Chapter Four Hundred and Fifty Four – Financial Crisis
A Gui looked slightly better and this made Zuo Mo very happy.
Right now, the island was so big, Silly Bird, Lil' Pagoda, and the others went crazy in playing. De didn't know where they had run off to and gone to play. There were too many desolate places on the island as the Ren Family's neglectful care of this cloud island allowed weeds and wild grasses grew in many places. There were also those deep caves, some of which were extremely deep. To the point no one knew what it was like inside.
These caves became the playground of Lil' Pagoda and the others as they played happily. Since there was Silly Bird and Tenth Grade keeping watch, Zuo Mo did not worry about any dangers.
He was very busy in this while.
The island was very happy. This group who was getting completely outfitted had smiles on their face. Yet what Zuo Mo hadn't expected was Pu Yao had also come to see him. He asked him if Vermillion Bird Camp was getting new equipment, then why was Guard Camp not getting new equipment?
Zuo Mo stilled at Pu Yao's question and reflexively asked, weren't they cultivating mo skills? What equipment did they need?
And then it was Pu Yao's endless scorn and disdain. Zuo Mo became a country bumpkin with his words. Indignant, Pu Yao then made it out as though he was fighting on behalf of Shu Long and the others. That they were being raised by an evil stepmother, and only he cared for them.
Feeling that he was going to go crazy, Zuo Mo automatically surrendered.
Zuo Mo was informed that the mo cultivated mo skills and did have talismans and weapons. But their talismans and weapons were extremely rare, just one or two items which were called mo weapons! These mo weapons were mostly forged through secret methods from things like fingernails, hair, and feathers that were naturally shed as they cultivated mo skills, and gradually became "talismans."
Mo weapons were far less complex than xiuzhe talismans but their power was not minute, because the mo would usually only have one mo weapon in their entire life. The time it spent with them was something xiuzhe could not imagine.
Automatically surrendering, Zuo Mo found a new problem. How was he to forge mo weapons?
Fortunately, Pu Yao did not try to torture him, and said there was a cave on the island with heavy fiendish energy and was a perfect place for forging mo weapons. He only had to give the remains of the fiend soul beasts from the Sealed Extinction battlefield to Guard Camp etc etc.
Without another word, Zuo Mo got Bao Yi to throw everything to Guard Camp before Pu Yao contentedly left.
On the second day, Bao Yi came with a grimace to find Zuo Mo.
"Daren, our financial situation is reaching a dangerous level!" Bao Yi put out a grave expression as though he was not over exaggerating.
Zuo Mo scratched his head and comforted Bao Yi, "It should be okay!"
"There are ling veins on the island but most of them are being used on the ling fields. Everyone's daily cultivation is based on using the Black Processing Meditation mats again. Each mat requires five pieces of third-grade jingshi every day. Daren, this means that we need to give out ten thousand pieces of third-grade jingshi daily, or twenty pieces of fourth-grade jingshi. Other than this, the island formation consumes about one fourth-grade jingshi a day."
Each expenditure that Bao Yi said made Zuo Mo's heart jump.
"But we do not have any income. Daren, up until now, we have not made one jingshi of income. The Kun Lun Battalion talismans we took from the battle cannot be sold right now in consideration of safety. Daren!"
Bao Yi's old face was so wrinkled it was like a prune. As the quartermaster, he knew about Zuo Mo's wealth better than anyone but he hadn't expected that Zuo Mo would use an entire sixth-grade jingshi to buy talismans for everyone! In a blink, ninety percent of the jingshi in the stores suddenly disappeared and this caused him to feel unprecedented danger.
"it shouldn't be this serious ... ..." Zuo Mo smiled weakly.
"And in this month, Chun Yu Cheng Daren took five hundred pieces of fourth-grade jingshi from me to buy ling beast offspring, and in the following plans, we need to invest approximately five thousand pieces of fourth-grade jingshi. Daren, you agreed to this plan. Shu Long Daren has just taken ten pieces of fifth-grade jingshi to buy all kinds of materials, he said you agreed!" Bao Yi's expression was excited.
"Ten pieces of fifth-grade jingshi?" Zuo Mo's eyes suddenly became extremely round as though he wanted to eat someone!
Pu Yao, you are too vicious! Ten pieces of fifth-grade jingshi in one go! Zuo Mo gritted his teeth!
"Daren didn't agree?" Bao Yi's eyes lit up, wanting to pull up his sleeves and take the jingshi back.
Zuo Mo reacted and hurriedly waved his hands. "No no no! I agreed, I agreed!"
Bao Yi could not disguise his disappointment. "Daren! Not soon from now, we will be in a situation where we cannot feed anyone! The harvest of flowing cloud silk is at least three months away, and Daren, you know that the income from ling fields is basically nothing! Chun Yu Cheng Daren's ling beasts can be profitable but that is at least six months away. In other words, we do not have any short-term income."
When a good person was desperate, their presence was frightening.
Zuo Mo also feel the difficulty of the problem. If they kept spending at this rate, they really could not support it for much longer!
As expected, it was not easy to pretend to be a rich person!
Zuo Mo found, dejectedly, that he had only been a rich man for one day before he was thrown back to his original state!
Make jingshi!
Zuo Mo wanted to cry!
———
Xu Zheng Wei made a deep sound. He hadn't expected Boss Zuo to throw such a difficult problem to him.
He had been very happy originally when Zuo Mo came to find him. Boss Zuo was very wealthy and was a good person to ally with. It was matching with his intentions of strengthening their relationship, that the other came to him to seek aid. But he hadn't expected Zuo Mo to inquire about where to find ling plant farmers.
This was the method that Zuo Mo had managed to come up with after wringing his mind. What the island had the most of were ling fields. If he could truly use this, then the amount of jingshi that could be made would be substantial. However, ling fields required ling plant farmers. The encounter last time caused Zuo Mo to understand just how deep the waters here were so he came to find Xu Zheng Wei and inquire about the situation of ling plants farmers locally.
After thinking for a moment, Xu Zheng Wei decided to explain the twists and turns in this. So he began by talking about the Tian Family, how they made their wealth through ling farming, their desire for ling plant farmers, and how many ling plant farmers they had recruited.
"Brother Zuo, it's not that this old brother doesn't want to help, but my abilities are limited!" Xu Zheng Wei was slightly regretful.
After hearing this, Zuo Mo finally realized. He finally reacted and spoke, "So it was them behind the incident at the Institute of Ling Plants!"
Xu Zheng Wei remained silent.
Zuo Mo understood and his face instantly darkened. He had been fretful that he couldn't find the culprit. So it had been like this!
He naturally understood the desire of a ling farming family towards ling fields, and also understood how disdainful they were of outside powers, as a local power. He even understood the plan that the Tian Family had!
It would have been fine if you did not provoke me, but since you are seeking death, then don't blame anyone! Zuo Mo smiled coldly inside, his murderous intentions rising.
Xu Zheng Wei felt Zuo Mo's murderousness and shook. He hurriedly urged, "Create wealth in harmony, create wealth in harmony, Brother Zuo, don't be angry! I feel that the Tian Family may not have maliciousness, they just want to lower the price, if Brother Zuo is willing ... ..."
Zuo Mo waved his hands and changed the topic, "Is it possible to recruit from nearby cities?"
"This old brother isn't clear about that," Xu Zheng Wei shook his head, "Brother Zuo should go ask Mister Liao Jr. He has a wide network and knows much more than this old brother."
Bidding farewell, Zuo Mo went to Cloud Pavilion, and after asking Liao Qi Chang, he left with disappointment.
Liao Qi Chang told him that it wasn't just the ling plant farmers of Xu Ling City that were hard to recruit, it was hard in the nearby cities as well. In this area, ling plant farmers were resources in demand, and good ling plant farmers were in higher demand. Liao Qi Chang also urged Zuo Mo to sell to the Tian Family or to trade to the Tian Family for a cloud island of the same value.
Was so much ling fields really going to go to waste?
Zuo Mo wasn't willing.
As to Xu Zheng Wei and Liao Qi Chang's ideas of selling to the Tian Island or to trade islands with the Tian Family, Zuo Mo definitely would not agree.
With his vengeful personality, all that was turning in his mind was how to settle the score!
This matter definitely was not finished!
But right now was not the time to focus his attention on the Tian Family. The Tian Family was there and could not run away. He also did not have any evidence, and if they charged up to the door, they would land in a disadvantageous situation.
You were able to scheme against us, so we also have ways to scheme against you!
Zuo Mo decided to throw this problem to Pu Yao. This guy had taken ten pieces of fifth-grade jingshi from him without so much as a sound, how could he not work for it? Scheming? Zuo Mo did not believe there was anyone that was more dark and perverse than Pu Yao!
All of Zuo Mo's attention was focused on one matter, making jingshi!
The jingshi flowed as it was spent faster than water!
A few days passed, and his purse lessened by half again. Bao Yi would come complain and cry to him every day and the jingshi in his purse was reaching the danger line. This caused Zuo Mo to feel deep danger!
But he really could not think of a good way to make jingshi. He decided to gather everyone together!
When discussing of fighting and killing, this group of people wouldn't even frown and would charge without regard for their lives.
But when he wanted them to discuss making jingshi, they instantly looked at each other and withered.
Luckily, Master Sun Bao of Golden Crow Camp reminded Zuo Mo, "Daren, we can sell Golden Crow Fire! That definitely should be easy to sell! We can also forge some talismans, or take some orders. Even if we cannot make much, we should still earn something."
Zuo Mo's eyes lit up. How did he forget something that was that easy to sell?
Golden Crow Fire was good!
Fourth-grade Golden Crow Fire was definitely a product in demand!
At present, their assets couldn't be considered large but they won't be afraid if others targeted them. Self-protection would not be problem. There were several jindan on the island. As long as a yuanying did not come, the problem would not be large. The problem of selling was even easier, they would sell directly to the Cloud Pavilion.
Just as Zuo Mo was overjoyed, Shang Wei Ming that had been wanting to speak finally opened hesitantly.
"Daren, this subordinate has an idea!"
Translator Ramblings: After about half of the story, we return to our starting point of making jingshi. Zuo Mo's budgeting is good, but not good when Pu Yao and other people have free rein.
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Chapter Four Hundred and Fifty Five – Immortal Crossing the Sea[i]
"Speak!" Zuo Mo said. He was calculating on how to best sell Golden Crow Fire. Even though he had saved Shang Wei Ming, he did not put great importance on him, he had only given Shang Wei Ming affairs to manage because he was familiar with the local area.
Shang Wei Ming gathered his courage and spoke, "Daren, since we do not have enough ling plant farmers, why don't we forge some ling plant talismans? Or even sell some ling plant talismans. This way, we can use all of our ling fields!"
Zuo Mo slapped his head. Right, how had he forgotten this? It seemed that it had been too long since he had worked on ling fields, and his skills had deteriorated! With good ling farming talismans, these ling plant farmers would be able to cultivate a significantly larger amount. Sun Bao and Ji Wei's eyes lit up. Forging talismans was what they were best at.
Zuo Mo's mind having been suddenly opened, his thoughts became nimble. Other than talismans, there were also ling beasts skilled in ling plant farming!
By combining talismans and ling beasts they could work together and they could take care of more ling fields!
Shang Wei Ming had not finished speaking. He counted on his fingers as he said, "Since we cannot recruit any ling plant farmers, we can nurture our own! We can start a ling farming class. Right now, the city had many kinds of cultivation classes and the business is booming. On one hand, we can make jingshi, and on the other, we can educate ling plant farmers for our own use, or the production xiuzhe that we need. This is beneficial for the future!"
Zuo Mo dazedly looked at Shang Wei Ming with a heated gaze.
Genius!
He had almost missed such a powerful genius! To be able to think of such a clever idea, what was he except a genius?
Shang Wei Ming's suggestion instantly received everyone's support. They might not have come up with this idea, but they could see its quality at a glance. Snag Wei Ming's idea could accomplish multiple aims and was greatly beneficial to the long-term development of Turtle Island.
Zuo Mo had been worried about not having a way to make jingshi, but he wasn't worried at all now.
He already started to calculate, what did he have the most of? People!
It was perfect for creating cultivation classes!
Wei Sheng's Sword Lecturing Hall, that was a high-end sword xiu cultivation class. The cost would be one piece of fourth-grade jingshi every two hours. What? You think it is too pricy, we don't do discounts!
Xie Shan would also open a sword essence class. He would work with the sword essence formation and provide the service for comprehending sword essence. Oh, sword essence was such a good thing, the price cannot be cheap! What? No money? No money, what are you cultivating sword essence for?
Yi Zheng and Zong Ru would open a dhyana xiu cultivation class. Yi Zheng was from Great Buddha Temple and had great knowledge. Zong Ru's battle experience was high, had an abhinna and his cultivation was in jindan!
A perfect, golden, and luxurious team!
For forging cultivation class, the masters Sun Bao and Ji Wei could take turns with the other people of Golden Crow Camp as assistants. They could also display their Golden Crow Fire and advertise at the same time.
Cheng Shidi would give animal husbandry classes. That guy would probably be unwilling, but since he took ge's jingshi, if he doesn't want to work, hmph, the rest of the money was still in ge's hands!
Of course, he would take the ling plant farmer classes. He was an intermediate level ling plant farmer that had received the summer flower jade medal! The prices could be set to undercut the other classes, and he could get more people.
Bao Yi, he could open a shop and slowly sell the talismans they had accumulated!
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The more Zuo Mo thought, the more excited he was. There seemed to be two burning balls of fire in his eyes.
Jingshi is boundless!
———
"What? Open a cultivation class?" Tian Yong Qing's face was shocked.
Tian Heng Bo's face was also strange. "Yes, who knows what they are thinking! Oh, they also opened a ling plant cultivation class!"
"Ling plant cultivation class?" Tian Yong Qing laughed. "They cannot recruit any ling plant farmers so they thought up this method?"
"Haha!" Tian Heng Bo laughed smugly. "What can they do? We recruited all the nearby ling plant farmers. Unless they are willing to go to more distant places, but in that case, even if the person is willing to come, the price will be higher!"
"This group of people is very interesting." Tian Yong Qing said with a chuckle, "I remember our Tian Family also has a ling plant cultivation class."
Guessing what his brother meant, Tian Heng Bo smiled cunningly, "Yes, our Tian Family's ling plant cultivation class, that is the top ranked one of Xu Ling City."
"Get them to give a good display to these outsiders. If they cannot see our Tian Family's strength in ling plants, they would not give up!" Tian Yong Qing said.
"Haha! I like to bully people the most!" Tian Heng Bo grinned.
———
"Is it good if we do this?" Nian Lu was struggling. Beside him, these experts of Sky Peak Platoon that did not flinch when facing mountains of blades and fire all showed insecure expressions.
"What isn't good?" Lei Peng did not care.
"Those who doesn't feel this is good only have to stop getting the allowance of jingshi for the Black Processing Meditation mat, and don't need to go," Ma Fan said lightly.
The insecure expressions instantly disappeared. Each of them had twisted expressions and suicidal determination.
"Do this!"
"Killlllll!"
———
"What do we do?" Yi Zheng looked at Zong Ru with desperation. "There is only the two of us as dhyana xiu! We can't compete!" He wanted to complete what Daren had requested of them well so he could trade for ling dan as soon as possible. Yet, there were only the two of them who were dhayana xiu in the camp, and with limited labour they could not promote their class as well as the others.
Zong Ru thought and then his eyes suddenly lit up. "We'll go to borrow people!"
"Borrow people?" Yi Zheng's face was confused.
———
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When the xiuzhe of Xu Ling City woke up that day, they found that the cultivation classes, that already seemed to be everywhere, had increased in number overnight!
Suddenly, many xiuzhe were running around on the roads of Xu Ling City. More than a dozen xiuzhe were all wearing Blue Soul Cold Light Armor, each of them with a bright red flag that had in big characters: "Xie's Sword Essence Class".
The troop was extremely organized, the person at the very front like a tower made from metal. He did not wear any armor, his upper half bare, heat evaporating from the steely muscles that were radiating with power!
Almost as though he noticed the number of people, the steely man at the front waved the red flag in his hands.
They shouted together, "Practicing the sword but not the essence, that is akin to just farting!"
The spectators were shocked.
The large man waved his flag again and the shouts rang out in unison.
"Xie's Sword Essence Class, if you can't get sword essence, we will refund it all!"
The rumbling footsteps seemed to rampage across the hearts of the spectators and left behind dazed passersby.
———
Xu Zheng Wei rose up very early today. It was a rare that he woke up so early. Even though xiuzhe were not affected by age like normal people, time would still leave behind marks on their body no matter how great their cultivation was.
Today, he decided to go visit his nephew.
He was born to a normal family and the only one in his family that had any significant cultivation, a jindan. He had a younger brother that did ran a little business, and with Xu Zheng Wei's protection his brother's life did not lack for anything. His brother's son had pretty good cultivation talent. Just thirteen years old and almost in zhuji, which could be considered outstanding.
He focused a great amount of attention on this nephew and would visit every once in awhile to monitor his cultivation's progress.
Just outside the door, he saw the street out of the corner of his eye, his step suddenly paused and then his expression froze on his face.
Ten xiuzhe in azure robes were sitting on ten nimbus clouds. The ten nimbus clouds were in a line that slowly floated along the street.
At the very front was that very wealthy Big Boss Zuo who spent jingshi like dirt!
They had managed to use something to write words onto the snowy-white nimbus clouds. Each nimbus cloud had a great big red character that could be seen from a long way off.
Xu Zheng Wei reflexively read along the nimbus cloud and almost spat blood!
"Ling plant cultivation class, includes work placement!"
———
A troop of fierce big men, yes, truly fierce and big men, each of them were more than one zhang tall!
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When such a troop walked on the street, the pressure they produced was suffocating.
Each of their upper half was bare, the muscles were so terrifying they seemed unreal. All of them had proud expressions, their steps were heavy. When the ten people walked together, it rumbled as though a herd of elephants were trampling the ground.
However ... ...
"Zong Yi Dhayan Xiu Class, jindan dhyana xiu teaching, and lectures by a core disciples of the deep mountain's Great Buddha Temple. The abhinna of dhyana xiu, all kinds of world-shaking techniques, are in this class, no regrets if you attend!"
The shouts that rose caused people to be unable to feel any fear at all.
———
Chun Yu Cheng smugly sat on top of a wood horn rhinoceros. Around him were six hundred ling butterflies of different colors. Everywhere he passed, they caused little children to chase and play.
These ling butterflies flew and formed words of different colors.
"Animal Husbandry Cultivation Class!"
———
Wei Sheng looked at the structure in front of him and showed a wry smile.
There was nothing to be said about the structure. This was a small sized yard, classic and elegant. On the door above the main gate was a large sign "Sword Teaching Hall." The words were average, and at least better than chicken-scratch. What made him want to cry was the words written in the side of the door.
"High-end Sword Cultivation Class, the choice for elite!"
"Listen to the life experiences of a great master, comprehend the deep meanings of the sword!"
"Teacher Wei's High-End Sword Hall, you are worth it!"
"The best gift for a child, the contribution of a true master, you are welcome to have a trial lesson!"
The people behind Wei Sheng had strange expressions as they looked at each other.
"Has someone registered?" Wei Sheng asked the xiuzhe responsible.
The other shook his head. "No!"
Wei Sheng smiled helplessly and murmured to himself, "It seems that I have to rely on myself!"
He was too lazy to ask the others to erase these slogans. Rising his feet, he walked up the stairs and only stopped when he was far from the door.
Turning, he faced the outside.
Seeing Wei Sheng's serious face, the Vermillion Bird Camp sword xiu that had come to assist seemed to realize something and closed their mouths.
Boom!
A vast sword essence burst and rose into the sky!
The entire city was astounded!
[i] The original saying is roughly translated as "Sea-crossing Immortal" which means that anyone that can cross the sea is an immortal, and similar to other sayings such as "any cat, whether white or black, who can catch a rat is a good cat." Zuo Mo like mangling idioms and so the saying is changed to "immortal crossing the sea."
Translator Ramblings: Let's make jingshi!
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