Chapter 200: Chapter 168: Weighing Gold on the Great Balance

"Slut! Are you courting death?" This was Guh Niqiang.

"Junior brother, are you alright?" This was Jiang Qingfeng.

While speaking, the platinum-colored flames enveloping Guh Niqiang crackled the stone floor, and in her pupils, a flash of golden-red light appeared as she was poised to leap forward.

Ji Yunrou protected her chest with both hands, pleading pitifully, "Lu Lang, say something!"

The expression, the posture, was just like a little fox caught in the act.

Lu Qian’s heart skipped a beat—this demoness!

Sure enough, Jiang Qingfeng and Guh Niqiang’s gazes instantly focused on Lu Qian.

The senior sister widened her eyes, "Junior brother, what did she call you?"

Guh Niqiang strode forward, raising her hand to strike, "Under a charm? Watch me knock you awake!"

"Stop!" A sweating Lu Qian hurriedly stepped back, "I’m perfectly fine, Lady Ji, stop causing trouble!"

Ji Yunrou, with teary eyes, gazed resentfully at Lu Qian, "But, we just did that..."

"What do you mean by ’that’?" Guh Niqiang asked puzzled, frowning.

And the senior sister’s dangerous gaze swept over the collapsed meeting table and the disheveled, fair-skinned Ji Yunrou before slowly landing on Lu Qian, "Junior brother, did you really..."

"I wasn’t! I didn’t! Don’t talk nonsense!"

Lu Qian glared angrily, "Lady Ji, do you still want shares in the marketplace!"

Ji Yunrou nodded obediently, covering her lips. Lu Qian seized the opportunity to shout, "Meeting! Call all the shareholders in the marketplace over, let’s have a meeting now!"

A moment later, they moved to another slightly smaller meeting room, filled with elders and stewards of the Yunshan Sect, leaders of the Shuangye Alliance, and Elder Zhuang Qing from the Spirit Talisman Sect, crowding the room.

Everyone was surprised to see Zhuang Qing, not knowing when he had arrived. Zhuang Qing himself was somewhat surprised; originally, he received Lu Qian’s letter and learned of the dangers in the marketplace. As the second-largest shareholder of Shuangye Square, the Spirit Talisman Sect naturally rushed in with elite disciples to lay in wait.

But it was clearly not the time to act yet, so why did Lu Qian call me out? Isn’t he afraid of alerting the enemy?

The eyes of the crowd flickered and all focused on Ji Yunrou, sitting across from Lu Qian, with her charming demeanor.

Those who knew her were greatly surprised, thinking that she was the enemy of our Shuangye Square, so how could in a blink of an eye, she’s sitting at the same table?

Those who didn’t know her also noticed that, once again, Sect Leader Lu had added a beautiful woman to his side, and with such tenderness; no wonder Elder Jiang looked so upset, and Elder Guh’s heat could almost set the chair on fire.

"Let me introduce you all to someone. This is Ji Yunrou, Sect Leader Ji of the Divine Flood Dragon Sect from Liangxiang County."

Zhuang Qing, hearing this, was startled and gave Lu Qian a deep look. The name of this Jade Flood Dragon Fairy from Liangxiang County is quite renowned across several counties, and the Divine Flood Dragon Sect is a top Foundation Establishment Sect within Liangxiang County.

When did Lu Qian start mingling with her? Luckily, Liangxiang County’s power dares not enter Chongming County directly; otherwise, the rapid power growth of Yunshan Sect would pose a real threat to the Spirit Talisman Sect.

Lu Qian then introduced everyone to Ji Yunrou. Amidst a myriad of fake courtesies and hidden agendas, Lu Qian lightly coughed and said, "Calling everyone here late at night for this emergency shareholders meeting, I indeed have important matters to discuss. First, to report on the recent profits of Shuangye Square, the estimated profits of the carnival, and the annual expected earnings, discussing expansion, attracting foreign investment, and share issuance related matters."

"Second, to discuss the plan to eliminate enemy loose cultivators in Shuangye Square."

"Lin Le, please speak about the profit status."

Lin Le stood up, "Yes, Sect Leader. Currently, the profits of Shuangye Square can be divided as follows. One is the traditional income from shop sales of goods, hotel accommodations, etc. Two is advertising revenue, including fixed location ads, sponsorship fees, advertisement design, etc. Three is arena competition revenue, including ticket sales and bookmaker returns. Four is other scattered revenues, such as booth rental fees for various sects during the recruitment convention."

He explained the situation clearly, and as the shareholders’ eyes grew ever brighter, he concluded, "During the eleven-day carnival, we expect profits of one hundred eighty thousand Spirit Stones."

The room fell silent.

The sound of the Three Sects’ Leaders swallowing was distinctly audible; several minor Qi Cultivation sects had never seen so many Spirit Stones before, feeling as though they were being overwhelmed by the dazzling Golden Light of Spirit Stones.

With the leader, the Spirit Stones will not run out, absolutely will not run out.

Zhou Chao’s mouth hung open, his mind a blur, buzzing. In the past, when he managed the Zhou Family, he worked tirelessly, digging deep to heal his father, gaining barely ten thousand Spirit Stones a year. But now, in eleven days, there’s one hundred eighty thousand?

From now on, I don’t need to do anything; no more floundering. The Zhou Family just needs to follow the Yunshan Sect for a bright and promising future.

He suddenly remembered these past two years when Lu Qian privately instructed them to search every inch of Yuqing Mountain for anything unusual. Lu Qian himself had visited Yuqing Mountain several times for Divine Sense detection, but unfortunately found nothing.

Although Sect Leader Lu never explained what he was searching for on Yuqing Mountain, over the years, Sect Leader Lu twice saved the Yuqing Zhou Family from extinction and provided them with protection and a promising future. As long as Sect Leader Lu has plans, whatever Yuqing Mountain needs, the Zhou Family will fully cooperate.

Even the experienced Zhuang Qing was left dazed, questioning his ears.

Though the money still needs to be distributed according to shares, with our holding twenty percent, we receive less than forty thousand Spirit Stones in hand.

But, this is just eleven days! Given Lu Qian’s business acumen, even if the profits aren’t as considerable for the rest of the year, just going by the most standard marketplace earnings, how much more will there be by the year’s end?

The former Shazhou Square was nothing!

With such a money-making tool, the Spirit Talisman Sect has no choice but to fully support the Yunshan Sect to protect its twenty percent stake, and avoid falling out.

Unthinkably, a move made in the past to curry favor with the Yunshan Sect has led to such a position today.

Zhuang Qing’s gaze turned to Lu Qian, inevitably comparing Yinn Hongbo with Lu Qian, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.

Ah, Hui’er has an impulsive and irritable demeanor, frequently venting anger on others, nowhere near Lu Qian in comparison... The path is long, the future uncertain, and with such dangers in Chongming County, I can still support him for now. But should I fall one day, can Hui’er alone bear the torch for the Spirit Talisman Sect?

I’m afraid by then, the Spirit Talisman Sect would have no choice but to become a vanguard for Yunshan Sect.

"But I must remind everyone of one thing." Lu Qian gently tapped the table.