Chapter 374: In-depth Cooperation

After exchanging pleasantries, Lu Yang handed a storage ring to Vice Cult Master Shi.

"Inside are two hundred bottles of kindling and two hundred barbecue grills. That should last a while."

Vice Cult Master Shi sent a wisp of his spiritual sense to scan the storage ring briefly. A wave of joy surged within him, knowing that with these supplies, the number of branch stores would no longer be an issue.

Vice Cult Master Shi pushed an account book and another storage ring towards Lu Yang.

"This is the business report for the past month, along with your esteemed sect's share of the profits."

Lu Yang tallied the spirit stones in the storage ring, finding approximately 120,000.

An ordinary Golden Core cultivator's entire net worth would barely amount to this.

Feigning indifference, he casually handed the storage ring to Tao Yaoye. "Put it in the treasury when we get back," he instructed.

Tao Yaoye silently took the storage ring without speaking, her heart anything but calm.

120,000 spirit stones! That was a Golden Core cultivator's lifetime savings, and she didn't even possess that much.

Lu Yang sent a spiritual message to Tao Yaoye, unafraid of Shi Huagu overhearing since the Immortal Fairy was present.

"Junior Sister Tao, relax. Once your Dream Bubble patent is approved, you'll earn far more than this."

"And don't be afraid just because he's an Integration stage cultivator and a Vice Cult Master of the Demonic Cult. He might even need your help in the future, since your Dream Bubbles are perfect for publicity."

"Why?"

Tao Yaoye didn't understand. Lu Yang simply smiled, offering no further explanation.

Seeing Lu Yang's seemingly indifferent attitude, Vice Cult Master Shi worried that the small sum might displease him, potentially causing a rift between the Netherworld Cult and the Heavenly Court Cult. He explained, "Since we've just started operations, the initial investment has been substantial, making profits difficult to achieve. I ask for your understanding, Heavenly Talent Lu. I believe that after one or two years, once we've established barbecue restaurants across the entire continent and business picks up, millions of spirit stones will flow into the treasuries of our two sects daily!"

Vice Cult Master Shi wasn't just speaking idly or making empty promises to Lu Yang; this was a calculated projection.

Lu Yang waved his hand. "Cult Master Shi, you misunderstand. I am not complaining about the small number of spirit stones. Our sect's treasury holds countless ancient treasures, from celestial soldiers to immortal fruits—we have everything imaginable. If we wanted spirit stones, selling even a small portion would yield endless wealth."

"I simply want to remind Cult Master Shi that our two sects establishing barbecue restaurants together is a testament to our alliance and friendship. Do not let mere spirit stones define it. How can the friendship between our two sects be measured by spirit stones?"

If it were merely a transaction of spirit stones and opening barbecue restaurants together, such cooperation would inevitably remain superficial. What Lu Yang wanted was a deeper collaboration with the Netherworld Cult.

Vice Cult Master Shi felt deeply ashamed, realizing that despite being an Integration stage cultivator, his perspective had been narrow.

As expected of a genius from the ancient Heavenly Court, his broad vision made Vice Cult Master Shi feel inadequate.

Just as Lu Yang felt that Tao Yaoye had seen enough of the world and was about to leave, Vice Cult Master Shi hastily stopped him.

"Young Cult Master Lu, Heavenly Talent Tao, please wait."

Tao Yaoye's heart skipped a beat, thinking they had been discovered.

"What is it?" Lu Yang wondered, having already given the items and collected the spirit stones. What else could he possibly want?

At the same time, he sent a spiritual message to Tao Yaoye, signaling her not to be nervous.

"Young Cult Master Lu, what are your thoughts on ancient cultivators?"

Vice Cult Master Shi had a sudden thought. He recalled that Lu Yang desired not just spirit stones, but a deeper collaboration.

In that case, they should pursue deeper cooperation!

"Ancient cultivators?" Lu Yang chuckled softly. His eyes revealed the pride of an ancient Heavenly Talent and disdain for ancient cultivators. "In front of our Heavenly Court Cult, who would dare call themselves an ancient cultivator?"

Vice Cult Master Shi then realized that whether they were cultivators from the Great Yu or Great Gan dynasties, they were all juniors in front of Lu Yang.

In terms of antiquity, who could compare to the Heavenly Court Cult?

In terms of profound heritage, who could be mentioned in the same breath as the Heavenly Court, which governs all the stars?

Vast as the Central Continent was, how could it compare to the myriad stars?

As for the power of their era, the ancient times boasted the well-known Four Ancient Immortals, the Immortal hidden by time, and Daoist Priest Dou Tianzun—a total of six Immortals. Whether the Great Yu and Great Gan eras even had Immortals was debatable!

So-called ancient cultivators had no comparison to the Heavenly Court Cult!

How muddled he had been!

Hearing Lu Yang's words, Vice Cult Master Shi felt reassured. He spoke with indignation: "Young Cult Master Lu, have you heard? At the Azure Province Grand Ceremony half a month ago, ancient cultivators suddenly appeared, disrupting the order and causing the ceremony to end abruptly!"

Lu Yang nodded. "I've heard a little."

"To be honest, I temporarily set up a branch store at the Azure Province Grand Ceremony, hoping to gauge the Azure Province residents' acceptance of barbecue restaurants. Before I could even understand the situation, it was disrupted by cultivators from the Great Yu Dynasty!"

Vice Cult Master Shi grew angry speaking of this. He was minding his own business, opening a store and staying out of the ancient cultivators' way. Yet, those ancient cultivators had to be so blind as to cause trouble.

Did they even know how important Azure Province was? Among the Great Xia Dynasty's seventeen provinces, Azure Province's strength ranked among the top three!

How much money could be made by opening barbecue restaurants in Azure Province!

He had heard that Azure Province's strength used to be in the lower-middle ranks. Two millennia ago, a provincial governor appeared in Azure Province. This governor not only had high cultivation, reaching the Tribulation Transcension stage, but also possessed incredibly imaginative thinking, often doing things beyond ordinary comprehension. The Azure Province Grand Ceremony was proposed by this very governor.

Under this governor's leadership, Azure Province's strength soared, ranking among the top three, and even reaching the first place at its peak!

"Of the fifteen barbecue restaurants jointly opened by our two sects, losing one is not a big deal. But the problem is, if these ancient cultivators can destroy it once, they can destroy it again!"

Vice Cult Master Shi subtly reminded Lu Yang, implying that the Great Yu cultivators had not just damaged the Netherworld Cult's barbecue restaurant, but one belonging to both the Netherworld Cult and the Heavenly Court Cult.

Vice Cult Master Shi had managed to half-kill the Calamity Venerable during his tribulation, but it wasn't enough to appease his anger. With the Calamity Venerable having escaped, there was nothing he could do but vent his frustration on other ancient cultivators.

The barbecue restaurants were crucial because of his billion-spirit-stone debt. If he couldn't repay it and was struck dead by divine lightning, he and the ancient cultivators would be mortal enemies!

He vowed he would not be human if this grudge went unavenged!

Lu Yang understood that Vice Cult Master Shi had made enemies with the ancient cultivators and wanted the Heavenly Court Cult's help.

He was, of course, happy to be involved.

Lu Yang looked at Vice Cult Master Shi with a faint smile. "Cult Master Shi, do you recall the plan I devised for your esteemed cult at the barbecue restaurant last time?"

Vice Cult Master Shi blurted out, his Integration stage memory being quite formidable: "The Netherworld Cult is to connect with the Demon Domain and the East Sea externally, and with the Ruthless and Glorious Sun Cults internally. When the great struggle of this era arrives, if our two sects act together, immortal endeavors can be achieved, and the Netherworld Cult can prosper!"

"In that plan, did I mention anything about joining forces with cultivators from the Great Yu or Great Gan eras?"

Vice Cult Master Shi's eyes lit up. He realized that indeed, there was no place for ancient cultivators in the plan at all!

"This world originally belonged to our Heavenly Court. If our Heavenly Court Cult could not tolerate Ying Tianxian and his ilk ruling in ancient times, how could we tolerate the Great Gan, Great Yu, and Great Xia ruling the continent now?"

Vice Cult Master Shi was overjoyed. The Heavenly Court Cult's stance was even tougher than he had imagined.

With the powerful aid of the Heavenly Court Cult, he thought, *let's see what these damned ancient cultivators will do!*

"I implore your esteemed cult to join forces with my Netherworld Cult to deal with the ancient cultivators!" Vice Cult Master Shi rose, his gaze ardent, expressing his desire for cooperation with the Heavenly Court Cult with great sincerity.

Lu Yang slowly rose. With a confident smile on his lips, he shook hands with Vice Cult Master Shi.

"Then, a pleasant cooperation."