As if stepping on thin ice, Qian Duoduo slowly walked into the Gold Vault, and the scene in the hall came into view.
An old man stood in the very center, surrounded by three layers of people. This old man wore a purple robe, his eyebrows were high and upturned, his face was awe-inspiring, and his Cultivation was like an unfathomable abyss.
Around him stood four men and one woman, dressed in red robes, and Tang Honggong was among them.
Outside the red robes were a group of green robes. Qian Duoduo recognized Elder Bi and Elder Tian Shu.
The outer layer of green robes consisted of several Inner Sect Disciples, about ten Outer Sect Disciples, and twenty to thirty gray-robed Disciples. The eight Senior Brothers and Huang Guiren were all there.
The red robes, green robes, orange robes, blue robes, and gray robes were all facing the purple-robed old man, their heads slightly bowed.
“Could this old man be the legendary Sect Leader Niu Jinshui?!” Qian Duoduo’s heart immediately exploded like a hornet’s nest, with crazy questions flying out—Did something big happen to the Gold Vault? Did someone make a mistake? Did someone get killed?
Qian Duoduo looked for Lei Jiashu, Huang Guiren, and Wang Dahei, but with heads close together and faces blocking each other, he couldn't see anything.
“Bu Huan, quickly bow to the Sect Leader and all the Seniors,” Tang Honggong reminded Qian Duoduo when he saw him distracted.
Qian Duoduo quickly collected himself, cupped his fists, and bowed deeply, “Gold Vault Disciple Jin Buhuan, greets the Sect Leader, greets all Seniors, and greets all Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters.”
Niu Jinshui looked Qian Duoduo over and kindly asked, “Was the money-lending business your idea?” As a Sect Leader, he was usually busy with many affairs and didn’t intend to bother with the Gold Vault’s deposit and loan matters. However, more and more people whispered in his ear, and the usually humble Tang Honggong uncharacteristically gave strong support. This made him curious, so he came to check it out himself.
“Yes,” Qian Duoduo replied briefly, unsure if this was a blessing or a curse.
“Bu Huan, tell us in detail how you thought of it at the time, and what the effect has been so far,” Tang Honggong spoke gently.
Qian Duoduo recalled his conversation with Wang Meiruo, and treating Niu Jinshui as Wang Meiruo, he spoke seriously and loudly, “This Disciple thought that all things have spirit, so money must also have spirit. The money of our Refining Spirit Sect should especially have spirit.”
During this time, he had constantly persuaded people to borrow money to Cultivate, and he had also figured out many principles.
These words were spoken with power and conviction, causing the purple-robed Sect Leader, the red-robed Palace Lords, and the green-robed Elders to all tremble slightly, their eyes flashing with light.
Qian Duoduo knew that with this opening, “Jin Buhuan” had succeeded! He couldn’t help but straighten his back a bit.
Niu Jinshui nodded, encouraging Qian Duoduo with his eyes to continue.
“With spirit, there is life and death. Money naturally divides into two types: living money and dead money. Money that is left unused and cannot generate more money is dead money. But money that is used and can generate more money is living money…”
In the Gold Vault hall, Qian Duoduo’s voice echoed, the only voice.
“Haha, haha!” Niu Jinshui’s beard trembled as he burst into hearty laughter. In recent days, he had been thinking about how to make the Refining Spirit Sect stronger, and the word “living” that Qian Duoduo used greatly impressed him. If the Refining Spirit Sect became alive, it would naturally grow stronger.
Tang Honggong and the other red robes, Elder Bi, Tian Shu, and the other green robes all had smiles on their faces.
“Tell us about the effect after the money became living,” Tang Honggong prompted Qian Duoduo.
“The effect is on the wall,” Qian Duoduo pointed behind everyone.
Everyone quickly made way, allowing Niu Jinshui to see the wall.
The ink paintings posted on the wall, at this moment, each one was so vigorous and unrestrained, like a Dragon flying and a Phoenix dancing, with a natural Life Qi burgeoning within the brushstrokes.
“Some people who disliked the money-lending business said that these ink paintings on the wall were ‘ugly words written by poor ghosts, and pigsty decorations pasted by fools.’ However, they were wrong, completely wrong,” Qian Duoduo looked around at everyone and noticed that one green-robed Elder’s face was particularly grim.
The purple-robed Sect Leader’s brows furrowed slightly. Tang Honggong shook his head slightly at Qian Duoduo. Internal strife was like a festering sore; even if it was on one’s face, it should be covered with gauze.
Qian Duoduo quickly continued, “These are the heartfelt feelings left by Disciples who upgraded after borrowing money. This is the best evidence that our Refining Spirit Sect’s money has come alive. These are pages of promotion good news, these are vows of upward progress!”
Seeing the Sect Leader’s brows relax, Qian Duoduo also felt relieved.
Niu Jinshui nodded twice, “Let each peak report on their promotion situation over the past two months.”
“Mengyuan Mountain, sixty-five Inner Sect promotions, seven hundred and ten Outer Sect promotions.”
“Xiongjin Mountain, fifty-nine Inner Sect promotions, eight hundred and five Outer Sect promotions.”
“Beast Tooth Peak, seventy-three Inner Sect promotions, five hundred and thirty-two Outer Sect promotions.”
“Jianjian Peak, forty-eight Inner Sect promotions, seven hundred and fifty-five Outer Sect promotions.”
“Wen’an Peak, eighty-one Inner Sect promotions, four hundred and eighty-six Outer Sect promotions.”
The five green-robed Elders reported the numbers one by one. They were the Elders at the mountain gates, in charge of matters concerning the entry and exit of Outer Sect and Inner Sect Disciples.
The five red-robed Palace Lords were astonished, muttering, “So many promotions?!”
“How much more than before?” the Sect Leader asked a green-robed Elder from the mountain gate.
“Sixty to seventy percent more,” the green-robed Elder replied, bowing his head.
“My Refining Spirit Sect is destined for great prosperity!” Niu Jinshui’s soft words were like throwing a huge rock into a small pond. The red robes, green robes, blue robes, and gray robes had varied expressions, some happy, some worried. But joy still accounted for the vast majority.
After a moment of contemplation, Niu Jinshui announced in a deep voice, “Elder Bi has rendered meritorious service in managing the Gold Vault, and is awarded one mid-grade Dan artifact and one third-grade low-tier Medicinal Pill. Disciples Wang Dahei and Jin Buhuan are promoted to Outer Sect Disciples and may choose their own mountain gate. For other Disciples, the Palace Lords of each peak may select excellent ones to join the Outer Sect. Cultivation fees will be increased by one level for everyone.”
Elder Bi cupped his fists in thanks. Qian Duoduo, Wang Dahei, and the other Senior Brothers, however, pulled long faces. “The Gold Vault is so good, who would want to leave?”
“Aren’t you going to thank the Sect Leader?” Seeing them speechless, Elder Bi urged them. With the Sect Leader present, he was nervous, fearing that if he was blamed, he wouldn’t be able to keep his Elder position. Unexpectedly, the Sect Leader awarded rather than punished, making Elder Bi feel that Jin Buhuan was a lucky star.
“Thank you, Sect Leader!” Qian Duoduo and the Senior Brothers drew out their words, their voices not very loud.
Qian Duoduo felt stifled and extremely unwilling. But in front of all the Palace Lords and Elders of the Sect, how could he refuse the Sect Leader? If he had to be promoted, then so be it, as long as it didn’t affect the money-lending business.
“Bu Huan, you arrived a bit late. Just now, the Sect Leader announced that the money-lending business, including the original contracts, will be taken over by the Sect and expanded. Of course, the rules remain unchanged; neither those who deposit nor those who borrow will suffer losses,” Tang Honggong explained.
Hearing this, Qian Duoduo finally understood what being promoted to Outer Sect Disciple meant. It felt as if he had just climbed to the peak, only to suddenly step into thin air from a cliff and fall into a bottomless abyss.
Being promoted to Outer Sect Disciple meant being transferred out of the Gold Vault, and then, logically, the money-lending business would be taken over by the Sect.
But why would the Sect take over? What was the Sect going to take over in this matter? If the Sect took over, the interest income would naturally go to the Sect, and it would have nothing to do with them, the Disciples.
The enormous daily interest income would henceforth have nothing to do with them, the ten brothers of the Gold Vault!
Those who deposited money didn’t lose, those who borrowed money didn’t lose, and the Sect didn’t lose.
The only ones who lost were the ten of them, the ten of them who had put their faces out there to be kicked and built up the business.
What about his Ninth Level of Qi Condensation? What would he use to deal with Jin Buque? What would he use to deal with the vast Jin family?
This was clearly a blatant snatch, clearly treating them like leeks, grown long only to be cut down by a scythe!
Qian Duoduo bowed his head low. The heavy breaths in his throat escaped silently, little by little. His heart felt like it was blocked by a piece of ice, yet also stifled by a ball of fire, with nowhere to vent it, and he dared not show even a trace.
Niu Jinshui’s face relaxed, and his voice was warm, “I tell you, when the great river has water, the small rivers will not dry up. The Sect is the great river, and we are the small rivers of the great river. When the Sect is well, we will not be far behind. With the Sect’s credibility, depositing and borrowing money will be even more reassuring. I believe that each of you will climb higher and higher within the mountain gates, perhaps even surpassing us in the future!”
Glancing at the Palace Lords, Niu Jinshui instructed, “The Gold Vault Disciples have all rendered meritorious service and are also talents; do not let their hearts grow cold.”
After speaking, he waved his hand and disappeared into thin air.
As soon as he left, three red-robed Palace Lords in the hall also waved their sleeves and departed.
They didn’t favor any of Qian Duoduo’s ten Senior Brothers. Thinking about it, it was normal. Qian Duoduo and the others were all only Qi Condensation Level 3, not even Outer Sect Disciples, so how could they gain the favor of a Palace Lord?
Only Tang Honggong and the sole female red-robed figure remained in the hall.
The two exchanged glances, and Zhangzuo Dajiu cupped his hand, “Please, Junior Sister Ping, choose first.”
Only then did Qian Duoduo notice this Hall Master Ping. Her face was actually dreamlike. With a glance, he seemed to see her features, but no matter how closely he looked, he couldn’t make out her true face. This Hall Master Ping’s entire body, from head to toe, was covered in Formations.