"Even if the Great Worship lost to Clear Sky Douluo again, we could say he'd tied his own hands and feet, deliberately letting Clear Sky Douluo, his junior, win."
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Qian Xunji's gaze at Zhao Linchuan gradually changed.
He slowly leaned back in his chair, tapped the armrest twice with his fingers, then suddenly slapped the desk.
"You really are a fascinating person!"
He stood and paced back and forth across the hall.
"I overlooked this before. Public opinion—it's a powerful weapon!"
"Control it, and it's like commanding an invisible army of Soul Masters!"
He returned to the desk, picked up his pen, and quickly wrote down what Zhao Linchuan had just said. His handwriting was messy, but every stroke was forceful.
When he finished, he set down the pen and looked up.
"Is there anything else you'd like to add?"
Zhao Linchuan thought for a moment, then spoke again. "Put things closely connected to the people's lives, such as water conservancy, the weather, and the policies of various nations, on the front page of the newspaper."
"Make them feel that they can learn what's happening in the world as soon as it happens by reading the paper."
Qian Xunji picked up his pen and wrote this down too. After finishing the last character, he set the pen aside, folded his hands on the desk, and fixed Zhao Linchuan with a bright-eyed gaze.
"What about the price? How do you think we should set it?"
"One Copper Soul Coin." Zhao Linchuan answered without hesitation. "The same price across the entire continent."
At that, Qian Xunji's brows drew together slightly.
"One Copper Soul Coin?" He pondered for a moment, lightly tapping the desk with his fingers. "That would mean a huge outlay."
"Forget labor costs. The materials alone would eat up a great deal of money."
He looked up, his gaze measured. "Over the years, we could easily find ourselves unable to bear the burden."
Zhao Linchuan smiled faintly.
"I know a new method of papermaking and printing." His voice was calm and assured. "With these new techniques, we'll certainly make back the cost of the materials."
Qian Xunji's brows relaxed a little.
"As for labor costs..." Zhao Linchuan deliberately paused. Only after Qian Xunji's gaze fixed on him again did he continue. "We can run advertisements in the newspaper and make a profit from them."
"That will cover the labor costs."
"Advertisements?" Qian Xunji rolled the unfamiliar word around in his mouth, his eyes gradually brightening.
"For example," Zhao Linchuan explained, "if a merchant wants to promote his goods, we can write an article praising them in the newspaper and charge him a fee."
"If his goods sell well, the people will also learn about more high-quality, affordable products. It benefits everyone."
"Excellent!"
Qian Xunji slapped the desk and jumped to his feet, striking it so hard that the documents on top bounced.
He looked at Zhao Linchuan as though he were a priceless treasure.
"Then we'll do as you say! Set the price at one Copper Soul Coin! Write down the methods for making paper and printing, then bring them to me."
He drew a deep breath, his voice brimming with barely restrained excitement. "I'll award you great merit!"
"Thank you, Your Holiness the Pope." Zhao Linchuan cupped his hands slightly.
"Ah, no need for formalities." Qian Xunji waved a hand, about to say more, when something seemed to occur to him. His expression turned a little strange.
He glanced at Zhao Linchuan, the corners of his mouth twitching, and said awkwardly,
"By seniority, I should actually be calling you... great-granduncle."
Bibi Dong let out a "pfft" of laughter, then hurriedly covered her mouth.
Qian Xunji's expression darkened further. He cleared his throat and forcibly steered the conversation back on track, speaking noticeably faster. "Forget it. Let's not talk about that."
He sat back down and picked up his pen, only to set it aside again and look at Zhao Linchuan. "Right, you came to see me so early this morning. Was there something you needed?"
"There are two things." Zhao Linchuan's expression turned serious. "First, my fiancée's Soul Power has reached a bottleneck. I want to take her away for a while and find her a suitable Soul Beast."
"What?!"
Qian Xunji shot up from his throne, moving so violently that he nearly overturned the desk.
"You already have a fiancée?!"
"I suppose that makes sense..." he murmured, then slowly sat back down.
At Zhao Linchuan's age, having a fiancée was perfectly normal.
But... if he already had a fiancée, what about his own foolish student?
Qian Xunji's gaze drifted unconsciously toward Bibi Dong.
She was still standing where she'd been, her expression unchanged, as if she hadn't been surprised to hear that Zhao Linchuan had a fiancée.
His brows knitted even tighter. He knew Bibi Dong's temperament well. There was no way she'd agree to be a second wife.
It seemed he'd have to come up with a plan. When the crucial moment came, he'd have to hit the two of them with a bombshell!
He lowered his eyes, concealing the brief glint of calculation in them. When he looked up again, his expression had returned to normal.
"What's the second thing?"
Zhao Linchuan continued, "I'm planning to establish an intelligence organization."
Qian Xunji nodded, waiting for him to elaborate.
Zhao Linchuan spread his hands, his expression so candid that it was impossible to be angry with him. "But I don't have any money."
"Pfft—!" Bibi Dong couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing.
She covered her lips with the back of her hand, her eyes curving as she looked at Zhao Linchuan. "You spent money so freely yesterday. I thought you were filthy rich."
"I only had that little bit of money, and I spent almost all of it yesterday." Zhao Linchuan touched his nose, unusually embarrassed.
"That's easy."
Qian Xunji raised a hand to signal for Bibi Dong to quiet down.
He lowered his head and wrote a line on a sheet of white paper: "Whatever he takes, let him take."
He rose himself, walked around the desk, and handed the paper to Zhao Linchuan.
"Go ahead." His voice was calm. "With my order, no one will dare stop you."
He turned and looked at Bibi Dong, his tone becoming more casual.
"You shouldn't spend every day cooped up in Spirit Hall either. Since Linchuan is going out, you should go with him."
"Take this opportunity to see more of the outside world."
Bibi Dong paused in surprise, then nodded in agreement.
Qian Xunji returned to his seat behind the desk and folded his hands on it. His gaze swept between the two of them, his tone turning solemn.
"I 'discussed' it with the Great Worship, and we've decided to invite the major sects to a competition for the younger generation three months from now."
"Whoever takes the championship will be the number one of the younger generation."
His gaze settled on Zhao Linchuan and Bibi Dong, full of expectation. "Remember, don't get so caught up in sightseeing that you forget about this."
"Rest assured, Your Holiness the Pope," Zhao Linchuan said steadily. "Dong'er and I definitely won't disappoint you."
Bibi Dong nodded along.
Qian Xunji looked at the two young people before him. One was composed and unhurried, the other calm as still water. Standing together, they made a strikingly well-matched pair.
He looked away and waved his hand. "Go on. Don't forget what matters..."
Before you continue