Keep the Dogs Running

Madness. Even before Hu Jian lost his mind, the entire Celestial Chosen community across Haizhou went completely mad! After the news was "accidentally leaked," in less than a single night, every bit of stock on the online sales platforms was cleared out in seconds. Well before this, Yue Miao's firsthand trial and the news of Lou Feng's paper had already slipped out from the Wild Gathering and the Association. Insider tips were impossible to suppress anywhere, and Ji Jue had actively fanned the flames behind the scenes. Just ten minutes after closing, massive lines were already snaking outside the authorized retail stores. From the Balance Chamber of Commerce to the Association's distribution channels, not a single unit remained in stock, while the asking prices on the Wild Gathering's exchange skyrocketed at breathtaking speed! By the early hours of the morning, scalpers had pumped the price to truly appalling heights. Were this purely a financial game, Ji Jue should have poured more fuel onto the fire, leaking mixtures of truth and lies to manipulate the market and stock prices. Yet as an artisan, he simply could not abide seeing his own creation degraded to the level of a speculative tulip bulb. Thus, after issuing an uncompromising notice to all scalpers through the Wild Gathering's channels, he replenished the inventory of both the Standard and Upgraded Sundials ten minutes later. Those fortunate enough to be the early birds had already eaten their fill and grown fat on the spoils. Even if a few speculators grumbled over Ji Jue's move, everyone understood the difference between a single feast and having meals for a lifetime. Besides, Ji Jue had long ceased to be someone they could easily push around. *** "Splendid work, Yue Miao! Truly outstanding!" In the hospital, Chen Xingzhou beamed as he looked upon his cherished godson, stroking his dog head over and over again. "It's so wonderful that you didn't die." "Ah—r-really?" Dazed and slack-jawed, Yue Miao had no idea what was happening. He had never expected to be held in such high regard by the Dragon Head, though for some reason, he could not shake a creepy chill running down his spine. Whether he understood or not made no difference to their display of filial piety and paternal benevolence. He nodded meekly, plastering a fawning smile across his face. He dared not utter another word. *** After what felt like an endless night for countless people, the specialized retail stores were swarmed the instant their doors opened the next morning. The direct retail outlets in Yacheng, Chaocheng, and Xinquan, along with the church distribution points in Yacheng and Tacheng, witnessed an explosive surge of business that was both anticipated and shockingly fierce. With zero desire to employ hunger marketing, batch after batch of movement cores that Lou Feng had cultivated day and night over the past half-month had reached full maturity and were shipping in massive quantities! Regrettably, this was limited only to the Standard and Upgraded editions. Customers quickly discovered an abundance of brand-new products filling the shelves that had never been seen before: rings, necklaces, briefcases—all alchemical creations! Furthermore, every single one was a defensive item! Earrings crafted primarily from synthetic diamonds and talismans based on graphite and lead utilized the principles of Solid Alchemy to stabilize the spirit and keep consciousness serene. Rings and necklaces forged from alchemical quicksilver could unfold to shield against small-caliber bullets. Protective suits fashioned primarily from synthetic fibers and wire were slightly heavy, but under sudden violent impacts, they exhibited properties akin to a non-Newtonian fluid, hardening instantly to withstand the collision of a truck or the crushing weight of a falling boulder. Glasses with crystal-ground lenses adjusted their focal length automatically, and upon activation, allowed the wearer to perceive the circulation and anomalies of spiritus to a certain extent. Alongside these were numerous pieces of equipment from Haian Industry, including modified off-road vehicles and more. There were even domestic helper cats serving as household security guards and personal assistants—a dazzling, colorful array of goods. It was entirely padding the shelves with filler! Mediocre. Far too mediocre. In fact, they hardly even qualified as average; they were mere stopgaps devoid of any Blessings. Aside from being mass-processed through alchemy, they lacked a single standout quality! The gemstone earrings and graphite talismans merely insulated against external interference as best they could; a slightly stronger burst of spiritus would likely shatter them on the spot. How could they possibly ward off an attack on the Heart Pivot? Rings of alchemical quicksilver to stop bullets? Against anything larger in caliber, they were utterly useless! Full-body suits capable of withstanding a truck's impact—could they endure a single punch from a Celestial Chosen? And if one punch wasn't enough, what about a second? As single-use consumables, they wouldn't survive the second blow! The crystal glasses could indeed see spiritus, but the effect was so weak they were practically toys. Were they taking people for fools? After browsing out of curiosity, most Celestial Chosen shook their heads in disappointment, averting their eyes without bothering to spare another glance. Yet the eyes of others were already shining. Alchemical artifacts that were woefully inadequate for Celestial Chosen were more than sufficient for non-Chosen! In dangerous environments, they could maintain their awareness and sanity, shield against sudden cave-ins and crushing loads, and even spot cursed spiritus or other hazards in advance. The effects were weak, but viewed from another angle, that meant their spiritus consumption was ridiculously low! Low enough that even a novice Celestial Chosen who had barely completed their Beckoning could use them with effortless ease. Better yet, the spiritus consumed by these items could be drawn entirely from the reserves stored inside the Sundial wristwatch. Even if used only once, it was a massive win! No Blessings? That was a damn advantage in its own right! Without Blessings, there was no burden on the soul. With minimal spiritus consumption, the faint charge in the watch was enough to power them. For ordinary mortals who lacked the strength to even truss a chicken, these were lifesaving amulets! Even the pricing was exceptionally reasonable. These goods were accessories custom-tailored specifically for mortals using the Sundial! The entire suite was a treasure trove crafted for non-Celestial Chosen! And it cost practically pocket change. Powering the set didn't even require the Upgraded Edition; the Standard Edition, priced at just over a million, was fully capable of controlling them. Its internal spirituality bore the strain, enabling effortless operation as if extending one's own limbs. With Punabantu's assembly lines running at full throttle, these near-infinitely supplied budget items now accounted for a third of the store's total revenue! The overwhelming majority of ordinary customers who walked through the door immediately grabbed a Standard Edition, marched straight to the counter, and tacked on eight hundred thousand more to purchase the complete bundle in one go. Some even bought multiple models and sets! Meanwhile, those who decisively purchased the Upgraded Edition were mostly Celestial Chosen with practical needs for the Sundial's functionality. They browsed selectively, adding a few accessories, and some even called over a clerk to point toward the industrial monster of an off-road vehicle parked to the side! Sales revenue gushed like a roaring waterfall, leaving the cashiers entirely numb. Among the crowd, however, were certain individuals with solemn expressions who lingered for a long time before approaching the smiling store managers. "Excuse me... do you have anything... more..." "Are you referring to the Exclusive Edition?" The sales manager paused, dawned with realization, and bowed apologetically. "Ah, I'm terribly sorry. Demand has been through the roof these past two days, so this location is temporarily out of stock. "However, would you care to look at our newly launched line? For example, this one, that one, and this one over here..." No matter how the customer probed or dropped hints, the trained sales manager merely kept smiling at them. The smile grew increasingly meaningful. If the buyer truly showed interest in the store's inventory and waved their hand to purchase an entire bundled package worth over four million, their membership tier would instantly rise to Platinum. With that, they finally unlocked private VIP lounge service, a twenty-percent discount, regular previews of upcoming products, dedicated customer support, an invitation to the annual appreciation gala, and a handwritten thank-you letter from Chairman Ji himself... As well as an Exclusive Edition Sundial that just so happened to have arrived at the store moments earlier! What an astonishing stroke of luck, wouldn't you say? Opportunity favors the prepared, sir! This wasn't mere luck; this was your well-deserved reward! Bundled purchases? What bundled purchases? Our store would never do such a thing! Mr. Ji has taught us to treat all customers with equal fairness, without the slightest bias. How about this: leave your phone number and take a spot in line. The moment new stock arrives, I will notify you alongside the other four hundred customers currently waiting. You say you want the Signed Edition? Ah, that falls outside my authority, I'm afraid. The limited Signed Edition was completely sold out long before this. Our deepest apologies! Such peculiar scenes played out across every single retail branch. Most customers who came for the Standard and Upgraded editions walked away with everything they desired without a hitch. Those seeking the Exclusive Edition found their wishes fulfilled after becoming distinguished Platinum members. As for the Signed Edition— Sorry, none left. Not a single piece. Even the personal units our chairman kept for himself are on the verge of being sold. It isn't easy for us either. While the sales staff gave tearful apologies, the scalpers indulged in an unprecedented frenzy. On the current market, the vast majority of Signed Editions had been driven up to more than double their original retail price. Those who managed to snag one at sixty million were already debating whether to keep the box sealed and flip it for a profit. Across all channels, virtually every single limited Signed Edition on the market had been released by Ji Jue's partners! And naturally, the largest supplier among them was Ji Jue himself. Watching the balance on his account tick steadily upward, Ji Jue beamed from ear to ear, even as an emotional sigh escaped him. What on earth was wrong with this world? How could something be hyped to such an absurd degree? And why did it feel like it could go even higher? Later that day, Haian Tech released an official announcement: *We have noted the widespread occurrences of high-priced reselling on the market. Our production capacity is robust and our supply remains unhindered. We urge everyone not to blindly pursue higher tiers; what matters most is choosing what suits your needs. Please consume rationally...* Meanwhile, in other public appearances, when questioned by friends, Artisan Ji Jue publicly stated: "Naturally, the higher the tier of the Sundial, the stronger its spirituality! "Though theoretically speaking, any version will certainly do the job and produce results; every one of them is the product of my painstaking efforts. "Yes, yes, that's correct. The Signed Edition features additional functions—it can withstand the most vicious curses, block the fiercest telekinetic assaults, and houses three mutually supportive Spiritus Seeds that erupt, defend, and share burdens together. Ah, the design is truly formidable; so long as it isn't overtaxed, it can regenerate on its own... "Alas, I poured out my heart's blood and could only craft that many. Truly, not a single drop remains. "What a pity. What an immense pity!" Shortly after, empirical test reports from the Artisans' Association corroborated Ji Jue's claims, and the market price of the Signed Edition doubled yet again. To the point where— "Wait, how much?" Lying on a beach vacation, Chen Yubo held the phone, utterly petrified. "What do you mean I've made money again?" After asking about the exact sales figures and the reasons behind them, Haizhou's newly minted general distributor for Haian Tech stood frozen in bewilderment, incapable of comprehension. "No, wait, how can this thing actually turn a profit? "I was just supporting my bro!" More to the point, with this much money rolling in, how could he call it "supporting" him?! His bro was supporting him! Didn't he have his own pride to maintain? "Ugh, forget it. Making more or less doesn't matter anyway. Did everyone get enough bonuses? "Oh, then add a bit more. And the profits—pour all of them into Haian Tech. Didn't he say he was short on cash lately? "What are you asking for? Just go do it! Let me warn you, don't play any tricks, or I'll come down and check in person!" After hanging up, Chen Yubo stared blankly at the sun, the sand, the cacti, and the old captain before him, letting out a heavy sigh. Go away, you damned money! On second thought, he pulled out his phone again. Now that he had made a killing, he should celebrate. Time to buy a can of cat food! Forget it, he'd just buy an entire canning factory. *** "Mm, I see. All right, accept it then. It's rare for someone to show such goodwill." Ji Jue nodded calmly, unbothered. "Ah Shu, head down to the warehouse at Workshop Zero. Container A51. Have someone deliver the contents to him. Remind him to unpack and operate it himself instead of handing everything over to others. "The rest? What else could there be? Handle small matters like that on your own. Oh, right—hand this sum of money to Elder Deng and say I'd like to ask the church for another favor. I'll send over the detailed material requisition list shortly. That'll be all." Hanging up, Ji Jue whistled and leaned back in his office chair, feeling thoroughly refreshed as yet another vast hoard of materials flowed into his hands via the Church of Chongguang. "Hey, Old Lou, we can roll out the insurance and rescue services now. Let's keep the initial scope within Haizhou; I'll let the local branch handle the White Nation side." Half an hour later, an upgrade notification lit up the screens of every customer's phone: *Starting today, Haian Tech will introduce the [Priceless Life Emergency Rescue] service.* *Customers may set their emergency dial to Haian's dedicated hotline. Any alert triggered within Haizhou will receive immediate assistance and first-aid response.* *Within the city, the emergency hotline connects directly to the Security Bureau; outside the city, it routes straight to Haian Industry's Security Department.* *Naturally, this requires a nominal fee, but compared to that, life is priceless, isn't it?* *Furthermore, to express our gratitude for our customers' support, Haian is introducing a permanent free upgrade-and-replacement service starting today, ensuring every buyer can enjoy lifelong benefits from a single purchase!* *A new model every year, fresh every year!* One announcement after another drove Sundial sales to a brand-new crescendo. As for the operational costs involved... Come on, pal, what costs could there possibly be? The biggest expense was a periodic annual donation to the Security Bureau, adjusted upward based on the number of dispatches. For Haian's Security Department outside the city, issuing two rounds of bonuses was all it took. Free updates and maintenance? In reality, it was waiting until customers had nurtured the spirituality sufficiently before reclaiming the units to gather data and harvest qualitative transformations on a regular schedule! Every repair was an opportunity for data extraction and preservation. Using other people's spiritus to nourish his own Lord of the Flies! From here on out, aside from large-scale expansion and routine maintenance, he was completely liberated from the terrifying drain of resources required by the Lord of the Flies. Expenditures plummeted thousands of times over, while efficiency multiplied by thousands! And that ratio was still falling on one end and rising on the other! Every customer, through their daily use, was working as a laborer for the Lord of the Flies, building up its foundation and driving qualitative shifts. It wouldn't be long before the third expansion of the swarm could begin! Sitting in Haian Industry's modest office and gazing out at the bleak early winter landscape, Ji Jue saw only vibrant life and relentless competition. He laughed so hard his sides ached. And when his phone buzzed with yet another incoming call, his smile grew even wider. "Hello? Yes, this is Ji Jue. Please assure the Association that I am fully prepared to attend the inquiry hearing!" Ji Jue grinned, humming lightly. "I believe facts speak louder than words. I will certainly convince the Board of Directors and clear my work's name!" On the other end of the line, the Association staff member sounded completely dead inside. "Um, Mr. Ji, about this hearing... the plan is to cancel it. I think—" "Cancel it?" Ji Jue cut him off, asking in return, "Why cancel it? How could it possibly be canceled? I don't understand. Could you please explain in detail?" "Er, *cough*, primarily because this inquiry... well, it appears to have been a misunderstanding." The staff member sighed, glancing at his work assignment with a soul-crushed expression. "So, in the Association's view, the hearing is no longer nece—" "Is that so?" Ji Jue's tone turned strange. "Who says it isn't needed? You? Or some big shot? Which director? You need to speak plainly. "Besides, for a meeting that has already reached the directorial level, whether convening or canceling, shouldn't there be a written notice and signed confirmation?" Ji Jue's gaze turned chillingly cold. "I don't recall signing anything of the sort." "This..." "To be frank, I also have a few... thoughts... regarding the pricing of the relevant products. Since everyone is already assembled, why bother finding another time?" Ji Jue stated unequivocally, "The inquiry hearing must be held. It will be held, and held thoroughly! You think you can call it off just like that? Out of the question! "I do not agree! "So, can the hearing proceed now?" "..." Amidst a groan that sounded like spitting blood, the voice on the other end grew muffled and stammered, ultimately failing to provide any promise or answer. Given his rank and position, he could hardly make a meaningful guarantee anyway. Ji Jue hung up the phone. Across from him, Lou Feng wore a look of utter astonishment. "Wait, are you really planning to hold it?" Once an inquiry hearing commenced, it ceased to be a venue for laying out facts and reason. The proceedings would devolve into an entangled mess where one faction took the stage as another stepped down; the larger the scale, the easier it was to lose control. Likewise, the risk of unexpected variables soared. Under the push and pull of various factions, Ji Jue would lose most of his agency, potentially reduced to a chess piece or a puppet... "Hold it or don't hold it, makes no difference to me. Or rather, I don't care either way." Ji Jue smiled. "But if they can open it whenever they want and cancel it whenever they please, what does that make me? A joke? They can decide when it starts, but when it ends—only I have the final say!" Thinking they could muddle their way through without shedding some blood and cutting off a piece of flesh? What a joke! Did they truly take him for a three-year-old child they could fool so easily? On the Path of Embers, one only advanced, never retreated. There was no room for mercy or magnanimity. Failing to press the advantage in victory and instead choosing to be "merciful" would earn neither respect nor understanding; it would only make one a laughingstock. Good-natured pushovers got pushed around precisely because they were good-natured. Those who could bear hardship were forced to endure more and more of it, simply because they could bear it. When dealing with the Church of Chongguang, one could disregard gains and losses and simply do good deeds. But when dealing with the Association, every single coin had to be calculated clearly and pinched to the penny. Take a step back, and the more you thought about it, the angrier you got; swallow your pride for a moment, and the more you calculated, the greater the loss. If I'm not satisfied, then nobody gets to be satisfied! In any case, he wasn't the one terrified of holding the inquiry hearing. The initiative lay entirely with him. If they truly planned on parting with nothing, Ji Jue wouldn't mind muddying the waters even further. Just as Tacheng could harbor the Evil Transmutation Cult, the Association could harbor the Profound as well! "Don't rush." Ji Jue smiled faintly. "As long as you aren't in a hurry, someone else will be in a hurry for you." Half an hour after the phone call ended, a knock sounded at the door. There had been no warning whatsoever; neither of the two inside the room had sensed the slightest presence. In that moment of bewilderment, they exchanged a glance. Lou Feng reflexively reached toward his pocket, but Ji Jue caught his hand, shaking his head. Through the surveillance monitor, he had already seen who was waiting outside. "Please, come in." The visitor pushed the door open and stepped inside. Sitting down, he offered them a gentle smile, warm and thoroughly pleasant. "Pardon the uninvited intrusion. I hope I'm not interrupting?" A member of the Board of Directors of the Ring of Taiyi Artisans' Association, one of the most powerful individuals among all artisans in the world, and their former examiner during the artisan examination— Jiang Tongguang!