Chapter 109: Never Tested

Zheng Fa arrived at Zhang Shijie's home early in the morning.

"Something wrong?"

Seeing Zheng Fa come to seek her, Zhang Shijie's expression showed a hint of confusion.

"Shijie, I've been reviewing the past account books these few days. The market's income... has been far worse recently."

Zhang Shijie thought for a moment, pointed to a nearby chair, and invited Zheng Fa to sit.

"When I first took over the Administrative Pavilion, the market's income was still over two thousand spirit stones a month," Zhang Shijie said bluntly, "but for the past hundred years, both the rent and transaction taxes in the market have been declining."

Hearing this, Zheng Fa was also somewhat surprised; the decline was quite significant.

"This isn't just a problem for our Jiushan Sect," Zhang Shijie comforted him. "Just do your best."

It was clear she thought Zheng Fa had come to her because he feared being punished for the market's income continuing to drop after he took over.

Admitting her own shortcomings was also meant to comfort Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa fell silent for a moment, then spoke: "Actually, I'm not worried about that. This junior brother has an idea and would like to ask Shijie's opinion on its feasibility."

"An idea?"

Zhang Shijie looked at Zheng Fa and suddenly understood: "You feel your cultivation isn't strong enough to hold the position, so you want to make some achievements in market management?"

Zheng Fa smiled: "Shijie sees right through me. Since this junior brother currently lacks the cultivation to command respect, I can only use my wits on these matters."

It was unavoidable if he wanted to secure this position.

Either he had to be like Shijie Yuan, using his Jin Dan cultivation to suppress those below him.

Or he had to make the market more prosperous.

Zhang Shijie nodded, but her expression held little expectation; clearly, she didn't think Zheng Fa had any good ideas.

"Tell me."

"Shijie knows the market's income has dropped; fundamentally, this is caused by the decline of spiritual energy," Zheng Fa said. "But from a practical standpoint, the problem is that the vendors and shops within our sect can't make money anymore."

The market's income actually comes from these vendors and merchants; if they have no business, the market naturally has no income.

"Especially since we have too many talisman masters in our sect, talismans are becoming harder and harder to sell. Han Qi and the others who sell talismans for me now have to bundle them with Huang-grade talismans just to move them."

Zheng Fa's expression was somewhat strange.

That method was actually Han Qi's own idea; he really had some talent and managed to do surprisingly well in business.

But in reality—this kind of intense competition had nearly paralyzed the talisman stalls in the market.

Hearing this, Zhang Shijie also nodded: "In recent years, some stalls have actually been hard to rent out."

Her expression didn't change much; this wasn't just an issue for Zheng Fa; the Jiushan Sect's high leadership had long understood the situation.

But now, the entire Cultivation World is experiencing consumption downgrading, and they have no good solutions.

"This junior brother thinks that to increase their income, it boils down to four words: open new sources and cut expenses," Zheng Fa stated his plan. "I haven't yet figured out how to cut expenses, but I do have some ideas on opening new sources."

"Oh?"

Zheng Fa took a small booklet from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Shijie.

Zhang Shijie took the booklet, flipped through it for a while, and when she looked up, her gaze toward Zheng Fa held a certain sparkle: "You want us to dispatch welcome boats to recruit customers at the major immortal sects and markets of the Baixian Alliance? And offer free transport?"

"Yes," Zheng Fa said. "This junior brother thinks that the reason we have too many talisman masters is actually because there are too few customers. Moreover, we can arrange personnel on the boats to take orders from those who cannot come personally, and then deliver the goods to them."

Ultimately, this is essentially the free bus service of those supermarkets.

The kind that old men and women who refuse to spend money love the most.

Plus a simple mail-order service.

It wasn't hard to think of, but indeed, no one in the Xuanwei Realm had ever done this before.

This model hasn't even existed for many years in the modern world—it requires commercial civilization and a service consciousness to develop to a certain stage.

The markets in the Xuanwei Realm, one and all, are just landlords, caring only about collecting rent and protection fees.

But in Zheng Fa's plan, the market's role is actually more like a modern shopping mall—it must undertake marketing responsibilities.

Especially those vendors and small shop owners, who actually have no marketing ability and must rely on the market.

This line of thinking actually requires the market to have a service consciousness toward small vendors; obviously, markets backed by major sects really struggle to have this mindset.

"This idea... is quite interesting; it targets those low-level cultivators with little money, isn't it?" Zhang Shijie gently tapped the small booklet in her hand, and her gaze held a hint of appreciation: "We can try it."

Zheng Fa nodded: "Shijie is wise. I was thinking that since our sect has too many Huang-grade talisman masters, the largest audience is those low-level cultivators with low cultivation who find it inconvenient to come. Actually, the talismans here are relatively cheap; if we waive the travel costs, that group would probably be quite willing to come, at least willing to come and browse."

As for whether they would buy once they arrived—wasn't there a saying: "Since you're already here."

Zhang Shijie looked at the booklet again and found it contained quite a lot of content.

There were plans to first pilot the scheme in a few nearby sects or markets.

There were ideas on how to promote it—writing and decorating on the boats, and so on.

There were arrangements for the welcome personnel—Zheng Fa recommended Han Qi, who had great potential as a shady tour guide; he could also showcase some special skills on the boat and sell some goods.

"You wrote this booklet very carefully," Zhang Shijie looked at Zheng Fa, her eyes full of praise: "I originally just wanted you to occupy this position, but I didn't expect you to give me a surprise."

Zheng Fa shook his head, being quite cautious: "This matter still involves some costs, so I came to discuss it with you, Shijie, first."

"Trying it won't hurt; I will make the arrangements," Zhang Shijie handed the booklet back to Zheng Fa and said to him, "Inside the market, feel free to act."

This day was the first time Zheng Fa met those market disciples.

He arrived at the small building in the market.

Shijie Yuan had already been waiting there.

"Are you nervous, junior brother?" she asked curiously, "When I first took over the position of Market Manager, I was very nervous!"

Zheng Fa smiled and shook his head.

He had already done all the preparation he could.

It had condensed into a Frost Blade Talisman.

He also used that business plan booklet to gain even further support from Shijie Zhang—the success or failure of the plan was not actually the most important thing; what mattered most was making Shijie Zhang recognize his talent and effort in this area and be willing to remove some other obstacles for him.

He felt that he was now capable enough to handle some difficulties and ostracism.

As for even more malice, Zheng Fa was not unprepared mentally.

After all, given his background, he had faced no small amount of malice both in the manor and in the modern world.

Not liking to fight did not mean he feared fighting.

Seeing him shake his head, Shijie Yuan pouted, seeming somewhat disappointed.

Soon, the disciples under Shijie Yuan's command all arrived.

The number was actually not large, fewer than thirty disciples.

Standing together, they filled the entire first floor of the small building.

What surprised Zheng Fa a bit was that every single disciple in the room, no matter who, seemed afraid when they saw him.

He looked from left to right, and not a single person dared to meet his gaze.

Whether they were at the Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment stage, as soon as they saw him looking at them, they would lower their heads.

If he stared at someone for too long, that person would raise their head and cautiously flash a flattering smile.

... What is going on?

Shijie Yuan watched with a smile for a while before coughing lightly: "Now let me introduce everyone to this person; this is Shidi Zheng, who will jointly manage the market with me in the future."

Zheng Fa had not yet had time to show a kind smile.

These Shixiong spoke up.

"We heard of Shidi Zheng's great name long ago!"

"The market should be managed by a talent like Shidi!"

"Ever since hearing this news, I have looked forward to it day and night, and finally Shidi Zheng has arrived!"

... Wait, what is with the look on your faces as if you've seen the clear blue sky?

Looking at this group of unusually enthusiastic Shixiong, he spoke modestly: "Shidi's cultivation is shallow..."

"That is belittling yourself!" a Shixiong with a more mature appearance interrupted him: "Ambition is not determined by age! What's wrong with low cultivation? We have high cultivation!"

"Exactly! If there is anything that requires action, Shidi Zheng, you just leave it, and we will handle it!"

"Right!"

"... Which Shixiong is this?"

"My surname is Yang!" that Shixiong said enthusiastically: "If anyone without eyes comes around in the future, just tell me!"

The faction of Shijie Zhang was much more united than he had imagined!

"Then... Shidi has an idea here; please, all Shixiong, discuss it."

Zheng Fa thought for a moment and told these Shixiong about the measures he had discussed with Shijie Zhang.

To be honest, he was not very confident in his business talent—after all, he had never done business in the modern world either.

Moreover, this was a different world.

So what he wrote in the booklet was very cautious—it started with a small-scale pilot, and the invested cost was limited.

Having these Shixiong discuss it, he truly wanted to hear their opinions.

After all, their familiarity with the market was incomparable to his own.

"Brilliant!"

But before he could finish speaking, that Shixiong Yang clapped his hands and laughed.

"..."

"Shidi's method resolves the urgent crisis for the shopkeepers in the market!"

"A benevolent heart!"

"I think those shopkeepers are going to erect a monument of immortality for you, Shidi!"

"Do Shixiong have no opinions?" Zheng Fa asked sincerely and with confusion.

"Shidi's plan is perfect; no opinions, no opinions!"

"..."

Watching the various Shixiong walk further and further away, Zheng Fa slowly furrowed his brows and asked Shijie Yuan: "Shijie, are all the disciples in our market this... kind?"

"... What, do you not like it?"

"That's not it either..." Zheng Fa shook his head and smiled: "I thought there would be some conflict, and Shidi had even prepared some methods."

"The methods have already been used."

"Ah?"

Zheng Fa turned his head and saw Shijie Yuan smiling, with an expression on her face as if seeking credit.

"These people, these past few days, have come in groups to find me and stir up trouble in front of me." Shijie Yuan pouted: "I have disciplined each and every one of them."

"..."

"For the next half year, as long as I have not left, this group will all be obedient." Shijie Yuan patted her chest and said: "When I leave, if they still cause trouble, Shidi, just find me, and I will come back to discipline them."

Zheng Fa looked at the carefully prepared booklet in his hand, then looked at the triumphant Shijie Yuan; his finger moved, and a cold air condensed in the air into a chilling blade, slicing through a potted plant in the corner.

A leaf on the plant slowly fell.

"Shidi?" Shijie Yuan's face showed confusion.

"... I was just testing." Zheng Fa said, feeling slightly depressed.