Li Yundong was naturally unaware of what was transpiring backstage. When he saw Ziyuan descend from the stage, he smiled and stepped forward, cupping his hands in a salute: "Congratulations, Master Ziyuan, on achieving such a triumphant victory!" Su Chan quickly chimed in, also bowing, "Congratulations, congratulations!" though her eyes were darting around, fixed intently on the enormous 'check' in Ziyuan’s hand.

Seeing her expression, Li Yundong couldn't help but chuckle, "Look at you, you silly thing. This is just a prop; you’ll get the real money backstage after everything concludes." Su Chan paid him no mind, turning to Li Yundong with an excited face, "Are we rich?" Li Yundong laughed, "Even if we were rich, we’d spend it right away.

Money doesn't like to stay in our hands." Su Chan’s eyes were glued to the fake check, as if terrified it might vanish the next second. She murmured dreamily, "Two million—how much money is that?

How long would it take me to count it all?" Li Yundong burst into laughter, reaching out to pinch Su Chan’s cheek, "A little money-grubber, aren't you!" Ruan Hongling, standing nearby, couldn't resist remarking, "Hey, wasn't this the money my senior sister won? Why does it already look like it's in your pockets?" Although Su Chan had previously fought alongside Ruan Hongling, she showed no weakness when it came to a spat.

She snorted and retorted, "If it weren't for my Yundong's surging qi, how could she have conjured the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea?" Seeing that the two were about to argue again, Ziyuan quickly intervened, "Don't fight. This prize was earned through the concerted effort of all of us; without any one person, we couldn't have achieved it." Ziyuan’s attempt to smooth things over worked; Ruan Hongling and Su Chan exchanged a glance, snorted, and turned their heads away.

Zhou Qin, quick-witted as ever, found a new topic to engage Li Yundong. "Right, why did that Lin Xueqing say she wasn't convinced earlier, claiming she lost not to Master Ziyuan, but to you?" Ruan Hongling opened her mouth, ready to speak in a huff, but Ziyuan, fearing her sharp tongue, spoke first.

"The reasoning is actually quite simple. Earlier, she controlled the Wuming Yeh Huo (Unknowing Karma Fire) to boil the water in the teapot, then used her True Essence to shape the surging white vapor into the form of a phoenix.

Although it was merely a rough outline, not fine detail, in terms of True Essence control, she had already reached the realm of Nascent Soul Yang Shen—she was in no way inferior to me." "And earlier, when I observed Li Yundong battling the Abbess of Songgu Nunnery and her disciple, white vapor was constantly rising from Li Yundong’s head. This white vapor is the Zhenyuan Zhi Qi (True Essence Energy) that only someone with immensely profound True Essence can emit.

Because this energy wasn't loose and easily dissipated like ordinary steam, I used it to shape the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. Moreover, the fact that these Immortals could hover on the teacup without dissipating, looking lifelike, gave me a significant advantage when comparing the two feats.

Cultivators understand this principle implicitly, but the audience below the stage and the judges on it did not. Therefore, Lin Xueqing’s dissatisfaction was entirely understandable." Zhou Qin had merely asked casually, but after Ziyuan’s explanation, she realized Lin Xueqing hadn't been making baseless noise; there was indeed merit to her protest.

She was momentarily stunned, her mouth agape as she looked towards Li Yundong. Seeing her gaze, Li Yundong smiled and said, "Actually, if Master Ziyuan’s manipulation of the True Essence hadn't been so exquisitely precise, no matter how vast and imposing my True Essence Energy was, it would have been useless." Zhou Qin looked from Ziyuan to Li Yundong, secretly filled with admiration and envy.

Ruan Hongling, seeing Li Yundong and Ziyuan constantly elevating each other, couldn't help but interject, "Alright, you two, stop trading compliments; it’s nauseatingly sweet!" Ziyuan shot Ruan Hongling a look and chided, "Hongling! You are becoming more and more improper!" Li Yundong coughed dryly and diverted the topic, "I wonder when we can collect the prize money?" Su Chan giggled too, pouting playfully, "You call me a money-grubber, but you’re the real fiend!" Li Yundong feigned anger and glared at Su Chan, "If I weren't keen on money, how could I afford to keep a handful like you!" The group chatted and laughed.

After about ten minutes, someone indeed came to notify them to go to the venue to claim their prize money. Li Yundong and the others were overjoyed, their delight written plainly on their faces.

The little girl smiled so broadly her eyebrows and eyes nearly merged, and even Ziyuan wore a gentle smile. But when Li Yundong and the others arrived at the venue, they did not see Zheng Youming or his entourage.

Instead, a secretary with an outstanding figure stepped forward and handed over a check with a polite smile. Li Yundong took it and looked.

The amount written was only eight hundred thousand. He immediately looked up, asking in confusion, "Why is it only eight hundred thousand?

Shouldn't it be two million?" The female secretary smiled sweetly, "Yes, two million was pre-tax. Post-tax, it should actually be one million six hundred thousand.

Currently, our President Zheng is a bit tight on funds, so this eight hundred thousand is all we have. The remaining portion...

well, President Zheng intends to substitute it with current inventory." "Inventory?" Li Yundong was taken aback, asking with a peculiar expression, "What kind of goods? This sounds like a transaction in the underworld—can you really use other merchandise to settle a debt?" The female secretary smiled helplessly, "There’s no other way.

This is all the cash President Zheng can mobilize. This was the initial arrangement we foresaw.

We didn't expect an individual representative to win first place. The other large tea companies that took our goods could quickly move them for cash, so they were all aware of this situation.

It’s just that you folks..." Li Yundong finally understood. Good heavens, so they were subtly manipulated before the competition, and now that they had won first place, they were being manipulated again!

"Damn it, this is even acceptable?" Li Yundong felt frantic inside. He couldn't help but exclaim in anger, "Where on earth are we supposed to sell this much tea?" The female secretary shrugged innocently, "We can't help it; this is the current situation.

You can choose to refuse the tea, but we will consider it an automatic forfeiture of the reward." Ruan Hongling angrily interjected from the side, "This is fraud!" Li Yundong suppressed his rage, "Aren't you afraid we'll sue you?" The secretary put on a pitiable look, "We truly didn't want this either! The company didn't anticipate this scenario!

However, everyone involved is well aware of how these things often go. Who could have predicted you would win the championship?" Li Yundong roared, "So now you're blaming us?" Seeing Li Yundong’s anger, the secretary shrank back a step, quickly waving her hands, "That’s not what I meant." Zhou Qin suddenly spoke up from the side, "What goods are you substituting with?" Hearing her speak, the secretary looked as if she had been granted a reprieve and quickly replied, "High-quality Tieguanyin tea, of course." Zhou Qin considered for a moment, then whispered to Li Yundong, "Zheng Youming managed to get out of the Lou Cuicui case, so he must have some official connections.

People like them... suing them would be useless.

We might as well take the goods and figure out another solution." Li Yundong whispered back, "Do you have a solution?" Zhou Qin whispered, "I do have an idea." Li Yundong nodded decisively, "Fine, I trust you. Let's do it that way!" He then said to the female secretary, "Alright, I agree, but you must write an IOU.

Otherwise, what if you go back on your word?" The female secretary smiled, "That’s natural. Even if you hadn't mentioned it, we would have prepared a contract for you to sign." With that, she beckoned a staff member nearby and handed over two copies of the contract.

Li Yundong took them but handed them directly to Zhou Qin without looking. Zhou Qin carefully flipped through both contracts, then handed them back to Li Yundong and nodded once.

Li Yundong began to sign the contract, but when he reached the part for the delivery address, he looked troubled again and turned to Zhou Qin, "Where should I fill this in?" Zhou Qin thought for a moment, then asked the female secretary, "Can you ship to a different location?" The secretary looked hesitant, "A different location? Where to?" Zhou Qin stated, "Dongwu City." Upon hearing this, the secretary realized—over a thousand li away!

She immediately shook her head like a rattle-drum, "No, no, that’s too far." Zhou Qin was uncompromising, saying, "Are you expecting us to haul this much tea back ourselves? We all know tacitly how unethical your actions have been in this matter.

Since we have chosen to concede, shouldn't you offer some reciprocal compromise? Otherwise, we might as well scrap the whole deal, expose the matter, and nobody benefits." Seeing Zhou Qin’s bearing of a refined young lady, whose words were incredibly sharp, the secretary dared not delay and quickly plastered a smile on her face, "I need to go ask President Zheng." She walked to the side, made a short, hushed phone call, and then returned with a smile, "Our President Zheng agrees.

A different location it is. We will deliver tomorrow, but we are only responsible for delivery; we are not responsible for unloading once we arrive." Zhou Qin immediately agreed, "Excellent, that settles it!" Seeing that the two had reached an agreement, Li Yundong also signed the contract readily.

The group left the venue, exchanging glances; their expressions varied. Su Chan looked mournful, "Our good two million suddenly turned into eight hundred thousand.

How hateful!" Ruan Hongling also sighed deeply, "Alas, asset deflation happens too fast. Even inflation isn't this quick!" Ziyuan smiled gently, "Money is an external possession.

As cultivators, we shouldn't dwell so much on gains and losses." Li Yundong also laughed, "At least we gained eight hundred thousand out of thin air! Eight hundred thousand!

That’s not a small amount; let's not be greedy!" Seeing Li Yundong looking unconcerned, Su Chan asked curiously, "Yundong, weren't you quite angry just now? Why are you so accepting of it now?" Li Yundong grinned, "Zhou Qin said she had a way, so I trusted that she did, didn't I?" As he said this, he winked at Zhou Qin.

Zhou Qin smiled faintly, confidence radiating from her, "Yes, there is a way." Li Yundong, Ruan Hongling, and Su Chan all asked out of curiosity, "What way?" Zhou Qin explained, "Didn't I mention before that there were a few storefronts for rent in the commercial district of Dongwu City? We can take over one of those spaces and establish a high-end tea house.

That area has heavy foot traffic, mostly high-spending establishments frequented by white-collar workers. Opening an elegant and comfortable tea bar there should attract business.

Plus, Master Ziyuan just won first place in this session’s Tea Culture Competition—if we promote that as a living advertisement, it will surely succeed." Li Yundong was a rare genius in cultivation, but when it came to business acumen, he was far inferior. Seeing how clearly and logically Zhou Qin had thought everything through, he was overjoyed, "Excellent!

I've gained this excellent apprentice for nothing! I, the Emperor, am greatly pleased, and I decree a grand feast for all!

Let's go eat a proper meal!" The mention of food made Ruan Hongling laugh, "Great, great! Where shall we eat?" Li Yundong waved his hand and laughed heartily, "Back at the Daoist Temple for vegetarian noodles!" As soon as he finished speaking, everyone else laughed, except for Su Chan, whose brow was slightly clouded, looking dispirited.

The group returned to the Tianlong Mountain Daoist Temple. After dinner, everyone retreated to their respective rooms.

Li Yundong, however, went alone to Su Chan’s room. Before even entering, he saw the little girl sitting by herself on a stone bench in the courtyard patio, resting her chin on her arms, looking utterly solitary.

Li Yundong smiled slightly, crept up quietly, and suddenly wrapped his arms around the little girl’s waist, startling her with a shout, "Hey there, young lady, this