Seven years is a long time.
But for those who practice cultivation, it is just the climb of a small realm, the creation of a magical treasure, and the beginning of a war.
Yes, it's just the beginning. For seven years, Miaofeng Mountain and Gu Shenzong have fought dog brains, with no intention of stopping.
Maybe it's also unstoppable.
Both sides continuously escalate and increase the stakes, and even Gu Shenzong once fought against Miaofeng Mountain's gate.
Miaofeng Mountain has also issued a hero invitation, relying on the help of thousands of Qian Jin Shi, who are exercising Qi. They push the battle lines back across Wolf Dragon River.
However, the biggest winner of this war has been Wang Xianzhou, a member of the King's family of Anbei.
Killed over a hundred Qi cultivators and accidentally killed a still-unknown foundation cultivator.
Under the rules and regulations of the Immortal Alliance, Master Xianzhou relied on his peak Qi cultivation power to give both Gu Shenzong and Miaofeng Mountain a lesson.
Facing Wang Xianzhou's achievements, even if Miaofeng Mountain doesn't want to, they have to pay the price.
But these have little to do with Yu Lou. He has genuinely been hiding out in Qingxi Pavilion for seven years.
Every day, he merely runs his own shop, practices the path of cultivation with the Red Brow, and communicates with fellow cultivators from various paths. That's all there is to it.
...........
In the great hall of Huafeng Residence, a female cultivator in lotus pink robe pushed the door open.
Today was Yu An's turn to take the front, and upon seeing the visitor, he didn't budge, simply continuing to sit in the lounge chair and read.
After hanging out with Yu Lou for so long, Yu An's temperament has slowly changed from lively to calm. Even the way he's currently slacking off and reading a book is something he learned from Yu Lou.
Of course, that's only in front of outsiders. With his older brother, Yu An can always be a carefree youth.
Seeing that Wang An did not pay attention to himself, Cui Guo stepped forward and knocked the book out of Wang An's hand.
"Where's your brother?"
Cui Guo asked with a faint anger on her face.
Wang An did not get angry either. He shook his head and gave his commentary.
"Friend, you have already taken the way to death. Be careful with your words and actions, do you understand?"
Cui Guo is no longer the naive young girl she used to be. With Zhou Yingxi backing her, she haughtily pointed at Yu An, crossing her arms and storming out.
"Don't interrupt, Wang An. Did your brother and the Yang family have any insider trading on the Miaofeng Mountain-Gu Shenzong war material contract deal?"
Our young miss heard your brother's words and put two thousand eight hundred jingshi as collateral, betting that neither side will make a move in the next few months, and all contracts will lose value.
However, Miaofeng Mountain has now pushed back the front lines, with Gu Shenzong almost fighting a second Battle of Wolong Pavilion.
"That's not what was agreed upon. Your brother must give an explanation!"
In recent years, although Yu Lou refused the temptation of becoming a son-in-law, it might be because of his peers, he has instead become friends with Zhou Yingxi.
As for the Miaofeng Mountain-Gu Shenzong war material contract transaction, it is a special futures contract. The main traded categories are materials that Qi cultivation cultivators often need for their cultivation battles, such as Feihuo formulas, common talismans, Daqi Blood Pill, Kaiping Dan, and various precious materials.
At first, Yu Lou only used it to lock in the price of future goods for the Wang family and to take advantage of the human-shaped bulldozer that was Wang Xianzhou, who could control the front lines.
For example, the Wang family placed an order with Wu Jinyan's family on the first day of May for ten pieces of nine-level purple copper, and both parties signed a sales contract. The price of each piece of purple copper was 180 lingstones, with the delivery date set for the first day of July.
However, while the Wang family placed the order, Wang Xianzhou led the Wang family's forces to withdraw from the front line and rest.
Soon after, Miaofeng Mountain's front lines began to waver.
By the middle of May, Miaofeng Mountain was struggling to hold its ground and had to increase its efforts, frantically issuing calls for Qi cultivators, causing the price of purple copper to jump by 10% or even more.
The contract for purple copper held by the Wang family increased by 10%.
Later, Yu Lou realized that this was similar to futures and that if used well, it could bring great opportunities.
After deciding that the unfortunate Li Haiping of Miaofeng Mountain would have to open his purple palace regardless, he pushed the Wang family to join forces with the Yang family for a major move.
The two foundation cultivator clans appeared to help Miaofeng Mountain stabilize its front line on the surface, but secretly, they set up this special war material contract transaction.
They set up a commodity exchange next to the Baibao Pavilion, pretending to sell various goods needed for war at wholesale prices in large quantities. The main source of income was introducing customers to trade order contracts and earning commissions. They received commissions to the point of discomfort.
Miaofeng Mountain's front line was under pressure, and Qingxi Lane was under pressure behind the scenes. As colleagues under the same Red Light Society, of course, there was no need to be polite.
"What do you mean it's different from what we agreed upon? Don't make things up!"
Moreover, I've been losing a lot of money recently.
Cui Guo, I haven't been causing trouble with my brother either?"
Faced with this unreasonable person, Yu An can only deceive.
"You're also losing money?" Cui Guo suspiciously eyed Yu An.
Yu An furrowed his brow, slightly turned his head, leaned back, and spoke in a sardonic tone.
"Okay, okay, I said you look like you've eaten a bomb today."
Yes, Mingxi Daoist is not someone who would get angry over less than three thousand lingstones.
It's just that you, Cui Guo, secretly followed and bought some, which is why you're so anxious."
Seeing that Yu An had seen through her little scheme, Cui Guo's face turned red immediately.
"You bloodsucker, stop spreading rumors. Quickly tell me where your brother is. It's the missus who's looking for him!"
Yu An jumped up from his chair, gave a few instructions to the clerk, and then looked at Cui Guo.
"The racecourse, let's go. I'll go with you. Today is the March gathering of Qingxi Lane."
Saying that, he went to the front and directly went out.
Looking at Zhou Yingxi at the door, Yu An felt a bit embarrassed.
"Zhou Yingxi senior, it's been a long time..."
Zhou Yingxi was also a bit embarrassed, and the corners of her face were slightly tensed under the veil. She replied in a cold voice.
"Cui Guo has been a bit neglectful of discipline, and Yu An, you had better not call me senior."
Yu An has already passed the age of sexual repression. Faced with Zhou Yingxi, who is very beautiful and has a voice that is naturally charming, he was able to respond easily.
"The Qingxi Racecourse Festival has two horses from the satellite factions of the Tianshe Sect, and my brother and Yang Qichu are very interested. He's been soaking in the racecourse all day."
A glint of strange light flashed in Zhou Yingxi's eyes.
Wang Yulou that scoundrel really has a knack for it; the Baibao Pavilion he runs is thriving, making money hand over fist, and the war material contract trading has attracted the attention of everyone under the Red Light Society, even alarming the elder of the Zhou family.
He casually cooperated with the Yang family, organizing a Qingxi Racecourse Festival that was originally mundane.
But now, I don't know where this dog got two horses from the satellite factions of the Tianshe Sect.
Over the years, the scattered cultivators and cultivators from small families near Qingxi Lane have not had much to do with accepting Miaofeng Mountain's heroic invitations to go to the front lines of the two sects' war as fill-in babies.
They can say that they have a great interest in the Tianshe Sect, but of course, it's not a positive interest.
Yu Lou brought in two horses from the Tianshe Sect, just like sending a flower maiden to a 70-year-old virgin bachelor, directly igniting the volcano within the audience's hearts.
And this is still just the most failed business case of the little genius.
...........
Seven years have passed, and the dilapidated and shabby racecourse has changed its appearance.
A massive structure made of wood and stone forms a huge circle, resembling a large stadium, their towering figures blocking the view of those who take advantage for free.
Although Qingxi Lane restricts flying and can prevent cultivators from taking advantage by flying for free, if one really wants to do so, they can stand outside with their divine sense and watch.
But generally, no one does this because most people still have face.
Yu An kindly bought tickets for senior Zhou Yingxi and the rather impolite friend Cui Guo, and the three of them entered the Qingxi Racecourse together.
Inside the racecourse, the racing tracks have been completely updated.
Yu Lou, who dominated Baibao Pavilion, cooperated with the Yang family and invested a total of eight thousand lingstones in the Qingxi Racecourse horse racing business, occupying 50% of the shares.
These lingstones were basically all spent on updating the track.
These new things, such as obstacle arrays, trap arrays, starving demons, and difficult but shorter paths, have pushed the spectators' enjoyment of Qingxi Racecourse to a new height.
"Today there are so many people?"
Looking at the nearly half-filled grandstand, Cui Guo was surprised and asked.
Yu Lou has redefined the horse racing, but so far, the eight thousand lingstone investment has not yet been recouped.
The grandstands of the racecourse have never been filled, and this time, sitting half full, it is a new high.
Yu Lou overestimated the cultivators' finances.
So, he only created the Qingxi Racecourse Festival version two years ago, a upgraded version of the event, solely to enable spectators to willingly spend lingstones to buy tickets.
"Everyone came for the two horses from the Tianshe Sect, and in the past, there were only two or three hundred people willing to spend lingstones on tickets."
Yu An smiled while explaining, but the business wasn't that bad either.
Because the people who came to buy tickets would usually bet, the horse racing division could help Yu Lou recoup his losses.
For example, the old demon from the animal medicine shop, used to give Yang family two hundred lingstones a year.
Now it's different; the distribution rights have doubled in price.
It may take another two years for the investment led by him, worth eight thousand lingstones, to recoup.
However, even so, it is the most failed investment in Yu Lou's life.
He tried to innovate a new model and nearly got himself into trouble.
This also made Yu Lou realize that many experiences from his previous life cannot be applied simply.
Upon receiving Yu An's communication note, Yu Lou quickly arrived.
"Senior Zhou Yingxi, why did you suddenly come?"
Zhou Yingxi helplessly said.
"Told you several times, call your friend, how can you just not remember?"
Today is the horse racing festival, right? Qingxi Lane has a bit of interest in horse racing, so I came to take a look.
"We suddenly came, did we disturb you?"
The arrival of Muyun Zuo at Qingxi Lane as a guardian cultivator was mainly for the convenience of Zhou Yingxi to use the spiritual essence of Qingxi Spring's music to cultivate.
But spiritual essence accumulates slowly and is used quickly, and Zhou Yingxi often feels bored as well.
"Of course, it won't disturb. Senior sister, oh, that is Ningyao senior sister."
Of course not disturbing, Senior, that is, Nieyao Senior. She is all set up; the horse race is about to start.
Yu Lou sat next to Yu An and explained to the few people.
Saying this, Sister Nieyao appeared on the second-floor platform of the horse racing preparation area.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Qingxi Lane horse racing festival once every three months is now starting, and the first part is the horse display."
"The first horse, Green Qilin, is a high-level cultivator from the mixed beast realm, with two previous victories in first place!"
After Wang entered a stake in the racecourse, the position of the horse racing competition's host was replaced by the youthful and beautiful Zhong Ningyao.
Yu Lou couldn't accept the idea of having an old man as the host, which was just too absurd to contemplate.
As Zhong Ningyao finished speaking, the eagerly anticipated Green Qilin ran out of the horse racing preparation area and began to demonstrate itself on the track.
It lifted its head high, easily breaking through many difficulties on the track. Even when pursued by Tie Guo Lang, it ran very calmly.
As mixed beasts, these green geldings are intelligent.
The Green Qilin, which was performing its best to show off, knew that the era of Yang family controlling it was over.
If it wins, Wang Yu Lou, this shareholder, is really willing to give rewards.
Soon, as one horse after another completes its demonstration, the two horses from the Tianshe Sect will also make their appearance.
