A resounding success

The Purple Cloud Mammoth was a Late Qi Refining Demon Beast.

Though it was dim-witted, it made up for that with its enormous size.

Its hair was as hard as steel needles and impervious to blades and spears.

Once triggered, it fired like ten thousand arrows loosed at once, making it least afraid of fighting groups.

Few hunting teams could take one as prey, and not a single one had ever managed to transport a whole Purple Cloud Mammoth back.

The reception envoy's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Ever since the Purple Cloud Mammoth appeared, he had not looked away from it.

"It's intact! The mammoth is actually intact!"

Every part of a Demon Beast yielded valuable materials, but an intact corpse could be worth several times as much.

The Rogue Cultivators watching erupted in an uproar.

The Rock Rhinoceros had already opened their eyes, but they had never imagined that Wang Hu's hunting team would bring back a Purple Cloud Mammoth too.

The puppet shaped like an old ox, in particular, had carried such a colossal creature. It was truly beyond belief.

"Brother Hu, could this puppet have even more space than the Flowing Horse?"

Wang Hu was pleased with everyone's reactions, and he secretly marveled at Qin Fei's idea as well.

That day, the two of them had engaged in a heated discussion about how to develop the puppet market. Qin Fei had gotten straight to the heart of the matter and made two suggestions.

First, use the hunting team as a model to demonstrate the puppets' functions and do their best to win the Demon Hunting Pavilion's approval.

That was called official certification.

Second, the prey they caught had to be big enough—so big that one glance would leave an impression that lasted a lifetime.

That was called a first impression.

As Qin Fei put it, the product had to be good, but marketing couldn't be neglected either.

Wang Hu didn't know where Qin Fei got these ideas, but now it seemed every one of them had been the right choice.

Wang Hu cleared his throat and straightened his back.

"This puppet is called the Wooden Ox. It contains a space of eighteen zhang and can carry eighty thousand jin."

At these words, everyone around him drew a sharp breath.

Wang Hu kept them in suspense no longer and announced in a clear voice:

"I know you're interested in this puppet. Rest assured, I'll be selling them. When there's money to be made, we can all profit together.

"However, production is low at the moment, so the price is somewhat higher as well."

The Rogue Cultivators whispered among themselves, but the reception envoy gave them no time to react. With a broad wave of his hand, he said:

"Price isn't a problem. Fellow Daoist Wang, come inside and let's discuss this in detail."

Hearing that production was low, he hurriedly pulled Wang Hu into the Demon Hunting Pavilion.

The Demon Hunting Pavilion had a great demand for this kind of cargo-carrying puppet.

If he could secure this deal, it would surely be a major achievement, even if it cost a little more. He was determined to get it.

The Rogue Cultivators watched the two men's backs disappear, but they lingered for a long time, still eagerly discussing what had just happened.

The name of the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse spread from ten mouths to a hundred, and soon it was known throughout the market.

Even those with no interest in puppets had heard of one that could fit an entire Purple Cloud Mammoth inside.

The sun disappeared, and the moon rose above the treetops.

A figure clad entirely in black quietly appeared in Qin Fei's little courtyard.

An oil lamp was lit, and two figures sat across a table from each other, talking freely.

"Brother Qin, I'm truly convinced, heart and soul. You should have seen the way that fellow from the Demon Hunting Pavilion acted. When have I ever seen him curry favor with me like that?"

"It was easy to foresee that the Demon Hunting Pavilion would have a demand for the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse. That's why I chose it to promote them. I just didn't expect them to be willing to pay fifty Spirit Essences apiece. Surely that's partly thanks to your influence too, Brother Hu."

Wang Hu was quite pleased to hear that.

But he knew that wasn't how it had happened at all.

That day, he and the Demon Hunting Pavilion's reception envoy had gone inside to discuss the matter.

Seeing how interested the Demon Hunting Pavilion was in the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse, he had decided to test the waters and named a price of fifty apiece.

The other man had agreed on the spot, with no intention of bargaining whatsoever.

Wang Hu had exclaimed that he'd asked too little, but words once spoken were like water once spilled. He couldn't take them back, and he had regretted it for quite some time.

Qin Fei didn't know about this, and even if he had, he wouldn't have minded.

The Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse cost only ten Spirit Essences to make, and he sold them to Wang Hu for thirty Spirit Essences apiece.

Although Wang Hu was making as much as he was for the moment, the price was bound to fall as they became more widespread in the market.

As for Qin Fei, he was sure to make twenty Spirit Essences on every one he sold. No matter how the price fluctuated, he wouldn't take a loss.

"Brother Qin, what do you think we should do next?"

Wang Hu might have been a major Late Qi Refining cultivator, but he now placed great importance on Qin Fei's opinion.

He had tasted plenty of benefits since befriending Qin Fei.

Leaving the earlier Puppet Soldiers aside, the Demon Hunting Pavilion had ordered twenty Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses in one go at fifty Spirit Essences apiece. That alone was enough to fill his pots and bowls to overflowing.

What mattered even more to him was that Qin Fei showed no envy and had no intention of raising his price. That earned even more of Wang Hu's approval.

"Brother Hu, we can't increase production at the moment, so I suggest you accept preorders and sell first to those who pay a deposit.

"Once there are fewer customers like that, the market price will probably fall along with them.

"By then, depending on the situation, you can either sell them yourself or recruit second-tier agents and profit from the difference."

Wang Hu nodded repeatedly as he listened, thinking Qin Fei a little sales genius.

"That's what we'll do. Brother Qin, are you having any difficulties on your end?"

Qin Fei didn't answer directly. Instead, he swept one hand over the tabletop, and eight fist-sized spheres appeared.

"Brother Hu, you bought ten Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses outright last time. These are the rest.

"But I've used up all the materials I had on hand. If I'm to keep making them, I'll need quite a few Spirit Stones."

"I wondered what it was! I came this time to bring you Spirit Stones!"

Wang Hu laughed heartily, then pulled a small black pouch from inside his robes and handed it over.

He had been somewhat hesitant to leave Spirit Stones with Qin Fei last time, but this time he couldn't wait.

"Take a look, brother."

Qin Fei gave it a light sweep with his Divine Sense, and his heart skipped half a beat.

"As we agreed before, Brother Qin, thirty Spirit Essences per puppet. This is the deposit for thirty of them: twenty for the Demon Hunting Pavilion and some for a few old friends."

The little pouch contained a full nine Spirit Stones, each radiating a pleasant glow.

In all the time Qin Fei had spent in the cultivation world, he had never seen so many Spirit Stones at once.

But he didn't show much excitement. Instead, he told himself that this was only the beginning.

The Spirit Stones before him were still nowhere near enough to support his path of cultivation.

"Brother Hu, over the coming days, I plan to devote myself to making puppets so I can deliver them as soon as possible. Sorry to trouble you with everything else."

After bidding Wang Hu farewell, Qin Fei threw himself back into making puppets.

After deducting the cost of materials, he had made a net profit of six Spirit Stones this time.

Qin Fei went to replenish his supply with two more bottles of Spirit Ascension Pills, then returned home to wait for something to happen.

Half a month later.

Qin Fei was exhausted, with dark circles under both eyes, but they couldn't hide the smile on his face.

[Wooden Ox completed, experience +12]

[Flowing Horse completed, experience +13]

[Heavenly Craft Creation Pavilion (lv1) (200/200) (upgrade available)]

[Pavilion master: Qin Fei]

[Puppets: Puppet Soldier (ungraded), Wooden Ox (first-tier puppet), Flowing Horse (first-tier puppet)]

[Bonuses: puppet speed +1%, power +1%, consumption -1%]

[Blueprints available to unlock: Flame Martial Guard (first-tier puppet), Flame Martial Envoy (exclusive puppet)]