Yuxi: Jade Nourishes the Heavenly Heart, Streams Converge from the Four Seas

Everyone was talking at once, throwing out every guess imaginable.

Just then, of the two people sitting silently across from each other in the middle of the circle,

one black-robed figure quietly rose from his seat, drifted to Su Yuan like a gust of wind, and tugged at him.

Ink Qilin hurriedly reminded Su Yuan in a low voice:

"That's Gao Jue, the Far-Ear."

The black-robed man nodded and inclined his head to Ink Qilin.

During the War of the Gods, Gao Ming and Gao Jue had also served the Shang dynasty.

Unfortunately, they had perished in the end, their souls scattered, and failed to secure even a divine post.

Still, their abilities reached heaven and earth, making them technical specialists of a sort.

That was why Grand Preceptor Wen had retrieved the remnants of their souls and kept them on duty in the Heavenly Court.

The Far-Ear pulled Su Yuan aside and whispered:

"Brother, I heard it with my own ears. It first leaked from the old gatekeeper watching the side gate of Martial Star Lord's residence. The old fellow let it slip while bragging to his sweetheart."

Su Yuan did not waste words. He directly pulled out a storage pouch and tossed it to Gao Jue.

Gao Jue peeked inside the pouch, and his face immediately split into a grin. Leaning closer, he added:

"Since you're such a straightforward brother, I'll throw in one more for free: Martial Star Lord has been making rather frequent visits to Heavenly King Li's household retainers lately."

Su Yuan instantly understood. No wonder! So these two bastards had joined forces!

Martial Star Lord had clearly been acting under Wenqu Star Lord's instructions, trying to smear and overpraise Sun Wukong into ruin,

thereby diminishing the enormous credit Su Yuan's master, Venus Star Lord, had earned for successfully recruiting him. His intentions deserved condemnation!

And Heavenly King Li? Last time, he had led a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers down to attack Flower-Fruit Mountain, only to return empty-handed.

Though he was accustomed to losing battles, he still could not save face. How could he possibly look kindly upon the monkey?

With that thought, the whole thread became clear:

The first time Sun Wukong came to Heaven, it had been that bastard Martial Star Lord who stepped forward to make the memorial,

granting him the filthy title of "Horse Groomer" to humiliate him and plant the seeds of disaster.

And before long, during the second havoc in Heaven, it was very likely this gang had been fanning the flames behind the scenes, sowing discord from every side, terrified that the world might not be chaotic enough!

It seemed Wenqu Star Lord and his own master were fighting fiercely, with the air of two rival factions locked in struggle.

Su Yuan secretly resolved that once matters here were settled, he had to report this deduction to his master at once.

For these shadowy matters involving factional conflict, it was better to let his master and those deep-scheming civil official titans suffer the headache.

He only needed to beat the drum from the sidelines and rake in the benefits.

When the Great Sage had last caused havoc in Heaven, he had only managed to swallow up the Southern Heavenly Gate project. What a wasted opportunity.

This time, he would plan meticulously, deploy carefully, and command from the front!

He had to make sure the Great Sage's next havoc in Heaven was worth it—done with standards, done with flair.

The crowd gradually dispersed, but Ink Qilin grabbed Su Yuan and gave him a meaningful look.

Su Yuan understood and followed him, familiar with the route, into a side hall.

Ink Qilin dug out two large bowls from a corner, while Su Yuan smiled and took a jar of strong liquor from his storage bag. He slapped off the clay seal, and a rich fragrance of wine instantly filled the air.

The two did not say much. Facing each other, they first gulped down half a bowl each.

After setting down his bowl, Su Yuan saw that the worry between Ink Qilin's brows had not faded and could not help asking:

"Venerable, what has you so troubled? Could it be that Red Boy at home has been disobedient again?"

It would have been better not to mention it. The moment those words came up, the misery on Ink Qilin's face deepened. He unconsciously stroked his chin:

"More than merely disobedient. Lately, I don't even dare assume human form casually. That beard I spent ten thousand years maintaining... sigh, never mind. It hurts my heart just to bring it up!"

Su Yuan recalled Sun Wukong's arduous journey delivering Red Boy home to visit relatives. It had been more exhausting than fetching scriptures, and he nearly sprayed out his wine laughing.

He hurriedly covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking several times before he recovered:

"Cough, cough. That's the joy of playing with one's grandchildren, isn't it? But what exactly is troubling you, Venerable?"

Ink Qilin let out a long sigh:

"What else but those tobacco leaves? Lately, they've been delivered from below ship after ship. They're nearly piled beyond capacity here! We simply can't sell them!"

Su Yuan had been worrying over the tobacco accounts not adding up. Hearing it was a business matter, he immediately sat upright and asked carefully:

"How could that be? Isn't our 'Benefit the Group' selling exceptionally well? It's in short supply! On our last western journey, we gave it to quite a few Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and the feedback was that it gave them face."

Ink Qilin shot him an irritated glare:

"Think about the kind of people you associate with! Even the lowest among them were big shots renowned since the War of the Gods, with deep foundations. After ascending to Heaven, their salaries never stopped and their perks were plentiful. They don't lack spirit stones at all. But how many such people are there in the entire Heavenly Court?"

He exhaled a ring of smoke and said sorrowfully:

"The vast majority of Heavenly Court's immortal officials are 'Ascender Faction' cultivators who painstakingly cultivated and ascended later in life. The spirit stones in their hands—they wish they could split one into two before spending it. Most of it goes into cultivation, magical artifacts, and pills. How could they bear to keep spending on such 'extraneous luxuries'? The market simply cannot be opened!"

Su Yuan said instinctively:

"Then should we cut prices for promotions? Smaller profits, greater sales volume?"

"Absolutely not!"

Ink Qilin waved both hands repeatedly.

"Do you think us old fellows smoke this stuff because we're truly addicted? What we smoke is status, is face! If you slash its price until it's everywhere in the streets, who will still smoke it? I'd be the first to quit! It would be beneath me!"

Su Yuan carefully considered the habits of those "old-money" immortals and silently admitted that it really was true.

Once luxury goods lost their scarcity and nobility, their value collapsed.

His eyes turned, and a plan came to him:

"Venerable, in that case, why don't we make several different tiers?"

"The ultra-luxury line will still be called 'Benefit the Group.' Set the price as high as you please—high enough that even you will feel pain when smoking it.

"Only take the top two or three leaves from each tobacco plant, carefully roast them with Samadhi True Fire, then lightly moisten them again with Jade Pool immortal dew.

"Package them in ten-thousand-year purple sandalwood boxes, lined with gold velvet. Every box will have a unique serial number.

"Do not sell them publicly. Only verified members, or those who make a one-time purchase of at least one hundred thousand spirit stones, will qualify to buy a carton,

"and bundle in some junk that can't be sold on the black market.

"The slogan will be: 'The Three Realms' supreme enjoyment; within an inch, behold heaven and earth.'"

Ink Qilin immediately pulled out a jade slip, recording as he asked:

"If we use Samadhi True Fire and Jade Pool immortal dew at every turn, our costs will rise greatly as well."

Su Yuan rolled his eyes at him.

"That's only how we need to advertise it externally! In reality, use whatever you should use. Also, give the imperial lords some special-supply editions.

"We must highlight differentiation. Hold auctions regularly and lure in several rich fools obsessed with face to spend money. I think Heavenly King Li has great spending potential."

Ink Qilin nodded. That old fellow was indeed wealthy and loved pomp and circumstance—a prime fat sheep.

Su Yuan continued:

"The mid-range line will be called 'Yuxi,' meaning jade nourishes the heavenly heart, streams converge from the four seas.

"The target customers will be mid-level immortal clerks from the various departments, capable hands in powerful offices, and those wealthy yet taste-seeking 'newly risen' Ascender Faction members.

"They are the backbone of consumption. They want both face and substance.

"Use fine lightning-struck wood or spirit-infused bamboo for the boxes. Make them elegant and textured, but not as unattainably lofty as 'Benefit the Group.'

"We can introduce 'seasonal limited' flavors. For instance, when the Peach Banquet approaches, we can release an 'Immortal Peach Spring Breeze' limited edition, or a 'Guanghan Autumn Moon' limited edition.

"Sell them through dedicated counters in high-end immortal markets, or through an 'immortal friend referral system.'

"Occasionally hold smoker tasting events, have a few white-bearded experts offer their reviews, and build the image of it being the standard accessory for successful immortals.

"The slogan will be: 'Yuxi in hand, my future is mine.'"

Ink Qilin nodded, jotting things down at top speed, then asked:

"If I'm not mistaken, there should be a low-end line as well, right?"