"Smell the scent of a business opportunity? What do you mean?" Li Fan studied Jiao Xiuyuan with keen interest.
Jiao Xiuyuan wore a smug expression. "Just as some people can intuitively sense whether a decision will lead to benefit or harm, I, Jiao Xiuyuan, have the ability to effortlessly identify the path to immense profit amidst countless chaotic and useless pieces of information. It's instinct, a natural gift since childhood. Others can only envy me!"
He glanced at Li Fan again. "The moment you walked away earlier, Fellow Daoist, I was overcome with profound loss. It felt as though I was watching a mountain of contribution points vanish before my eyes, and my heart bled with pain! Therefore, I'm certain your words hold truth!" Jiao Xiuyuan concluded decisively.
Li Fan was somewhat taken aback; he hadn't expected the man to genuinely possess such a talent. Yet, recalling his previous encounters with Jiao Xiuyuan, Li Fan slowly nodded. "In that case, what price are you prepared to offer, Fellow Daoist?"
Jiao Xiuyuan pondered briefly, then held up three fingers.
Li Fan studied the gesture for a moment but was unable to decipher its meaning, so he voiced his confusion. "What does this mean? Three thousand contribution points?"
Jiao Xiuyuan replied gravely, "Thirty percent. Thirty percent of the profits generated by the information you provide."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, skeptical. "So generous?"
Jiao Xiuyuan chuckled. "Fellow Daoist, you are not a merchant, so you cannot comprehend the true value of a timely, forward-looking piece of information. Under specific circumstances, a single piece of information can yield a hundredfold or even a thousandfold profit. Why would I not seize such an opportunity when paying thirty percent grants me thousandfold returns?" His eyes gleamed with shrewdness.
Li Fan couldn't help but applaud. "Well said, Fellow Daoist. But words alone are no guarantee. How can I ensure you won't renege on our deal when the time comes?"
Jiao Xiuyuan scoffed lightly. "It seems you truly know little about commerce. In business, there are rules to follow."
Out of nowhere, he produced a sheet of golden foil. Then using his finger as a brush, he swiftly inscribed the terms of their agreement. After showing it to Li Fan for confirmation, he unhesitatingly signed his own name. "Fellow Daoist, your turn," he said, handing the foil to Li Fan.
Li Fan scrutinized the document once more before finally signing his avatar's name: Lin Fan.
Instantly, the golden foil split into three copies. Two flew toward Jiao Xiuyuan and Lin Fan, while the third soared into the sky, vanishing to an unknown destination.
Moments later, Li Fan felt an inexplicable power descend upon his avatar. This force imposed restrictions and obligations, compelling the avatar to fulfill the terms inscribed on the golden foil. It felt as though the agreement had become his own will, and he felt driven to actively complete it.
A power that alters perception of the mind... Startled by the sudden shift in its mentality, the avatar was taken aback. It quickly took a moment to examine the true self, which was located within the Tianxuan Mirror. Finding that it remained unaffected, it breathed a sigh of relief.
The Heaven-Swapping Art is truly miraculous. He inwardly praised.
Meanwhile, compelled by the golden foil's power, the avatar immediately spoke up, revealing the news that the Spirit Mist Grass island might have been attacked by the Dracowhale exotic beast, and all the Spirit Mist Grass on the island had likely been destroyed.
"The Spirit Mist Grass island has been destroyed?" Upon hearing this, Jiao Xiuyuan's eyes widened with intense greed. "Fellow Daoist, wait a moment while I verify this!"
With that, he closed his eyes.
After a long pause, his eyes snapped open. "The information is accurate!" He paced excitedly back and forth. "The Congyun Sea’s Spirit Mist Island is one of the largest cultivation grounds for Spirit Mist Grass. At least one-fifth of the Myriad Immortals Alliance's supply comes from there!
"Now that all the Spirit Mist Grass on the island has been destroyed, its price is bound to skyrocket in a short time. The prices of byproducts like Form-Concealing Talismans will also surge dramatically."
Suddenly, he stopped pacing, and his brow furrowed. "But this is just a resource used from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, and it's also cultivated elsewhere after all. Even if the price rises, it'll probably only increase by half at most. It's far from the business opportunity I sensed through divine intuition. What exactly am I missing?"
After pondering for a long time but finding no answer, Jiao Xiuyuan grew somewhat irritated. An unsettling aura began to emanate from him.
As he listened to Jiao Xiuyuan's muttering, Li Fan also fell deep in thought. Various anecdotes he'd heard before his transmigration; the small group including He Zhenghao rubbing their hands together, preparing to make a fortune from this opportunity; how the rising price of Spirit Mist Grass would immediately cause a wave of buyers... All these clues connected into a single thread, and Li Fan suddenly understood.
He patted Jiao Xiuyuan's shoulder and said solemnly, "The business opportunity lies not in Spirit Mist Grass, but in people!"
Jiao Xiuyuan’s eyes first filled with confusion. Then as understanding dawned, he exclaimed joyfully, "Fellow Daoist, your words have enlightened me! Indeed, great profit lies in people, not the grass!"
During his avatar’s conversation with Jiao Xiuyuan, Li Fan's true self began purchasing Spirit Mist Grass through the Tianxuan Mirror.
Unfortunately, after recent expenditures, his true self only had slightly over two thousand contribution points left. It was better than nothing, but just barely.
Jiao Xiuyuan's demeanor was now transformed. He no longer looked wretched, instead exuding an inexplicable dominance. "To profit from manipulating people, I must become the house. As the saying goes, you can't catch a wolf without risking a child."
Though he didn’t take any visible action, Li Fan saw the price of Spirit Mist Grass begin to soar at a visible pace moments later.
Nineteen, twenty, twenty-one... In an instant, the price of Spirit Mist Grass skyrocketed to 22 points.
The Thousand Li Hall’s influence spans the entire cultivation world... Li Fan's eyelids twitched. This Jiao Xiuyuan truly wasn't boasting.
And he had only just begun.
"Since I've become the house, it's time to invite the guests to take their seats." He let out a low chuckle. Then, as if falling into a deep slumber, he grew completely still.
For a time, the Thousand Li Hall was completely silent. Li Fan knew that Jiao Xiuyuan was certainly using his countless puppets spread throughout the entire cultivation world to disseminate the news of the Spirit Mist Grass island's destruction.
The situation needed time to ferment; all they could do was wait patiently.
Just then, He Zhenghao's delayed but extremely excited message finally arrived.
"Fellow Daoist Li Fan! Do you remember when I told you I'd help you make a fortune? The opportunity has arrived! I've received verified news that the island cultivating Spirit Mist Grass was attacked by an exotic beast, and all the Spirit Mist Grass on the island has been destroyed. The price of Spirit Mist Grass is certain to skyrocket!
"If you don't believe me, just look—in such a short time, it's already risen from 18 points to 22! But that's nothing, it's definitely going to climb even higher! This opportunity won't last, Fellow Daoist. Strike now!"
A strange smile appeared on Li Fan's lips as he quickly replied, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist He. I've already gone all in."
When a bubble forms, everyone knows it could pop at the slightest touch. Yet faced with the prospect of enormous profits, everyone loses their rationality, charging forward without regard for consequences.
As Jiao Xiuyuan's countless puppets began their work, a piece of news started spreading throughout the cultivation world. Its reach grew further and wider, gradually becoming known to all: the price of Spirit Mist Grass was going to rise.
And so, the bubble began its first expansion.