Martial Arts: I Have a Wilderness World

Chapter 570: Chapter 299: Meeting to Establish New Rules (Part 2)

"Boss, I understand the overall operational model of the Commerce Association and have a basic grasp of the management methods for each department. As soon as we find experienced shopkeepers, we can get started right away."

"So we can launch at any time?" Cheng Zongyang asked.

"Yes," Cheng Zongwen said. "The relevant business departments have been outlined. I’ve already found some candidates for the shopkeeper positions in the County Town and other nearby towns. We can get started whenever you say."

As he spoke, he took a thin booklet from his robes and handed it to Cheng Zongyang.

Cheng Zongyang took it and began to read.

Just as he’d hoped, it detailed the structure of the Commerce Association. Following the ideas he had previously discussed with Cheng Zongwen, it was divided into several departments: Elixirs, Cultivation Techniques, a Money Shop, Exotic Beasts, Acquisitions, a Mission Board, and Auctions.

These departments were aimed not only at ordinary people but also at Martial Artists and Cultivators.

Although there would be some overlap with the Da Yi Commerce Association, it wouldn’t be a problem. The Da Yi Commerce Association’s purpose was to sell everyday goods, which was something the Cheng Clan Commerce Association would not be involved in.

"Excellent." After reading it, Cheng Zongyang was very satisfied with Cheng Zongwen’s thorough work. He nodded and said, "Alright. As of today, the Cheng Clan Commerce Association is officially established. Merge the Elixir Shop into the Commerce Association; it will no longer be a separate entity. In addition to the current Martial Arts Elixirs, we will also add Cultivation Immortality Elixirs for Cultivators."

"Your subdivisions are excellent. For Elixirs, you’ve separated them into pills and raw medicinal materials. We will further subdivide Cultivation Techniques, adding Cultivation Immortality Techniques to distinguish them from Martial Arts Techniques. We can provide them to those who need them in the future."

Cheng Zongyang then continued to elaborate and further subdivide these sections.

The Exotic Beast department would be divided into acquisition and nurturing. The general Acquisitions department would be responsible for purchasing any and all valuable items.

The Mission Board would be used to post tasks, such as quests for Martial Arts Elixirs, Wilderness Rice, or cultivating medicinal materials. He handed the booklet he had written previously to Cheng Zongwen, telling him to use it as a reference for further refinement.

As for the auction, Cheng Zongwen hadn’t written much, as he had no experience in that area, and the Da Yi Commerce Association didn’t have an Auction House. However, Cheng Zongyang’s own booklet included details on how to run them and what to focus on, giving Cheng Zongwen plenty of material to work with.

Finally, there was the Money Shop.

The importance of the Money Shop was self-evident, so Cheng Zongyang explained its operational model to everyone present.

First, his Money Shop would not only deal in gold and silver but, more importantly, in Spirit Crystals and Spirit Stones. This would be the absolute cornerstone of the Immortal City’s future. However, since the Martial Arts Realm had no Spirit Ore to mine, he would be the sole supplier.

Second, it would involve contract-based lending. This wasn’t a simple loan; the amount of Spirit Crystals or Spirit Stones lent out would be limited. Borrowers would need to provide collateral, and failure to repay would result in their Soul Returns to the Wilderness. Since this mechanism was tied to his own Lifespan, he had to handle it with extreme care.

Third, it would involve the acquisition and sale of assets. To borrow Spirit Crystals and Spirit Stones, one would need to provide such assets as collateral.

If a borrower defaulted, their collateral could be seized and sold. The value would be calculated based on the exchange rate between gold and silver and Spirit Stones or Spirit Crystals to cover the debt. If the sale of the assets was still not enough to cover the loan, only then would the borrower’s Soul Return to the Wilderness. This was a much more palatable consequence than simply dying immediately upon default.

If it was to operate long-term, it needed to be "humane."

The only drawback was that if a loan was successfully repaid, the three days of his Lifespan used to create the contract would be lost. Thus, he set specific minimum and maximum loan amounts, durations, and interest rates, all carefully calculated to maximize the chances of default in a way that would leave the borrower with no grounds for complaint.

Fourth was a universal card for the Martial Arts Realm. ’It’s something like a Savings Card.’ However, this would require an extremely complex "technological model" and was currently just a concept. If, in the future, he could create a "payment card" in the Immortal City that allowed people to make transactions by tapping cards together or "swiping" with a Magical Artifact, it would make life and commerce incredibly convenient.

If this "digital" system could one day be expanded to include gold and silver, then even if his policies led to a scarcity of physical precious metals, the entire pricing and credit system wouldn’t collapse, as it would be backed by the Immortal City itself.

All of this would take time, and he planned to start researching it himself. Alternatively, he could commission a custom solution from a system-holder on a technological plane. They could create a form of "Cultivation Immortality Technology" tailored to this world, based on the principles of its Arrays and Magical Artifacts.

Cheng Zongyang spent a quarter of an hour explaining his ideas in detail, encouraging everyone to brainstorm and offer their opinions and suggestions.

Meanwhile, Cheng Zongwen had someone bring paper and a brush and began taking notes on the spot.

Ultimately, Cheng Zongyang turned the meeting into a discussion session. After they finished brainstorming ideas for the Money Shop and Cheng Zongwen had recorded everything, Cheng Zongyang brought out the new and revised regulations for the Celestial Break Gang to discuss as well.

And so, three or four hours passed in discussion.

During this time, Li Xuejin had people serve tea, water, and snacks as they continued to establish the new regulations one by one.

When everything had been settled, Cheng Zongyang looked at the still-excited crowd and decided to strike while the iron was hot. "One last thing," he said. "In about half a year, I should be making another trip to the Cultivation Immortality Realm. This time, however, I will be taking two people with me to help handle some matters over there."

At his words, everyone’s heart began to pound with anticipation.

It would have been a lie to say they didn’t want to go. Even though Jade Peak Immortal City was now a Cultivation Immortality Land, the place he spoke of was the true Cultivation Immortality Realm. Naturally, they all yearned to see it for themselves.

But desire was one thing; no one dared to speak up. They all just stared at Cheng Zongyang, their eyes burning with an unspoken plea: ’Pick me! Send me!’

Cheng Zongyang chuckled. "Once the Immortal City is completely stable, all of you will have the chance to go. But the people I’m taking this time are going there to work for me."

"Before I came back, I reached an agreement with some of the locals to acquire their goods. So, I need someone to manage that for me."

At this, everyone’s gaze turned almost in unison toward Li Yihuo.

In terms of Martial Arts, anyone else in the room could have easily overpowered Li Yihuo. But when it came to business, Li Yihuo could just as easily crush all of them.

There was a simple reason for it. The highly efficient operation of the Celestial Break Gang’s Gambling Houses, brothels, markets, black markets, and various shops—all of which raked in fortunes daily—was Li Yihuo’s handiwork. Mrs. Cheng’s previous businesses, like the restaurant, inn, and apothecary, had also been managed by him.

Therefore, as soon as they heard Cheng Zongyang’s description, they knew one of the chosen individuals had to be Li Yihuo.

Cheng Zongyang’s gaze landed on Li Yihuo, who met his eyes and understood at once. He stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said, "I will follow the Boss’s arrangements."

Cheng Zongyang nodded. "Don’t worry. Someone will be going with you for protection."

With that, he turned to Li Cungang and asked, "How far are you from the Great Perfection stage?"

Li Cungang’s heart surged with excitement. ’He wants me to go!’ He immediately took a step forward, cupped his fists, and said, "Boss, I estimate I’ll be there after taking about two more Qi Gathering Pills."

Cheng Zongyang nodded. "Good. Later, I’ll test everyone’s aptitude to see where you stand. For the next six months, do your best to break through to Innate Great Perfection. Once you’re over there, I’ll give you a Cultivation Immortality manual. Follow its instructions, and stepping into the Extraordinary realm shouldn’t be a problem."

"Thank you for this opportunity, Boss!" Li Cungang exclaimed, gratefully dropping to one knee. "I will be sure to protect Shopkeeper Li!"

Cheng Zongyang nodded, then turned back to Li Yihuo. "Is your Cultivation already at the Eighth Grade after those medicinal baths?"

Li Yihuo also cupped his fists gratefully. "Yes, it is."

Cheng Zongyang said, "Your many external duties have slowed your progress. Otherwise, given the time, you should be at least at the Seventh Grade by now."

"You give me too much credit, Boss!" Li Yihuo said hastily. "One must have priorities. Martial Arts can be practiced at any time, but the tasks you’ve given me are paramount. Focusing on myself would have delayed matters of great importance."

Cheng Zongyang didn’t press the matter. He took out a sheet of Spirit Testing Paper and a Spirit Testing Stone and addressed the group, "While we’re at it, let’s test the aptitude of anyone who hasn’t been tested yet. You’ve all read the manuals on Spirit Roots and Spirit Bones, so I won’t go into detail. Who still needs to be tested?"

He had tested some of them before but couldn’t remember who was left.

"I haven’t," Li Xuejin said with a chuckle. "I was delayed by other matters last time. Let’s see what it says."

Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly.

A moment later, the results of Li Xuejin’s aptitude test were clear.

A Single Spirit Bone and Three Spirit Roots. It was a fairly average result.

"No wonder my Martial Arts Training has been so slow. My aptitude is actually this poor," Li Xuejin said with a wry smile. But his smile quickly turned to one of joy. "If that’s the case, then what’s wrong with Abandoning Martial Arts for Cultivation Immortality?"