She also added a reminder.

"Oh, right, and the phones, too. You can also release luxury models priced at 8,888 low-grade Spirit Stones, or maybe 6,666 low-grade Spirit Stones."

Celeste Grant continued, "And for the high end, you can do an annual limited release. A ’Prestige’ edition for 500 top-grade Spirit Stones, or a ’Violet-Gold Extravagance’ edition for 66 supreme-grade Spirit Stones. The point is, they need to look impressive, grand, and stylish—good enough to suit a rich person’s status. Anyone who wants to show off and flex their status won’t be able to resist buying one."

Everyone nodded in succession.

’It felt like their lady had everyone completely figured out.’

She smiled as she came to her final point.

"And for the grand finale, we’ll release ’The Blood-Venerate Signature Edition’ phone, priced at 999 supreme-grade Spirit Stones. Tell the world it’s a unique piece, exclusively customized for your Exalted One. A limited run of two or three per year will be plenty. All those people who want to kill your Exalted One but can’t, who are dying to one-up him? They’ll have to grit their teeth and buy one just to show everyone they’re on the same level as him."

"How could they go without a phone that The Blood-Venerate himself supposedly uses? And as for whether your Exalted One *actually* uses this model... does that really matter?"

"Not at all!"

’A valuable lesson has been learned,’ everyone thought.

’Their lady is so devious.’

’999 supreme-grade Spirit Stones... that’s daylight robbery!’

They quickly did the math in their heads: one supreme-grade Spirit Stone was worth one thousand top-grade Spirit Stones, ten thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones, or one hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.

HAHAHAHA... If they could just get one sucker to take the bait each year, selling a single phone would cover the Bloodfiend Den’s expenses for several years. That’s why The Exalted One’s signature phone really did have to be limited to two or three a year; any more and they wouldn’t sell.

At that moment, the group huddled together, whispering.

Someone spoke up, "Besides our Bloodfiend Den, the richest sect in the Cultivation World right now is the Alchemy Sect, one of the Seven Great Celestial Sects."

Someone else nodded.

"That’s right... That sect is full of Alchemy Cultivators, so their elders are incredibly wealthy and have no shortage of Spirit Stones. Other sects have deep reserves too, but unlike the Alchemy Sect, most of their elders couldn’t produce that many Spirit Stones from their personal treasury. Even if they could, they’d be too stingy to spend them, preferring to save them for their own cultivation. As for using the Sect’s funds... well, that’s not their decision to make."

You certainly can’t use the Sect’s money for personal shopping. Getting caught would be treated as misappropriation, and a serious offense could even lead to expulsion from the Sect.

"If the elders don’t have the cash, their Sect Master or Sect Leader certainly will."

"This is gonna be great... I just wonder which poor sap will be the first to bite. Heh."

Upon hearing this, Elder Lawson smiled.

He spoke up, "That’s simple. We’ll just dispatch some disciples to spread rumors. We’ll say that the elders and Sect Leaders of certain sects are completely broke—that their pockets are cleaner than their faces. They definitely can’t afford a phone worthy of our Exalted One. Only a person of his immense status could ever use one."

"Exactly! Everyone knows those people from the Immortal Sects are obsessed with their reputation. The higher their status, the more they care about appearances. To prove they aren’t poor, they’ll have to buy one, even if it feels like their hearts are bleeding, just to save face! Hahahaha!"

"Heh heh heh... Old Man Lawson, you’re so wicked! Hahaha."

"Takes one to know one."

The whole group erupted into sinister, cackling laughter.

Celeste Grant’s mouth twitched.

’When they laughed like that... it was terrifying.’

’They looked like true villains.’

’The only thing they were missing was horns sprouting from their heads.’

"Ahem. Alright, I’m putting Elder Warren in charge of the Trading Jade Tokens."

Elder Warren stood and acknowledged the order.

"Yes, my lady."

"I almost forgot. We also need to handle publicity. I’m putting the Right Protector in charge of that. Just like before, we need to make sure everyone knows that we’re the ones producing these Trading Jade Tokens. Also, announce that our phones will have new features. Give everyone a heads-up so they can prepare."

Everything was in place. Now, they just had to wait for the trends of short-form video and live-streaming to sweep through the Cultivation World.

"I accept my orders!"

Later that evening, the meeting finally ended.

After everyone else had departed, Celeste Grant left the Council Hall as well.

With her arrangements made, she finally had some free time.

「The next few days.」

Everyone in the Bloodfiend Den was bustling with activity, but Celeste Grant paid it no mind. She assumed they were busy expanding the business and didn’t inquire further. After all, with their competence, all she had to do was give a single directive and they could handle the rest perfectly well on their own.

That is, until one evening, when Nerida pulled her aside, had her change into a magnificent gown, and led her to a sea of flowers.

It was only then that she realized they hadn’t been busy with work at all. For the past few days, they had been busy preparing a birthday celebration for her.

Countless Spells lit up the sky, bursting into a dazzling firework display.

A shower of red petals drifted down before her eyes.

The scene was both romantic and breathtakingly beautiful.

"Happy birthday, my lady."

"We wish you a happy birthday, my lady."

"Happy birthday, my lady."

The sky was filled with these words, giving her the feeling of watching a show where the screen was completely dominated by a flood of bullet comments.

Celeste Grant looked up at the sky.

She felt a prickle in her nose, her eyes welling up.

"You all..."

"Thank you... Thank you so much."

She was a little embarrassed. "I had no idea you all knew it was my birthday today. I never even mentioned it."

Nerida took her by the arm.

"My lady, we asked your mother a while ago. That’s how we knew to prepare a celebration for you today."

Elder Lawson approached from a short distance away.

"We folks from The Demonic Sects are all just a bunch of roughnecks. Fighting and killing, that we can do. But coming up with some clever, original surprise? We racked our brains but couldn’t think of anything special. We figured we could all set off fireworks for you outside to celebrate. It’s something we all know how to do. We hope you won’t find it too crude, my lady."

Celeste Grant was touched.

’To be valued by others like this... it’s a rare thing.’

"You’re all so wonderful, how could I possibly be displeased? I’m overjoyed! Nothing could be better than this. I see the sentiment from you, and from all the disciples of the Bloodfiend Den."

In the distance, the crowd waved.

"Happy birthday, my lady!"

Celeste Grant waved back.

"Thank you."

"So, are we having a barbecue tonight?"

Nerida nodded.

"Yes, my lady. We’re having grilled meat tonight."

Celeste Grant asked with a smile, "Is there anything to drink?"

Summer nodded with a grin.

"Of course! We have all kinds of Spiritual Wine, more than we could ever possibly drink. We even brought out Elder Lowell’s prized, century-old collection of Light Spirit Wine, haha!"

Celeste Grant smiled.

Her heart filled with warmth.

’Elder Lowell treasures his wine more than his own life. The fact that they brought it out... it means I’m truly important to them.’

She raised her hand.

"Alright! Then tonight, no one goes home sober!"

The crowd roared in unison, "No one goes home sober!"

’It was a shame.’

’Her son was in closed-door cultivation.’

’At a time like this, what she wanted most was for her family to be together.’

Just as she was thinking of her son, she heard his voice.

"Mother."

At that very moment, a cry echoed from the sky.

It was the call of the Vermilion Bird.

Everyone looked up to see the crimson form of the Vermilion Bird circling in the sky, carrying a single rider. Enveloped in flames, it moved with the magnificent grace of a phoenix dancing through the heavens—an absolutely beautiful sight.

SWOOSH—

"It’s the Young Master!"

"That’s the Vermilion Bird! It’s so beautiful!"