The next day, Lin Zhao woke up at noon. After washing up, he had breakfast with everyone.
...
He took a sip of the fish head soup stewed by Wang Ju, which was very fresh and delicious. He smiled and said, "Sister Ju Zi, your cooking is getting better and better."
Wang Ju smiled shyly. "I'm just following the recipe. Tell me if it's not good, and I'll improve it."
"It's already very good."
Shen Xingchen chimed in with a smile, "Compared to the five-star chefs at my place, it's not bad at all, really."
"See."
Lin Zhao pursed his lips. "Miss Shen's personal endorsement, it must be super delicious."
Wang Ju smiled shyly. Although she was the oldest among them, she seemed to be the shyest. On the contrary, Luo Man, the youngest, was the least shy. She wore very short denim shorts, and her pair of fair, slender jade legs were always in motion around the studio, almost blinding Lin Zhao and the other two. She was very audacious and didn't consider herself an outsider at all.
"Did anything major happen in the game this morning?" Lin Zhao asked.
"No."
Shen Xingchen shook her head. "We've just entered Tianji City. All the major guilds are focused on developing their forces. Also, the bosses that spawn in the large map of Tianji City are extremely rare, so there's no resource competition. However, it won't be this peaceful for long. As a game, 'Tianxia' cannot encourage players to coexist peacefully; that's unreasonable."
Chen Xue nodded. "Yes, what Xingchen said is right. The current peace is only temporary. Beneath the illusion of peace in Tianji City, there are definitely all sorts of schemes and intrigues waiting. Let's wait and see."
"How is the guild development going?" Lin Zhao asked.
"We just broke through 2,500 members in total."
Chen Xue smiled. "Xingchen and I signed a group of moderately skilled players at a low price, but their strength will definitely improve after they join. Then it won't be too bad. So, the membership development has been a bit faster these few days. The guild's funds are also starting to become tight. As of ten o'clock this morning, the guild has a remaining balance of 220,000, which is already stretched thin."
"Is that so..."
Lin Zhao thought for a moment and said to Chen Xue, "I've accumulated quite a bit of gold coins in the Northern Region these past two days. I've already exchanged them for universal currency. I can also sell a batch of street vendor goods to NPCs when I return to the city, which should bring in a good amount. Overall... I can give you around 500,000, that's all I can manage. I can't do more."
"Mhm."
Chen Xue smiled faintly. "I've also had some gains these past few days and can contribute 100,000 to the guild."
Ding Chi pondered for a moment. "Da Jun and I can probably come up with about 120,000 in total."
Luo Man pursed her red lips. "I'll contribute 50,000, no more. I need to save money too."
Lin Zhao couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright, it's turning into a fundraiser. It's not necessary. Ding Chi, Da Jun, keep your money for yourselves. Save it for crafting flying swords. Both the materials for flying swords and the Sea God Rock are considerable expenses. You'd better be prepared. Chen Xue, Luo Man, your money has been accepted. It will be recorded in the guild's accounts. When the guild develops well, this money will be fully returned to you."
Ding Chi glanced at Shen Xingchen beside him. "Miss Shen, aren't you going to invest some?"
"Shouldn't I?"
Shen Xingchen's lips curled up. "I was tricked into working at the studio by someone, you know. How can an employee invest in the boss? Besides, if I were to invest, it would be starting from billions. Are you sure your Scarlet Moon Knights can afford to repay it in the future?"
"Tsk tsk..."
Ding Chi gave her a thumbs-up. "Close to billions, impressive..."
"Yes, there's no need to involve Shen Xingchen for now."
Lin Zhao smiled. "If we really need to involve Shen Xingchen, it will only be when our studio is so poor that we don't even have our last pair of pants left."
"How vulgar~~~"
Shen Xingchen and Chen Xue said with a laugh.
Lin Zhao scratched his head. "Let's eat. We'll be busy again after this."
"Mhm."
...
After lunch, they went online after a short rest.
"Swish!"
Lin Zhao appeared on the mountainside, but Xiang Ji was not there. It seemed he had gone out to hunt down lone demons in the Five Realms. So, Lin Zhao immediately took out a town scroll and crushed it. A few seconds later, he returned to Yunshang County and headed straight for the blacksmith shop without a word. He first repaired all his equipment, then sold a pile of non-top-tier gold, silver, and profound iron equipment at the equipment buyer, instantly earning over 10,000 gold coins. Small profits, but high volume, that's the way!
Afterward, he listed the remaining dozen or so top-tier equipment one by one. These were still gold and silver-grade items, but their attributes had improved by two points. It could be a silver-grade longsword with an attack power boosted by 100 points, or a gold-grade ring with a 3% damage increase effect. These were all good items that could be sold at a good price. It would be a shame to sell them to the equipment buyer.
After a period of busy work, his inventory was filled with a lot of gold coins. After exchanging them all for universal currency, indeed, he had unknowingly earned over 600,000 universal currency. These were all hard-earned coins, painstakingly acquired in the Northern Snow Domain with sword strikes, one by one. After transferring 500,000 of them to Chen Xue, he pondered for a moment, bought a pile of Qi recovery pills, and then teleported to Shanhaiguan again, preparing to continue working in the Snow Domain.
With the Shanhaiguan Golden Token, he passed through without any obstruction.
Continuing forward, in an hour, he traversed hundreds of miles of desolate land and reached the Fusang Great Wall that spanned heaven and earth.
Why is the Fusang Great Wall admired by the world? Why can it endure between heaven and earth? Why, for several hundred years before the battle of the Snow Domain, did the Great Shang repeatedly suffer defeats against the Four Northern Tribes, yet the Four Northern Tribes did not advance south?
It was simply because of the true origin of this Great Wall.
The Fusang Great Wall was one of the ten great divine swords in the world, the Fusang Sword. The owner of the Fusang Sword was the God of War, Ding Muchen. Back then, the Four Northern Tribes rolled south, and both the Xia and Great Shang dynasties could not resist them. In the end, they were stopped by Ding Muchen's sword. The Fusang Sword transformed into the Fusang Great Wall, preventing the main force of the demon race from advancing south. The God of War's strength was truly too great. There were many great demons in the Upper Five Realms, but who dared to challenge him?
...
Riding a Snow Rock War Horse, wearing a bamboo hat, carrying the Dragon Slaying Sword and the Lightning Swift Sword, Lin Zhao, still in white, passed by the Fusang Great Wall. But this time, he couldn't avoid it. As soon as he entered the Fusang Great Wall, he was grabbed by the reins of his warhorse. It was Qin Ran, his face full of excitement. He smiled and said, "White-clothed Big Brother, you're really here so soon? Come, let's go to my house as guests. I'll go call Father, Mother, and Aunt to come home for dinner together!"
"No, no, no..."
Lin Zhao was so scared that cold sweat broke out. "Qin Ran, I'm in a bit of a hurry this time, so I'm afraid I can't trouble your manor. But I really feel bad about it and can't refuse your kind offer. How about this, we don't need to go to the manor to eat deer meat. You can just treat me to a meal at a restaurant along the street!"
"Okay!"
Qin Ran nodded and smiled. "Exactly, I brought money with me today. Let's go, I'll treat White-clothed Big Brother to drinks!"
Lin Zhao's expression turned dark. Looking at Qin Ran leading his warhorse by the reins, did this little ancestor usually go out without money? As expected of the young owner and little overlord of the Fusang Great Wall! However, he kept calling him White-clothed Big Brother, and Lin Zhao dared not call him Brother Qin Ran. How could he? Your father and aunt are from my generation. By rights, you, Qin Ran, should be my grand-nephew!
Mingyue Tower, the best restaurant in the entire Fusang Great Wall.
Qin Ran was indeed the son of Qin Yu and the nephew of Lin Wanhua, the Lord of the Fusang Great Wall. He had immense prestige. As soon as he arrived, the restaurant immediately arranged a seat by the street for him. Then, all sorts of delicacies and fine wine were served. After a few drinks, Qin Ran became a bit tipsy, his face flushed red, full of youthful spirit.
"Big Brother, you don't know."
He frowned and said, "Those demons are too detestable. Almost every day, cultivators of the Fusang Great Wall die outside. Many great demons in the Upper Five Realms secretly bypass the Xiujian River, but they don't bypass the Fusang Great Wall. They wreak havoc between the Xiujian River and the Fusang Great Wall, killing countless people. I always think that one day, I will also transform into a sword immortal in the Upper Five Realms, go wherever I want, wield my sword to kill demons, and live a free and unrestrained life..."
"But..." He revealed a bitter expression. "Father and Mother have always forbidden me to go out. They tell me to refine swords, to study, and to understand principles. But there are so many principles in the world, how can I, Qin Ran, possibly learn them all? So I want to go out, to kill demons, to experience the real martial world. Last time, I secretly sneaked out and encountered a great demon in the Celestial Origin realm, and I almost lost my life..."
His eyes reddened. "If it weren't for you, White-clothed Big Brother, saving me, perhaps there would be no Qin Ran in the world..."
"Mhm."
Lin Zhao drank a cup of wine, looked out the window, and smiled. "Actually, there's no need to rush. Qin Ran, you're still young. This is the age to build a foundation. Your father and mother are doing this for your own good. Study and refine swords well. When your strength is sufficient, they will naturally let go."
"But when will it be sufficient?"
Qin Ran's eyes reddened and he said, "My friends often join forces to go out and kill demons. Some have died in battle, and some have returned with the head of a great demon in the Star River realm. And what about me, Qin Ran? Studying at home, refining swords at home? Rather than living so stifled, I'd rather go out and fight valiantly like them, even if I die gloriously. I won't regret it."
"It's different."
Lin Zhao smiled and shook his head. "The human race's sword dao luck is limited. You, Qin Ran, are a natural sword immortal embryo. You will become a sword immortal in the future and wield the power of life and death. The human world needs your strength. If you die early, we might lose a sword immortal. Do you know how important a sword immortal is in a decisive battle against the demon race? They can hold back thousands of troops... Besides, your parents are having you study for your own good. When you understand more principles, the logic of fists and sword intent will become clear at once. That's how the world works. First, learn to be a person, then become a sword immortal. In the future, you will control power, not be controlled by power. These are two completely different things."
Qin Ran was stunned. He didn't fully understand what Lin Zhao was saying, but he grasped a little.
"Big Brother, is that really true?" he asked.
"Really."
Lin Zhao smiled. "We have a life-and-death bond. Would I lie to you?"
"I understand."
Qin Ran's eyes gradually became firm. "Then I'll listen to Big Brother and study and refine swords well at home. I'll go out and roam the martial world after I become a sword immortal in the Upper Five Realms, and then I'll treat Big Brother to drinks and meat!"
"Okay, okay..."
Lin Zhao smiled faintly and looked downstairs. Not far away, smoke curled from a blacksmith's shop. He suddenly froze and said, "By the way, Qin Ran, can you do me a favor?"
"What favor? Just say it, Big Brother."
"Rent some manpower."
"Ah?!"
Qin Ran's mouth dropped open, his face bewildered.