Chapter 17: When Others Fear, I Add to My Position

In truth, Zhao Xuhe also knew that by now the Substitute Death Yin Puppet had completely become a bubble, liable to explode at any moment and then collapse entirely.

But he felt that with his own keen eye, he would surely be able to exit in time.

Therefore, when Lu Yang contacted him, saying he had already exited and wanted to repay the 2,000 contribution-point loan he had borrowed earlier, Zhao Xuhe even felt it was a pity for him.

"Rash, Junior Brother, you're far too rash!"

"Didn't you see that the price of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet is still rising? The war hasn't even started yet. Once it truly begins, that will be the real supply shortage!"

"While it hasn't risen too outrageously yet, I suggest you hurry and buy back in."

Facing Zhao Xuhe's earnest persuasion, Lu Yang kept his reason.

Although he too was envious of the soaring Substitute Death Yin Puppet, even regretting selling so early, he was even more clear about the reason Zhao Xuhe was persuading him at this moment.

Caring about him?

Don't be foolish—he wanted to pull people into the market!

After all, the more people who entered, the greater his chance to cash out and leave.

"Hold steady, I'm not in a rush."

"In this life I'll just watch the situation, confirm the highest price point. In the next life I'll repeat the operation, and that will be my chance to make a killing."

With the Hundred Lives Scripture in hand, I will only profit, never lose!

Thinking of this, Lu Yang's mood instantly balanced out. He directly settled the loan with Zhao Xuhe, then went straight into closed-door cultivation, no longer paying attention to the outside world.

Just as Lu Yang went into seclusion, the price of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet was still soaring.

Because the Initial Saint Sect had truly made moves to prepare for war!

Large numbers of disciples received transfer orders and left the sect one after another, their destinations unknown. Under these circumstances, the price of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet naturally could not fall in the slightest.

No matter how expensive, those about to rush into the Righteous-Demonic War could only grit their teeth and buy.

After all, money could always be earned again, but a life was only one.

And under these circumstances, more and more people chose to enter the market, the majority of whom were not ordinary disciples but true scions of great clans.

Compared to ordinary disciples, these clan scions came from wealthy families; the weakest of their elders was a Foundation Establishment True Person, and the contribution points they could mobilize were undoubtedly far greater than those of ordinary disciples. Therefore, after they entered the market, the price of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet—which had shown signs of slowing—once again took flight.

Three thousand, four thousand, five thousand.

Clearly, this price was no longer on the same level as the actual value of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet, and some had already begun to exit out of fear.

Under these circumstances, the price of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet naturally began to fall.

Similar panic gradually spread, yet even more people—especially those who had experienced the first dip—remained full of confidence.

"Don't panic, this is only a technical correction!"

"Sell? Far too early!"

This time, Zhao Xuhe felt he had learned his lesson.

Previously, he had exited too early, and when he re-entered the second time, he not only failed to profit but even lost a small sum. How could he possibly suffer the same loss twice?

"The Righteous-Demonic War hasn't even started yet, and there's still plenty of Substitute Death Yin Puppets on the market, so right now it looks like the price has already topped out. But once fighting begins, the Substitute Death Yin Puppets will inevitably be consumed in massive quantities, and there's no substitute of the same kind to replace them. At that point, everyone will still have to come back and buy!"

"When that time comes, the price will surely see a third surge!"

"What are a mere five thousand contribution points? Seven thousand, even ten thousand is possible! Goods without buyers, lives at stake—everyone will sell everything they own to buy!"

Zhao Xuhe felt his analysis was absolutely flawless.

"So while those fools are selling out of fear, I'm going to add to my position!"

Thinking of this, Zhao Xuhe not only poured in all his savings, he even took out loans, borrowing a large sum on the credit of the Sanhe Society.

He went all-in.

Zhao Xuhe was of course not the only "smart one"—there were others who made the same judgment and also began to sweep up goods on the market.

Affected by this, the price, which had only just begun to fall, started to recover again.

Seeing this scene, Zhao Xuhe, who had still felt a little uncertain in his heart, suddenly felt as if he had swallowed a reassurance pill, convinced that his choice to go all-in was truly wise.

Then, early the next morning.

A voice spread instantly from the Sacred Flame Cliff throughout the entire Initial Saint Sect and beyond.

"Recently, our Sect's Zhang Sect True Monarch personally arranged matters—on the surface, assembling disciples and putting on a posture of preparing for war; in secret, dispatching people to raid the Jiangnan Mass Grave."

"Therefore, I am very pleased to announce to all disciples."

"As of yesterday, the Jiangnan Mass Grave has been retaken by the Zhang Sect True Monarch in person, and at the same time the Jade Pivot Yushu Jiange has contacted the Sect, willing to negotiate peace with the Holy Sect."

It exploded.

Literally the moment the news spread, an explosion rang out from within a certain cave dwelling, as if someone had suffered qi deviation and self-detonated.

Immediately after, all sounds fell silent.

The vast Initial Saint Sect, which only yesterday had been a scene of thriving vitality and all things competing to grow, now was left with only a deathly stillness so terrifying it was suffocating.

Because everyone understood: the Jiangnan Mass Grave being retaken meant the supply of Substitute Death Yin Puppets was no longer short; the Jade Pivot Yushu Jiange proactively seeking peace meant the Righteous-Demonic War was indefinitely far off. More importantly, this announcement was issued through the disciple token, equivalent to an official statement.

So it could not be fake.

The bubble named the Substitute Death Yin Puppet burst with a roar at this moment, and the result was that its price, from its peak of seven thousand, began a cliff-like plunge.

Five thousand, three thousand, one thousand, two hundred.

The price that had taken over a month to climb up now, in the span of a mere quarter-hour, crashed back down to its original price—and was still falling!

Everyone wanted to sell, yet no one was willing to buy.

Especially those who had hoarded large quantities of Substitute Death Yin Puppets—now they could only watch helplessly as the price plunged below the bottom, watching their wealth continuously evaporate.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

That night, within the Initial Saint Sect, almost every so often a deafening explosion would ring out—no one knew how many people had their Dao hearts shattered because of it.

Inside his cave dwelling, Zhao Xuhe had long since fainted.

When he opened his eyes, his expression was still somewhat dazed, as if in a dream: "How terrifying—I actually dreamed the price of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet dropped, hahahaha..."

Then he looked once more at the price of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet.

One hundred contribution points per unit.

"I must have read it wrong."

After a moment of silence, Zhao Xuhe closed his disciple token, took a deep breath, then with trembling hands reopened it to check the price of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet.

Fifty contribution points per unit.

"Pfft!!!"

Zhao Xuhe spat out a mouthful of old blood on the spot, his face swelling instantly to the color of pork liver, and his qi, just like the price of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet, plummeted to rock bottom in an instant.

"I hate—!"

Zhao Xuhe had no time to think further; he desperately suppressed the wild thoughts raging in his heart, regulated his breathing, and circulated his art to organize his true qi, barely avoiding a serious qi deviation.

Just then, a voice suddenly came from outside the cave abode.

"Senior Brother Zhao, Lu Yang has come to pay a visit."

"Lu Yang?"

Zhao Xuhe was stunned for a good while before recalling this junior brother of his, and then thinking how the other had left early and already paid off his loan, while he himself now had lost everything—

"Pfft!"

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Zhao Xuhe walked shakily out the door, only to see Lu Yang standing before the gate looking fresh and clear-headed, waving at him enthusiastically:

"Senior brother, how much money did you earn today?"

Bang!

With an explosive crack, Zhao Xuhe clenched his steel-like teeth tightly, and cracks appeared all over his body where rampaging true qi had burst through skin and flesh, seeping out thin trickles of blood.

Lu Yang's face instantly filled with terror: "Senior brother!? Are you all right?"

"—I'm fine."

Zhao Xuhe forced out a faint smile: "Right, Junior Brother Lu, I recently discovered a predecessor's cave abode, and it seems there are quite a few good things inside."

As his words fell, a glint of vicious light immediately flashed in Zhao Xuhe's eyes, and he squeezed out a voice from between his teeth: "I wonder if Junior Brother would be interested?"

(End of chapter)