Chapter 3: The First Batch of Leeks, Assemble!
“Angel investor?”
It was another new term, but the three Elders were already numb to such things.
Their minds were still digesting incomprehensible concepts like “equity,” “dividends,” and “CEO.”
Wang Xuanfu stared fixedly at Chu Feng, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
This boy’s theory sounded absurd, yet when one thought carefully, it seemed to contain a strange, soul-stirring allure.
——
Especially that “pilot plan” Chu Feng had proposed in the end — that was something Wang Xuanfu simply could not refuse.
Using the most useless disciples and the poorest resources to test a plan that could yield a hundredfold, even a thousandfold return.
No matter how he calculated it, this deal could never lose.
If it failed, the sect would only lose a few worthless resources — they could crush Chu Feng at any time.
But if it succeeded...
Wang Xuanfu dared not think further.
He exchanged a glance with Liu Changqing and Elder Qian. From each other’s eyes, they saw the same emotions — shock, suspicion, and a trace of greed forcibly suppressed.
“Good!”
At last, Wang Xuanfu slammed his palm on the table and made his decision.
“This seat will give you one month! The abandoned chores courtyard on the west side of the sect — you may have it. As for resources...”
He cast a glance at Liu Changqing.
Liu Changqing immediately understood. He pulled a small cloth pouch from his storage bag and tossed it casually before Chu Feng, his tone carrying both condescension and warning:
“There are thirty of the lowest-grade Qi Condensation Pills inside. They’re filled with pill toxins, barely better than nothing. And here are some discarded, incomplete Qi Refining techniques. That will be your entire ‘investment.’ Make of it what you can.”
“Many thanks to the three Elders for your trust!”
Chu Feng picked up the pouch, his face full of tearful gratitude — but inside, he sneered coldly:
Thirty pieces of trash-grade pills and they think they’re angel investors? Old fools, when my operation grows, you won’t even be able to afford the entrance ticket!
He bowed respectfully once more and said solemnly,
“This disciple shall not disappoint. One month from now, I will present the three Elders — and our Qingyun Sect — with a grand surprise!”
After speaking, he kowtowed deeply, then turned and left the hall under the cold gaze of the Law Enforcement disciples.
Only after Chu Feng’s figure disappeared did Liu Changqing finally speak in excitement toward Wang Xuanfu:
“Senior Brother Wang... that boy — what if what he said is true?”
Wang Xuanfu did not answer.
He only gazed in the direction Chu Feng had departed, his voice low and distant:
“True or false, we shall see in one month. Send someone to keep an eye on him. I want to see what tricks he can possibly play.”
……
Chu Feng walked along the mountain path of Qingyun Sect, feeling incomparably pleased.
He weighed the cloth pouch in his hand, a mocking smile curling at his lips.
Thirty Qi Condensation Pills — even dogs wouldn’t eat them.
But for him, they were startup capital — the perfect bait for fooling the first batch of “seed users.”
His destination was that so-called “abandoned chores courtyard.”
The chores courtyard — the most forgotten corner of Qingyun Sect.
There gathered the most marginalized group within the entire sect — those with poor spiritual roots, no hope of cultivation, sent here to do menial work, essentially to rot away in obscurity.
The air was heavy with the musty stench of despair.
When Chu Feng stood atop a half-man-high stone in the courtyard’s center, few paid him any attention.
Until he drew in a deep breath and shouted with all his strength:
“Fellow brothers! Greetings to you all!”
Only then did all those numb, hollow, and indifferent gazes lazily turn toward him.
Chu Feng smiled faintly, sweeping his gaze across the crowd. His tone was full of empathy and understanding as he began slowly:
“I know... all of you have suffered.”
“We entered Qingyun Sect with dreams of becoming immortals — but what happened?”
“They told us our spiritual roots were too poor, that we had no chance of becoming immortals! They sent us here to toil at the hardest labor, with the least resources, while we watched those inner disciples and personal disciples enjoy everything from above!”
His voice suddenly rose, like a hammer striking every heart present!
“Why?!”
“Are we born lowly? Are we destined to be trampled underfoot?!”
Each word was like a sharp blade stabbing deep into the hearts of every disciple present.
The numb expressions began to crack, revealing faint traces of long-suppressed resentment and anger.
Seeing the atmosphere stir, Chu Feng pressed the advantage.
“They tell us cultivation depends on talent, on resources, on background! I tell you — that’s all bullshit!”
“The true Dao of immortality isn’t about bitter cultivation or endless competition — it’s about opportunity! An opportunity for people like us, at the very bottom, to ascend in one step!”
“And now — that opportunity has come!”
Chu Feng spread his arms wide, a sacred, fanatical expression on his face as he proclaimed loudly:
“I, Chu Feng, hereby establish the ‘Heavenly Dao Mutual Aid Association’! Our purpose — to help each other, share resources, and prosper together!”
“Here, there is no hierarchy, no distinction between inner and outer disciples! We are all striving toward the same goal — as a family!”
“I know you don’t believe me. You think I’m bluffing, painting dreams!”
As he spoke, Chu Feng pulled the cloth pouch from his robe and poured all thirty inferior Qi Condensation Pills onto the stone with a clattering sound.
The pills were dull gray, even exuding a faintly foul odor.
But in the eyes of these chores disciples — who could rarely see even a few pills in their lifetimes — this pile gleamed like priceless treasure, radiating a deadly temptation.
In that instant, everyone’s breathing quickened.
Then, a towering disciple with a simple, honest face fixed his gaze on the pills, his throat bobbing as he muttered subconsciously:
“Pills... real pills...”
His name was Zhang Daniu. Born with great strength and an equally great appetite, yet cursed with poor spiritual roots, he could barely eat his fill in the chores courtyard — much less dream of touching a pill.
Chu Feng’s eyes immediately locked onto him, and he smiled.
He picked up one pill, raising it high, his voice laced with irresistible persuasion.
“Do you want it?!”
“Yes!!”
This time, Zhang Daniu roared with all his might.
“Very good!”
Chu Feng swept his gaze across everyone and declared loudly:
“Now, I announce the first rule of the ‘Heavenly Dao Mutual Aid Association’—”
“Join us, and become family!”
He then tossed that pill directly to Zhang Daniu.
“This pill — is now yours!”
All eyes fixated on the Qi Condensation Pill Chu Feng held aloft.
Though of terrible quality — murky in color and stinking faintly of burnt residue — in the eyes of these chores disciples, long deprived of cultivation resources, it was no different from an immortal elixir.
“Join... and you’ll receive a pill?”