Chapter 437

Chapter 437: A Profitable Investment

“Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty,” the little boy said with a bow, though inwardly he marveled at the empress. Truly, she was the woman destined for greatness, and her ability to win hearts was something ordinary people could never match.

Behind the little boy, the officials of the Nine Phoenix Dynasty watched him with admiration. Much of the dynasty’s rapid growth could be credited to this young figure.

“The National Master is too modest. It is the Nine Phoenix Dynasty that owes you its gratitude,” Feng Chang Ning replied, her tone respectful.

With that, she performed a grand gesture of respect toward the little boy.

“I wish to share the fortune of the Nine Phoenix Dynasty with the National Master. I will honor you as the teacher of this dynasty—and even of the celestial dynasty.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the Merit and Fortune Golden Dragon in the sky split into two. One of the dragons surged into the little boy’s body.

The little boy’s expression shifted, and he looked at Feng Chang Ning in disbelief.

“Your Majesty, why go to such lengths?” he asked.

“The National Master’s actions over the past few years have earned this,” Feng Chang Ning said with a smile, her gaze steady.

Her life had seen three pivotal moments. The first was when she became Shi Zhan’s disciple, just as the small world dynasty teetered on the brink of collapse.

The second was in the cultivation world, when she made a pact with Xu Fan to share half of the merit and fortune.

The third was now, as she used the dynasty’s merit and fortune to secure the loyalty of the reincarnated great being before her.

She had succeeded in the first two instances, and she was confident this time would be no different. The foundation of the celestial dynasty had been laid; all that remained was to conquer.

“It’s what I should do,” the little boy said with a smile.

Everything about this empress pleased him, and he found her worthy of his support. The only flaw was her oath with the master craftsman.

He had already decided: if he ever crossed paths with that master craftsman, he would ensure the man vanished quietly from the cultivation world. That way, the Nine Phoenix Dynasty’s lost half of merit and fortune would be fully restored.

“The ritual has concluded. Your Highness must be exhausted. Perhaps it’s time to rest before resuming state affairs,” the little boy suggested.

The officials behind him chimed in, urging Feng Chang Ning to take a break.

“Then I will retire to rest. I leave the state affairs in your hands,” Feng Chang Ning said before departing for the palace.

In the Nine Phoenix Palace, Feng Chang Ning sat in a garden to relax. Three Core Formation Stage Puppets stood guard nearby.

As she sipped her tea, she admired the blooming flowers in the garden, her mind drifting back to the moment she had made the pact with Xu Fan.

Just then, Shi Zhan approached her viewing pavilion with a pot of wine.

“Today, I noticed that all the puppets in the dynasty have been replaced with those crafted by the National Master,” he remarked.

“Are you planning to give up on the Grand Elder?” Shi Zhan asked.

“There’s no such thing as giving up or not giving up,” Feng Chang Ning replied lightly, as if discussing something trivial.

“The oath between the Grand Elder and me is simple: he provides assistance, and I share half of my Merit and Fortune with him.”

“I always feel…”

“Is it a moral dilemma?” Feng Chang Ning turned to look at Shi Zhan.

Shi Zhan nodded.

“Now that the National Master is with the Nine Phoenix Dynasty, the Grand Elder’s support has become less essential.”

“But the oath I made with the Grand Elder remains in effect until the Nine Phoenix Dynasty unifies the cultivation world and ascends to a celestial dynasty.”

“That alone will repay the Grand Elder a hundredfold, if not a thousandfold,” Feng Chang Ning said.

Shi Zhan took out two cups and filled them with wine.

“Xiao Yun, go prepare some snacks,” Feng Chang Ning instructed softly as she watched Shi Zhan pour the wine.

“Understood.”

A young maid outside the pavilion quietly left.

“This fine peach spirit brew would be wasted if we drank it without snacks,” Feng Chang Ning said with a smile.

“True, good wine deserves good food,” Shi Zhan agreed.

Soon, the maid returned with four small dishes.

The two of them drank and reminisced about the past.

They drank late into the night before Shi Zhan finally took his leave.

As he walked away, Feng Chang Ning watched his retreating figure and said, “I owe nothing to the Grand Elder. This is just a transaction.”

Hearing this, Shi Zhan paused for a moment but said nothing as he continued on his way.

“Just a transaction?”

Back home, Shi Zhan lay on his bed, murmuring to himself.

Meanwhile, on Hidden Spirit Island, Xu Fan was beaming with joy, as if the stocks he had invested in had skyrocketed, followed by a flood of good news.

“No matter where you are, investing in potential stocks always pays off,” Xu Fan said with a grin.

This wave of Merit and Fortune made Xu Fan feel as if he were on the verge of ascension.

Now, Xu Fan truly had the protection of Merit and Fortune.

Anyone who wanted to harm him would have to weigh their own strength against the weight of this fortune treasure canopy.

“Master, aren’t you curious about the news coming from over there?” Grape’s voice chimed in.

“It’s just that your clone had its highest permissions altered. Let them change it; there’s nothing important there anyway.”

“And besides, there’s been some great news.”

Thinking of this, Xu Fan couldn’t help but laugh.

The fact that someone could modify Grape’s highest permissions meant they were at least as skilled as he was back then.

At the very least, they were a top-tier master craftsman.

With Feng Chang Ning’s help, they were bound to soar to new heights.

“As for the things I sent over being altered, compared to the Merit and Fortune I’m gaining, it’s insignificant,” Xu Fan chuckled.

The heavenly path oath had been sworn; not even a true immortal descending from the heavens could break it.

Now, he wouldn’t have to worry about helping them while reaping the benefits of Merit and Fortune—where else could he find such a sweet deal?

“If only I had asked for more Merit and Fortune back then; wouldn’t that have been even better?” Xu Fan stroked his chin, feeling a pang of regret for not going all-in like a stock trader.

At that moment, only he knew the joy he felt on Hidden Spirit Island.

Well, him and his first and second clones.

“Grape, call the first and second clones. Let’s celebrate!”

“The stock dividends are coming in; we’re about to hit it big,” Xu Fan laughed.

The head chef of the Hidden Spirit Sect worked overtime to prepare a feast for Xu Fan and his first and second clones.

Xu Fan had initially thought of inviting his disciples but decided against it, thinking they might not understand his joy.

In the courtyard, the first and second clones raised their glasses with forced smiles, toasting Xu Fan.

Their expressions seemed to say, “Your happiness has nothing to do with us.”

“Why didn’t you invite your disciples?” the first clone couldn’t help but ask. Wouldn’t sharing the joy with more people make it even better?

“They wouldn’t understand my happiness; only you two do.”

“Come on, let’s have another drink,” Xu Fan said with a laugh, clinking glasses with his first and second clones.

“I’m telling you, if we hadn’t crossed over, with this investment skill, we’d be on par with Warren Buffett.”

“Even in the cultivation world, every investment we make turns out to be incredibly profitable.”

“Just wait and see; I’ll use the future returns to help our Hidden Spirit Sect ascend to the Thousand Worlds,” Xu Fan boasted.

As the saying goes, it’s not the wine that makes you drunk, but the mood. Xu Fan was definitely feeling a little tipsy.