I am in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have a demonic beast clone!

Since Zhou Ding took over the position of Elder of the Six Linked Halls on Kui Xing Island, the news has spread like wildfire throughout the entire island.

His status on Kui Xing Island instantly rose to a whole new level.

On the surface, the island lord, Master Mulong, remains the supreme ruler, but Zhou Ding, who holds the power to allocate resources, appoint and dismiss personnel, and make business decisions for the six branches of the Six-Linked Palace, has silently infiltrated every aspect of the cultivation world on the island.

The flow of spirit stones, the circulation of resources, and the gathering of information are all closely related to his will.

When ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators saw him, they would bow respectfully from afar, addressing him as "Elder Zhou," with a very respectful demeanor.

Even the peak masters who control the thirty-six peaks of the Qingyun Mountains will give way to each other when they meet in the market or on Tianzhu Peak, and exchange a few polite words, with many hinting at making friends.

This is the invisible deterrent effect brought about by the combination of power and strength.

With authority and manpower, many plans that were previously limited by status and could only remain in the realm of imagination can now be put on the agenda.

……

On this day, on Tiandu Street, on the third floor of Baishuilou.

The atmosphere in the spacious, bright, elegantly decorated yet dignified council chamber was somewhat somber.

Six figures sat on either side of the long table, both men and women, all with cultivation levels at the mid or late Foundation Establishment stage. They were the managers of the six branches of the Six Linked Hall on Kui Xing Island.

Cao Lu, the manager of Baishuilou, still looked as shrewd and wealthy as ever, but now his face was no longer slick with smiles, and instead had a more serious expression.

Ouyang Gong, the manager of Yuhuanju, had white hair and a slight beard. His alchemist robe was spotless, and his eyes were calm.

Liu Feng, the manager of Shan Hai Ge, is tall and thin with a cold face. He is in charge of monster materials and exploration supplies.

Ma Rulong, the manager of Stardust Palace, is a refined and scholarly man who is in charge of trading cultivation techniques, jade slips, and intelligence.

Sun Miao, the manager of Tingchao Pavilion, is a woman who still retains her charm and is in charge of musical instruments and some entertainment businesses.

The owner of Wanmiaowu was a thin, old man with little money and a shrewd smile on his face. He was in charge of miscellaneous items and novelties.

Feng Sanniang was also present, though in a slightly off-center position. As the steward dispatched by the main hall and Zhou Ding's direct contact, she held a special status and sat upright at this moment.

Sitting in the main seat, Zhou Ding, dressed in a green robe, had a calm expression as his gaze slowly swept over each of the shopkeepers present.

He did not deliberately release spiritual pressure, but the invisible aura unique to a Core Formation True Person, brought about by their life level, and the authority of the new elder made everyone present feel a heavy pressure.

"Everyone is here."

Zhou Ding's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears: "I have gathered you all here today to announce a few things concerning the future development of the six stores, and I also have some ideas that need to be discussed and decided upon with you all."

Cao Lu reacted the fastest, immediately standing up and bowing with a beaming smile: "Elder Zhou, you flatter us! Whatever your orders, we will do our utmost without hesitation! Don't you all agree?"

As he spoke, he looked at the other five people.

The other managers also stood up and echoed, "Manager Cao is right, Elder Zhou, please give your orders." "We will follow the Elder's lead."

Zhou Ding slightly raised his hand, gesturing for everyone to sit down. "There's no need for you all to be so formal. Today is a discussion, not an order. Please sit."

Once everyone was seated again, Zhou Ding lightly tapped the table with his fingertips and got straight to the point: "As you all know, my Six Linked Halls has been established on Kui Xing Island for hundreds of years, with a deep foundation and stable business. However, while we have plenty of stability, we lack ambition. I'm sure you all know better than I do how much the annual profits of the six stores have increased over the years, based on the figures on the books."

Upon hearing this, the shopkeepers displayed various expressions; some lowered their heads, some looked embarrassed, and some showed signs of deep thought.

Cao Luqian chuckled, then sighed, "Elder Zhou has keen insight... To be honest, it's true. Although Tiandu Street is dominated by our Six-Linked Hall, the competition has never ceased. Other small and medium-sized shops in the city unite to resist, and there are frequent attacks from foreign merchant caravans. In addition, the various cultivation families and independent cultivators on the island each have their own channels. The fact that we can maintain our current market share is already the result of the tireless efforts of many managers and shopkeepers. Achieving significant growth is difficult..."

After listening, Zhou Ding remained expressionless, only saying calmly, "Maintaining the status quo is certainly safe, but it's like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. Kui Xing Island is not an isolated island; new islands and emerging forces are constantly appearing in the surrounding waters. If we are content with the status quo, how much of the Six Linked Palaces' share will be left here in decades or centuries?"

His gaze swept over the crowd, his tone still calm, yet carrying an undeniable decisiveness: "The reputation of my Six-Linked Palace cannot rest on its laurels. I have summoned you all here today to change this situation."

Amidst the puzzled yet expectant gazes of the crowd, Zhou Ding methodically unveiled several strategies he had already conceived, which combined his previous life's business acumen with the realities of the cultivation world.

"Firstly, we will implement the 'VIP Jade Plaque' system." Zhou Ding held up one finger.

"Following the cultivator's ranking system, we have four levels: bronze, silver, gold, and jade. Anyone who accumulates spending at the six stores or reaches a specific transaction amount will receive a corresponding jade token. Token holders will not only enjoy discounts on subsequent purchases, but will also have priority in purchasing limited-edition pills, booking weapon crafting services, obtaining front-row seats at auctions, and even accessing a catalog of some non-core rare materials. We want customers to understand that spending at the Six Linked Halls is not only about getting good value, but also a symbol of status."

"Secondly, a special zone for 'waste recycling and replacement' will be established."

Zhou Ding continued, "Cultivators can use their old magic tools, broken array plates, useless monster materials, and even unknown miscellaneous items obtained from exploring ruins, all of which can be priced according to their quality and used as a discount to purchase new items. Items that can be repaired can be repaired and sold, those that can be dismantled can be refined into materials, and those that are useless can be packaged and disposed of. This may seem cumbersome, but it can greatly attract low- to mid-level cultivators who are short on funds but still have needs, revitalizing existing resources and increasing customer traffic."

Thirdly, we will open a "customized commission" channel.

Zhou Ding looked at Ouyang Gong and Liu Feng: "High-level cultivators often have special needs, such as specifying pill formulas for alchemy, seeking uncommon materials, and customizing special-purpose magical artifacts. The Six Shops can list their orders and collect deposits. They can use the channels of our Six Connected Halls throughout the Inner Sea to search for materials or contact specialized guest alchemists and artifact refiners. Once a few orders are completed, our reputation will be established, and the profits will far exceed those of ordinary business."

Fourth, organize a "quarterly auction of fine art".

Zhou Ding raised his voice slightly: "We will no longer sell top-tier goods sporadically. We will choose a day each quarter to hold a concentrated promotional event, bringing together rare items from the six stores and even those coordinated from headquarters, along with some consigned items, for a special auction. The location can be the top floor of Baishui Tower, inviting prominent cultivators from the island to participate. This will create momentum, enhance the high-end influence of the Six Linked Halls on Kuixing Island, and maximize profits."

Fifth, broaden the sources of goods.

Zhou Ding concluded, "Managers, you must take the initiative and not rely solely on allocations from the main hall. You can send capable personnel to establish long-term purchasing points on the surrounding islands, gathering places of independent cultivators, and newly discovered resource points. Alternatively, you can hold small trade fairs to collect local specialties at low prices and transport them centrally. Even small price differences can add up to considerable profits."

……

Zhou Ding explained each point clearly and logically, with each measure directly addressing the pain points and gaps in the current operations.

The council chamber was initially silent, then suppressed gasps and gasps of breath rose from the floor.

Cao Lu's eyes lit up as he listened, and he was so excited that he almost stood up again, slapping his thigh loudly: "Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"

VIP jade plaques, waste exchange, customized commissions... Elder Zhou's ideas are simply... simply strokes of genius!

I've been running a business for most of my life, and I never imagined that business could be done this way!

If this is implemented, how can business not thrive!

Ouyang Gong's hand, stroking his beard, paused in mid-air, his eyes gleaming. He nodded repeatedly, "Elder, your foresight is remarkable! Especially this custom-made commission and auction, which are exactly what high-level cultivators want. If we can establish these channels, Yu Huan Ju's pill business will surely reach new heights!"

Liu Feng, Ma Rulong, and others also looked excited and expressed their agreement. They then began to actively supplement the implementation details in their respective areas of responsibility.

Feng Sanniang sat to the side, her heart already churning with turmoil.

Looking at the excessively young face in the main seat and listening to those unheard-of yet insightful business strategies, she felt that Elder Zhou was becoming increasingly unfathomable.

Not only is his cultivation level exceptionally high, but now he's also incredibly shrewd in business...

Just how many unknown abilities does he possess?

The meeting lasted for nearly an hour, and the atmosphere was lively.

The shopkeepers were all shrewd and knew that if these new policies were implemented, not only would the shop's profits increase significantly, but their personal income and status would also rise accordingly, so they naturally supported them wholeheartedly.

After considering everyone's opinions, Zhou Ding finalized the preliminary execution framework and division of labor, and then adjourned the meeting.

"Third Sister, stay a moment." Zhou Ding called out to Feng Third Sister, who was about to leave with the others.

With only two people left in the waiting hall, Zhou Ding took out a jade slip that had been prepared in advance from his storage bag and handed it over.

"Use every available channel to gather the materials on this list for me. Spirit stones are not a problem; speed and secrecy are paramount."

Feng Sanniang respectfully accepted the jade slip and probed it with her divine sense. The jade slip contained dozens of materials, including companion spiritual plants of thousand-year-old spiritual herbs, the essence blood of demonic beasts and rare minerals needed to draw high-level talismans, as well as several kinds of uncommon spatial attribute crystals and powders of unknown use... The variety was extensive, and she had only seen many of the names in ancient books.

She raised her head, her face showing difficulty: "Elder, some of these materials can probably only be produced at large auctions on the inner island or in certain exclusive secret realms. As for Kui Xing Island..."

"I know."

Zhou Ding interrupted her, "That's why I had you use the Six Linked Halls' channels. First, allocate resources from the surrounding large islands. If that's not possible, report to the main hall or issue a cross-island bounty. I said, there's no limit to the number of spirit stones; even if it's at a premium, you must get the first batch as soon as possible."

He changed the subject, looking into Feng Sanniang's eyes, his tone calm yet weighty: "If you handle this matter well, I won't treat you unfairly. I remember you've been stuck at the Pseudo-Core Formation stage for some time now. I have a 'Heart-Concentrating Pill' here, which is quite helpful for breaking through the Core Formation bottleneck. When you succeed, I can protect you once."

Feng Sanniang trembled violently, abruptly raising her head. Her eyes blazed with unbelievable joy and excitement, her voice trembling: "The...the Mind-Concentrating Pill? Elder, is this true?!"

How precious are the pills that aid in the formation of the Golden Core!

She had saved for many years but still couldn't get one; this was almost her biggest obsession on her path.

"I never lie," Zhou Ding said calmly.

Feng Sanniang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging blood and qi, stood up, bowed deeply to Zhou Ding, and said in a resolute tone: "Elder, I will never forget your great kindness! I will do everything in my power to gather the materials for you, even if it means running myself ragged and talking myself hoarse!"

After seeing off the passionate Feng Sanniang, Zhou Ding stood with his hands behind his back by the window, looking down at the bustling Tiandu Street below.

The taste of power is indeed quite good; it can save you a lot of trouble.

Next, the "prey" seen by the Heavenly Hearing Technique will be brought into the fold one by one.

He released Little Gold and activated the Heavenly Hearing Technique once more. The radiant imagery within a hundred-mile radius instantly entered his sea of ​​consciousness.

However, when he locked onto the location of the only "blue" treasure light he had previously discovered, he was slightly taken aback.

That precious light... it moved!

No longer located in a branch of Liudian, but on the edge of the northern section of Tiandu Street, in a courtyard area for the lower-level residents of Liuliandian.

"I see." Zhou Ding instantly understood.

This treasure was not stored in a fixed warehouse, but was carried by someone on their person.

Perhaps it was goods recently received by a steward, or perhaps it was the private stash of a guest retainer.

"That's even better." Zhou Ding's lips curled into a smile.

The fact that the target was moving actually made it easier to infiltrate the fixed and heavily guarded warehouse.

……

That night, the moon was hidden and the stars were few, and the hustle and bustle of Tiandu Street gradually subsided.

On the edge of the northern district, a residence with a detached courtyard is shrouded in a faint array of light.

This is the residence of Lin Hai, a senior steward of the Six-Linked Hall.

Lin Hai, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, had worked diligently in the hall for many years and was quite experienced.

At this moment, Lin Hai was sitting cross-legged in the quiet room. In front of him was a palm-sized bronze mirror with an ancient design and cloud and thunder patterns engraved on the edge. The mirror was dark, but it faintly emitted spatial fluctuations.

As the steward of the Six-Hall Palace, he was well-informed and naturally knew that this item was an ancient treasure.

As for the origin of this treasure, he seized it from a rogue cultivator in the Qi Refining stage by taking advantage of his position as manager.

That rogue cultivator, with his limited knowledge, sold this treasure to me for only a few hundred spirit stones.

Sudden--

Without warning, the ground beneath him softened and collapsed!

A figure suddenly appeared, ignoring the protective barriers of the quiet room, and grabbed his throat!

The terrifying power instantly sealed off all his magical power, rendering him unable to even utter a sound!

Lin Hai stared in horror as a masked man in black, like a ghost emerging from the ground, stood silently before him, casually taking the floating ancient mirror and the storage bag from his waist with his other hand.

"If you want to live, don't move." The cold voice rang directly in Lin Hai's mind.

Lin Hai nodded stiffly, his face covered in cold sweat.

The fact that the opponent could ignore the formation and subdue him in one blow means they must be a Core Formation expert!

Zhou Ding flicked his finger, and a pill shot into Lin Hai's mouth, instantly dissolving and transforming into a binding force that sank into his dantian.

"This pill can seal your magical power for three days. If you dare to act recklessly or make a fuss, you will bear the consequences."

After saying that, he lightly slapped Lin Hai on the back of the neck, knocking him unconscious.

Then, with a burst of spiritual energy, Xiao Jin burrowed into the ground, and Zhou Ding, carrying the ancient mirror and storage bag, disappeared without a trace, sinking into the earth like a ghost.

The whole process took only a few breaths, and was clean and efficient.

……

The quiet room at Lingmu Peak.

Zhou Ding played with the ancient bronze mirror in his hand. The back of the mirror was engraved with two ancient seal characters: "Suo Kong".

As Zhou Ding probed with his divine sense and magical power, a look of surprise appeared on his face.

This mirror is actually a rare spatial artifact.

Its main supernatural power is not offense or defense, but the ability to temporarily seal off a certain area of ​​space, create a barrier, trap enemies, block escape techniques, and even interfere with teleportation!

This has endless uses in magical duels, adventures, and even setting traps.

"The blue radiance is truly fitting." Zhou Ding put the ancient mirror away with satisfaction.

This unexpected gain will become another powerful trump card in his hand.