Chapter 65: War Supplies Contract Deal, Qing Xi Fang Horse Racing Grand Event

Seven years is a long time.

But for those who cultivate, it is merely the climb of one small realm, the refinement of one dharma treasure, the beginning of one war.

Yes, merely the beginning. Over those seven years, Miaofeng Mountain and Gu Shen Zong fought like dogs with their brains bashed out, showing no intention of stopping at all.

Perhaps they couldn't stop either.

Both sides kept escalating and raising the stakes; Gu Shen Zong even fought at one point right up to the gates of Miaofeng Mountain.

Miaofeng Mountain too had widely issued hero invitations, borrowing the aid of several thousand Qi Refining cultivators within the Red Lantern Society to push the front line back across the Wolong River.

Yet the biggest winner of this war was none other than Wang Xian Zhou of the Wang Shi of Anbei.

He cut down over a hundred Qi Refining cultivators in formation, and along the way killed a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had no eyes for the situation.

Under the rules and system of the Xian Alliance, Old Ancestor Wang Xian Zhou, relying on his peak Qi Refining strength, taught both Gu Shen Zong and Miaofeng Mountain a lesson.

Faced with Wang Xian Zhou's battle results, no matter how unwilling Miaofeng Mountain was, they could only obediently pay up.

But these things had little to do with Yulou; he had solidly holed up in Qing Xi Fang for seven years.

What he did each day was nothing more than running his own shop, studying the Dao of refinement under Hongmei, and exchanging cultivation insights with fellow Daoists from all walks — nothing more.

In the main hall of Huafeng Residence, a female cultivator wearing a lotus-pink dharma robe pushed the door open and entered.

Today it was Wang Yuan's turn to mind the front. He glanced at the newcomer, didn't move a muscle, and continued sitting in the reclining chair reading.

Having hung around Wang Yu for a long time, Wang Yuan's temperament had little by little shifted from impetuous to composed — including the way he slacked off reading right now, which he had picked up from Wang Yu.

Of course, that was only in front of outsiders. With his elder brother, Wang Yuan could forever remain a carefree youth.

Seeing that Wang Yuan was ignoring her, Cuiguo took three steps in two strides, strode forward, and knocked the book out of Wang Yuan's hand.

"Where's your brother?"

Cuiguo asked, a touch of anger on her face.

Wang Yuan wasn't annoyed either; he rocked his head back and forth as he offered his critique.

"Fellow Daoist, you have already chosen the path to your own death — you must be careful in word and deed. Do you understand?"

Cuiguo was no longer the wide-eyed little girl she used to be. With Zhou Yingxi backing her up, she pointed at Wang Yuan with great presence, hands on hips, and furiously let loose.

"Don't change the subject, Wang Yuan. The Miaofeng Mountain–Gu Shen Zong war supplies contract deal your brother and the Yang Clan cooked up — was there insider manipulation or not?"

My young lady listened to your brother and bet 2,800 spirit stones that the two sides would deadlock over the next few months and all kinds of contracts would drop in price.

But now Miaofeng Mountain has pushed the front line back, and Gu Shen Zong nearly fought a second Defense of Wolong Fang.

That's not what was agreed! Your brother has to give us an explanation!"

In these past few years, although Wang Yu had rejected the temptation of becoming a son-in-law, perhaps because they were of the same age, he and Zhou Yingxi had instead become friends.

As for the Miaofeng Mountain–Gu Shen Zong war supplies contract deal, it was a special kind of futures contract. The main categories traded were supplies commonly needed by Qi Refining stage cultivators in magical combat — common talismans like Flying Fire Talismans, common pills like Great Qi Blood Pills and Spirit Opening Pills, as well as all manner of spirit materials, and so on.

At first, Wang Yu only used it to help the Wang Shi lock in future goods prices, using Wang Xian Zhou — that human-shaped bulldozer who could sway the front line — to pocket the price spread.

For example, on the first of May, the Wang Shi placed an order with Wu Jinyan's household for ten pieces of ninth-grade purple copper. Both sides signed a sale contract: each piece of purple copper at 180 spirit stones, delivery date the first of July.

But at the same time the order was placed, Wang Xian Zhou on the other side led the Wang Shi troops to pull back from the front line for a rest.

Immediately, Miaofeng Mountain's front line began to falter.

By mid-May, Miaofeng Mountain could hardly hold on and had no choice but to raise the stakes, madly issuing hero invitations to gather Qi Refining cultivators. The price of purple copper immediately jumped ten percent or more.

The purple copper contract in the Wang Shi's hands rose by ten percent.

Later, Wang Yu realized this thing was actually not much different from futures — if used well, there was much to be done with it.

Once he confirmed that Miaofeng Mountain's unlucky Li Haiping would open his Purple Mansion no matter how hard it got, he pushed the Wang Shi to team up with the Yang Shi and pull off something big.

The two Foundation Establishment immortal clans on the surface sent people to help Miaofeng Mountain stabilize the front line, while behind the scenes they quietly got this special war supplies contract trade off the ground.

They set up a goods exchange next to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. On the surface it was a wholesale outlet selling large quantities of all the goods needed for the war; underneath, it mainly earned commission fees by introducing customers to trade order contracts. Both sides raked in so many fees their hands went soft.

Miaofeng Mountain's front line was under strain; behind Qing Xi Fang they were feasting. Everyone was a colleague under the eaves of the Red Lantern Society, so of course there was no need for ceremony.

"What do you mean 'not what was agreed'? Don't talk nonsense!

Besides, I've lost a lot recently too.

Cuiguo, I haven't gone to make trouble with my brother either, have I?"

Faced with this unreasonable one, Wang Yuan could only muddle through.

"You lost too?" Cuiguo eyed Wang Yuan suspiciously.

Wang Yuan knit his brows, tilted his head slightly, leaned back, and opened his mouth with a barbed remark.

"Alright, alright, I say — why are you today acting like you swallowed a bomb?

That's right, someone like Friend Yingxi wouldn't possibly get angry over fewer than three thousand spirit stones.

It's only because you, Cuiguo, secretly followed along and bought in that you're this anxious."

Seeing that Wang Yuan had seen through her little scheme, Cuiguo's face immediately flushed red.

"Don't slander me! Hurry up and tell me where your brother went — it's my young lady who's looking for him!"

Wang Yuan sprang up from the chair, gave the shop assistant a few instructions, then looked at Cuiguo.

"The racecourse. Let's go, I'll come with you. Today's the once-every-three-months Qing Xi Fang horse racing grand event."

So saying, he walked ahead and went straight out the door.

Seeing Zhou Yingxi at the door, Wang Yuan felt a touch of awkwardness.

"Senior Yingxi, it's been a while…"

Zhou Yingxi was also a little awkward. Behind her veil, her face tightened slightly, and she replied in a cool, clear voice.

"Cuiguo has indeed been a bit lacking in discipline. Also, Friend Wang Yuan, you'd better not call me 'senior.'"

Wang Yuan was already past the age of sexual repression. Facing Zhou Yingxi — whose beauty was obvious even without seeing her face, and whose speaking voice came with a succubus effect all its own — he easily managed a free and easy response.

"This time the Qing Xi horse racing grand event has two racehorses from a vassal force of the Tianshe Sect. Big Brother and Yang Qi are taking it very seriously — he's been soaking in the racecourse all day today."

A strange glint flashed in Zhou Yingxi's eyes.

Wang Yulou, that bastard, really knows how to run a business—the Baibao Pavilion is thriving, bringing in a fortune daily, and its war-material contracts have drawn the attention of everyone under the Hongdengzhao, even stirring the ancestral elder of the Zhou family.

He casually partnered with the Yang clan to launch the Qing Xi Fang Horse Racing Festival, which was originally unremarkable.

But now, no one knows where this bastard dragged in two racehorses raised by a vassal force of the Tianshe Sect.

The scattered cultivators and minor clan cultivators near Qing Xi Fang have received countless Heroic Invitations from Miaofeng Mountain over the years, rushing to the frontlines of the two sects' war as cannon fodder.

You could say they have immense interest in the Tianshe Sect—though, of course, this is not a positive interest.

Wang Yulou bringing in two Tianshe Sect racehorses is like presenting a seventy-year-old virgin with a pure, young maiden—it instantly ignited the volcanic emotions of the audience.

And this, still, is the most failed business case of the little genius's operations.

Seven years have passed, and the once dilapidated and shabby racetrack has transformed completely.

A massive wooden-and-stone structure formed a huge enclosure, resembling a grand stadium, its towering walls blocking the view of free riders.

Although Qing Xi Fang forbids flight, preventing cultivators from spectating from the sky, those with strong spiritual senses could still stand outside and watch if they truly wished to free-ride.

But generally, no one does so—after all, most still care about their dignity.

Wang Yuan kindly bought tickets for Friend Yingxi and the impolite Cui Guo, and the three entered the Qing Xi Fang racetrack together.

Inside the racetrack, the racing course had been completely upgraded.

Wang Yulou led the Baibao Pavilion's cooperation with the Yang clan, investing a full eight thousand spirit stones into the Qing Xi Fang horse racing venture, securing fifty percent equity.

These spirit stones were almost entirely spent on upgrading the track.

Obstruction arrays, trap arrays, hungry demonic beasts, and alternative paths that were shorter but far more difficult—all these new elements pushed the spectacle of Qing Xi Fang horse racing to a new height.

"So many people today?"

Cui Guo stared in astonishment at the crowd filling nearly half the stands.

Wang Yulou redefined horse racing, but even now, the eight thousand spirit stones invested have yet to break even.

The stands have never been full; this half-full turnout is already a new high.

Wang Yulou overestimated the cultivators' wealth.

That's why, two years ago, he launched the upgraded Qing Xi Fang Horse Racing Festival—to make spectators willingly spend spirit stones on tickets.

"Everyone's here for those two Tianshe Sect horses. Normally, at most two or three hundred people would spend spirit stones on tickets."

Wang Yuan smiled in explanation, though the business wasn't actually that bad.

Those who bought tickets usually placed bets—the horse racing betting distribution rights helped Wang Yulou recoup his losses.

For example, the old ghost who runs the beast medicine shop used to pay the Yang clan only two hundred spirit stones a year.

Now, the distribution rights' price has doubled.

Perhaps in another two years, his eight-thousand-spirit-stone investment will finally break even.

Even so, this remains Wang Yulou's most failed investment in his life.

He innovated a business model—and nearly got himself trapped in it.

This made Wang Yulou realize that many of his past-life experiences couldn't be copied blindly.

Upon receiving Wang Yuan's message-charm, Wang Yulou arrived quickly.

"Friend Yingxi, why did you suddenly come?"

Zhou Yingxi sighed.

"I've told you several times—call me 'Daoist.' Why can't you remember?!

Today is the Horse Racing Festival, and Qing Xi Fang only has horse racing worth seeing—I came to take a look.

Did our sudden arrival disturb you?"

Mu Chunze came to Qing Xi Fang as the garrison cultivator primarily to facilitate Zhou Yingxi's cultivation by borrowing the spiritual resonance of Qing Xi's Qin Melody.

But spiritual resonance accumulates slowly and depletes quickly; Zhou Yingxi often grew bored.

"Of course not—Sister, oh, that is Sister Ningyao."

"She's already prepared—the race is about to begin."

Wang Yulou sat beside Wang Yuan and explained to the group.

As he spoke, Sister Ningyao appeared on the second-floor platform of the race preparation area.

"Dear Daoists, the Qing Xi Fang Horse Racing Festival, held every three months, now begins—with the horse showcase segment."

"First horse: Qing Qilin, High-grade Hybrid Demon Beast, with two first-place finishes!"

After the Wang clan invested in the racetrack, the host position shifted from the old man Yang Qi to the youthful and radiant Zhong Ningyao.

Wang Yulou could not accept having an old man as host—it was simply too absurd.

As Zhong Ningyao finished speaking, the eager Qing Qilin burst from the preparation area and began demonstrating its speed on the track.

It held its head high, effortlessly overcoming every obstacle on the course—even under pursuit by iron-boned wolves, it ran with calm grace.

As hybrid demons, these Qingcong horses all possess intelligence.

The Qing Qilin, giving its full performance, knew well that this was no longer the Yang clan's era of control.

If it won, Wang Yulou, as a shareholder, would truly reward it handsomely.

Soon, as each horse completed its showcase, the two Tianshe Sect racehorses were about to appear.