181: This protection fee was well worth it!

Western Region, the former site of Dry Bone City.

Wang Duojin was sitting with his legs crossed, the golden abacus in his hands clicking and clattering so fast it left afterimages.

"The Black Flame Demonic Sect's inventory of three hundred and twenty-one Immortal Artifacts, liquidated at eighty percent of market value, recorded as revenue."

"Seven spirit mines under their name, all packaged and transferred to the Seven Fiends Valley, with a hundred-year mining rights sharing contract signed, recorded as revenue."

"And this land deed for Dry Bone City... tsk, the feng shui is bad. I'll flatten it later and build a Myriad Dao Cemetery. High-end business, that also needs to be recorded as revenue."

Ghost Fiend, standing beside him, felt his eyelids twitch. He felt as if he hadn't joined a Sect, but had sold himself to a Pixiu that only took in and never let out.

Just then, the disciple token at Wang Duojin's waist vibrated slightly.

He picked it up with some impatience.

He probed it with his Divine Thought.

The next moment.

The sound of the abacus came to an abrupt halt.

The smug smile on Wang Duojin's face froze.

His entire body was as motionless as if he had been hit by a binding spell.

"Senior Wang?" Ghost Fiend asked cautiously.

Wang Duojin did not respond.

His eyes widened, his breathing became rapid, and his chest heaved violently.

"Gulp."

He swallowed with difficulty.

"Fleet... captured... dividends..."

He muttered a few words, his gaze gradually shifting from dullness to a kind of extreme, burning fanaticism!

"Holy shit!"

An earth-shattering roar scared Ghost Fiend so much he fell onto his backside.

Wang Duojin sprang up from his chair, and the golden abacus in his hand groaned under the strain of his violently trembling fingers.

"A fleet! It's a fleet!"

"The main fleet of the Qionghua Heavenly Palace! An Immortal King's flagship! Good heavens!"

He spun around like a madman, his hands frantically flicking the abacus, moving so fast that only a golden blur could be seen.

"The construction cost of one 'Phoenix' class warship is... material costs, labor costs, Formation inscription fees... My god!"

"Hundreds of them! That means..."

"Rich! I'm rich!"

He stopped abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, staring fixedly at the disciple token in his hand as if it were a peerless beauty.

"Second Senior Sister! You are my own sister!"

He shoved the abacus into his robes and issued an indisputable order to the bewildered Ghost Fiend and the others.

"Pack up! Pack up! Stop counting, damn it!"

"These scraps in the Western Region, I don't want them anymore!"

"Pass on my order! Everyone, teleport back to the Sect immediately!"

After saying this, he activated his disciple token without hesitation.

A pillar of light shot into the sky.

Wang Duojin's figure dissolved into bubbles within the pillar of light.

Leaving behind only a shout filled with an endless craving for wealth, echoing in place.

"My dividends! Not a single ship can be missing!"

...

Nine Heavens Divine City, headquarters of the Myriad Dao Pavilion.

Inside the top-floor main hall, the atmosphere was solemn.

Su Linger sat upright on the cold jade throne, her fingertips tapping gently on the armrest, producing a rhythmic sound.

Below, the high-ranking members of the Myriad Dao Pavilion were holding their breath, listening to the report from a deacon of the Shadow Department.

"Reporting to the Pavilion Master."

The deacon, a Profound Immortal, had a voice that trembled slightly with excitement.

"All supplies from the Qionghua Heavenly Palace fleet have been counted."

"Among them, three hundred and sixty 'Phoenix' class main battle Immortal warships, and one thousand two hundred 'Green Phoenix' class frigates."

"One Emperor-grade Immortal Artifact, the 'Qionghua Jade Palace'."

"One hundred and thirty million High Grade Immortal Stones. Countless Immortal Pills, Magic Treasures, and Cultivation Technique Jade Slips..."

With every number reported, the breathing of everyone in the hall became more rapid.

When the deacon finished his report, one could hear a pin drop in the entire hall.

Everyone's face was filled with shock.

This was no longer just being richer than a nation.

This was directly robbing the national treasury of an Immortal Dynasty!

Su Linger's expression, however, remained calm.

She just nodded faintly.

"Understood."

"Organize the inventory into a register, and seal all supplies into the treasury."

"As you command!"

The deacon respectfully accepted the order and retreated.

Su Linger's gaze swept over all the high-ranking members present.

That icy gaze made everyone's heart shiver.

"From today on, the rules of the Myriad Dao Pavilion are going to change."

She spoke slowly.

"In the past, we dealt in the business of information."

"In the future, we will deal in the business of rules."

Everyone was shocked, not understanding what she meant.

Just then.

A maidservant walked quickly into the hall and bowed to report.

"Reporting to the Pavilion Master, Elder Yun from the Myriad Spirits Chamber of Commerce has come to visit."

"Myriad Spirits Chamber of Commerce?"

A high-ranking member frowned slightly. "They are the largest Chamber of Commerce Alliance in the Central Region and have always been arrogant. Why would they come today..."

A cold arc curled at the corner of Su Linger's mouth.

"They've come at just the right time."

"Let him in."

Soon.

An old man wearing brocade robes, with a smile on his face, looking like a wealthy, affable merchant, walked into the hall led by the maidservant.

It was Yun Wanli, the Chief Elder of the Myriad Spirits Chamber of Commerce, a Late-stage Golden Immortal.

"Hehehe, this old man, Yun Wanli, greets Pavilion Master Su."

As soon as Yun Wanli entered, he bowed to Su Linger with his hands cupped, keeping a very low posture.

"I heard that Pavilion Master Su has returned in triumph, adding another sight to our Nine Heavens Divine City, so this old man has come specifically to offer congratulations."

The "sight" he referred to was naturally the Spirit Frost Divine Hall that was still hovering above the Myriad Dao Pavilion.

"Elder Yun is too polite."

Su Linger sat motionless, her voice cold and clear.

"Please, take a seat."

"I dare not, I dare not."

Yun Wanli waved his hand with a smile but did not sit down.

He looked around the hall, his gaze finally resting on Su Linger.

"Pavilion Master Su is so young yet has such capability; it truly is an eye-opener for this old man."

He changed the subject, his tone carrying a trace of vague "concern."

"However, the Qionghua Heavenly Palace is, after all, a veteran Immortal King faction with deep foundations. Pavilion Master Su, having captured such a massive fleet this time, I fear it might be a bit too hot to handle."

"The maintenance costs are astronomical every day. Moreover, it will attract some unnecessary covetous eyes."

He looked at Su Linger with a smile, as if he were giving advice to a junior.

The probing and threats in his words, however, were undisguised.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense.

Su Linger, however, smiled.

That smile was like a snow lotus blooming on the peak of an iceberg.

Beautiful, but carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

"Many thanks for your concern, Elder Yun."

She spoke slowly.

"However, I think Elder Yun has misunderstood."

"Misunderstood?" Yun Wanli was taken aback.

"Who said these were warships?"

Su Linger's tone was matter-of-fact.

"These are clearly the cargo flying ships for our Myriad Dao Pavilion's 'Myriad Dao Express Delivery' business."

"Myriad Dao... Express Delivery?"

Yun Wanli's smile froze on his face.

He felt his brain wasn't quite working anymore.

Using an Immortal King fleet to deliver goods?

What kind of preposterous idea is this?

"That's right."

Su Linger tapped her finger lightly on the armrest.

A water mirror appeared beside her.

On the water mirror was clearly the latest business map drafted by the Myriad Dao Pavilion.

It was clearly marked.

【Myriad Dao Express Delivery (Immortal Realm Edition), covering the Nine Provinces and Four Seas of the Immortal Realm, promising delivery within seven days, mission accomplished every time.】

【Sign up for membership now and enjoy free shipping on your first order.】

The corners of Yun Wanli's eyes twitched violently.

Looking at the slogan on the water mirror, he only felt a chill rising from the soles of his feet straight to his skull.

This is not delivering goods!

This is clearly naked, armed deterrence!

Who would dare not let their "cargo ships" pass?

Whose trade route would still dare to compete with them?

"As for the issue of covetous eyes that Elder Yun is worried about."

Su Linger waved away the water mirror and looked at him calmly.

"You need not trouble yourself, Elder."

"Just a moment ago, His Majesty invited my master to go to the Imperial Palace to taste the Enlightenment Immortal Tea."

"I imagine that with the official certification of the Immortal Dynasty, our Myriad Dao Express Delivery business should go very smoothly."

Boom!

A thunderclap seemed to ring in Yun Wanli's mind.

The Immortal Emperor, personally invited her?

He looked at this woman before him, who appeared cold and delicate, but in reality, had heaven-reaching means.

He finally understood.

The times have changed.

The sky of the Nine Heavens Divine City is also about to change.

"I... this old man understands."

His voice was incredibly dry.

"Then... then I will not disturb Pavilion Master Su any further, this old man takes his leave!"

After saying this, he dared not stay for another second, almost fleeing in a panic.

Watching Yun Wanli's wretched back.

Inside the hall, the high-ranking members of the Myriad Dao Pavilion looked at Su Linger with eyes filled only with endless admiration and awe.

Without spending a single soldier or a single blade.

Without moving a single weapon.

With just a few words, she made that old fox who had dominated the Central Region's business world for ten thousand years lose his composure and retreat in panic.

What kind of imperial statecraft is this!

Just then.

The teleportation array in the center of the hall erupted with blinding golden light without any warning!

The light faded.

A plump figure that radiated the aura of "I am very wealthy" stumbled out.

Stumbling out.

"Second Senior Sister!"

The golden abacus in Wang Duojin's hand was shaking like a windmill.

His eyes were shining, and his face was filled with an infinite craving for Spirit Stones.

"Where are my dividends!"

"Where is the fleet! Let me see it quickly!"