“My way lies in ‘business’. It lies in ‘profit’.”
Jiao Xiuyuan said somewhat pensively, “All resources of the world are driven by profit. Business is a thriving path.”
“Hence, I refine thousands of puppets, scrutinizing the world’s gains and losses as I cultivate.”
“The accumulation of assets, in the beginning, is always very rapid. It’s almost like climbing a step a day, and my realm also ascends step by step.”
“But after reaching a certain level, the expansion of the Thousand Miles Hall slows down.”
“My cultivation has stagnated for a long time. I originally thought I could muster all my energy by benefiting from this huge profit and forcefully advance. But I didn’t expect that I was still a bit undercooked in the end.”
“The so-called deceiving of the horizon, I originally thought it was close at hand, only to realize there are still a thousand mountains and gorges ahead.”
As Li Fan listened to Jiao Xiuyuan’s lament, he thought about the vast gap he had recently seen between the Unity Realm and the Unity Realm, and the vast chasm between the Unity Realm and the Immortal Realm.
He couldn’t help but admire it and nodded slightly.
At this moment, he heard Jiao Xiuyuan again: “Moreover, I have found that the path of commerce, at my present stage, has already encountered numerous obstacles. To advance further, it is truly a thousand difficulties!”
Before Li Fan could ask, he answered himself: “Take the last Universal Leisure True Leaf incident, for example. In the ideal state, we could definitely have made much more. Purely from a business perspective, the price of Universal Leisure True Leaves had risen to the sky. Yet despite the Immortal Alliance controlling the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven, which is abundant with Universal Leisure True Leaves, and could have profited greatly, they negated everything with a single announcement.”
“They say it’s for stability, but it’s really for their own interests…” Jiao Xiuyuan mumbled.
Li Fan, hearing this, was thoughtful: “The meaning of Jiao Dao is that profit is earned from others. When we reach a certain level, if we want to advance further, we will inevitably have conflicts with others.”
“Indeed, that’s the way!” Jiao Xiuyuan approved.
“If the opponent is weak, of course, we can directly crush them. But if the opponent is a solid wall, hitting it directly will only result in our own injury.”
“At that time, it is necessary to go around the wall.”
“But the world is ultimately ruled by the Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Organization. It is not easy to escape from restrictions.”
“Dancing with shackles is a hundred times harder.”
After listening, Li Fan smiled and said: “So, it is not Dao’s sin, but the fault of this world!”
“Being controlled everywhere is really unpleasant. How about overthrowing the Immortal Alliance with me and recreating the world of Qiankun, what do you think?”
Jiao Xiuyuan suddenly fell silent.
He looked at Li Fan with a strange gaze.
For a moment, an eerie silence fell between the two.
“Hehe, you’re joking.”
“Haha, it’s just a joke. Jiao Dao wouldn’t take it seriously, would you?”
After a while, the voices of both men rang out at the same time.
They glanced at each other and chose to skip the subject.
“Speaking of that, in your mind, what would your path look like if taken to its ultimate extent?” Li Fan asked.
Jiao Xiuyuan pondered for a moment before slowly answering: “The total assets of the world are limited. The rich get richer, while the poor stay poor.”
“If I continuously profit and the world’s wealth endlessly flows towards me, then one day…”
“Perhaps my personal fortune will surpass the combined wealth of the rest of the world.”
Jiao Xiuyuan’s eyes showed longing.
Yet, after hearing this, Li Fan burst into a light laugh.
Jiao Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow: “What, do you have any insights?”
“Too small, the vision is too small. I thought Jiao Dao was an extremely intelligent character in the world, I didn’t expect…” Li Fan shook his head slightly, looking somewhat regretful.
“Hmm?” Jiao Xiuyuan’s eyes held a trace of gloom.
“If we’re talking about the ultimate, why would everyone in the world still have assets?” Li Fan smiled faintly.
“Shouldn’t it be that all things in the world belong to Dao, with everyone else owing Dao?”
“My friend, you should know that the total wealth of the world has a limit. But…”
Li Fan’s voice was solemn: “The debt others owe you, there is no limit.”
“Tens, billions, trillions, can be infinitely accumulated.”
“Not only in this life and this world but over infinite lifetimes and descendants, they have to work hard forever to repay the debt they owe you!”
Li Fan’s words, like thunder, instantly struck Jiao Xiuyuan.
The gloom in his eyes vanished instantly, his face a picture of shock.
Can that really work?”
What Li Fan said seemed to open a whole new world for him.
At first, he was a little puzzled, but then his eyes got brighter, becoming more and more excited.
After a while, it was as if he had an epiphany.
“There’s a limit to the profits one can make in a lifetime.”
“But time is unlimited. If I spread my goals across the river of time…”
Immersed in his fantasy, Jiao Xiuyuan’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
“Li Fan, is this the path of the future you deduced for me?”
After a long while, he came back to his senses and looked at Li Fan.
Li Fan just shook his head: “I dare not instruct. It was just a glimpse of a possible future scene during my daily deductions.”
“I felt that maybe this world could bring some benefits to Dao’s path, so I recorded it.”
“Today I met Dao and wanted to share it.”
“I hope Dao doesn’t find my thoughts absurd!”
Jiao Xiuyuan’s eyes flickered: “Your deduction ability astonished both the past and the present. You can even foresee such a bizarre future.”
“However, you found me today and specifically gave me directions…”
He looked at Li Fan, somewhat puzzled.
Li Fan smiled: “I said you’re rich and turn your back on old friends, and you wouldn’t admit it.”
“Don’t tell me you forgot about the commission I gave you before.”
Jiao Xiuyuan was stunned, then he understood.
“With your cultivation level, it’s impossible for you to forget. But there has been no response for such a long time, it seems like there is some unspeakable difficulty. However, this matter is slightly significant to me. So, I have no choice but to trouble Jiao Dao!” Li Fan clasped his hands and spoke earnestly.
Jiao Xiuyuan looked at Li Fan, his expression changing in a split second.
Five years ago, he promised Li Fan he would help inquire about the ancient cultivator that the Immortal Alliance was searching for in the ruins of the Ancient Sects.
He did indeed go and do it.
He originally didn’t take it very seriously, just wanted to inquire about some news casually and get it done with.
However, what surprised him was that the Immortal Alliance, which was always full of leaks and couldn’t keep any secrets, had done an unexpectedly good job with confidentiality this time.
Even for someone like him, he spent one to two years inquiring, but had no gains at all.