Mu Baiyi didn't mind Lu Yang's look, nor did he dare to mind.
The three questions Lu Yang threw his way had suddenly enlightened him.
"Does Young Cult Master Lu mean that our Nine Nether Cult can partner with the Shining Sun Cult to open barbecue restaurants?"
"Not a barbecue restaurant. A solar energy technology development chamber of commerce, with barbecue as one of its ventures," Lu Yang corrected.
If it remained a barbecue restaurant, how could it qualify for tax incentives? Only by altering the nature of the business could they enjoy preferential tax policies. In order to avoid being thrown into prison and following in his master's footsteps, Lu Yang had painstakingly studied laws and policies; only he knew the effort he had poured into it.
"Right, right, right! A solar energy technology development chamber of commerce." Mu Baiyi nodded repeatedly. Young Cult Master Lu truly had a brilliant mind.
Wasn't this precisely the "internally ally with the Shining Sun and Heartless Cults" from the Grand Strategy's Shop Discourse that Young Cult Master Lu had laid out? Young Cult Master Lu had probably anticipated today's situation long ago!
What terrifying foresight and intellect!
If he had half of Young Cult Master Lu's brains, why would he ever have needed to pose as a believer to take out loans? He would have built several Fengdus by now!
Never mind being Cult Master—the believers would have enshrined him as Cult Founder!
Great Xia had always encouraged inventions and innovations. Whether it was the flying car Lu Yang invented or the Dream Bubble created by Tao Yaoye, both enjoyed preferential tax policies.
Furthermore, because spiritual energy was inherently a strategic resource, Great Xia encouraged the use of alternative energy sources, which was why the dynasty had introduced the series of tax policies Lu Yang mentioned.
In Lu Yang's view, an industrial revolution in the cultivation world had no need to follow the gradual progression of his previous life—from steam to electricity. They could skip straight ahead and jump right to clean energy: solar power.
He had thought of this while browsing the Shining Sun Cult's dossiers, but before he had even figured out how to steer them toward it, the opportunity had walked right up to his doorstep.
"By jointly establishing a chamber of commerce to develop new solar technologies, Great Xia will provide substantial support. Under that support, the taxes on the barbecue restaurants won't be an issue at all."
"Moreover, maintaining the True Fire while barbecuing requires a continuous infusion of spiritual energy. If the Shining Sun Cult yields research results, solar energy could be used to sustain the True Fire. That way, the imperial court won't just reduce taxes—they might even hand out subsidies."
The future Lu Yang painted made Mu Baiyi's eyes light up. Getting acquainted with the Heavenly Court Cult was truly the best decision he had ever made in his life.
Seeing Cult Master Chi with his head bowed in deep thought, Lu Yang smiled. "Cult Master Chi, I know what you're thinking. You're wondering whether your Shining Sun Cult could just research solar energy on your own without any need to partner with the Nine Nether Cult, right?"
"No, no, not at all!" Cult Master Chi flatly denied it, though that was precisely what he had been thinking.
"No matter. People are driven by self-interest; it's completely understandable."
"However, please consider carefully, Cult Master Chi: establishing a solar energy technology development chamber of commerce first and foremost requires a clean identity."
"Registering such a large-scale chamber of commerce imposes strict requirements on the registered spirit stones and the registrant's background. At the very least, it requires a Body Integration stage cultivator."
"If my guess is correct, among your cult's Body Integration experts, Cult Master Chi should be the only one who isn't currently wanted."
"Does Cult Master Chi plan to use your identity as a great inventor to register the chamber of commerce, and then have your record of being imprisoned seven times for tax evasion turn the chamber into a prime target for government scrutiny?"
Cold sweat broke out across Cult Master Chi's forehead. He hadn't expected the other party to have investigated his background so thoroughly.
In truth, he had always maintained two faces. One was Chi Guantian, the inventor who created the telescope, which was his true face; the other was the Cult Master of the Shining Sun Cult, which was a disguise. He did this lest people from other demonic cults recognize him and secretly report him to the authorities. Never had he expected the other party to see right through his disguise.
Lu Yang did not possess the ability to see through Cult Master Chi's disguise; the one who had seen through it was Eldest Senior Sister.
After their last meeting, Eldest Senior Sister had recognized Cult Master Chi's true identity.
"On the other hand, for the Nine Nether Cult, the barbecue restaurant's big boss, Shi Huagu, has received commendations from the imperial court multiple times and enjoys their full trust. With him stepping forward to establish the chamber of commerce, it will surely save a great deal of trouble."
Meng Jingzhou slammed the table violently and barked, "Our cult takes sixty percent of the barbecue restaurant's profits. Does Cult Master Chi mean to say you're unwilling to let our cult participate in the chamber of commerce?!"
Though Meng Jingzhou was merely at the Nascent Soul stage, to Cult Master Chi's ears, those words were no different from a threat from a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator.
Only then did Cult Master Chi remember: on the surface, the barbecue restaurant was an enterprise of the Nine Nether Cult, but the Heavenly Court Cult was the one holding the lion's share!
This wasn't two cults jointly establishing a chamber of commerce—it was three!
What had he been thinking just now? Going solo and cutting off the Heavenly Court Cult's financial flow—was he tired of living? Wasn't this the perfect chance to cling to the Heavenly Court Cult's coattails?
Cult Master Chi offered an ingratiating smile. "Young Cult Master Lu, Holy Son Long, you must be joking. By Dou Tianzun above, I, Chi, truly harbor no thought of going solo."
"Is that so? That's good, then." Lu Yang smiled as if everything said earlier had merely been a joke, patting Meng Jingzhou on the back.
"Calm down, Old Long. Look, Cult Master Chi has no such intention."
"That's more like it." Meng Jingzhou gave a cold snort, acting as if he disdained to say more to them.
Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou stood up and raised their teacups. Seeing this, the two cult masters hurriedly stood up and raised their cups as well.
"Then here's to the everlasting friendship of our three cults. A toast to Master."
"To Dou Tianzun."
"To Dou Tianzun."
"To Dou Tianzun."
The four drained their cups in one gulp, showing utmost reverence to Dou Tianzun.
In the spiritual space, Dou Tianzun was very satisfied with their attitude toward her.
"Do the two of you have any other business?" Lu Yang stretched.
"None, none at all. Many thanks for Young Cult Master Lu's guidance."
"I, Chi, am slow-witted. Please offer me your guidance often in the future, Young Cult Master Lu."
After Lu Yang's combination of carrots and sticks, both cult masters admired Young Cult Master Lu from the bottom of their hearts. This was someone who could only be a friend, never an enemy.
After bidding farewell on behalf of the Heavenly Court Cult, the young cult master and holy son departed with the four Heavenly Kings.
Both cult masters possessed profound cultivation, giving them sharper hearing than ordinary Body Integration cultivators. Even from a great distance, they could faintly hear the conversation between Young Cult Master Lu and Holy Son Long.
"Why bother telling them all that? If they run into difficulties, let them solve them on their own. You help them, but what can they help us with? Are we hurting for this bit of money, or could they lend a hand in the future battle against the Four Ancient Celestials?"
"Nine Nether was on good terms with us in the old days after all, and the Heavenly Court had solar deities, so there's some affinity between us. Seeing how miserable they've had it, we might as well help where we can."
"Acting like we were begging to join the chamber of commerce—who cares about that? Wasn't it just so we'd have a reason to keep guiding their direction after researching solar energy to replace candles? Without us, how would the Shining Sun Cult know what to do next? Ungrateful wretches!"
"All right, Old Long, nobody has it easy. There's no need to let them know what we're considering."
Eventually, the dialogue faded into the wind, audible no longer.
Upon hearing this, the two cult masters felt thoroughly ashamed. If the Heavenly Court Cult hadn't taken old ties into account, they wouldn't even have had the chance to cling to their coattails.
Chapter 694