Chapter 289: First Property Ownership

Within the Immortal Sect, earning money is not a difficult task for Foundation Establishment cultivators. After all, every Foundation Establishment cultivator, as long as they are willing to dedicate time, can generally obtain a professional certificate in a second-tier Immortal Arts and Crafts skill.

It is somewhat embarrassing to admit that Chen Mobai, the top talismanship genius of the 5012 class, is still only a first-tier talisman maker, despite having successfully established his foundation. Si Guanyu and Zhuang Jialan, from the same class, had already studied diligently as early as their fourth year and passed the second-tier talisman maker examination using their extracurricular time. If Chen Mobai's cultivation hadn't advanced so quickly, he would probably have already lost his title as "Talisman First."

Foundation Establishment cultivators, with a bit of effort, can generally earn over a million Merit Points annually. Chen Mobai calculated the number of Merit Points he would need to buy longevity pills from the Longevity Academy if he wanted to replenish 180 years of lifespan. Longevity Replenishing Pills cost 8,800 per pill, so 30 pills would be 264,000 Merit Points. Long Life Pills cost 128,000 per pill, so 9 pills would be 1,152,000 Merit Points.

Since Tortoise Longevity Pills were unavailable, he might have to endure drug resistance and continue taking Long Life Pills after the initial 9. Yu Rulin had mentioned that the Longevity Academy conducted experiments, and if the same person took a 10th Long Life Pill, its effect would only replenish 9 years of lifespan. Thereafter, each subsequent pill would reduce its effect by one year, until, upon taking the 20th pill, the Long Life Pill would have the same effect as a Longevity Replenishing Pill. However, it would still have some effect; if he continued to take it subsequently, each Long Life Pill would still replenish 1 year of lifespan, until 30 pills were consumed, at which point it would be completely ineffective. If he took 30 Longevity Replenishing Pills and 30 Long Life Pills, he could replenish 177 years of lifespan, which would almost perfectly offset the side effects of the Everlasting Tree Fruit.

He mentally calculated the prices and quickly arrived at the exact amount: 4,104,000 Merit Points.

"Four million..." Chen Mobai's mouth twitched slightly. It was a bit expensive. The fastest method, of course, was to resell the Dao Academy's Three Foundation-Building Treasures using academic credits. These items were in short supply throughout the entire Immortal Sect. As long as there was stock, there was no shortage of buyers, and they would even buy at a premium. However, this method could only be used in emergencies. Chen Mobai would eventually graduate, and he couldn't constantly exploit the Dao Academy. He still needed to find a way to secure a stable income. After all, although resources were scarce and expensive in the Immortal Sect, there were also many good items. Accumulating some Merit Points in advance would always come in handy.

After much thought, Chen Mobai also reviewed the Immortal Sect's legal provisions. He found that most avenues for earning money in the Immortal Sect were already occupied. The most profitable sector was naturally pills. However, the six major pharmaceutical factories of the Immortal Sect dominated most of the market. The remaining market was held by specialized, almost monopolistic entities like the Longevity Academy, which focused on specific areas. As for the pill sectors overlooked by the six major factories and the Immortal Sect's major universities, competition was unimaginably fierce. Chen Mobai only inquired briefly with Wang Xingyu and then dismissed the idea of earning money from pills.

He had originally considered smuggling medicinal herbs from the Divine Wood Sect in the Sky River Realm to sell here. However, Wang Xingyu told him that in the Immortal Sect's spiritual herb industry, every single herb entering the market required the stamp of approval from the Immortal Sect's Pharmaceutical Administration. Privately, one could refine and consume some without adhering to this regulation, but if he wanted to sell in large quantities, he absolutely couldn't bypass this step. The origin of the medicinal materials needed to be clear. From cultivation to growth, then to harvest and storage, the process had to be clear and transparent; missing a single step meant no stamp of approval. Without the Immortal Sect's official endorsement, no pharmacy would purchase them.

After pills, the next major traditional industries were talismans and magical artifacts. Talismans had permeated all aspects of life in the Immortal Sect, acting as consumables. Competition in this area was relatively stable. As long as they could be refined and bore the professional seal of a certified talisman maker, someone would always buy them. However, this field relied on reputation. Even if Chen Mobai immediately passed the second-tier talisman maker examination, he probably couldn't compete with the large factories run by third-tier or even fourth-tier talisman makers.

As for the magical artifact industry, the most profitable items were naturally various everyday magical tools, but Chen Mobai had no connections in this area. Array formation infrastructure was even less of a consideration; he knew nothing about it.

After much deliberation, he ultimately had to return to the idea of pills and talismans. He was familiar with talismans. As for pills, he had connections in the Sky River Realm. However, Chen Mobai was currently only in the contemplation stage and hadn't made an immediate decision. He decided to consult a professional.

Opening his phone, the avatar of the proprietor of the Wood Spirit Talisman Shop, which he used to frequent when he was in Danxia City, was still lit up. Chen Mobai sent a private message popup. The proprietor indeed remembered him, their big client, and responded warmly. However, when Chen Mobai asked for advice on how to successfully run a talisman shop, the latter immediately replied with a speechless emoji. "Who asks a competitor?"

But the proprietor didn't have grand ambitions, and his shop was merely a personal workshop. So, he shared some of his experiences and insights from running the shop over the years. After listening, Chen Mobai deeply felt how difficult it was. Since there was no professional equipment or machinery, the proprietor had to laboriously prepare the talisman ink himself. Fortunately, some small tools could help crush cinnabar, blend spiritual materials, and regulate heat with timers and thermometers. If this were in the Sky River Realm, where everything relied solely on experience and manual labor, Chen Mobai probably would have given up immediately.

The advantage of a small workshop was the absence of maintenance costs for large equipment and no expense for hiring cultivators. Talisman paper could be bought, and talisman brushes, if well-made, could last for several years. But the drawback was that it couldn't scale up. The profit margins for talismans were already slim. Since any talisman maker could draw them, competition was fierce. Due to the industrialized system throughout the Immortal Sect, labor costs were further reduced. The talisman industry only had a profit margin of around 5%. Even so, at least a hundred newly registered talisman shops closed down and filed for bankruptcy every year. The Wood Spirit Talisman Shop, having operated for ten years on the Immortal Sect Network and even showing a slight surplus each year, was already an excellent example of a well-managed business within the industry.

"Generally, cultivators like us, at the Qi Cultivation stage, even if we pass the second-tier talisman maker exam, can only achieve a modest livelihood. But it's different for Foundation Establishment cultivators. As long as they are willing to settle locally, cities like our Danxia City are willing to allocate land to them for free to establish businesses, and even offer various tax incentives. Therefore, in the Immortal Sect, cultivation level is everything. It's a pity I failed to establish my foundation and owe the bank a large loan. Although I've cultivated back to Qi Cultivation Layer 9, I probably won't be able to advance further in this lifetime. Now, I can only hope that my younger siblings, who are studying at university, can successfully establish their foundations. Only then will our family have a chance to get out of debt and turn things around."

By the end of their conversation, the proprietor of the Wood Spirit Talisman Shop seemed to have been deeply touched, sending a series of long messages, lamenting the difficulties he had faced over the years. Chen Mobai comforted him with a few words. After adding his real-world contact information, he then called his mother.

"What, you want to open a talisman factory?" Tang Pancui exclaimed immediately upon hearing Chen Mobai's plan.

"Yes, I heard that Danxia City has a policy of allocating land to Foundation Establishment cultivators who settle there. I've already established my foundation, so I can't let that go to waste." When Chen Mobai was in university, his household registration had been moved to Chicheng Grotto-Heaven. Now that he discovered such benefits upon moving back, he naturally wouldn't let the opportunity slip.

"Son, your mother is very happy to see you have such ambition for a career. But starting a business is not a simple matter. After acquiring land, you'll need to build a factory. Where will your startup capital come from? Even if you build it, the subsequent operational management team will be another major issue. Even if all of that is completed, you'll still face the problem of sales channels for the talismans you produce..." As expected of an experienced employee who had worked at a talisman factory for over twenty years, Tang Pancui was very clear about the intricacies involved.

"Then, how about I start with a small shop first to gain some experience?" Chen Mobai, having been lectured, felt he had been a bit imprudent in his considerations, but his entrepreneurial spirit remained strong. As a cross-realm merchant, he felt it was necessary to open a legitimate factory in the Immortal Sect as a cover for future large-scale reselling.

"That would be best. And if you truly intend to return to your hometown to start a business after graduation, I might have a way." Tang Pancui suddenly said something that surprised Chen Mobai.

"Mom, you're just an employee. How do you have a way to start a business?"

"Our boss is reportedly close to breaking through to Foundation Establishment Layer 6. If he wants to advance further, he definitely can't stay in a small place like Danxia City. He'll have to venture into the large Grotto-Heavens. In that case, he'll need to dispose of his factories, won't he? I'll go talk to him. If you're truly interested, he might even be happy to sell them to you."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai couldn't help but recall playing at the talisman factory where his mother worked when he was a child. He had also met the boss a few times; he was a very gentle person. His name was Wu Shangru. He was a graduate of Danzhu Academy. He had successfully established his foundation while still a student, and was brought in by Danxia City as a talent. After years of diligent work in talismanship and business, he had built his current enterprises.

However, there were always trade-offs. Danxia City's resources and spiritual energy couldn't compare to those of the large Grotto-Heavens. While he earned tens of millions of Merit Points, his cultivation progress was undoubtedly much slower. If Chen Mobai remembered correctly, Wu Shangru should be eighty years old. If he couldn't cultivate to Foundation Establishment Layer 9 within the next forty years, missing the peak of his physical essence, he would essentially have no hope of forming a Golden Core. If he had ambitions to advance further, Wu Shangru indeed should go to a major Grotto-Heaven. Clearly, this top graduate of Danzhu Academy still possessed strong aspirations.

That evening, he personally called Chen Mobai. Chen Mobai respectfully addressed him as Uncle. After all, he was an elder who had watched him grow up, and Wu Shangru was very pleased with this address. Wu Shangru had actually intended to leave Danxia City for a long time. However, his initial success relied on the help of the Danxia City government. The current city lord used this as a favor, and was quite reluctant for such a talented person to leave. Although most Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Immortal Sect's seventy-two Blessed Lands were migrating to the thirty-six Grotto-Heavens, the city lord of Danxia City kept delaying as long as possible, simply refusing to let Wu Shangru move. Furthermore, his Flying Talisman Factory was considered one of the local pillar industries. Although Wu Shangru had promised that upon his departure, he would transfer the factory under his name to local entrepreneurs, ensuring no large-scale unemployment issues, if a reputable Foundation Establishment cultivator didn't take over, this talisman factory, with an annual output value of several million, would certainly decline day by day, eventually leading to bankruptcy and liquidation. It was for this reason that Wu Shangru, who should have left Danxia City five or six years ago, had been held back here.

He had already found a way: as long as he moved his household registration to Huayang Grotto-Heaven, and gained sixty years of experience and dedication working at the Immortal Sect's largest talisman factory, he would qualify to purchase a Water Essence Core-Forming Pill. Wu Shangru had actually joined the factory twenty years ago. Now, he just needed his household registration moved. With Chen Mobai approaching him now, for Wu Shangru, it was a perfectly timed opportunity. With the current most popular chief disciple of the Weapon Dance Dao Academy taking over from him, Danxia City would probably be drumming and gongs to send him off, to expedite Chen Mobai's household registration transfer back.

"My virtuous nephew, you're helping me out of a difficult situation. How about this: I'll hire you as an endorser for my Flying Talisman Factory. I won't pay you an endorsement fee. Instead, after you graduate four years from now, I'll give you this business in Danxia City. What do you say?" Wu Shangru immediately proposed very sincere terms. Chen Mobai considered it for a moment and then readily agreed.

"Alright, starting tomorrow, I'll arrange for your mother to begin taking over the talisman factory. If you have time, you can come back to sign the contract. If not, I'll personally come to Chicheng Grotto-Heaven to find you." Chen Mobai thought about it and decided it would be better to go himself. After all, he was getting a great deal: four years of endorsement for a talisman factory with fifty years of reputation, for free. Although the land belonged to Danxia City, the factory buildings and equipment alone were worth at least nearly ten million Merit Points. It was like throwing himself into it, but he had originally planned, after graduation, to find a quiet, inconspicuous place to quietly cultivate and improve. His hometown, Danxia City, was just right.

Before returning, Chen Mobai first called Qing Nü. Unfortunately, she was busy cultivating herself, and Danxia City would evoke memories of Kong Feichen and Yang Jing for her, so she didn't plan to return. "By the way, since you can appear in the Minor Crimson Heaven, are you also in Chicheng Grotto-Heaven?" Chen Mobai suddenly remembered this question, but Qing Nü replied that she wasn't.

"The spiritual脉 of Mount Chicheng is actually one of the ancient dragon veins. Theoretically, it can flow through most parts of the Immortal Sect, which is why the Minor Crimson Heaven was chosen to be opened here. The four major Dao Academies and ten major academies all have internal projection lines allocated by the Immortal Sect, allowing access to the Minor Crimson Heaven. It's just not as stable as being in Chicheng Grotto-Heaven, and the number of people who can enter is limited. However, after this period of internal testing, the Minor Crimson Heaven has become stable. Once the core fifth-tier spiritual treasure is deployed, the Mount Chicheng dragon vein will be fully activated, covering the entire Immortal Sect. At that time, those Foundation Establishment cultivators from our four major Dao Academies who graduated long ago will be able to enter one by one. Your undefeated winning streak might not last, you know."

Chen Mobai listened to Qing Nü's words and chuckled softly. "I've been waiting for someone to defeat me."