Rise in Douluo Continent with the help of bean buns

After the commercial war ended, the medicinal herb market in Tiandou City entered a new equilibrium.

The three established businesses no longer deliberately targeted Qinghetang, but they also dared not underestimate this competitor that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Qinghetang, on the other hand, has been cultivating the market step by step, stabilizing its base in urban areas, continuing to penetrate into rural areas, and steadily growing its customized business for the Soul Hunter Team. With all three lines advancing in tandem, the momentum is even stronger than before the business war.

In the twelfth lunar month, when the year-end accounts were finalized, the entire management team of Qinghetang was in an uproar.

The accountant, his hands trembling and his voice shaking, reported to Lin Chen, holding the ledger:

"Boss! December's net profit is 10,700 gold! It's broken 10,000! It really has broken 10,000!"

10,700 gold coins.

Six months ago, even Lao Chen wouldn't have dared to imagine such a number.

When I first arrived in Tiandou City, a monthly income of 300 gold coins was a pleasant surprise; during the worst period of the business war, I almost dropped below 1,000 gold coins; now, after winning a battle, I have directly jumped to the level of earning 10,000 gold coins a month.

Breaking it down, urban retail and wholesale account for 40%, surrounding towns and villages account for 30%, and custom orders from the Soul Hunter Group and guilds account for 30%.

All three business lines are healthy with no obvious weaknesses, and their ability to withstand risks is more than twice as strong as before.

  

The number of partner pharmacies has also reached a new high.

Including the urban area and fourteen surrounding towns, the number of pharmacies that have officially signed cooperation agreements has exceeded two hundred, of which more than eighty are exclusive partners.

The coverage extends from the four districts of Tiandou City to all towns within a radius of 100 li.

In the medicinal herb industry of Tiandou City, Qinghetang is no longer a small, out-of-town business that no one respects, but a solid force that can be ranked among the top ten.

When Qinghetang is mentioned, no one dares to say it's a "small workshop" or "has no foundation" anymore; they will only praise it as "a promising young talent."

What the industry talks about even more is the mysterious young owner of Qinghetang.

No one knows his exact age, no one has seen what he looks like, and there are even different accounts of his surname.

Some say he is a disciple from a reclusive sect, possessing ancestral medicine recipes; others say he is a collateral descendant of a noble family, out to gain experience and do business; still others spread rumors that he is a highly talented Soul Master who develops his own medicines.

The various speculations became increasingly outlandish.

Very few people have actually seen Lin Chen.

He almost never showed his face in public, never attended chamber of commerce banquets, and never appeared in public. Even when the managers of the three major merchants came to visit, he would only meet them once in the reception room and that would be the end of it.

The outside world only knows that Qinghetang has a very young owner who is shrewd and cunning, but no one can tell any more details.

The title of "mysterious little boss" has become a little legend in the Tiandou City medicinal herb circle.

Lin Chen didn't care at all.

He doesn't need empty fame.

Concealing one's talents and keeping a low profile while quietly accumulating wealth is the safest way to survive.

At the age of nine, he already possesses a fortune of tens of thousands of dollars and is a second-ring Soul Master. Being too flamboyant will only bring unnecessary trouble.

He still lives in the three-courtyard house in the south of the city, living a simple and frugal life. He has not moved to a larger house, nor has he added any extravagance.

His daily routine remained precise: cultivation, handling important matters, and strategizing—unwavering.

After the business battle ended, he withdrew even further.

The entire management system of Qinghetang has been fully established—Old Chen is in charge of external business and channels, Old Li is in charge of production and security, the accountant is in charge of finance, and there are dedicated personnel responsible for procurement, planting bases, and customized business.

Routine tasks are handled by each department independently; only major decisions are reported to Lin Chen.

He only needs to spend half an hour each day glancing at the summary report to have a grasp of the overall situation.

The saved time was devoted entirely to cultivation and long-term planning.

The soul power is being steadily refined.

Having suppressed his level 22 cultivation for nearly three months, his soul power condensation level has increased again and again, reaching 253% of the level of others of the same level. His life parasitic soul skill has become increasingly proficient, and he can switch freely between the three modes of infiltration, power theft, and imprisonment. His micro-management limit has exceeded 600 vines, and his precision has stabilized at the 0.02 millimeter level.

Mental strength is also increasing in tandem.

The duration of in-depth analysis has stabilized at eighteen minutes, the daily limit for high-intensity computation has been increased to eighteen times, and the knowledge base continues to expand: the Millennium Soul Beast Encyclopedia is more than half complete, reaching 52%; the Plant Encyclopedia is 90% complete; and Basic Pharmacology is 78% complete.

Every step was taken with utmost care.

Besides cultivating, he was also secretly preparing his next plan.

The first thing to do is to expand the planting base.

The original 100 acres of land were no longer sufficient, so he bought another 200 acres in an adjacent area, all of which were used to expand the cultivation of core medicinal herbs and two special soul-guiding plants. The self-sufficiency rate of medicinal herbs was increased to over 80%, completely eliminating the risk of being cut off from supplies; the soul-guiding plants were reserved for new business.

The second thing is to keep an eye on the auction.

The Soul-Devouring Carving Knife, crafted from the gold of life, is a crucial piece in a long-term strategy that cannot be overlooked. He instructed Old Chen to keep an eye on the largest auction houses in Tiandou City, informing them immediately of any major auctions. Based on the timeline, the day that item appears should be drawing ever closer.

The third thing is to investigate the market for soul-guided materials.

The pharmaceutical business has established a firm foothold, but its ceiling is gradually becoming apparent. To move up the value chain, new growth drivers must be developed.

The Soul Tool industry is booming, with extremely high profits in upstream raw materials. It also happens to leverage its plant-based advantages, making it the best entry point.

He has already had the planting base test three special vines for soul guidance. The optimized plants have more than 30% stronger vitality and spiritual energy conduction than ordinary varieties on the market.

Once production stabilizes, we can start discussing collaborations with downstream Soul Guidance Workshops.

Everything is progressing quietly.

At the end of the twelfth lunar month, the first heavy snow of winter fell in Tiandou City.

Heavy snow fell, covering the green tiles and white walls, and the entire southern city was wrapped in a layer of silver.

The Qinghetang workshop was closed for the New Year holiday, and the workers received generous bonuses and happily went home to celebrate. The courtyard suddenly became quiet.

Lin Chen stood under the corridor in the central courtyard, gazing at the snow falling all around him.

He wore a plain cotton robe, his posture was upright, and his eyes were gentle. Against the backdrop of the snow, he looked like a light ink painting.

All told, he has been in this world for three years.

From a penniless transmigrator to the current owner of Qinghetang with a fortune, from a useless person with innate level three soul power to a level twenty-two, two-ring great soul master.

Over three years, through steady and methodical progress, he finally established his own foothold in Tiandou City.

He was only nine years old that year.

"Master, the New Year's Eve dinner is ready." Old Chen walked over and reported softly with a smile on his face. "As you instructed, I've prepared a few simple dishes. We'll be celebrating the New Year with you."

Lin Chen nodded slightly and turned to walk towards the main room.

The room was warm and cozy, with several exquisite dishes laid out on the table and a pot of wine kept warm.

It lacks extravagance but exudes a peaceful and down-to-earth atmosphere.

Old Chen raised his glass, stood up, and said solemnly, "Boss, this glass is for you. This past year has been tough; it's all thanks to your leadership that Qinghetang is where it is today. In my entire life, I, Old Chen, only admire you!"

Old Li and the accountant quickly stood up and raised their glasses as well.

Lin Chen picked up his teacup and smiled gently, "Everyone has worked hard. Next year will be even better."

A simple sentence, yet it warmed the hearts of several people.

They believe.

As long as you follow this young boss, your life will only get better and better.

The New Year's Eve dinner was simple yet lively.

After the meal, Old Chen and the others stayed up late in the front hall to celebrate the New Year, while Lin Chen returned to the backyard and continued meditating.

Outside the window, the wind and snow howled; inside, all was quiet and focused.

The soul power circulated slowly, and the Blue Silver Grass martial soul in the dantian trembled gently, with the silver-blue patterns flickering in an orderly fashion.

At nine years old, he earned ten thousand gold coins a month and was a second-ring Grand Soul Master.

This is not the end, but a new beginning.

After the start of spring, there is still much more to do—expand the soul guide material business, acquire the Soul Devouring Carving Knife at the auction, prepare to hunt for the third soul ring, and scout for stronger guard forces…

The road ahead is long and full of challenges.

But he had enough patience and confidence to keep going step by step.

The snow fell silently, silencing the hustle and bustle of the streets and alleys.

The boy sat cross-legged, his brows and eyes calm, his gentle aura blending with the wind and snow.

The first chapter of the Tian Du Chronicles quietly came to an end amidst this heavy snow.

The larger game has only just begun, with the first move made.