Hall of Great Strength, Spirit Mountain Holy Land:
The Southern Sea Dragon King, Di Shitian, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva bowed respectfully to the Present Buddha, Jiang Gautama.
“Lord Buddha, many thanks for helping. We have already recovered from our injuries,” everyone said deferentially.
However, Jiang Gautama looked at the group coldly.
“Who told you to go to Borderless Heavenly Capital?” Jiang Gautama asked, his voice sinking.
“Lord Buddha, forgive us. We thought it was an excellent opportunity, so…,” Di Shitian replied with a bitter smile.
“Excellent opportunity? I told you to monitor the former Yan Nation territory and spread our faith, yet you ran to Borderless Heavenly Capital, leaving no one to watch the Yan Nation territory. Who will take responsibility if something happens?” Jiang Gautama said with a cold gaze.
“Lord Buddha, please forgive us. We…we…” Di Shitian felt anxious.
“Lord Buddha, Ji Dihong has withdrawn his troops. The Yan Nation’s territory already belongs to my Spirit Mountain Holy Land. Lord Buddha, you are the Yan Heavenly Dynasty’s crown prince. Since Jiang Lianshan died, it is right that you take over the Yan Nation. There is no need to worry.” Shiva frowned.
“Indeed, Lord Buddha. All the officials of the former Yan Nation are cooperating with my Spirit Mountain Holy Land. We are already slowly turning the Yan Nation’s territory into Buddhist land. The bandits in the surroundings do not dare to cause trouble.” Vishnu nodded.
“Lord Buddha, although we left, the Future Buddha is still in Divine Farmer City, taking charge of the palace. I believe nothing will happen,” Brahma said anxiously.
“You believe? Hah! Then when is it my turn to believe?” Jiang Gautama’s face sank.
“We know our offense!” everyone immediately said anxiously.
However, the Southern Sea Dragon King said, “Lord Buddha, please forgive us. I persuaded everyone to go when the six factions came to invite us. It is because the Purple Bamboo Forest needs Zhengfa Ming.”
Jiang Gautama glanced at the Southern Sea Dragon King. “Report to that person. Tell him I will help him find Zhengfa Ming eventually, just not now. The Past Buddha and the Future Buddha have helped you once. To think you tempted them into going a second time?”
“Lord Buddha, please forgive me,” the Southern Sea Dragon King said with a bitter smile.
“Lord Buddha, why don’t you take personal action? That Han Imperial Dynasty is no match for you!” Di Shitian asked anxiously.
Jiang Gautama looked at the group coldly. “Is my Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s greatest enemy Gu Hai?”
“Huh?”
“Humph! Ji Dihong has been waiting for us to attack in full force, wanting to fish up the benefits from that. Right now, your most important job is to help me stabilize the Yan Nation. I need boundless blessings. If anything happens in the Yan Nation’s territory, you can forget about returning! Humph!” Jiang Gautama said coldly.
“Yes!” everyone responded with stiff expressions.
“Go back!” Jiang Gautama said.
“Yes!” everyone answered.
Then they walked out of the hall and flew to the west, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
After everyone left, Jiang Gautama ambled to the plaza outside. He looked to the north of the Divine Continent. Borderless Heavenly Capital had already slowed down, approaching the Divine Continent’s cardinal north position.
“The Han Imperial Dynasty?” Jiang Gautama looked into the distance, narrowing his eyes.
Spirit Mountain City, the largest city among the two thousand-odd cities the Spirit Mountain Holy Land controlled:
A shop named “Infinite Wealth” opened quietly in Spirit Mountain City.
Practically everyone in Spirit Mountain City believed in Buddhism. However, that did not mean they had cut off their emotions and desires, so they felt great curiosity over Infinite Wealth.
Infinite Wealth renovated its store expeditiously, and its opening was low-key. There were no congratulatory gifts or noisy ceremonies. Instead, it opened quietly, immediately starting business.
Such a method seemed like it would not attract attention, but anyone walking past Infinite Wealth could not help stopping for a second look.
This was because Infinite Wealth’s decorations were overly lavish—blindingly so.
“Look at the two stone guardian lions at the door. What are they made of? Grand Profound Flame Gold Essence, right? There’s only so much of this material in the entire Spirit Mountain City. It is a superior material for forging equipment; just a small amount can significantly raise the grade of an enchanted treasure. They used so much Grand Profound Flame Gold Essence to make stone guardian lions? That’s too prodigal, right?!”
“That door is made of Eight Gem Colored Glass Crystal, right? I saw it at the Northern Sea Dragon Palace once. That…that is a rare treasure!”
“What does this Infinite Wealth sell? Just the things at the entrance are already so ridiculously expensive. Are there better things in there?”
“Look at the floor! They covered it in a Myriad Beast Blanket! That can ward off all evil and filth. Just a thousand square centimeters of it could be treated as an ancestral treasure. Yet, they use so much of it as a carpet? For people to step on? I…I don’t even dare to enter.”
“Infinite Wealth is too extravagant! They are too prodigal! However, what do they sell?”
…
Many people discussed the store at Infinite Wealth’s entrance. Everyone wanted to enter this extravagant store, but they did not dare to, afraid of being unable to pay if they dirtied the carpet.
However, the more this was so, the more curious people got. Finally, a couple could no longer endure. They wiped the soles of their shoes clean before entering as everyone watched.
The moment the two entered, a store attendant stepped forward.
“Welcome!” the shop attendant said with a smile.
The two exchanged looks, showing shock in their eyes.
“Her robe is the Dustless Moon Dress, right? The one that Master Dustless only made one hundred of? The moment he put them up for sale, they instantly sold out. Furthermore, they were extremely expensive. Yet, just the shop attendant is wearing such clothes?” the man said in confusion.
“Of course! Of course! I finally see it for myself!” the woman said excitedly.
“How may I help you two?” the shop attendant asked with a smile.
The man smiled embarrassedly. “We are just looking around. Just looking around.”
Ten thousand Night Pearls lit the ceiling, making the shop sparkle. The two discovered that these Night Pearls were exactly the same size.
Night Pearls were easy to find. However, finding a pair of the exact same size was difficult. The closer the quality, appearance, and size of a pair, the more expensive it would be, what more this many. The two had looked at only the many Night Pearls, not yet at the other extravagant decorations, and they already felt a little cowed, too embarrassed to ask about the store’s products.
“There’s no need to worry. The moment you stepped into my Infinite Wealth, you were already my store’s customers. It does not matter whether you buy; you are our honored guests,” the attendant said with a smile.
“Then what…what do you sell?” the woman asked out of curiosity.
Even if I cannot afford it, I can boast to my sisters and girlfriends after I leave. This trip would be worth it.
“We only sell financial products. This way, please.” The attendant led the two to an extremely comfortable sofa.
The attendant even brewed a complimentary cup of spiritual tea each for the two. The two would not even bear to spend on such spiritual tea outside, yet they got it for free here?
The two felt nervous as they drank the spiritual tea.
Then the attendant took out a small pamphlet. “We do not have many products at the moment, just one. It is called Treasure Gathering Pot, Mark 1. The monthly interest is five percent.”
“Treasure Gathering Pot, Mark 1? What do you mean? Is this an enchanted treasure?” the woman asked in confusion.
“It is not an enchanted treasure but a financial product. The lowest buy-in is ten superior-grade spirit stones. That is to say, you spend ten superior-grade spirit stones on Treasure Gathering Pot, Mark 1, and we will return the ten superior-grade spirit stones and fifty medial-grade spirit stones’ worth of interest to you the next month. More accurately, the interest would be five thousand inferior-grade spirit stones,” the attendant said.
“What? Five thousand inferior-grade spirit stones?” the woman exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.
“Yes. The monthly interest is five percent, and it is obtained every month.” The attendant smiled.
“Are you loan sharks? No, that’s not right. Are we being loan sharks to you?” the man asked in confusion.
“No, not loan sharks. This is a financial product,” the smiling attendant replied.
However, the man frowned. “Isn’t this just like being a loan shark? What are you going to do with the money we lend you? How will this Treasure Gathering Pot, Mark 1, turn money into more money?”
“You might not know, but our Infinite Wealth has many other businesses. Do you know the Eastern Forest Temple’s Number 3 Spirit Stone Mine?” the attendant asked.
“I know it. A third-generation disciple of the Future Buddha’s line started the Eastern Forest Temple. It controls five spirit stone mines. But what about it?”
“Our store purchased their Number 3 Spirit Stone Mine and will focus on mining it. We need a lot of spirit stones in the early stages to hire people to mine for spirit stones. As you know, we can only slowly mine for spirit stones using manual labor. Otherwise, we will destroy the mine and ruin many spirit stones,” the attendant explained with a smile.
“Wait, you mean the money from the Treasure Gathering Pot, Mark 1, is used to hire people to mine spirit stones? Furthermore, you have bought the Eastern Forest Temple’s Number 3 Spirit Stone Mine?” The man opened his eyes wide in shock.
The attendant nodded.
“I don’t believe it! Why would the Eastern Forest Temple sell their spirit stone mine?” the man said skeptically.
The attendant did not feel anxious or panicky as she took out a document.
“This is the contract signed by the Eastern Forest Temple’s abbot. His aura on it cannot be fake. Furthermore, you can visit the Eastern Forest Temple’s Number 3 Spirit Stone Mine to see. We have already taken over its management. You can also ask the Eastern Forest Temple.” The attendant smiled.
Whoosh!
The two immediately stood up.
“Alright, let’s take a look!” The two rushed out of Infinite Wealth impatiently.
“How is it? How is it? What do they sell?” many people outside asked anxiously.
“Let’s go! To the Eastern Forest Temple’s Number 3 Spirit Stone Mine!” the earlier man said.
Many people accompanied the two along the way. After they heard what the two said, they appeared shocked.
Soon, the group verified the sale of the Eastern Forest Temple’s Number 3 Spirit Stone Mine. Infinite Wealth had indeed purchased it.
“Is the Eastern Forest Temple stupid? To think they sold their spirit stone mine?”
“A spirit stone mine! It’s a spirit stone mine! That’s a never-ending supply of spirit stones! Money! Infinite Wealth is indeed rich, and they have the strength to protect it!”
“Treasure Gathering Pot, Mark 1? Do you think they might cheat us?”
“Why would they cheat us? There’s such a large spirit stone mine here. Would they care about your ten superior-grade spirit stones?”
“Indeed. Look at that store and its decorations. Those’re at least one hundred thousand superior-grade spirit stones in there, and that’s a conservative estimate. Would they care about your ten superior-grade spirit stones? Using one hundred thousand to cheat ten? How can that be possible?”
“Five percent interest every month! It’s five percent interest every month!”
“I’m buying it!”
“But I’m still worried!”
Everyone suddenly became mathematical geniuses when it came to increasing their wealth. As they calculated, their eyes turned red.
There are those who get bloated from being too bold and those who die of hunger from being too timid. Although many people felt skeptical, thinking Infinite Wealth would cheat, many still believed. They even feared going too late and missing out on the Treasure Gathering Pot, Mark 1.
They rushed straight for Infinite Wealth.
Humans are social creatures, especially in a city. Soon, Infinite Wealth’s name spread within an area of Spirit Mountain City.
