Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 289: Pulling the Tiger’s Skin

“`

How much for a pair? Feng Jun glanced at the Clerk indifferently, “Talking about money just spoils the fun.”

“Do you really think that this can be bought with money? I gave a pair to the Prefectural Governor because I admire his illustrious military achievements; capable of serving the Imperial Family on high and protecting the populace down below… Such a person deserves this gift.”

He was lavishing praise on the Prefectural Governor, but the Clerk felt like cursing: who asked you to give them away, thinking the Governor couldn’t afford it?

However, he couldn’t curse just yet. Putting aside the other’s status as an Immortal, he was the one who had offered a pair of walkie-talkies as a gift.

This attitude made it clear, this item isn’t for sale. I’m giving you a pair as a gesture of respect for the Prefectural Governor, as for buying them?

Heh… you’re thinking too much.

Acts done with propriety usually don’t provoke too much criticism from others.

The Clerk also felt somewhat powerless and thought of giving up, but he wasn’t willing to let it go.

He couldn’t help but narrow his eyes slightly, asking with a hint of threat, “Such an important military device, where does the Divine Doctor plan to sell them?”

Feng Jun’s brow furrowed, and he asked displeasedly, “Are you questioning me?”

At this moment, he was actually somewhat relieved that he didn’t sell these devices.

He hadn’t sold them, and already the other party was behaving like this. What would happen if he actually sold them?

But when he asked with such a stern expression, the Clerk broke out into a cold sweat. The other party was an Immortal, what was he thinking?

He composed himself, then forced a dry laugh, “I wouldn’t dare question the Divine Doctor, I was just a bit curious… For such a miraculous object, wouldn’t it be a waste if it isn’t utilized properly?”

Feng Jun was so amused by this remark that he almost wanted to laugh. This was something I brought to this realm. Whether it’s wasted or not, what does it have to do with you? If you can’t stand to look at it, why don’t you make a pair yourself? It’s not like I’m stopping you.

What he despised most were these so-called paragons of justice, trivializing other people’s possessions as if they had no worth, almost as if not acting according to their wishes was a betrayal of humanity, a betrayal of the Heavenly Dao.

It never occurred to you that if I were to follow your methods, putting aside everything else, even my own life would be at risk. You’re not the one in pain when you stand and talk, but shouldn’t you at least consider other people’s circumstances?

Anyway, Feng’s ability to retort was also quite formidable. He smiled casually, “In your eyes, it might seem miraculous, but to me, it’s just a small tool, that’s all.”

Will you die if you don’t brag? The Clerk was getting annoyed as he listened, “Then, what about the ‘larger’ tools that Mr. Feng mentioned?”

“Larger tools?” Feng Jun smiled, his white teeth gleaming, “Hehe, how about… a thousand-mile voice transmission?”

“Thousand-mile… voice transmission?” The Clerk gasped when he heard this, that’s something only Golden Core Immortals can do, right?

However, this statement reminded him that the other party… was indeed an Immortal!

Walkie-talkies are great, but they are not irreplaceable. Whether two Golden Core Cultivators can transmit voices over a thousand miles is uncertain, but undoubtedly, they can do much more than just a mere ten or even dozens of miles.

So, the Prefectural Governor thought the walkie-talkies were good merely because of their relatively inexpensive cost—although the Clerk couldn’t be sure of their exact price, without a doubt, they were much, much… so much cheaper than hiring two Golden Core Cultivators…

But why didn’t the Prefectural Governor ever consider the idea of pestering the Golden Core Immortals to serve in the military?

The cost is too high, whether it’s the cost of hiring or the cost of compulsion, both are too high for the Prefectural Governor to bear.

So, why does he think that forcibly buying the Divine Doctor’s walkie-talkies would definitely be feasible?

Just then, the man from the Yu Family who was in disguise spoke up, seemingly doubting that the Clerk understood the Divine Doctor’s intentions properly, “Of course, the walkie-talkies can be sold, but the Divine Doctor wants Spirit Stones.”

The Clerk’s brow immediately furrowed into a knot, “Spirit Stones… what are those?”

“They’re Immortal Crystals,” Yu Changqing answered casually, “Those friends who can’t do a thousand-mile voice transmission often find these gadgets handy when they go out cultivating.”

In her words, she managed to avoid many things, but anyone with an IQ above the passing line could understand.

The Prefectural Governor’s Clerk, who relied on his intellect to earn his living, naturally understood as well.

What they were saying is, Golden Core Immortals don’t need the walkie-talkies, but those below the Golden Core Cultivation level would find them useful, particularly the lower-rank Immortal disciples who often team up to hunt Spirit Beasts and such. During such times, walkie-talkies would be in demand.

And when those Immortals make purchases, they naturally use Immortal Crystals.

Feng Jun turned his head and gave Yu Changqing a look: that assist was really good.

It’s not that the walkie-talkies can’t be sold; if they’re limited to selling only to Immortals, no matter how strategic a device it is, the officials of the Imperial Court can only watch enviously, unable to entertain the idea of claiming the objects for themselves.

As for Immortals, these detached beings, they have plenty of valuable things; there must be countless items considered strategic military devices, but does the Imperial Court dare to covet those?

“`

After all is said and done, no matter how important an item is, as long as it is confined to the realm of Immortals and does not interfere with the mundane power struggles, the Imperial Court can do nothing but watch helplessly.

Of course, these treasures may trickle down here and there among the common folk, but as long as they can’t turn the tide of destiny, it doesn’t matter.

Take for instance the Golden Armor Charm, the Immortal Array, or as another example… Mr. Feng gifted the Prefectural Governor with a pair of walkie-talkies.

Understanding this, the Clerk finally lost the enthusiasm to insist on the matter, and could only sigh deeply, “If that’s the case, then I have indeed troubled the Divine Doctor… May I ask if the Divine Doctor has an invitation for the Innate celebration for the Governor?”

For a high-ranking official like the Prefectural Governor, an Innate Expert… is certainly worth paying attention to, but that is just the extent of it.

The Prefectural Governor attending such an Innate celebration is synonymous with both parties giving face to each other. It’s quite normal for an Innate Expert not to issue an invitation to the Prefectural Governor or for the Prefectural Governor to not attend personally after receiving one.

The Clerk’s question, of course, was not merely about securing an invitation to the celebration for the Prefectural Governor.

He didn’t know why this fellow, who seemed to be an Immortal, would meddle in attaining Innate status, but with Immortals, you can’t use normal reasoning, can you? Even the dragons have different offspring, so who doesn’t have their eccentric moments?

For him, testing the other party’s attitude towards the Prefectural Governor was key.

Mr. Feng, however, just laughed it off, “It’s just an Innate celebration; I could simply drink with a few friends, no need to make a big fuss with a grand celebration. That would be truly embarrassing.”

The Clerk was momentarily at a loss for words… Can’t you boast without dying?

But he had to admit, the other party indeed had the right to speak like that.

At that moment, Lang Zhen walked in with two walkie-talkies, their original packaging long since left behind on Earth by Feng Jun. To think that walkie-talkies, which are allegedly sold only to Immortals, were brought in so barefacedly—it was somewhat unsightly.

Mr. Feng silently resolved that he would definitely have some elegant packaging made later.

Lang Zhen, indifferent to the packaging, placed the walkie-talkies on the table and didn’t forget to add, “Turn them off when not in use, and they need to be charged when the battery is low.”

The Clerk opened his mouth slightly, astonished, “Does that mean… we also have to buy a generator?”

Lang Zhen curled his lip, “Currently, we don’t have any apparatus to charge with Spirit Stones.”

The Clerk’s mouth twitched, “Spirit Stones… so that means we’ll have to regularly buy diesel too?”

Lang Zhen didn’t say anything and just looked at him, his eyes conveying a very clear message—do I even need to say it?

The Clerk stood up and gave Feng Jun a bow, “Thank you, Mr. Feng, for your generous gift. I have to report to the Governor first before making a decision.”

He could accept the walkie-talkies, but once their battery ran out, he would need to find a way to charge them; such a gift couldn’t simply be presented to the Prefectural Governor. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be like showing contempt to the Governor?

So he had to inform the Prefectural Governor first, to explain how miraculous the walkie-talkies were, and moreover, that to acquire the walkie-talkies gifted by Mr. Feng, one would have to purchase a generator and a lighting system. That decision would have to be made by the Governor.

Right, and he also had to make it clear that Mr. Feng’s requirement was payment before delivery…

Having hurriedly departed, Feng Jun gestured for Lang Zhen to leave and then turned to look at Yu Changqing, smiling as he spoke, “Thank you for speaking up for justice.”

Yu Changqing spread his hands with a carefree gesture, “Actually… I was just telling the truth.”

This was what Feng Jun wanted to hear. He had always been a bit worried that even if he made contact with Cultivators, obtaining Immortal Cultivation Techniques would probably be quite difficult.

After realizing the military potential of the walkie-talkies in the Prefectural Governor’s residence, he was initially quite troubled but then realized that they might help him knock on the door to Cultivation—after all, he could use this as an excuse to ward off the Prefectural Governor’s coveting.

As for whether the item could truly gain the favor of Cultivators, he needed a definitive answer from Yu Changqing.

Now that she had responded positively, Feng Jun was of course very pleased and thus spoke with a smile, “Actually, I even thought about trading those tricycles for Spirit Stones, but considering the Storage Bag, I felt the significance wouldn’t be that great.”

The two main functions of a farm vehicle are transporting goods and traveling distances. For traveling, this plane has horses, and Cultivators have Storage Bags which are even more convenient than farm vehicles and less conspicuous.

Yu Changqing, however, had a somewhat different view, “This… tricycle, is quite practical for Cultivators below the Detached stage; after all, you can’t store living people in a Storage Bag. The problem is, it consumes too much diesel.”

In her opinion, it was normal not to sell tricycles to the common folk, as Cultivators could actually make use of them; however, replenishing diesel was too cumbersome. If they could be powered by Spirit Stones instead, that would be ideal.

Upon hearing this, the corners of Feng Jun’s mouth twitched, followed by a heavy sigh, “Tsk, seems like I need to think of some alternative solutions.”

The goods he brought to this plane were attracting more and more attention, and many of these modern items were inseparable from electricity. One could imagine that as generators sold well, diesel supply certainly became a bottleneck.

What was more important was that fossil energy reserves on Earth Realm were rapidly depleting, and he did not wish to plunder the plane where his homeland resided.

So, it was time to return to Earth to prepare properly.