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When Ning Fengzhi announced the purpose of the mall, Tiandou City was thrown into an uproar.
Imagine this: all types of shops concentrated in one place. Anyone looking to buy various items only needed to visit the Seven Treasures Mall to get everything they needed. No more running around the entire city searching for specific goods.
Third Street was the core area of Tiandou City, and by building the massive mall here, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect had effectively transformed it into the absolute commercial hub of the city.
From now on, the foot traffic in commercial areas on other streets would inevitably be diluted.
Everyone had thought the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect was sabotaging itself, but it turned out they had been planning a masterstroke.
Many merchants who had frantically stockpiled goods panicked, scrambling to use their connections to secure a shop in the Seven Treasures Mall.
Initially, when they thought the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect was finished, these merchants hoarded goods in hopes of seizing control of Tiandou City's market.
Little did they expect to be outmaneuvered like this.
Now, their only hope was to seek cooperation with the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect. Only then could they sell off their stockpiles of goods.
Amidst the crowd, an old man began shouting curses: "Ning Fengzhi, you bastard! You're going to regret this!"
As soon as he finished, the old man coughed up blood and collapsed, dying on the spot.
"This Old Liu really brought it upon himself—he shouldn't have put all his assets into stockpiling goods."
The merchants showed no sympathy, watching the old man like he was a pitiful bug.
As for the shops they wanted, they'd have to wait until all of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's shops were fully occupied before any remaining spaces might become available for rent.
Overall, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's moves had left many merchants losing everything.
---
Ning Fengzhi was far away from the old man. Even if he had heard the curses clearly, he wouldn't care.
Just a clown jumping around—why bother paying attention?
Disciples from various factions observing the ribbon-cutting ceremony quickly reported the situation back to their masters.
Among them, the faction least affected was undoubtedly the Tiandou City Spirit Hall.
Xue Qinghe understood Ning Fengzhi's character and naturally didn't let Salas blindly follow the trend. Moreover, the goods in the Spirit Hall's hands were all transferred from other Spirit Hall branches. Even if they took a loss, it was just shipping costs.
Surprisingly, Ning Fengzhi didn't choose to monopolize this business.
He reserved several shops each for the Spirit Hall and the Tiandou Empire.
Although the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect could handle such a large share, they also feared overextending themselves.
By bringing in the Tiandou Imperial Family and the Spirit Hall, these two parties would never cause trouble for them in the future.
As for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, Ning Fengzhi hadn't considered them at all. He hadn't forgotten how they had wronged Ning Tianchen last time. Unless Yu Yuanzhen personally came to explain the situation, this matter wouldn't be easily resolved.
However, Yu Yuanzhen was still in the dark about Yu Luomian's underhanded actions.
---
"Big brother Tianchen, I understand why Dad gave ten shops to the Tiandou Imperial Family. But why did he give eight shops to the Spirit Hall?" Ning Rongrong couldn't comprehend and sought clarification.
The reasoning was simple.
The Tiandou Imperial Family and the Spirit Hall couldn't possibly pass up the profits these shops would bring. Once they moved into the Seven Treasures Mall, they'd essentially be tied to the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's ship.
If trouble arose in the mall in the future, both parties would have to step in.
Moreover, Ning Fengzhi publicly announcing this move sent a clear signal to the outside world that the three parties were on good terms. No one in the world would dare to offend the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, the Tiandou Empire, and the Spirit Hall simultaneously.
"I didn't expect Uncle Ning to harvest so much from the various factions."
This strike had cut not only the grass but even its roots.
At the same time, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's shops on Eighth Street began moving their goods to the Seven Treasures Mall, with demolition teams standing by, ready to tear down the old shops.
Simultaneously, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect posted notices on Eighth Street offering to purchase land.
A single stone stirred a thousand waves.
Within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, Elder Yu Yuanzhen shattered the stone seat beside him in anger after hearing the news.
"The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect has gone too far!"
In his fury, Yu Yuanzhen seemed ready to march to the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect and demand an explanation.
They had claimed to be united as the top three sects, yet the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect had joined forces with the Tiandou Empire and the Spirit Hall to devour the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family!
Of course, he seemed to have forgotten that his own family had once plotted to encroach on the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect.
For a moment, all the elders of the family looked like mourners or frostbitten eggplants, their faces deathly pale.
Though the family wouldn't go bankrupt because of this, for a long time to come, they'd have to tighten their belts.
Yu Yuanzhen gradually calmed down and sighed deeply. "Cut all unnecessary expenses. The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect plans to build an academy, which will inevitably lead to widespread recruitment. Temporarily halt funding for Lanba Academy and Thunder Academy."
Yu Luomian couldn't help but ask, "Big Brother, with the emergence of the Seven Treasures Mall, property prices on Eighth Street have already been halved. The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect is still buying land—are we selling?"
Another elder angrily interjected, "Master, absolutely not! The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect clearly intends to wipe us out completely. If we lose the shops on Eighth Street, the remaining shops scattered throughout Tiandou City won't amount to anything."
Yu Yuanzhen was torn.
If they didn't sell the land now, prices would only fall further in the future. But if they sold, the income from those shops would plummet, making it difficult to even sustain themselves.
Most importantly, all the land within the Tiandou Empire was nominally under the jurisdiction of the royal family. If Ning Fengzhi obtained approval from the palace to forcibly requisition the land, they wouldn't see a single coin.
Though he looked down on Ning Fengzhi, Yu Yuanzhen knew they had already lost this round of the commercial game.
If you lose, you admit it. When beaten, stand straight.
"Yu Luomian, go to the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect. We'll sell the shops on Eighth Street. But make sure the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect gives us a way out. Otherwise, there's no point in discussing anything further."
---
News of Ning Fengzhi's deeds quickly reached Spirit City.
How sharp Bibi Dong's insight was—she immediately saw the business opportunity.
But this time, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect hadn't eaten the pie alone, leaving her feeling powerless.
The Spirit Hall had been allocated eight large shops—surely they couldn't eat the food and then curse the cook?
"Lady Pope, since when did Ning Fengzhi gain such foresight?" Yue Guan couldn't help but ask.
"Chrysanthemum Guan, I think Ning Fengzhi is actively showing goodwill. He must realize that opposing us would cost him even more," Gui Mei said in a sinister tone.
Bibi Dong's jade-like hand lightly tapped against her high seat, her eyes half-closed as if deep in thought.
After a long while, she softly parted her crimson lips and spoke: "Tell Salas to make full use of the Seven Treasures Mall. All goods will be supplied by the Pope's Hall. He only needs to do one thing: earn more gold spirit coins for me."
Bibi Dong's plan required vast amounts of gold spirit coins to execute.
With these shops, it was time to seize the opportunity and accumulate wealth.
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