World’s End: My Keyword is One More Than Others

Chapter 203: Can only go up, not down

"Ah Le, didn't you want to seek out a sect for cultivation? Seven Stars Sect is a good choice. I'll pay them a sum of money, become one of their shareholders, and then you can join them to learn the arts."

Danyang City.

Fang Residence.

In a luxurious backyard, the portly middle-aged Fang Shan fanned his only son, Fang Wenle, who was leisurely eating grapes in the shade, saying, "I have plenty of money. By buying more of their shares, I can have a say in Seven Stars Mountain. My son won't have to suffer while learning the arts."

"What Seven Stars Mountain? What shareholders?" The carefree young master opened his eyes in surprise, gestured for the maidservant to stop feeding him grapes, and asked.

"My son, there's been a curious incident recently in Danyang City. Seven Stars Sect was originally an obscure little sect with few members. But some time ago, an ancestral elder who had been traveling returned, restoring the sect's lost cultivation techniques..."

Fang Shan recounted the legend of Seven Stars Sect to his son and concluded, "Throughout history, the cultivation world has had little interaction with the secular world. It's unprecedented for a sect like Seven Stars to actively engage with the secular. Many are rushing to buy shares; some want to attach themselves to a celestial sect and try their luck, while others want to make a quick buck. Haven't you been clamoring to cultivate?

We have no connections with the big sects, and I've heard that the cultivation world is very cruel. You could get into a fight at any time, and if something goes wrong, you could lose your life.

The Fang family only has you as a successor. If you're gone, who will inherit all my wealth? Seven Stars Sect is just the opportunity. With the status of a shareholder, we can have a say. Moreover, the most important thing is it's close to home. If I want to see you, I can just walk over. Maybe we can even make some money..."

Who's this bold?

Stocks in a world of immortals?

Has the world gone mad?

Afraid that others won't know you're a warrior?

Are keywords like trade and commerce involved?

Trying to use financial means to roll up attributes and seize early development?

But this is a world of immortals! What makes you think you can safely get through the early stages? No matter how fast your attributes grow, if you provoke one or two high-level cultivators, a slap could end you!

Even without high-level cultivators?

Targeting your financial attributes with a sniper, no matter how high your attributes rise, they can all crash back down!

Who's this foolish?

It better not be someone from my own group!

Fang Wenle bit into a grape and didn't swallow for a long time, stunned by Du Ge's maneuvers, his mind in turmoil.

"Ah Le, what are you thinking about?" Fang Shan waved his hand in front of his son's eyes and chuckled, "You think my idea is good, right? Let's pack up, and we'll set off for Seven Stars Sect tomorrow. Before others react, we'll become major shareholders. Honestly, I'm quite interested in this stock business. I see great potential..."

"I'm not going." The young master named Ah Le quickly shook his head.

"What's wrong?" Fang Shan was taken aback, then his face lit up with joy, "You don't want to cultivate immortality anymore?"

"No, I'll still cultivate, but not at Seven Stars Sect. I've reviewed a lot of information these days. Cultivation requires a rich legacy and abundant resources; otherwise, it all ends in vain."

Fang Wenle shook his head, "According to you, Seven Stars Sect is so destitute that it needed an ancestral elder who had been traveling to bring back the legacy to continue. What's there for me? Even if I went, my achievements would be limited. I won't waste my time there. Even if I have to do menial work, I'd rather go to a sect like Heaven's Path Institute."

Looking at the dazed Fang Shan, Fang Wenle glanced at him and said, "Dad, you don't really think that mortal wealth can help with cultivation, do you? In my opinion, Seven Stars Sect is clearly unable to mix in the cultivation world and wants to make a fortune in the secular world, living comfortably as a wealthy man, deceiving people like you for their money..."

"I didn't expect my Ah Le to learn to analyze things." Fang Shan twirled his mustache with a chuckle, "But my thoughts are exactly the opposite of yours. If you go to a big sect, who knows how many decades it will take for you to stand out..."

"Dad, I know what you mean. You're just afraid that the Fang family will have no descendants, right?" Fang Wenle pursed his lips, "Haven't I been working hard these days? If you're still worried, just find me a few more concubines. Once they're all pregnant, can't I leave then?"

"Ah Le, are you determined to go?" Fang Shan's smile faded, and he sighed.

"Yes, I must cultivate." Fang Wenle said, "Dad, as long as I succeed in my cultivation, one day I'll fly over Fang Residence with my sword, ensuring at least ten generations of prosperity for the Fang family."

"That's true, but cultivation often takes decades. I'm afraid I won't be able to wait for your return." Fang Shan looked sad, "What's wrong with Seven Stars Mountain? I heard that their elder has at least reached the Elemental Infant stage, capable of flying and escaping, omnipotent..."

"Give me ten years, Dad. Just ten years. I swear, whether I succeed or not, I'll come back to see you in ten years, okay?" Fang Wenle raised his hand and made a vow.

"Ah..." Fang Shan looked at his son, who was determined to cultivate, and suddenly sighed deeply, seeming to age a decade.

"Dad, don't look so glum. Buy the shares of Seven Stars Mountain if you should. If your son fails in his cultivation and returns, he'll still have a fallback." Fang Wenle looked at the disheartened Fang Shan, "Moreover, I think with Dad's business acumen, making some money from Seven Stars Mountain's shares isn't difficult.

Plus, I just heard Dad say that stocks can be bought and sold. Since they can be traded, they can be manipulated. Dad, why not think about manipulation methods to multiply the Fang family's assets? When your son Ah Le returns after learning the arts, we can work together inside and out to take over Seven Stars Mountain..."

"Good!" Fang Shan looked at Fang Wenle and nodded, "Let's agree on this. I'll handle the manipulation of Seven Stars Mountain's stocks, and then when you return with your skills, we father and son will control Seven Stars Mountain..."

"Agreed." Fang Wenle said.

"But let me make it clear first, you brat, you're not allowed to leave without leaving a few descendants for the Fang family." Fang Shan huffed.

"I know, I know." Fang Wenle waved his hand impatiently, "Even if I leave to seek the Way, I'll take a few concubines with me. Once they're pregnant, I'll have them sent back to the Fang family, alright?"

"Brat, I've been played by you all my life." Fang Shan laughed and scolded, shaking his head as he turned and walked away, his figure somewhat forlorn.

***

Supervisory Institution.

The information about Seven Stars Sect was laid on the director's desk.

The director glanced through it casually and then tossed it aside, scoffing, "Nonsense, deceiving and swindling. No wonder Tianlan Valley wants to take your territory. That's all the ambition you have."

"Director, should we stop Seven Stars Mountain's actions?" A cultivator next to the director asked softly.

"Why stop them? Has Seven Stars Mountain broken any rules?" The director glared at him and scolded, "Are you from the Supervisory Institution or from Tianlan Valley? Don't think I don't know about your dealings with Tianlan Valley behind the scenes.

These days, you keep an eye on Tianlan Valley's people for me. I don't care about their grudges with Seven Stars Mountain, but if they dare to harm mortals, I'll be the first to show them no mercy..."

The cultivator was stunned for a moment, then showed an expression of sudden realization, "Director's insight is profound."

***

Meanwhile.

Seven Stars Mountain.

Du Ge found his little junior sister and seventh junior brother practicing in the backyard.

The eldest senior brother, who had taken a Rejuvenation Pill, was able to move around but was still weak. He was instructing his junior sister and brother in their practice. Seeing Du Ge arrive, he managed a smile, "Sect Leader brother, you've come."

Du Ge bowed respectfully, "Greetings to eldest senior brother."

"Greetings to Sect Leader brother." The little junior sister and seventh junior brother stopped their practice and bowed to Du Ge in unison.

"Seven Stars Sect's prosperity today is all thanks to Sect Leader brother alone. I'm ashamed I couldn't be of help, failing our master..." The eldest senior brother looked at Du Ge, sighed, and said dejectedly.

"Eldest senior brother need not be modest. These days, we've recruited many disciples, and it's all thanks to eldest senior brother teaching them the basics of cultivation." Du Ge smiled, "Each of us brothers and sisters has our own duties; there's no need to talk about hardship."

Eldest senior brother shook his head with a smile, "Sect Leader brother, what new ideas have you brought today?"

"Eldest senior brother, Seven Stars Sect has tied its interests with the local populace, and Tianlan Valley dares not act rashly. Our sect is temporarily safe. I plan to take seventh junior brother to Tianlan Valley for a talk, to resolve the conflict between the two sects at its root." Du Ge looked around at the three of them, speaking earnestly.

All three were taken aback.

"Sect Leader brother, since Seven Stars Sect has found its own path, we should develop steadily. Why provoke Tianlan Valley again?" Eldest senior brother frowned, "If the valley master of Tianlan Valley forms a Golden Elixir, wouldn't you be walking into a tiger's den?"

"I'm afraid he'll form a Golden Elixir!" Du Ge sighed, "Master's vengeance must be avenged. If he forms a Golden Elixir, we'll have no chance for revenge. Moreover, for Seven Stars Sect to have long-term peace, we must have a true ancestral elder from our sect, not one made up..."

Eldest senior brother suddenly realized, "Junior brother, are you planning to attack Tianlan Valley?"

"Exactly." Du Ge nodded and smiled, "I've had some insights into the Dao recently, achieving some success. I feel that my strength is sufficient to make a move on Tianlan Valley."

As a third of the month passed without a clue for the second skill, Du Ge had to take the initiative.

Since he couldn't find an advanced skill for the time being, he would improve himself through cultivation techniques.

If Tianlan Valley's nameless secret manual could form a Golden Elixir, then he would snatch it for his own use.

Otherwise, in twenty more days, when the rankings are announced and if someone comes looking for trouble, there would be nowhere to hide...

Having decided to take the risk, he naturally wanted to be as strong as possible.

"Eldest senior brother, I'll go with you too." The little junior sister said.

"No, little junior sister, Tianlan Valley is important, but Seven Stars Sect is even more so. You've already understood the current operation model of Seven Stars Sect. During this time, you stay and oversee everything here." Du Ge smiled, "Build the houses that need to be built, repair the roads that need to be repaired, spend all the money. If we run out of money, continue to sell shares, at the new market value. Issue announcements as needed, promptly report the progress of the projects to the public. Our stock can only go up, not down..."