“My Dao lies in [Commerce]. It lies in [Profit].”
Jiao Xiuyuan spoke with a touch of emotion:
“In this world, all things flow for profit. The path of commerce flourishes abundantly across the mortal realm.”
“Thus, I create countless puppets, observe the gains and losses of the human world, and cultivate through this process.”
“At the beginning, the accumulation of wealth is always extremely rapid. It’s almost like climbing a staircase daily, and my cultivation realm also advanced step by step alongside it.”
“But upon reaching a certain level, the expansion of [Qianli Hall] slowed significantly.”
“My cultivation stalled for a long time. Originally, I thought I could rely on the insights from this massive profit to make a breakthrough in one go. Yet, it turns out, I’m still lacking a spark.”
“The saying ‘Seeing the mountain but exhausting the horse’ comes to mind. What seemed within reach was actually separated by countless mountains and valleys.”
Li Fan listened to Jiao Xiuyuan’s lament and recalled the immense gap he recently witnessed between those in the Dao Integration Realm and the Longevity Immortal Realm.
At this moment, Jiao Xiuyuan continued,
“Moreover, I’ve found that the path of commerce, at my current level, is now constrained on all sides and fraught with difficulties. Moving further forward has become incredibly challenging.”
Before Li Fan could ask, Jiao Xiuyuan answered his unspoken question:
“Take, for example, the last incident with the Samantabhadra True Leaf. Under ideal conditions, we could have profited even more. From a purely commercial perspective, the price of Samantabhadra True Leaf had already soared to the heavens. The Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, controlling the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven, had an abundance of Samantabhadra True Leaf. They could have capitalized on the market, yet they abruptly issued an edict that reset everything to its original state.”
“They claimed it was for stability, but wasn’t it ultimately for their own benefit?” Jiao Xiuyuan muttered.
Li Fan, upon hearing this, seemed contemplative.
“Daoist Jiao, your meaning is that profit must always be earned from others. Upon reaching a certain point, further advancement inevitably leads to conflict with others.”
“Exactly!” Jiao Xiuyuan praised.
“If the opposition is weak, one can easily crush them. But if the opponent is a formidable wall, charging head-on will only result in a bloody head.”
“At that point, one has no choice but to take a detour around the wall.”
“Yet, this world is ultimately under the rule of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Association. Breaking free from these constraints is easier said than done.”
“Dancing with shackles on, naturally, is a hundred times harder.”
Li Fan laughed lightly after hearing this.
“In that case, Daoist, the fault doesn’t lie with you but with this world!”
“To be constrained at every turn is truly dissatisfying. Daoist Jiao, why not join me in overthrowing the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance and recreating the heavens and earth? What do you say?”
Jiao Xiuyuan fell silent abruptly.
He looked at Li Fan with a peculiar gaze.
For a moment, a strange silence enveloped the two of them.
“Haha, Daoist, you must be joking.”
“Haha, just a joke. Daoist Jiao, you didn’t take it seriously, did you?”
After a moment, they both spoke at the same time, exchanging glances before mutually moving past the topic.
“Speaking of which, Daoist, what do you believe your path would look like at its extreme?” Li Fan asked.
Jiao Xiuyuan pondered for a moment before answering slowly,
“The world’s wealth has a finite total. The rich grow richer, and the poor remain poor.”
“If I continue to profit, the world’s wealth will flow continuously toward me. Then one day…”
“Perhaps my wealth alone will exceed that of everyone else combined.”
Jiao Xiuyuan’s eyes gleamed with longing.
To his surprise, Li Fan chuckled lightly after hearing this.
Jiao Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow. “What is it? Does Daoist have a different opinion?”
“Too small. Your vision is too small. I thought Daoist Jiao was among the most brilliant minds in the world, yet…” Li Fan shook his head slightly, his tone filled with regret.
“Hmm?” A trace of gloom flashed in Jiao Xiuyuan’s eyes.
“If it’s truly the extreme, why would anyone else in the world still possess wealth?” Li Fan smiled faintly.
“Shouldn’t it be that all things in the world belong to you, Daoist, and everyone else owes you?”
“Daoist must understand that the total sum of worldly wealth is finite. But…”
Li Fan’s tone turned chilling.
“What others owe you has no limit.”
“Billions, trillions—it can be endlessly accumulated.”
“Not just in this lifetime, but in life after life, for endless descendants, they would labor eternally to repay their debts to you, Daoist!”
Li Fan’s words were like thunder, instantly striking Jiao Xiuyuan.
The gloom in his eyes dissipated immediately, replaced by shock.
“Could it… could it really be possible?”
Li Fan’s words seemed to open up an entirely new world for him.
First, his eyes showed confusion, but soon they grew brighter and brighter, filled with exhilaration.
Before long, as though he had achieved enlightenment, he exclaimed:
“Indeed, indeed!”
“Profit in one moment or one lifetime is ultimately limited.”
“But time is infinite. If I spread my goal across the river of time…”
Jiao Xiuyuan became immersed in his vision, his eyes shining brightly.
“Daoist Li Fan, is this the future path you have deduced for me?”
After a long while, he finally returned to his senses and looked at Li Fan.
Li Fan shook his head.
“I dare not claim to guide. It’s merely a glimpse of a possible future that I happened upon during my daily deductions.”
“In my heart, I felt it might benefit Daoist Jiao’s path, so I remembered it.”
“Upon meeting you today, I thought to share it with you.”
“Daoist Jiao, I hope you don’t find my thoughts absurd!”
Jiao Xiuyuan’s eyes flickered.
“Daoist Li Fan, your ability to deduce is truly astonishing. To foresee such a peculiar future…”
“However, Daoist, you came to me today and pointed this out to me…”
He looked at Li Fan, puzzled.
Li Fan smiled.
“I said you’d prosper and forget old friends, and you still deny it.”
“Daoist, could it be you’ve forgotten the commission I gave you earlier?”
Jiao Xiuyuan froze briefly before realizing.
“You mean…”
“Given your cultivation, it’s naturally impossible to forget. But since you’ve not replied for so long, there must be some unspeakable difficulty. Still, this matter is important to me, so I can only thicken my face and trouble you again!” Li Fan cupped his hand and said with solemnity.
Jiao Xiuyuan stared at Li Fan, his expression changing rapidly.
Five years ago, he had promised Li Fan to investigate the identity of an ancient cultivator whose traces were sought after by the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance as they excavated the ruins of ancient sects.
He had indeed taken on the task.
At first, he didn’t take it seriously, intending to find some casual information to report back.
However, to his surprise, the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, known for leaking secrets like a sieve, had carried out this secrecy effort with extraordinary thoroughness.
Even with his capabilities, it had taken him nearly two years to find nothing of value.