Chapter 683: Retreat to Advance

With the Youming Jie spiritual materials that had been shipped back undergoing six months of processing, Yan Buji then spent two years arranging a sales plan, and only after that did he launch them into the market.

"Great, great! According to reports from other places, our goods have sold out!!" Huang Ji shouted.

"Oh oh oh!!"

Yan Buji smiled, nodded: "Alright, then you hurry up and prepare the matters for the second trade; as for the later rewards, I will personally go to the Sect Master to get them for you!"

"Thank you, Hall Master!"

Yan Buji took a deep breath; the market's response was enthusiastic, roughly as he had estimated.

However, the anticipated rumors that someone would spread false claims about the origin of their spiritual materials on the market did not happen; instead, this left Yan Buji somewhat disappointed.

"If someone spreads rumors, it would actually help us gain fame even better."

These days cultivators also love gossip; after all, among true and false news, there might be something beneficial to oneself, so most cultivators have the habit of inquiring about information in the market, and there are even specialized factions that make a living from this.

But at present no one is spreading rumors; seeing their spiritual materials seize the market, Yan Buji instead wonders if they are being cautious of the Great Sinful Sect.

"It's also possible they're hiding something big, but it doesn't matter either way."

Since the prescription has already been disseminated, and the spiritual materials were expected to hit the market and cause a stir, it shows that someone must have already tried to refine pills according to Yan Buji's prescription, naturally making sales even hotter.

As for how much money was earned, since this was only a preliminary trial, Yan Buji did not spend all three hundred million spiritual stones, but waited for the reports from the various shops to come in to calculate costs and profits.

Yan Buji busied himself for several more months, and only then did he take the reports to find He Yun.

"Sect Master!"

"Hall Master Yan, seeing you so pleased, how much did we earn from this first trade with the Youming Jie?"

"Excluding the costs and initial investment in spiritual stones for the shops and personnel, we used a total of eighty million spiritual stones this time, revenue was two hundred thirty million spiritual stones, and profit was ninety million spiritual stones."

"That much?" He Yun exclaimed in surprise.

Yan Buji shook his head: "Not enough, because we invested a lot of manpower to open shops in various places of Zhong Tian Zhi Yu, maintaining shop costs and spiritual material transportation losses; revenue does not represent how much we actually earned. Although the profit is high, it still hasn't reached the target set by the Sect Master and us."

"One time definitely won't reach it..... You mean that going on like this we won't be able to earn nine hundred million spiritual stones?" He Yun came to his senses, looking at Yan Buji.

"Yes. What I mean is, arrange a group of people to create a stir in various places while also finding people to expose the flaws in our spiritual materials, to hype up the momentum!" Yan Buji said.

He Yun thought: "What is the purpose of doing this?"

"So that more people know our shops are selling Youming Jie materials, while also drawing the market's attention to us. This way, after a few rounds of self-verification, as long as the spiritual materials are problem-free, our business will only get better!" Yan Buji said.

"But they also have many choices, right?"

"That's why we need such hype tactics; the materials on the market are all roughly the same, and it's not that Youming Jie spiritual materials are truly excellent. But we just need to spread a certain idea to them." Yan Buji laughed.

He Yun gave an "oh," not understanding.

"Rarity makes value; at the same price, the spiritual materials you can buy and the Youming Jie spiritual materials you can buy always have a scarcity. Therefore, with this scarcity added, our spiritual materials can be priced higher, thus increasing the profit after deducting costs. I want everyone in Zhong Tian Zhi Yu to know that our Great Sinful Sect has a channel to obtain Youming Jie spiritual materials from the Youming Jie; this way, fame is established, and the rest is just building reputation."

Yan Buji took out the reports and a plan: "This is the plan I have worked out these past few months; please, Sect Master, review it."

He Yun took it, flipped through for a while, and whenever he encountered something he didn't understand, he had to ask Yan Buji to clarify.

After clarifying Yan Buji's plan, He Yun nodded: "Okay, we'll do as you said."

"Yes."

Yan Buji clasped his hands and then said: "Sect Master, the follow-up work of the Youming Jie trade can also be handed over to others; I only need to be responsible for entering and exiting the Youming Jie. I want to hand over the subsequent matters to others; what do you think?"

"Hmm?" He Yun frowned: "Do you not want to do it, or are you afraid someone will be dissatisfied with you?"

"Not at all." Yan Buji shook his head, gave a wry smile: "These years I've been busy for too long; I think the sect can establish a dedicated hall for Youming Jie trade, organize and train a batch of personnel to specifically oversee this. I have already set the framework; Sect Master, just arrange for people to take over."

"Then why did you choose to retreat from the rapids?" He Yun wondered: "If you continued to be in charge of this, you could gain even more, right?"

Yan Buji shook his head: "My cultivation has been neglected for a long time; I need a lengthy period of closed-door cultivation."

"I see." He Yun thought: "Then in that case, not long after the sect's garrison is completed, when we convene the sect assembly, I will bring this up for the elders to discuss together. As for Hall Master Yan, since you wish to cultivate in seclusion, that's not impossible; however, it is rare for our sect to have someone as astute as you in commercial affairs, so after you emerge from seclusion, please continue to take charge."

"This... alright, thank you, Sect Master, for your favor!"

Yan Buji used the excuse of needing to cultivate in seclusion to retreat from the rapids; his true purpose was actually to see what choice the Sect Master would make.

After all, involving such a great matter as Youming Jie trade, the interests at stake are truly too many; it's not that Yan Buji can't handle it, but rather he worries about causing the Sect Master's displeasure.

Thus, by retreating to advance, it also shows the Sect Master that he is not greedy for power and profit, and it is not impossible that this could be a choice to let him sit more securely in this position.

Even if the Sect Master permits Yan Buji's request to have others replace him, it doesn't matter; for such a big matter, if any trouble arises, ultimately someone still has to resolve it.

And Yan Buji also believes that his current retreat from the rapids is actually a very good choice; perhaps later there will be great trouble.

By this point, Yan Buji proactively yielded his position, but his own team remains; even if his successor does not reuse them, it's still impossible to completely push them out.

"People always make mistakes, and the bigger the matter, the easier it is to err. Coincidentally, the Youming Jie trade has just begun; if a misstep occurs now, it could lead to total loss. The Sect Master cannot just watch things develop like this; comparing before and after, my ability will also have a more obvious demonstration."

Yan Buji smiled.

Sometimes not contending is actually the greatest striving!

Yan Buji has lived so many years and encountered countless matters; within this kind of power, how to develop he has long had his own plan.

So he looks forward to the upcoming sect assembly.