Becoming an immortal and ancestor begins with the golden toad spitting out money.

Chapter 159 Opening up the market, a promising future
On the night of the Ghost Festival, the gates of hell open wide, and the gods of Wusheng's hometown return to the human world with many ghosts. Xiao Zhanggong is one of the captains of the ghost soldiers.

In the past, Xiao Zhanggong had returned to Dongsang Village, but his wife and daughter could not see his ghost, so they could only be separated by the realms of the living and the dead.

Now, Zhang has not only become a night-roaming spirit soldier of the local earth god temple, but has also begun to cultivate profound skills. The moment the two met, it seemed as if they had overcome the obstacles of year after year and embraced each other once again.

"Leave the task of patrolling the Night Wanderer to me for now!"

As agreed beforehand, the local spirit soldier took over Zhang's patrol duties and then nodded to the local god's son, Little Zhang.

It is said that two generations of the Zhang family sacrificed their lives for the public good, leaving behind only Zhang Shi and Zhang Xiaolian, which is truly heartbreaking.

While investigating a case, Zhang Gong encountered demonic possession, while Xiao Zhang Gong was on official business in the countryside when he was attacked by villains, and he and Li Hui's father also lost their lives...

"Got home!"

In earlier years, due to work, Mr. Zhang and his son spent most of their time living in the county government office. Later, when Mr. Zhang fell seriously ill, the family moved back to Dongsang Village.

As time goes by, every brick and tile here begins to crumble, and with the courtyard soon to be renovated, this cozy little courtyard may soon become just a memory.

"Xiao Lian—"

With the local spirit soldier taking over, Zhang led her husband straight to the small courtyard. Over the years, she, as the wife, had been able to shoulder everything, but her young daughter had not received much fatherly love.

"Xiao Lian..." When Xiao Zhang Gong was murdered by villains, Zhang Xiao Lian was only five or six years old. Now, seven years have passed in the blink of an eye, and the little girl has gradually grown into a quiet young lady.

Perhaps it was the awkwardness of not seeing each other for many years, or perhaps it was because Xiao Zhang felt that his daughter had grown up, but he just quietly looked at his daughter who was also standing there in a daze, his face showing both guilt and remorse, as well as joy and happiness.

"Hey……"

The local earth god, Zhang Gong, who had been in seclusion for cultivation, also appeared in the Zhang family courtyard. With a flick of his wrist, a hazy light rippled from the Dream Spirit Jade in his hand.

Before long, Zhang Xiaolian and her family arrived in the real dream world.

The courtyard in the dream was still the same as it was seven or eight years ago, except that the daughter Zhang Xiaolian in front of her had grown from a little girl into a graceful young woman.

Just as the father and daughter were acting a little awkwardly, the local earth god stepped forward with a smile: "Don't just stand there, let's eat first!"

……

When Su Ji returned from the Mountain God Temple and arrived at the Earth God Temple, a group of ghost soldiers were leading the ghosts eastward. Under the moonlight, wisps of ghostly energy condensed into a banner, its power comparable to that of an ordinary ghost king.

The mountain god and spirit official sighed, "The separation of Yin and Yang is like two different worlds, so many emotions are hard to let go of. In dreams, only a thousand pillows are left with tears, and upon waking, I am filled with memories of half a lifetime's fate..."

Since the mountain god and spirit official have become deities, they are naturally separated from their living relatives by the divide between life and death. A few months ago, when they were enjoying food from the realm between the living and the dead, they burst into tears because they resonated with the emotions they felt when they lived with their families in their previous life.

Yan Tianchou immediately suggested, "The Mountain God Spirit Official is human and retains a wealth of emotions from his previous life. We can develop him into a partner and include the Mountain God Temple, Wusheng's hometown, within the scope of Yin-Yang Realm Cuisine..."

Although Su Ji could obtain more than 100,000 units of computing power in Wusheng's hometown in Jinfeng County every month, it seems that because the novelty wore off, or because some ghosts had eaten him out of house and home, the overall trend of Yin-Yang Realm Food Profits was gradually declining.

To gain more profits from incense offerings and prayers, it is necessary to expand the market. Although Su Ji has no connections in other pantheons, he can find partners. The mountain god spirit official in front of him is the one chosen by Yan Tianchou.

Su Ji nodded, agreeing with Yan Tianchou's analysis. After the transaction of the Blazing Crystal Treasure and the collateral was completed at the Earth God Temple, he specially invited several deities to stay for a meal.

As expected, not only the mountain god and spirit official, but also the accompanying spirit soldiers were extremely eager for the delicious food from the Yin-Yang realm.

Su Ji wasn't being stingy; after all, a big pot of lard and vegetable noodles was simple and affordable enough for the mountain gods and temple spirits to eat.

This time, although the mountain god did not shed tears, he ate each bite very carefully, finishing three bowls without leaving a single drop of soup.

When Su Ji proposed a collaboration to sell delicacies from the Yin-Yang Realm, the Mountain God Spirit Official looked incredulous: "These delicacies from the Yin-Yang Realm can actually be supplied in bulk?"

The mountain god and spirit official thought that this kind of delicacy might require many days to collect the ingredients and then be cooked under some special supernatural power. However, they never expected that the spirit general in charge of the Jin Feng County had actually mastered the method of mass production of the delicacy between the Yin and Yang realms.

Su Ji replied confidently, "Currently, I have already opened five restaurants in Wusheng Township, Jinfeng County. If the Mountain God and Spirit Official are interested in cooperating, we can try opening one in Wusheng Township, near the Mountain God Temple first, and then continue to expand the business..."

Like Su Ji, he only had seven or eight hours a day to refine Yin and Yang energies. It wasn't that he couldn't refine too much, but rather that there was a limit to the circulation of his profound arts.

Zhang Xiaolian was the same; she only needed to cultivate for four or five hours a day in the real dream world. Subtracting the less than four or five hours of sleep, the remaining time was enough to materialize delicacies from the Yin-Yang realm.

The same food requires roughly the same amount of mental energy to cook, so five Yin-Yang Realm Food Restaurants can be opened, and fifteen Yin-Yang Realm Food Restaurants can also be opened.

Furthermore, the delicacies of the Yin-Yang Realm do not possess spiritual essence, mystery, or profound energy; they are merely a resonance of flavors, posing no burden to Zhang Xiaolian whatsoever.

On the contrary, Zhang Xiaolian not only enjoys studying the delicacies of the Yin-Yang Realm, but also finds it very enjoyable to obtain resources by making these delicacies.

It should be noted that Zhang Xiaolian's progress in the Dao of Dongzhen has consumed tens of thousands of divine powers, just like Su Ji's, and she will definitely consume even more in the future.

Zhang Xiaolian felt that being able to earn money through her own efforts to support her cultivation, and also help the forces led by Su Ji, was something she could be proud of, as it proved her worth.

"It's so true!"

The mountain god and spirit official were overjoyed. This was not a cooperation at all; it was clearly an opportunity brought by the spirit general who oversees the sun!
If the cooperation is successful, the Mountain God and Spirit Official will not only be able to enjoy delicacies from the Yin and Yang realms every day, but will also be able to earn cultivation resources through this, which is simply killing two birds with one stone.

So the mountain god spirit official agreed without hesitation, and patted his chest to make a guarantee: "Although there are not as many ghosts in Wusheng's hometown as in Jinfeng County, there are still tens of thousands. Once the Yin-Yang Realm delicacies are launched, the business will definitely be booming!"

Although Baiyan Mountain Range is not a densely populated area, it wins with its vast area. Compared with the more civilized Jinfeng County, the people in the mountain area are more superstitious, which has made Wusheng's hometown in Baiyan Mountain Range a wealthy place.

After the two parties reached an agreement, Su Ji sent the Mountain God Spirit Official ahead of them, and then went to the Zhang family's courtyard.

It was not yet 11 p.m., but many villagers in Dongsang and Xisang villages were already fast asleep. Under the bright moonlight, however, there was a little girl with a complicated expression.

Normal people experience great emotional fluctuations when they see the ghost of a deceased relative, and Zhang Xiaolian was no exception.

The death of her father left Zhang Xiaolian feeling inferior and withdrawn. The lack of paternal love made her mature at a young age, but also caused her to become stubborn and obsessive.

Fortunately, since the appearance of the ancient golden toad and her grandfather, the Earth God, Zhang Xiaolian has gradually changed, found her interests and hobbies, and realized the responsibilities she bears.

However, after tonight's family dinner, Zhang Xiaolian still had some doubts.

"Lord Golden Toad, why do you think my father is unwilling to resign from his job as a Yin soldier in Wusheng's hometown and return to Dongsang Village to live with us?"

Even though Xiao Zhang Gong is now a ghost, he is still Zhang Xiaolian's father.

In Zhang Xiaolian's view, the most beautiful thing is for the whole family to be together. She wasn't just doing it for herself, but more for her mother. Su Ji was slightly taken aback, and a feeling of emotion welled up in her heart.

In his previous life, he was raised by his mother and grandparents when he was young. His father worked away from home for many years, and he could only see him once a year during the Chinese New Year.

For him when he was a child, "father" was just a synonym; it didn't seem to make any difference whether his father was around or not.

It wasn't until he grew older that the word "father" became increasingly heavy. He knew that his father was wandering far from home to make a living, and that he could only come home during the Chinese New Year in order to support the family...

Therefore, Su Ji, speaking from experience, said: "Xiao Lian, everyone has their own responsibilities and obligations, everyone has their own ideals and ambitions, and everyone has their own beliefs and missions..."

"Your father has both a small family and a large family. His job is to guard the gate and be a spirit soldier. He also has many things to be responsible for in Wusheng Hometown. He needs to cultivate and improve, and he also needs to maintain social relationships among the gods..."

"Moreover, your father can be reunited with you today, and he can be reunited with you in the future!"

Previously, Xiao Zhanggong could only stay in Wusheng's hometown because of the separation between the living and the dead. Now that he has come back for the Ghost Festival, he will definitely visit home more often because of this.

Not to mention, Su Ji already has some new ideas.

As the East-West Chamber of Commerce gradually expands, the Yin-Yang Realm chain restaurants have also opened in the Baiyan Mountain Range Mountain God Temple. In the future, they will definitely move towards Jiuxiang County, Longshan County, and even Dazhen Prefecture, which will make the delivery of Yin-Yang Realm delicacies a problem.

Su Ji could contribute in the early stages of development, but he didn't want the subsequent events to affect his cultivation, so he needed to find a reliable cultivator.

The spirit soldiers in the local temple each had their own duties, and Little Zhang Gong became the best candidate.

This will certainly make things much easier for Su Ji, but a new set of rules will also need to be established.

In the past, Zhang Xiaolian provided delicacies from the Yin-Yang realm without ever mentioning any compensation, after all, Su Ji's resource allocation towards Zhang Xiaolian was extremely extravagant.

However, once Xiao Zhanggong joins the Yin-Yang Realm chain restaurant, everyone inside and outside must be kept in check. Xiao Zhanggong will receive a salary, and Zhang Xiaolian will also receive one.

Just like the shares in Laifu Restaurant, Yin Yang Jie Food Chain Restaurant can also follow the same approach. As the super chef who has mastered the core, Zhang Xiaolian certainly cannot be treated unfairly.

"Sixty percent of the shares?" Zhang Xiaolian almost jumped up when she heard this news from Su Ji.

It should be noted that the current profits of Jinfeng County alone generate about one million strands of incense offerings every month, and 60% of that is 600,000 strands of incense offerings.

Converted to computing power, that's over 60,000 units; converted to divine power, that's at least 6,000 strands. Over a year, that's 70,000 strands of divine power—more than the Earth God gained from over 20 years of arduous cultivation…

This is just the current situation. If the Yin-Yang Realm chain restaurant continues to expand, this number will increase exponentially. It will be enough not only for daily cultivation but also for becoming a high-level cultivator in the Cave Profound Realm.

For a moment, Zhang Xiaolian was stunned, and it took her a while to recover.

"The market for delicacies from the Yin-Yang realm created solely through real dreams is so large that I must have been no ordinary immortal in my past life..."

Some immortals might not even be as successful as some high-level cultivators in the Cave Profound Realm. Zhang Xiaolian only used the power of her past life's true dream to directly carve out a market. In her past life, she might have already been at the level of a God-King...

Through Mo Linglong's narration, Su Ji also learned some of the secrets of the immortals and gods.

True gods are divided into divine soldiers, divine officials, and divine rulers, while earth immortals are simply numbered from one to nine: nine levels of mysterious immortals, nine transformations of true immortals, and nine layers of power gods.

In her previous life, Mo Linglong was only a fourth-level Xuanxian, enough to serve as a divine official or general. However, true gods have a longer lifespan, so Mo Linglong could only be a wandering immortal.

Zhang Xiaolian is different. The uniqueness of her real dream shows that Zhang Xiaolian was not only a Xuanxian in her previous life, but also a deity.

Regardless of whether Zhang Xiaolian's previous divine position still exists, at least the incense offerings and prayers she received during her reign were private property, and ultimately formed part of the real dream.

"Sixty percent of the shares is too much... I only need thirty percent!"

Zhang Xiaolian knew her own limitations; she not only couldn't let her spirit leave her body, but she also had to preserve her identity as a reincarnated immortal. All her external businesses were being built and maintained by the ancient golden toad.

Su Ji simply smiled and said, "The God of Wealth Project has now reached its mid-term stage. The daily offerings of incense and prayers from the God of Wealth's followers amount to tens of thousands of strands, and this number is expected to grow explosively. It's only a matter of time before it surpasses the food business in the Yin-Yang Realm."

"In the future, the chain restaurants in Wusheng's hometown will be your business, and also part of my God of Wealth's power. Every income and expenditure will be clearly recorded."

"If this model is followed now, you will temporarily owe more than 20,000 strands of divine power, and with your subsequent expenses, it will only increase."

"If you only get 30% of the shares, it might take two or three years to pay it back. But if you get 60%, you can definitely pay it back within a year..."

This also involves Zhang Xiaolian's subsequent expenses, which will definitely increase as time goes on, hence the discrepancy in the timeframe Su Ji mentioned.

Su Ji didn't want to dwell on these things, but in business, things must be clearly distinguished, otherwise it will become a mess.

Su Ji then added, "Your father, Xiao Zhanggong, will not only receive half of the remaining 40% of the shares, but will also become the manager of Wusheng Hometown Chain Restaurant. This is a win-win situation!"

Since Su Ji opened the Wusheng Hometown Restaurant, Xiao Zhanggong has been in charge of it. Now he has been promoted from Jinfeng County to become the general manager of the Wusheng Hometown chain restaurant.

Even the nominal position of gatekeeper spirit soldier, Little Zhang Gong, doesn't need to resign. With just a word from Su Ji, Little Zhang Gong can have his name registered at the City God Temple in Jin Feng County and officially become the general manager of the Wu Sheng Hometown Chain Restaurant.

Yan Tianchou further reminded, "The origin of the Yin-Yang Realm cuisine cannot be linked to Zhang Xiaolian. We need to take the initiative to step forward and become the official chef of the Yin-Yang Realm cuisine. Dongsang Village, as the place where the Yin-Yang Realm cuisine is produced, also needs to pay a fee to the Earth God Temple..."

Even if the Earth God does nothing, he is still the Earth God of the Earth Temple, and the various spirit soldiers are also the gods of the Earth Temple.

Su Ji understood perfectly. The pantheon only cared about faith and didn't even care about treasures. Giving profits to the local gods and deities was hardly bribery.

"In that case, let's allocate the last 20% of the shares to the Earth God Temple, with the Earth God taking one share and the remaining spirit soldiers taking one share..."

Currently, a single share of profit yields approximately one thousand strands of divine power. When distributed among each spirit soldier, they receive eighty or ninety strands of divine power, which is almost equivalent to the salary of an ordinary spirit official.

When Su Ji told the local deity about the plan, all the spirit soldiers were stunned. If Su Ji hadn't looked so serious, they would have thought he was joking.

A few breaths later, the earth god temple suddenly erupted in a burst of excited cheers.

The local spirit soldier exclaimed excitedly, "They say that when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Our village's daytime spirit soldier, Golden Toad, has prospered, and we're all enjoying the good fortune along with him!"

The door gods and spirit soldiers said with reverence, "The Sun-Watching Spirit General has risen higher and higher in just a few months. Even a reincarnated deity could not have achieved such a feat!"

Zhongliu Shenlingbing smiled, a rare occurrence for him: "Now that we've boarded the great ship of the Golden Toad Envoy, our future is equally promising!"

(End of this chapter)