The Stock Realm was officially open!

"Honest cultivation gets boring, doesn't it?"

"Even a trash martial soul can become a Titled Douluo after ninety-seven limit-up boards!"

"You should abandon all those garbage cultivation methods and experience this supreme masterpiece of the universe. If you're a heavenly prodigy, prove it to me!"

Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Sect Master Ning Fengzhi rubbed his brow, deeply troubled.

Restricted by the flaws of his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, his soul power remained at level 79 no matter how he cultivated.

He did not know whether recent mental strain or some other reason was to blame, but whispers like these constantly lingered in his ears.

Especially near places thick with vegetation, the voice grew louder and clearer.

Like a demon's murmurs.

Ning Fengzhi immediately invited Sword Douluo over, deciding to investigate with him.

"Let's see who dares run wild within my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"

Ning Fengzhi spoke calmly.

Sword Douluo was not worried about this at all.

He was confident that even if some evil creature was causing trouble, he could cut it down with a single stroke of his Seven Kill Sword!

Their spiritual senses followed the source of the voice.

Suddenly, their consciousnesses seemed to step into an entirely new world.

The space before them was vast, complete with all sorts of facilities, like an excellent vacation spot.

But the most astonishing thing lay at the very center.

A massive glowing screen floated there.

Numbers flickered madly across it, sometimes red, sometimes green.

The two even saw their own names on it!

Even the widely experienced Ning Fengzhi could not stop marveling at the sight:

"To create such a spectacle with a soul skill alone!"

Beside him, Sword Douluo nodded repeatedly.

"The soul power required to sustain such an enormous space is unimaginable. This person's soul power cultivation may be no lower than mine!"

"So this person is also a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse?"

Ning Fengzhi was slightly surprised.

"Without a doubt," Chen Xin declared.

This was the virtual trading space Sun Shan had constructed using the first soul ring of his martial soul, Stock-Simulating Meow Meow.

The platform ran on a blue silver chive server composed of green vegetation.

It did not operate on soul power, but drew its power from plant photosynthesis.

This was also why trading took place during the day, with the market closing at night.

At Sun Shan's current soul power cultivation, he could not supply this space with power all by himself.

Any soul master could enter this space to trade.

And Sun Shan had named it the Stock Realm.

Sun Shan's figure appeared. "Welcome to the Stock Realm!"

"The Stock Realm?"

Ning Fengzhi sounded somewhat puzzled. "You have been constantly using a soul skill to disturb my mind. What exactly are your intentions?"

Chen Xin, however, would have none of it and shouted:

"There's nothing to discuss. He's just picking on you because you're an intellectual, Old Ning."

"If you've got the guts, show your true body and cross blades with my Seven Kill Sword!"

Sun Shan shook his head, utterly unconcerned.

"I can grant you both a great opportunity!"

Ning Fengzhi frowned, deeply distrustful of this unidentified fellow before him.

"I can help you escape the fate of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul!" Sun Shan raised the stakes again.

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's breathing quickened slightly, but he soon restrained the greed in his heart.

"No need. I will cultivate diligently myself."

Sun Shan's tone turned mocking.

"Ning Fengzhi, after all these years, have you ever seen anyone with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul break through the level 79 bottleneck through honest cultivation?"

Either have everything or lose everything.

Thoughts battled furiously inside Ning Fengzhi's head. As time passed, one thought grew increasingly clear:

"All in!"

Under Sun Shan's instructions, Ning Fengzhi fed in his soul power and bought Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had just been listed in the Stock Realm.

Beside him, Chen Xin soon felt a strand of pure soul power suddenly appear inside his body.

"That's it?!" Chen Xin was scornful. "You call this a great opportunity?"

"You're just transferring some soul power to someone."

"Oh? Then what would happen if every soul master on the continent bought someone's stock?"

Sun Shan's expression grew increasingly amused.

"What a joke. That's impossible," Chen Xin rejected it sharply. "The soul power lost during transmission, and... wait!"

"So that's how it works!" As the master of a sect, Ning Fengzhi understood the situation within mere seconds.

"Yes. With the Stock Realm, none of those are problems," Sun Shan answered affirmatively.

For a moment, Ning Fengzhi's worldview quietly crumbled, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

As an educated man who understood finance.

He clearly realized what a colossal wave was about to sweep through the martial soul world.

The two core abilities bestowed by Sun Shan's martial soul, "Betting" and "Bearish Outlook."

Beyond transmitting soul power across space.

In essence, these abilities were closer to the Heavenly Dao's "blessings" or "curses."

The more people bet on a soul master and the greater their stakes, the stronger the Heavenly Dao's blessing became.

The greater the likelihood of fortuitous encounters, such as a soul master gaining sudden enlightenment and breaking through a bottleneck, obtaining a soul bone from killing a soul beast, or unexpectedly increasing a soul ring's age.

And the more people were bearish on a soul master, the more terrifying the Heavenly Dao's loathing became.

Extremely unlucky things would happen.

Such as the horrifying sight of a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse suddenly exploding from uncontrolled soul power while meditating.

Sun Shan looked at Sword Douluo Chen Xin again.

"You said you wanted to cross swords with me?"

"Of course. Come on, draw your sword. Once we've fought, I'll believe what you say."

"My sword is right here."

Sun Shan's hands were empty, yet he claimed he already held a sword.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin was puzzled.

"With no sword in your hand, you dare call yourself a sword cultivator?"

"Still don't understand, Chen Xin? You're the challenger!"

Sun Shan suddenly burst into wild laughter.

"How could a sword be such an inconvenient thing?!"

"The tangible sword in your hand is on far too low a level to comprehend the intangible sword Dao in mine."

Hearing this, Sword Douluo's face darkened.

He stamped his Seven Kill Sword against the ground, and an invisible pressure spread outward, brimming with killing intent.

"Insolence!"

Unfortunately, this had no effect on Sun Shan whatsoever.

Because his actual body was not here. This was merely a fabricated avatar.

In essence, what the two from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect faced was actually a blue silver grass chive server built upon countless plants.

Putting pressure on a stalk of blue silver grass?

Well, as a soul master, you were certainly very capable.

To truly affect Sun Shan, Sword Douluo would need the ability to destroy all vegetation on the Douluo Continent in an instant.

Otherwise, the Stock Realm would endure forever!

But clearly, Chen Xin lacked that ability.

Even a mighty level 96 Titled Douluo was undoubtedly insignificant before the whole of nature.

Naturally fearless, Sun Shan raised three fingers.

"I have three swords: the common man's sword, the sect's sword, and the god's sword."

Sword Douluo Chen Xin was puzzled. "What is the common man's sword?"

"The common man's sword cuts necks above and pierces the spleen, heart, and lungs below. Relying on profound soul power and a powerful martial soul to fight fiercely and flaunt the courage of flesh and blood-that is the common man's sword."

"It is fundamentally no different from village thugs fighting crickets. Once you die, you have brought no benefit to the world."

Sword Douluo's eyes widened, waves surging through his heart.

He had never imagined that the Dao of the sword could be described this way.

He suddenly recalled the absurd things he had done in his youth, relying on nothing but hot blood to duel and pit his strength against others, as well as all his earlier provocations.

How was that any different from thugs fighting crickets?

Ashamed and flustered, he hurriedly asked:

"Then what is the sect's sword?"

"The sect's sword takes Titled Douluo as its point, the sect's disciples as its edge, the sect's rules as its spine, and the sect's businesses as its hilt."

"Once this sword is wielded, none within a hundred miles, inside or outside the sect, will fail to submit and obey the sect master's commands."

"That is the sect's sword!"

The eyes of Ning Fengzhi, master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, shone brightly. He had clearly gained some understanding.

His respect for the person before him grew ever deeper.

Chen Xin was even more astounded.

"This is nothing less than imparting the Dao!"

He faintly sensed the level 96 bottleneck that had troubled him for years beginning to loosen at this moment.

"This truly is an immense opportunity!"

Chen Xin clasped his fists and offered a disciple's salute, supremely respectful.

"Senior, I humbly ask for your instruction. What is the god's sword?"

"The god's sword takes Limit Douluo as its point, the hearts of everyone in the entire Soul Master World as its edge, the Star Dou Forest as its spine, and the Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires as its pommel and hilt."

"Once drawn, this sword can gather the power of the people's faith, ignite divine fire, and forge a divine throne!"

"Such is the god's sword!"

Having finished, Sun Shan fixed Sword Douluo Chen Xin with a blazing gaze.

"Now, let me ask you again. What kind of sword is that Seven Kill Sword in your hand? Answer me!"

Sun Shan's shout exploded through Sword Douluo's mind like the peal of mighty bells.

The level 96 bottleneck that had shackled Chen Xin for years shattered completely!

The way Chen Xin looked at Sun Shan changed completely, his earlier contempt turning to reverence.

Chen Xin submitted utterly.

"Others do not cultivate the sword Dao and have not reached Titled Douluo. With their limited vision, they behold you, Senior, like a frog at the bottom of a well looking up at the moon."

"But I, Chen Xin, have been fortunate enough to devote my life to the sword Dao and cultivate to Titled Douluo. Seeing you, Senior, is like a mayfly beholding the vast blue heavens!"

Sword Douluo bowed respectfully to the figure before him.

"Please allow this junior to withdraw for the moment and make my breakthrough. Then I will return to bring you the good news, Senior!"

Sun Shan waved his hand, his tone neither sorrowful nor joyful, as though everything had been expected.

"Go."

Chen Xin's consciousness left the Stock Realm, and the suppressed soul power within him could no longer be contained.

His figure flashed as he soared into the air, and an immense surge of soul power abruptly burst outward.

It pressed all the people and animals nearby flat against the ground.

As though some extraordinary existence had awakened high in the heavens.

How could ordinary mortals behold its august countenance? They could only lower their heads and kowtow.

Chen Xin chanted softly:

"A phrase or half unveils the mysteries; what need for ten million paths of the sword?"

"If the sword is unburdened by form, before one's eyes lie the Grand Firmament's heavens!"

Boom, boom, boom!

Chen Xin's presence surged explosively! Surged wildly! Surged mightily! Might, might, might!

Strong and powerful! Strong and powerful indeed!

Sword Douluo felt his physique become formidable, his soul power ten times or even nine times stronger than before!

Chen Xin shouted, "Sword, come!"

Within a hundred miles of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, ten thousand swords rang out in unison.

Countless divine weapons and keen blades escaped their owners' control and flew straight into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's territory.

Like ordinary mortals paying homage to immortals and gods.

Far away.

A male soul master who had just signed a forty-year loan to buy a divine sword to carry at his side.

He watched the sword he had just bought fly away like that.

He went completely numb.

The sword flew ahead while he chased behind, shouting:

"My sword, my sword! How am I supposed to live without you?!"

But that didn't do a damn thing.

The great treasured sword soon vanished into the horizon.

But the male Soul Master hadn't come away empty-handed.

He had learned a lesson.

After all, though the divine sword was gone, the forty-year loan was still there.

Inside the Stock Realm.

The Soul Power Value representing Sword Douluo shot straight upward, hitting the upper limit with unstoppable momentum.

Limit up!

"Sword Douluo Chen Xin has gained sudden enlightenment. Soul Power has broken through to level 97!"

"Betting reward: Martial Soul advanced to the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"

"Betting reward: Soul Power cultivation increased by three levels!"

Ning Fengzhi was ecstatic, his presence surging around him.

"I've broken through!"

All he needed was to add the Eighth Soul Ring, and Ning Fengzhi's cultivation could soar to level 82.

The fate that had plagued the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for years had now found its path to salvation.

The moment Chen Xin returned to the Stock Realm to share the good news, he saw Ning Fengzhi about to kneel before Sun Shan.

By now, both men's admiration for Sun Shan had long since grown beyond words. They said in unison:

"We humbly ask you to leave us your name, Senior. If you ever need anything done, just say the word!"

Sun Shan merely waved a hand:

"Just call me Stock Perfected One."

"And say no more about repaying me. Once you two leave, spread the word about the Stock Realm. That will be the best repayment."

After dismissing the two men.

Sun Shan finally lost his composure and burst into wild laughter:

"Hahahaha! I won so hard this time!"

As it turned out, Sun Shan had bought heavily into Sword Douluo Chen Xin beforehand to place his bet, setting up a front-running position.

Ning Fengzhi's subsequent purchase and Chen Xin's breakthrough through sudden enlightenment had essentially done nothing but carry his sedan chair for him.

The two from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did the work, while he, Sun Shan, reaped the benefits for free. Could anything be sweeter?

And Sun Shan had received the richest rewards of all!

"Betting reward: Soul Power increased by six levels!"

"Betting reward: Soul Ring age increased by one thousand years!"

"Special Betting dividend reward: level 97 Seven Kill Sword Sword Qi ×3!"

Sun Shan's Soul Power soared to level 16, and three sword marks appeared on his left palm.

Each strand of Sword Qi could unleash the full-power strike of a level 97 Power Attack System Titled Douluo.

Sun Shan murmured to himself:

"On the Douluo Continent, strength reigns supreme in the end. With these strands of Sword Qi as life-saving trump cards, I can rest much easier."

Next, he just had to follow the same recipe and draw more people into trading in the Stock Realm.

As long as these people benefited, word of the Stock Realm's existence would spread through their networks like nuclear fission.

Before long, everyone on the Douluo Continent would be trading stocks.

And then Sun Shan would be able to collect vast amounts of Soul Power from them as a Soul Power tax.

Cultivation? What was that?

Sun Shan could already see the day he would coast his way to becoming a Titled Douluo.

"Don't rush. Let the Stock Realm fly a little longer. The good days for the Douluo Continent's Soul Masters are still ahead!"

That day, a devil's whisper rang in the ears of countless Soul Masters:

"Earnestly cultivating is pretty dull, isn't it?"