Chapter 2185: To Make a Big Move

What major things should I do that would make everyone know about me and be grateful?

This is the Imperial City of Ghostly Heaven, home to countless powerful figures. Although my physical body has advanced significantly, I'm not arrogant enough to believe I'm invincible. For instance, Qi Yue, whom I met earlier, might still be beyond my capabilities. A breakthrough in True Qi is fundamentally different from a breakthrough in the physical body. While the latter primarily enhances defense, making one formidable in close combat, it becomes vulnerable at a distance. True Qi masters, however, can attack from hundreds or even thousands of meters away, leaving me with no means of defense, especially if they wield the power of heaven and earth. In such a scenario, I'd be completely helpless.

Therefore, to gain recognition from others and gather wish power, I need to not only display my abilities but also do so subtly. I can't be too flamboyant or attract excessive attention, or I risk drawing envy and being instantly eliminated.

"How can I make more people remember me and gain more wish power?" he couldn't help but ask, lost in thought. He had only recently arrived in the Divine Realm and was just beginning to grasp this concept. Surely, many others had understood and acted on it before him, so asking for advice would be much quicker than trying to figure it out on his own.

"If you want people to quickly remember you, be grateful, and generate wish power, then directly challenge an Emperor, just like Emperor Tianzong did," Zhuo Feng said with a bitter smile. "If you succeed, the entire Divine Realm will be shaken, and wish power will naturally become inexhaustible!"

"That's no laughing matter!" Zhang Xuan retorted.

If he actually attempted that, he'd likely be dead before he finished speaking. While he hadn't personally met an Emperor, he had encountered a Conferred God King. Such a mighty figure could crush him with a single finger, not to mention the even more formidable Nine Emperors.

"You're right!" Zhuo Feng's expression tightened.

Joking like that was indeed reckless. It seemed he was overly joyful about his son's recovery and cultivation breakthrough today, causing him to get a bit carried away.

"The conventional path to gaining wish power is to become a leader in a particular field. For instance, artifact forging! If the weapons you craft are powerful and effective, and cultivators take pride in owning them, your wish power will naturally grow. Similarly, with alchemy: if your medicines can effectively cure illnesses and are affordable, gratitude will inevitably follow..." Zhuo Feng explained further.

"Alchemy?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. Right! He wasn't skilled in artifact forging, and it would be a slow process, but alchemy... he didn't need to actually brew anything in the traditional sense!

All he needed to do was acquire low-grade Divine Yuan Pills and infuse them with his True Qi. They would instantly transform into Beauty Pills, capable of not only enhancing skin but also healing hidden internal injuries, clearing meridians, and accelerating cultivation! The only drawback was... the price of Beauty Pills was exorbitantly high, far beyond the reach of average individuals.

Selling them cheaply, however, would undermine the market he had just created and undoubtedly provoke a significant backlash.

"Are there any affordable pills or similar items in the Imperial City of Ghostly Heaven that have no purchase restrictions and can be bought freely?" Zhang Xuan asked, a new idea sparking in his mind. He didn't necessarily need Divine Yuan Pills; any medicinal pill that could absorb his Heaven's Path True Qi without detection would work. He had even managed with medicated wine previously.

After a moment of thought, Zhuo Feng replied, "The best-selling item in the Imperial City is the Divine Yuan Pellet, which restores divine power! It's a simplified version of the Divine Yuan Pill. Due to its widespread use, it's very cheap. One divine coin can buy about ten, and there are virtually no purchase limits; you can buy as many as you need. Most cultivators keep dozens or hundreds on hand. While their effects are far inferior to Divine Yuan Pills, they can still quickly restore energy during dangerous situations!"

"Yes, that's the one!" Zhang Xuan nodded, a clear plan already taking shape in his mind.

Affordability and low cost were key to reaching the general public. Focusing solely on high-end products might generate profit, but it wouldn't cultivate widespread gratitude. So, he would continue producing Beauty Pills to dominate the luxury market and appeal to women. For Divine Yuan Pellets, however, he would aim to capture the attention of ordinary people and make them universally sought after! Crucially, the proportion of Heaven's Path True Qi had to be carefully managed. A full strand could be infused into Beauty Pills, but for Divine Yuan Pellets, one-hundredth of a strand would be enough. The goal was efficacy, not overt display of power. Otherwise, his high-end products would become unsellable.

Furthermore, there's a saying: "a small favor brings appreciation, but a big one breeds resentment." Selling highly potent medicine at a very low price would not only fail to win over the masses but could also backfire, potentially causing significant social upheaval.

Everything requires careful moderation; only by mastering this balance can one truly wield influence over the world.

"Thank you!" Zhang Xuan said with a slight smile, looking at the middle-aged man. He was grateful for the information; as an outsider, he would have been completely unaware of these details otherwise.

"As I've said before, Master Zhang, if you have any instructions, just tell me. I will spare no effort to help you and will not back down!" Zhuo Feng declared.

"Actually, there is something I need your help with," Zhang Xuan said. "I want to acquire a massive quantity of Divine Yuan Pellets, the more the better. If General Zhuo is available, please assist me!"

"That's simple," Zhuo Feng chuckled. "The military camps purchase these annually, so I can easily find the suppliers, and the price they offer me will certainly be the lowest!"

"That would be perfect..." Zhang Xuan nodded. "Go and gather them now, as many as possible. Whatever the quantity, I need them all within seven days. We'll do a cash-on-delivery transaction then!"

"Alright, consider it done. You can rest assured!" Although Zhuo Feng didn't know Zhang Xuan's intentions, he naturally wouldn't pry. He turned and walked out, soon disappearing from view.

As soon as Zhuo Feng left, Zhang Xuan summoned Qi Ling-er and Sun Qiang. "I have two tasks for you!"

"Young Master (Master Zhang), please tell us!" they both replied, bowing simultaneously.

Zhang Xuan instructed, "First, procure no less than ten thousand low-grade Divine Yuan Pills! I intend to refine all of them into Beauty Pills and then sell them. Try to complete this within seven days!"

"I'll handle that," Qi Ling-er responded. "Ten thousand Divine Yuan Pills would be impossible to find in Night冥 City, but here in the Imperial City, I can acquire them in half a day!"

Qi Ling-er nodded. "Regarding sales, the Patriarch said he wants them all, but ten thousand is a massive quantity—too much even for the Qi family to handle, I suspect. Still, it's not an issue. The Qi family has now granted me authority. If I work diligently, even if I can't sell all ten thousand within seven days, selling over half shouldn't be a problem!" She had been able to wield significant influence in a small place like Night冥 City. Now, in the Imperial City, with the Patriarch's and ancestor's backing, and access to power and connections, handling ten thousand Divine Yuan Pills and ten thousand Beauty Pills, while seemingly a daunting task, wouldn't be overly difficult if managed effectively.

The only concern was the tight timeframe.

"And," Zhang Xuan continued, "find a way to acquire beautiful, low-cost jade bottles that can store medicine without dissipating spiritual energy. The more, the better, and this task also needs to be completed within seven days. Furthermore, leveraging your Qi family's connections, gather at least a hundred thousand influential figures and common citizens in the Imperial City. I'll need a large venue for this, available seven days from now."

To rapidly promote the medicine, ensure its efficacy created a sensation, and establish a strong reputation, there was only one approach: the fastest possible publicity! Gathering people, similar to what Qi Ling-er had done in Night冥 City, and demonstrating the effects live, allowing everyone to witness it firsthand, would undoubtedly yield the greatest impact!

"I'll get right on it!" Qi Ling-er nodded. Previously, she would never have been able to accomplish this, but now that she had the Patriarch's and ancestor's approval, she would have access to increasingly vast resources. Achieving this within seven days wouldn't be difficult at all!

Seeing her consent, Zhang Xuan turned to Sun Qiang. "For the second task, you will be responsible. Rent one hundred shops across the city. They don't need to be large, just about a dozen square meters each, big enough to accommodate people. Renovate all of them with a unified facade and name them... 'Zhang Xuan Pharmaceuticals'!"

"Zhang Xuan Pharmaceuticals?" Sun Qiang's face twitched.

"That name is far too plain!" Sun Qiang muttered, "It's not grand or impressive at all."

"If I want it to spread widely and be remembered by everyone, this is the simplest method," Zhang Xuan explained, noticing Sun Qiang's expression and understanding his thoughts. "Directly using my name means that once it becomes known, everyone will naturally associate it with me."

Since the target audience was the general public, simplicity was key. Something too complex would be difficult to remember. While "Zhang Xuan Pharmaceuticals" might sound common, if widely established, it would undoubtedly create a massive sensation. At that point, his reputation would be solidified, and wish power could be gathered.

More importantly, once his name spread, Luo Ruoxi or Luo Qiqi might learn of it and come looking for him, which would be far better than him searching aimlessly.

"Can these shops, including their acquisition and renovation, all be completed within ten days?" Zhang Xuan asked, looking at him.

"This..." Sun Qiang's chubby neck recoiled slightly, but he gritted his teeth. "Yes!"

Completing one hundred shops within ten days, or ten per day, was an immense challenge. However, if they weren't afraid to spend money and could find the right intermediaries, it might not be impossible.

"Excellent, get to it immediately!"

Zhang Xuan, not wanting to say more, waved his hand dismissively.

"Understood!" Qi Ling-er and Sun Qiang left at the same time, soon vanishing from his sight.

"Fame equates to an endless supply of wish power..." Zhang Xuan mused. "Now, what I need to do is... find a way to leave my soul imprint in the Ghostly Soul Pool! Emperor Qiankun's Ghostly Soul Pool is far too advanced; I neither need nor can use it. However, the Ghostly Soul Pool here in the Imperial City of Ghostly Heaven is certainly worth investigating..." With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan stood up.

Having given everyone their tasks, he wouldn't remain idle. His immediate priority was to leave his mark in the Ghostly Soul Pool. Without it, even if he achieved renown, his soul would not be nourished, and his soul power would not grow stronger.

He already knew the Imperial City's Ghostly Soul Pool was located within the Ghostly Soul Hall, having learned its precise location from books in the Master Teacher Hall. Since he now had time, he decided to visit. He stepped out of the courtyard and walked directly towards the Ghostly Soul Hall.

Two hours later, an immense palace loomed before him.

"The Ghostly Soul Hall is a restricted area; unauthorized entry is forbidden!" As he approached, two guards stepped forward to block his path.

"I'd like to visit the Ghostly Soul Pool, if that's permitted?" Zhang Xuan asked with a slight smile.

"The Ghostly Soul Pool?" one guard questioned, frowning as he scrutinized Zhang Xuan. "Do you have an appointment? And who are you here to see?"