Translator: AnubisTL
"Sect Leader Gu, impressive indeed! Cultivating nearly five hundred Spirit Nurturing Realm cultivators at once is truly a grand gesture!" Lin Xinhua immediately began to flatter Gu Feng.
"Haha, Sect Leader Lin, you're just teasing me. I'm actually starting to regret it now. Each of these elderly disciples has refined five Innate Realm-Breaking Pills, yet not a single one has managed to break through!" Gu Feng shook his head with a bitter smile.
The people on both sides of the hall exchanged knowing smiles.
"Sect Leader Gu, please don't say that. Elderly disciples at the ninth level of the Innate Realm are a headache for all factions. It's hard to decide whether to cultivate them or not, as it feels like a waste either way. Only you could make such a decisive move. We lack such courage," Patriarch Bao stroked his beard and chuckled.
"Sect Leader Gu, a young prodigy with such boldness, is far more daring than us old folks!"
"The benefits offered by the Sunset Glow Sect are truly enviable. If they recruit disciples next year, it's bound to cause a sensation!"
"The top sect in Cloud Prefecture, with its deep heritage and Sect Leader Gu at the helm, has a limitless future!"
"..."
These big shots immediately showered him with praise, leaving Gu Feng utterly bewildered.
Not knowing what to make of it, he could only respond with modest words.
After some casual conversation, Gu Santong, the old fox, steered the discussion to the main topic.
"I heard Sect Leader Gu is raising funds today?"
"Yes, the Sunset Glow Sect has been spending too much lately. I need to find some money, or else within a few months, the sect might collapse under my watch," Gu Feng exaggerated.
Everyone pursed their lips, not believing for a second that Gu Feng would let the Sunset Glow Sect collapse. However, the financial strain was undeniable. After all, they were all in Cloud Prefecture, and the various factions were quite familiar with each other's situations.
"Has Sect Leader Gu managed to raise the funds?" Patriarch Guo casually asked.
"Not yet!" Gu Feng sighed. "In fact, I was just about to ask you all about this. Are the banks in Cloud Prefecture really that poor? They can't even lend out fifty billion Low-grade Spirit Stones?"
Hearing this, Lin Xinhua laughed. "Fifty billion is no small sum. Those banks have money, but they're not exactly overflowing with it. They'd rather lend out millions or tens of millions than risk lending fifty billion to a single person. It's about risk management, in case..."
"Oh, I see! That's quite a problem then." Since they weren't being straightforward, Gu Feng pretended not to understand.
"Why not sell some shares?" someone suggested.
"I don't want to sell!" Gu Feng stated bluntly.
"I have a proposal, everyone, listen up!" Seeing the conversation stall, Patriarch Chao stood up with a smile.
Everyone assumed an attentive posture.
"Because of Swamp Fortress, we've come together. It's fair to say we're colleagues.
Now that the Sunset Glow Sect is facing difficulties, it's only right that we help!"
"That makes sense, that makes sense!"
"But how should we help?"
"Give Sect Leader Gu the money, of course! Surely none of you are worried that he can't repay fifty billion?" Patriarch Chao laughed heartily.
At these words, Gu Feng's heart stirred. He finally understood the true intentions of these people.
They saw that he was in urgent need of money and wanted to buy his shares!
"Fifty billion is no small sum. Even if we pool our resources together, it would still be a significant strain!"
"But we can't just stand by while the Sunset Glow Sect is in trouble!"
"Exactly!"
"..."
Everyone put on a show of being warm-hearted, but Gu Feng could barely stand it. Unable to listen any longer, he interrupted.
"Everyone, if I wanted to sell my shares, I would have done so long ago. Why wait until now?" Gu Feng stated bluntly.
"Sect Leader Gu, what are you thinking? Of course, we understand the logic. Shares will only become more valuable over time. Only a fool would sell them!"
Huh? Gu Feng was taken aback and quickly asked, "So you're not here to buy my shares?"
"Of course not! We just want to give you money!" Lin Xinhua smiled slightly.
"I dare not borrow your money. What if there's a trap?" Gu Feng politely declined.
"Sect Leader Gu, you've misunderstood. We're not lending you money; we're giving it to you for safekeeping!"
"What do you mean?" Gu Feng was genuinely confused, unable to grasp their intentions.
"It's exactly what it sounds like. We'll give you money to keep, and not only will we not charge interest, but we'll also pay you a safekeeping fee!
Of course, this safekeeping period is only for three months. After that, we'll take the money back!" Lin Xinhua explained the key points in detail.
"What if I can't come up with 50 billion in three months?" Gu Feng remained calm, though he was laughing inside. These people were clearly after his shares, but they had come up with an enticing method.
Whoever thought of this idea was a damn genius.
"You can't possibly fail to come up with 50 billion. You still have your shares, don't you?"
"Haha, how is this any different from directly buying my shares?" Gu Feng chuckled.
"Sect Leader Gu, since you can't borrow money right now, why not try this method? Who knows, you might earn 50 billion within three months?" Patriarch Yu tempted him.
"Even you don't believe that when you say it, do you?" Gu Feng smirked, then quickly changed his tone, "But I am indeed very interested!"
Alright!
With Gu Feng's words, everyone felt a sense of relief. They had finally managed to lure out this stubborn young man.
"Let's talk specifics—the safekeeping fee and the shares issue."
"We'll give you 1 billion per month as a safekeeping fee. After three months, we'll take back 47 billion. If you can't come up with it, you'll have to give us 10% of the Swamp Fortress shares. Of course, during this period, you can't touch your shares." As the representative of the group, Lin Xinhua outlined the general terms of the agreement.
With these conditions, they effectively cut off Gu Feng's option to sell his shares to raise funds. In the end, he would have to give up 10% of his shares. As for whether Gu Feng could earn 47 billion through other means in three months, they never even considered it.
Because it was impossible!
Spirit Stones aren't that easy to come by. Even if the Sunset Glow Sect were lucky enough to discover a high-grade Spirit Vein, it would be impossible to mine 50 billion Low-grade Spirit Stones in three months.
"I must admit, the terms you've offered are very tempting. Many people have approached me to buy my shares, but only your method has truly caught my interest," Gu Feng said indifferently.
After seemingly pondering for a while, Gu Feng continued, "You raise 50 billion and give it to me within ten days. After three months, you'll take back 45 billion. If I can't come up with it, I'll give you 10% of the Swamp Fortress shares.
Discuss it among yourselves. Once you've made a decision, we can sign the contract today and make a Heavenly Dao Oath."
With that, Gu Feng left no room for further consideration and immediately retreated to the inner hall to rest.
In the main hall, everyone exchanged glances. Losing 50 billion in three months was an astronomical figure, leaving them hesitant and uncertain.
"What should we do? Taking fifty billion in three months exceeds our expectations!"
"I'm wondering, since Gu Feng agreed so readily, does he have a way to earn fifty billion within three months?"
"Are you out of your mind? Even if I gave you a year, I wouldn't expect you to earn fifty billion. If you could earn five billion, I'd call you dad!"
"The key issue isn't there. I'm thinking, what if Gu Feng takes the fifty billion, doesn't spend a single cent, and then returns 45 billion after three months?"
"That... that is indeed a loophole. In that case, let's add a clause to the agreement stating that the fifty billion must be earned through legitimate means, otherwise it's meaningless!"
"With this restriction, it's almost perfect. Essentially, we're using fifty billion to buy ten percent of Gu Feng's shares. Among the forces I've been in contact with, the highest offer has already reached thirty-five billion per one percent share, and this price will continue to rise. By the end of the year, it could break fifty billion per one percent share!"
"Then what are we waiting for? Agree to it, on the condition that we add the clause we just discussed."
"..."
Inside the inner hall, Gu Feng was drinking Spirit Wine and laughing uncontrollably. He could hardly believe that such people existed, practically rushing to give him money.
Not only did they solve his Spirit Stone problem, but they also gave him fifty billion Spirit Stones. It felt like a dream.
However, he understood the actions of Lin Xinhua and the others. After all, news had already spread in the court that Swamp Fortress had become the only import and export checkpoint on the border with a hundred-year lease and no official interference. Naturally, everyone wanted to get involved.
"Ahem, it seems you've made a decision!" Gu Feng returned to the main hall and asked with a smile.
"We can agree to the fifty billion storage fee, but you have to add two percent more shares and include a clause..."
Although they were convinced that Gu Feng couldn't possibly earn five hundred billion Low-grade Spirit Stones in three months, they were all seasoned players and still wanted to test him.
"Someone, see them out!" Gu Feng's face darkened, and he decisively called for someone to escort them out.
Lin Xinhua and the others exchanged quick glances, then nodded in unison.
"No additional shares, just sign the agreement and make the Heavenly Dao Oath!"
The atmosphere was harmonious, and Gu Feng hosted them with high standards.
"Sect Leader Gu, why bother? Since Swamp Fortress won't be distributing dividends this year, holding onto the shares for another three months is useless. You might as well sell them to us directly!" Patriarch Bao said with a smile.
"Let me struggle a bit more. What if I can earn fifty billion within three months?" Gu Feng responded with a smile.
"Sect Leader Gu, keep it up!"
"Sect Leader Gu is so confident, we're already at a loss of half of our fifty billion."
"Sect Leader Gu's ability to make money is evident to all. I'm already regretting signing that agreement."
"That won't do, one must keep their word!"
"..."
Lin Xinhua and the others were beaming, drinking heavily until almost dawn.
The next day!
Before dawn, they hurried out of Sunset Glow Sect to start raising funds.
Raising fifty billion Low-grade Spirit Stones within ten days was a daunting task.
Even with so many forces pooling their resources, it was impossible.
"That kid Gu Feng, insisting on Spirit Stones, is really giving us a hard time!"
"Sell off some unused treasures, and if that's not enough, borrow from the banks!"
"High interest rates are fine, as long as we can get the Spirit Stones quickly, we'll accept anything!"
"..."
In their rush to quickly gather Spirit Stones, they flocked to banks and merchant guilds, selling what they could and mortgaging the rest.
Due to the urgency, they even resorted to high-interest loans.
Upon hearing the news, Gu Feng laughed heartily for an hour, leading Chu Youhuan and others to think he had gone mad.
Good fortune brings high spirits, and just three days later, another piece of good news arrived!
The group of senior disciples who had been cultivating in the Toilet Cultivation Room, after enduring nearly a month of intense training, finally showed results!
Rosy Clouds rose, shimmering in a myriad of colors, and the ethereal forms of several creatures appeared in the sky.
(End of the Chapter)
📚 Read [FD] on Patreon.com/AnubisTL – Up to c272. [+2]
☕ Support me and Read Ahead for just $5/mo.
🎯 Translated [2] Novels [593k+] Words and counting!