55: Chapter 55: Compliant Sales (Grayscale)

In that dilapidated meeting room on Hengchuan Peak, the lights were blazing.

The table was piled high with various ledgers, Spirit Stone contracts, and several pieces of scrap metal used for demonstration.

Shen Xingzhou, Wen Xi, and Su Ciyao sat around the table, their expressions as grave as if they were plotting to assassinate a monarch.

"We cannot sell them directly."

Wen Xi held a vermilion brush and drew a circle on a huge sheet of paper. "Selling directly is 'colluding with the enemy,' which is a capital offense. Especially selling Munitions Line products—even if they are just life-saving turtle shells, in the eyes of Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai, that is handing knives to Loose Cultivators."

"Then what should we do?"

Su Ciyao twirled the life-saving talisman box in her hand. "These Loose Cultivators are fat meat delivered to our doorstep. We're not going to eat it?"

"Eat, but we need to use a different plate."

Wen Xi wrote four large characters heavily on the paper: Disaster Relief.

"We won't call it 'Munitions Line.' We will call it 'clearing out scrap inventory.'"

"The justification is: Hengchuan Peak is responding to the Sect's call to maintain local security, reduce the impact of Yao Beast tides on Mortals and Loose Cultivators, and is hereby conducting humanitarian aid."

"These armors and talisman boxes will be written in the documents as 'worn-out Magical Artifact fragments' and 'defective defensive formation bases.'"

Su Ciyao's eyes lit up, and she slapped the table in admiration. "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

"I've already thought of the script!"

She immediately got into character, acting it out with an affected tone. "'Under the shining radiance of the Sect's benevolence, Hengchuan Peak cares for all living beings and cannot bear to see external Cultivators suffer. Therefore, after harmlessly processing the peak's discarded resources, we are providing them free of charge (crossed out) at a low cost to support...'"

"With this level of prestige and vision, even if Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai wants to find fault, he'll have to weigh the consequences of opposing 'disaster relief.'"

Shen Xingzhou watched the exquisite logical loop Wen Xi had built on the paper, a flash of admiration in his eyes.

This was what they called a "compliant shell."

Stuffing black market transactions into the frame of "disaster relief."

As long as the procedures were correct, even if the matter was actually selling Munitions Line products, on paper, it was charity.

...~

The next morning, Shen Xingzhou, clutching this meticulously crafted "Application for the Disposal of Scrapyard Inventory and External Material Support," stepped into Asking Peak, where the Sect Head resided.

The main hall of Asking Peak was shrouded in clouds and mist.

Shen Xingzhou knelt on a prayer mat and presented the thick document with both hands.

"Sect Head, the Scrapyard of Hengchuan Peak has a serious backlog, and this Disciple is unable to manage it. Furthermore, Yao Beasts have been appearing frequently in the vicinity recently. If too many Loose Cultivators die, it is easy for demonic obstacles to breed, which will backlash against the Sect."

"Therefore, this Disciple dares to apply to sell a batch of 'defective products' to the outside world at a low price in exchange for a few Spirit Stones to maintain the operations of the peak."

Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou took the document but did not rush to read it.

His eyes, which seemed to see through all worldly affairs, merely fell faintly on Shen Xingzhou, watching him for a long time.

Shen Xingzhou kept his head bowed, his palms covered in sweat, but his back was straight.

This was a gamble. He was betting that the Sect Head also needed a "stable periphery" and was betting that the Sect Head would tacitly approve of this "money-making" behavior by Hengchuan Peak.

After a long while, Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou opened the document, his gaze sweeping over the flowery language about "harmless processing" and "humanitarian aid."

The corners of his mouth curled up in an almost imperceptible arc.

"Hengchuan Peak... is indeed struggling."

Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou closed the document and tossed it back to Shen Xingzhou. "Such trivial matters as clearing out inventory do not need to be reported to me."

"You can go handle it at the Material Hall."

Shen Xingzhou's heart skipped a beat, and he was about to rise and take his leave.

But behind him came a sentence from Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou that was light, yet heavy as a thousand jun:

"Also."

"Shen Xingzhou, I have not seen this application of yours."

Shen Xingzhou paused, immediately bowed, and performed a deep salute:

"This Disciple understands. It is this Disciple clearing out inventory on his own, with no connection to the Sect Head."

"If any outsiders ask..."

Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou's voice seemed to melt into the clouds and mist. "Just say it is... for the overall stability of the Sect, which I have specially permitted."

When Shen Xingzhou walked out of the main hall, his steps were so light he almost flew.

This was what they called an "imperial sword."

The Sect Head wanted "stability" and did not care about the means.

Having obtained this "tacit approval," he could now let go and do it.

...~

Back on Hengchuan Peak, the System interface updated instantly.

A brand-new flowchart unfolded; it was the "whitewashing" path Shen Xingzhou had designed for this transaction.

[Transaction Record Module · Enabled]

[Transaction Process (Grayscale Mode):]

Munitions Line Shipment: 50 pieces of armor, 30 sets of talisman boxes off the line.

Sect Material Repository (Accounting): The System automatically records the goods into the "Scrap Material Temporary Storage Area," marked as [Pending Destruction].

External Disaster Relief Document (Generated): The Material Hall issues "Support Documents," with the receiving party being [Loose Cultivator Mutual Aid Association (Pseudonym)].

Capital Repatriation (Cleaning): Loose Cultivators deposit Spirit Stones into the Material Hall's public account, and after the Material Hall deducts a small "handling fee," it is transferred to Hengchuan Peak under the name of "Scrap Recycling Payment."

[System Note:]

Cover Labels: [Humanitarian Aid], [Defective Product Processing].

Risk Warning: All transactions have been recorded in detail for future Audits.

"This is not complete compliance; it is just wearing a skin of compliance."

Shen Xingzhou looked at the "Cover Labels" and sneered in his heart.

As long as this skin does not break, who cares if what is wrapped inside is a life-saving straw or a murderous knife?

...~

Three days later, the first payment arrived.

Although it had gone through a round of skimming by the Material Hall, the remaining money was still a huge sum.

Coupled with the three pieces of "Geng Metal Sand" that the Loose Cultivators had privately sent through black market channels to express their "gratitude," the Hengchuan Peak ledger showed a reassuring "surplus" for the first time.

Shen Xingzhou did not pocket this money.

He immediately started the second phase of the Munitions Line upgrade.

Finer files, better furnaces, and "extra meal vouchers" and "subsidies" for those Disciples who were tightening screws.

"We're getting paid! We're getting paid!"

When the Utility Disciple in charge of assembly received five real Low-Grade Spirit Stones in his hand, he was stunned.

"Is... is this what I earned myself?"

In the past, they worked themselves to the bone, and the best outcome was exchanging it for a few bottles of inferior Medicinal Pills.

Now, relying on their own hands, they could not only survive but also earn money.

The atmosphere of the entire Hengchuan Peak had changed.

It was no longer the desperation of "struggling so as not to be eaten," but a sense of groundedness that "we are creating value."

Even if this value was obtained in a gray way.

"Bankruptcy Peak... seems to really be making money."

Su Ciyao sat next to a pile of newly arrived Geng Metal Sand, smiling like a little fox. "Boss, are we going to strike it rich?"

Shen Xingzhou looked at the bustling workshop and nodded, but there was not much joy in his eyes.

Because he knew that in this world of cultivation, any undeserved "profit" was stained with blood.

Just then, in the upper right corner of the System interface, a line of inconspicuous small text suddenly flashed by.

There was no alarm sound, nor any red pop-up window.

There was only a cold, chilling illusion of being watched.

[Monitoring Alert: External Audit Node]

[Monitored Object: Hengchuan Peak Capital Account]

[Abnormal Behavior:] >

Detected that a certain data interface of the Law Enforcement Hall has accessed your peak's material entry and exit records three times in the past 12 hours.

[Associated Labels (Added):]

"Abnormal Profit"

"Possible Illegal Industrial Chain"

"Suspicious Capital Flow"

Shen Xingzhou's eyelids twitched violently.

He followed that monitoring alert, as if he could see through the data stream to the depths of the Law Enforcement Hall, where Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai was sitting in the shadows, toying with the ledger regarding the "explosive increase in performance" of Hengchuan Peak, revealing a meaningful smile.

"Compliant sales..."

Shen Xingzhou muttered to himself, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

"I used a compliant shell to push the Munitions Line onto a larger chessboard."

"But precisely because there was money and movement, Hengchuan Peak has finally become 'valuable.'"

"Valuable things will always arouse the covetousness of others."

He turned around and looked at the Disciples who were cheering for a few Spirit Stones.

This brief prosperity was like dancing on the tip of a knife.

But he had no choice.

If he didn't dance, he would die.

If he danced well, perhaps he could step out a path to survival.

The System interface finally settled on the "Future Risk Prediction" column, where the originally flat curve suddenly began to rise sharply.

[Short-term Risk Prediction (Updated Version)]

[Positive Impact:]

Munitions Line Capital Pressure: Relieved

External Reputation (Loose Cultivator World): Rising

Internal Satisfaction: Significantly Rising

[Negative Impact (Red Alert):]

Probability of being named and watched by the Law Enforcement Hall / Central Continent Rating Department: ↑ ↑

Next Audit Focus: [Capital Compliance] and [Product Flow].

Shen Xingzhou took a deep breath and closed the panel.

Regardless of whether they were named or not, since he had boarded this pirate ship, he could only build the ship stronger.

"Wen Xi!"

He shouted loudly.

"Here!"

"Reinforce that 'compliant shell' once more! I want this money to be as clean as freshly fallen snow on the Audit report!"