will make ' Medicine King Valley ' a treasure trove of wealth from all over the world! The goal of ten million taels of silver may be achieved even faster than we expect."
Having received authorization, the financial isotope was satisfied, turned around and left with light steps.
After processing the financial counterpart's request, Chen Jin strolled to a newly opened, quiet courtyard in the backyard of Medicine King Valley.
He set up this place as an internal training ground, exclusively for those of similar status to practice and exchange skills.
As soon as he pushed open the half-closed wooden door, a pure and peaceful aura rushed towards him.
Inside the courtyard, Gongsun Sheng Cloud-Entering Dragon Gongsun Sheng, sat upright on a futon, holding a whisk, his expression solemn.
Before him sat a dozen or so " Chen Jin " figures, each with a different temperament but the same appearance, listening intently.
Gongsun Sheng was reciting mantras, each word a gem, explaining a basic "Purity Sutra." Occasionally, he would demonstrate a simple breathing technique or a calming mantra, with spiritual light flowing from his fingertips, causing ripples of spiritual energy in the surrounding area.
Chen Jin stood quietly in the shadows of the porch, undisturbed.
His establishment of this Daoist temple and his invitation to Gongsun Sheng, a highly respected Daoist master, to teach there were profound reasons behind it.
The isotopes created by [ Endless Depletion ] are not all endowed with unique skills.
A large portion of them are more like blank canvases, or ordinary people with basic cognition and learning abilities, without any outstanding "specialization".
These "ordinary versions of Chen Jin " previously worked in Rare Treasure Mountain, moving building materials and maintaining order, mostly doing manual labor or auxiliary work.
But this is undoubtedly a waste of resources.
Chen Jin realized that it was necessary to establish an internal training and selection mechanism.
"My own 'expertise' in Daoist arts is almost non-existent," Chen Jin thought to himself. "In this way, if these peers learn Daoist arts, everyone will be on the same starting line. I haven't had much contact with Daoist arts before, so let's see if there are any Daoist arts geniuses among them this time."
"Starting on equal footing, with the same resources invested and taught by a renowned master like Gongsun Sheng, who among them will ultimately demonstrate exceptional comprehension and talent in Daoist arts, even developing a new 'specialization'? And who will truly be of mediocre talent, better suited for other basic tasks?"
This is an internal "Daoist talent census" and "specialization selection".
Once Chen Jin discovers that a particular individual possesses immense potential in Daoist arts, he will not hesitate to invest more resources in their focused training. In the future, a "Daoist Chen Jin " skilled in talismans, formations, or Daoist magic may very well emerge.