"Did... did the master truly say so?" He Zhenghao asked, hesitating.
Gao Yuan was also somewhat incredulous. "Everyone knows the Master Secret Emissary's divinatory techniques are boundlessly profound. If he wanted to amass wealth, what method couldn't he use? Why would he stoop to acting as we do? It demeans his status!"
Seeing their reactions, "Zhou Qing'ang" gave a cold snort. "How could the two of you fathom what the master aims to achieve?"
"Still, to convince you completely, I will share a bit more inside information."
Lowering his voice to a murmur, he said, "The master has not only divined that the war in Tianling Province is drawing to a close, but he also foresaw that once the war ends, the Alliance will issue an order so everyone can recuperate and recover as quickly as possible."
"What order?" He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan perked up, listening intently.
"Zhou Qing'ang" said slowly, "All cultivators of the Alliance will be permitted to purchase cultivation methods from the Heavenly Profound Mirror at a discount."
"Although divinations involving a wonder like the Heavenly Profound Mirror might contain minor discrepancies, according to the Master Secret Emissary, it is practically a certainty."
"A discount on cultivation methods?" Both men gasped at the words.
Yet on second thought, it was not entirely without precedent.
It was just that the last time such a thing occurred had been several centuries ago; they had only heard older cultivators mention it in passing.
After all, the contribution points required to purchase cultivation techniques constituted the lion's share of expenses throughout a cultivator's life.
Tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of contribution points might no longer mean much to He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan, but for the vast majority of cultivators, scraping together that sum meant exhausting every last asset.
If the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals truly offered a discount on techniques again—even if only twenty percent off—buying during that window would save a massive fortune in contribution points.
One could well imagine the frenzy that would sweep through the cultivators.
They would likely borrow from every source imaginable just to gather enough contribution points to make the purchase.
After turning it over in his mind, He Zhenghao's eyes shone with excitement. He faintly sensed an opportunity.
Yet how exactly they might capitalize on this once-in-a-lifetime chance to reap a fortune remained hazy in his mind.
He scratched his head and rubbed his ears, an itch gnawing at his heart.
Unable to hold back, he urged, "Brother Zhou, don't keep us in suspense. Explain it in detail, quickly!"
Zhou Qing'ang smiled faintly. "It's very simple! First, leak word that the great war is about to end and everything will return to normal."
"Once this village is passed, the shop is gone. Anyone still hoping to use contribution points to secure an official post must act quickly—there won't be another golden opportunity like this down the road!"
"Of course, raising the prices slightly would be entirely reasonable, wouldn't it?"
"Second, announce that the fundraising campaign is being launched once again. This time, we make the fanfare even larger."
"A five-year term with a targeted return of two hundred percent! And no upper limit on the contribution points gathered!"
As the manager who had handled the fundraising schemes all along, He Zhenghao's eyelids twitched violently at those words.
A two-hundred-percent return over five years—he genuinely believed the Master Secret Emissary could pull it off. Furthermore, one could well imagine that with the track record of past campaigns and Li Fan's official post as the Secret Script Emissary of Congyun City serving as a foundation, an uncapped fundraising drive would draw in an unimaginable mountain of contribution points.
Cultivators who had repeatedly tried to buy into Li Fan's wealth schemes, only to be turned away for various reasons, would be particularly eager.
Upon hearing this news, they would undoubtedly rush forward to hand over their contribution points at the first opportunity.
After all, five years could be long or short.
A brief session of secluded cultivation would pass in the blink of an eye. Upon emerging, their net worth would have tripled.
Such a windfall was impossible to find even searching with a lantern!
Besides, Li Fan was the highest-ranking administrative official in the entire Congyun Sea; no one feared he would abscond!
"Yet if we do that..." Gao Yuan also sensed the viciousness behind the scheme, a flicker of trepidation surfacing in his eyes.
"Indeed. Both methods serve to strip the cultivators' pockets bare in a short span of time."
Zhou Qing'ang continued with smug satisfaction, "When they have sent over every bit of wealth they spent years painstakingly amassing, word will suddenly break that the Alliance has announced a discount on cultivation methods."
"Though they will recognize it as an unmissable opportunity, they will have no spare contribution points left to their name."
"What? They want to back out and withdraw their contribution points? They certainly can, but they must pay a penalty for breach of contract, mustn't they?"
"If they are truly left penniless, that is fine too; they can owe us for the time being, so long as they put up dharma treasures, heavenly materials, or earthly treasures as collateral."
"If they don't want to redeem their points and simply wish to take advantage of the discount to buy techniques, we can even lend them a bit! Everything is negotiable! The interest won't be exorbitant either—we'll keep it to twenty percent a year. How charitable is that!"
...
Zhou Qing'ang grinned sinisterly as he rambled on.
Listening to him, cold sweat poured down He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan.
When he finally finished laying out the elaborate plan, Gao Yuan could no longer hold back and asked, "The Master Secret Emissary's scheme is truly brilliant, but there is one thing I cannot fathom. Might Brother Zhou enlighten me?"
Zhou Qing'ang cocked his head, staring at him in silence for a moment.
Only when Gao Yuan's heart began to quiver did he chuckle and say, "Haha, we have been colleagues for years. Brother Gao, speak your mind!"
"Judging by the Master Secret Emissary's character, he has never been someone who places much value on material wealth. Why this sudden departure from his usual manner, launching one massive operation after another?"
He Zhenghao chimed in, "Could it be that the master harbors an even deeper scheme behind this? I, too, believe he would never make such a huge fuss merely for a handful of contribution points."
Zhou Qing'ang pondered for a long time without answering.
He seemed lost in thought.
Seeing this, He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan instantly knew they had hit the mark. Their hearts rose into their throats, laced with anticipation.
After a while, Zhou Qing'ang seemed to make up his mind and sent a direct divine sense transmission: "The Master Secret Emissary did not spell it out for me; this is merely my own deduction."
"Take it as an amusing diversion, my friends; do not treat it as gospel!"
The two nodded repeatedly to show they understood.
"Most likely, the two Soul Formation Immortal Lords, Hongxi and Ziyun, are about to return to the Congyun Sea."
He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan shuddered, their minds clearing in a flash.
"Not only that, but the Nascent Soul cultivators reassigned from Wanxian Island's Heavenly Secret Hall and Formation Planning Hall will probably return to the Congyun Sea before long as well."
"The Master Secret Emissary was parachuted in on orders, after all; his foundation here is shallow. Furthermore, he is merely at the Golden Core realm. Against that crowd of veteran Nascent Soul cultivators, he might not hold the upper hand."
"Therefore, the Master Secret Emissary wants to use this method to build his momentum. If the deduction holds true and they indeed return, he will likely announce the forgiveness of everyone's debts to win over hearts and minds."
"If the deduction proves false, he will still walk away with pockets full to bursting, suffering no loss whatsoever."
Chapter 572