Make Them Cough Up All Their Money

"Half a year from now, the Azure Cloud Secret Realm will open!" After settling the Azure Moon Merchant Association's affairs, Zhang Yang began discussing Qingyun Market. "Half a year from now... perhaps not even half a year, Qingyun Market will face an onslaught.

So, over the next few months, we must plan Qingyun Market properly."

Jiang Zhiqiu already knew that the secret realm would be opening. What he was waiting for now was the answer to how Qingyun Market would be planned.

Situ Mingyue hurriedly asked, "What realm can enter?"

"Golden Core Realm and below!"

"Ah! Doesn't that mean I can enter?" Situ Mingyue said excitedly. "There'll definitely be a spot for me, right? And Chunxiao—let her go in too... Eldest Senior Brother, there's no problem with the two of us getting spots, right?"

She had also been present at the last meeting, but at the time, Azure Cloud Master had not even confirmed whether the secret realm existed, so she had not paid it much mind.

Now that it had been placed on the agenda, the secret realm definitely existed.

The thought of entering the secret realm filled her with excitement as well.

Zhang Yang took it for granted. "Of course we must satisfy our own Azure Cloud Sect people first! Not only can all of us enter, but when the time comes, disciples who have opened their Spirit Seas can enter too. No one will be left out of these benefits. What we are discussing now is how to plan Qingyun Market. This time, I intend to release some spots and allow people from other factions to enter the secret realm as well."

Situ Mingyue immediately understood why Zhang Yang considered planning Qingyun Market so important.

Those people from the various sects would surely stay in Qingyun Market when they came to Azure Cloud Sect.

Qingyun Market was equivalent to Azure Cloud Sect's forward station, and it also concerned the sect's reputation. They definitely had to receive those people well.

Thinking of this, she could not help recalling what Zhang Yang had said when he first invited her to Azure Cloud Sect.

She took a deep breath. Sure enough, the gears of Azure Cloud Sect's destiny had begun to turn.

"Eldest Senior Brother, what do you have in mind?" Situ Mingyue asked.

Zhang Yang said with a smile, "Those Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, even Primordial Spirit Realm cultivators, must have plenty of Spirit Stones and all kinds of resources on them. We have to find a way to make them cough up their money!"

Situ Mingyue was somewhat speechless. She had noticed that this Eldest Senior Brother became excited whenever money was mentioned.

Still, she also thought it was an excellent opportunity to make money.

So many experts did not lack money. The key was how to make them willingly part with it.

"We need to work on clothing, food, lodging, and travel." Situ Mingyue immediately had an idea. "People above the Golden Core Realm have more or less already undergone Grain Avoidance, so we can ignore the 'food' aspect."

"They can all fly, so there is nothing we can do about 'travel.' That leaves only 'lodging.' So, we should open inns! We absolutely must open high-end inns!"

Zhang Yang pondered for a moment, then said, "Once Third Uncle-Master comes out of seclusion, I'll ask him to develop some tea, wine, and the like that even Nascent Soul Realm and Primordial Spirit Realm cultivators would find useful. Even if they have undergone Grain Avoidance, they'll still obediently dig out their money for me. Besides, we are inviting Foundation Establishment Realm disciples this time too. They need to eat, so prepare some spiritual ingredients and sell them!"

Situ Mingyue's eyes lit up. "All of those things should be sold through the Azure Moon Merchant Association. We might as well open the Azure Moon Merchant Association in Qingyun Market first."

She could already imagine that the Azure Moon Merchant Association would become an overnight sensation.

"Why not?" Zhang Yang said slowly. "Junior Brother Jiang, later, go take a look at my estate. When you return, follow that line of thought and choose a scenic place at the edge of Qingyun Market."

"Build dozens of estates for me there. Those estates can be rented or sold. In short, as long as the price is right, everything is negotiable."

"Yes, Eldest Senior Brother!" Jiang Zhiqiu hurriedly replied.

He had always been thinking of making a move in secret. Now, it seemed that Eldest Senior Brother was still the more brilliant one.

All he needed to do in the future was cooperate.

Zhang Yang went over the money-making ideas from his past life in his mind, combining them with Immortal Cultivation and considering what could be put to use.

Debauchery and dissipation seemed rather unsuitable.

Clothing, food, lodging, and travel—several of those had already been solved. Clothing... refining magical treasures? Combining them with fashion? He felt that he should go find Fifth Uncle and Sixth Uncle. Perhaps if the two joined forces, with one designing talismanic patterns and the other refining materials, they could create a batch of distinctive fashions.

Find some entertainment for these great Immortal Cultivation experts?

Mahjong, Dou Dizhu... all of it could be introduced.

In any case, he had to make those Nascent Soul Realm and Primordial Spirit Realm cultivators leave behind a hefty sum in Qingyun Market, yet depart completely satisfied—better yet, reluctant to leave.

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhiqiu conjured a map of the area around Qingyun Market and continuously marked projects on it according to Zhang Yang's requirements.

After discussing matters for a long time, the projects for Qingyun Market had been more or less finalized.

At that point, Jiang Zhiqiu began to worry. He looked at Zhang Yang conflictedly. "Eldest Senior Brother, we do not have enough manpower... Also, I might not have enough money on my side."

There were only so many people in Qingyun Market. To undertake such a massive project and finish it within a few months was indeed far too tight.

Zhang Yang sighed. He thought of those three thousand Flying Dragon Army soldiers. What an excellent construction crew they would have made!

He should have kept those people back in the first place and only let them return after all the projects were completed.

"Mobilize as many people as possible from the surrounding villages. Hire them at high prices; do not be afraid to spend money," Zhang Yang said firmly. "As for the money, there is still a surplus in Azure Cloud Sect's treasury. I'll allocate two hundred thousand Spirit Stones to you. That should be enough no matter what. But these are sect projects, so you cannot keep all the profits. You can only take a small portion."

Jiang Zhiqiu smiled and said, "I am a member of the sect. It is only right that I contribute to it. I would be fine even without payment."

Zhang Yang waved his hand. "You do not need to decline the benefits you deserve, and you should not take what you do not deserve. Rest assured, the sect will soon enter a period of rapid development. As a Golden Core Realm cultivator, you have already boarded the high-speed... flying boat. The benefits awaiting you in the Future are beyond anything you can imagine. The only thing to remember is this: when one day you stand in a lofty position, do not forget your original heart."

"Yes, I will obey Eldest Senior Brother's instructions!" Jiang Zhiqiu nodded.

Although he was older, he felt that in every way—ideas and insight alike—he was truly far behind this Eldest Senior Brother.

After finishing their discussion of Qingyun Market, Zhang Yang and Situ Mingyue returned to Azure Cloud Sect with Qin Yushu and Jiang Zhiqiu.

When Jiang Zhiqiu saw Zhang Yang's enormous villa, he found it rather strange. Eldest Senior Brother had built such a huge residence, complete with artificial hills and a swimming pool... Was Immortal Cultivation really supposed to be this carefree?

He felt that his former life had been that of a commoner, and his years as a Rogue Cultivator had been even worse—they had been like fleeing famine.

"Use this as a reference. Take the plans back with you and build according to this style. Our focus is high-end, grand, and classy. As for the talismanic patterns... we can only make them rather simple when the time comes. They certainly will not be as good as mine." Zhang Yang let Jiang Zhiqiu look around as he pleased, then greeted Qin Yushu and personally headed into Azure Cloud Sect.

In truth, he could simply have called out loudly for his master and summoned Azure Cloud Master.

But if he summoned him that way, would seeking the Dao be too easy for Qin Yushu?

So, he intended to teach Qin Yushu a proper lesson and let him understand just how hard-won this opportunity truly was.