Chapter 74: Everything Will Return to the Hard Truth That the Bigger Fist Rules |
Once, a certain scumbag who was ten trillion in debt said:
How does one build a great enterprise?
"Buy, buy, buy. Merge, merge, merge. Enclose, enclose, enclose. Bigger, bigger, bigger. Good, good, good."
It sounded like nonsense, but a kernel of truth lay hidden within.
Acquisitions and mergers could secure allies and assistance. Enclosing land could secure resources. Growing large enough could thicken one's health bar. Added together, wouldn't things just keep getting better?
Of course, the quality of a methodology had no inevitable correlation with the results of its practice; people were the core that determined everything.
Wang Yulou would not simply copy a loser's methodology, but some of his own strategies were not all that special either.
They were nothing more than applying his greatest sincerity, utmost patience, and maximum effort, maintaining a cautious and reverent heart to inch closer to a certain possibility and goal.
Clear Stream Market, Racetrack. Wang Yulou and the old Patriarch sat on the highest tier of the stands.
"Patriarch, horse racing isn't a strict necessity for cultivators. Compared to spirit pills and talismans, whether or not one watches horse racing won't affect their cultivation.
"Therefore, from a business perspective, my initial push for the family to invest in the Clear Stream Market Racetrack was actually a massive miscalculation.
"Over the past few years, it was only through constant, exhausting efforts that I managed to keep this investment from running at a loss.
"In the future, our Wang Clan should learn from this lesson. We cannot invest heavily in industries that cultivators don't really need. The risk is too great."
A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. Yulou had truly been frightened. Over the past few years, the investment in the Racetrack had been the heaviest stone weighing on his heart.
Even though this stone had now been lifted, he still had lingering fears.
"Haha, Yulou, you're being humble again. But you're right; we must be careful in the future.
"But look, you also clearly understand that a cultivator's cultivation is the top priority. Do you have any thoughts regarding your own future cultivation arrangements?"
Yulou had solidly rooted himself in Clear Stream Market for ten years. He had cultivated from the second layer of Qi Induction all the way to his current seventh layer of Qi Induction, and he had also thoroughly mastered the artificing path.
Truthfully, he could already return home to cultivate, but the Patriarch still wanted to ask about his plans.
This was his respect for Yulou. Yes, respect.
The dictatorial patriarch model had long been eliminated by the Wang Clan. To survive in the cultivation world, the family had to be united.
Through his achievements and success over the years, Yulou had won the full respect of the Patriarch, Wang Xianmao.
"After the Clear Stream Market Talisman Master Competition concludes, I will first return to the family to cultivate to Qi Refining, making up for the various techniques I lack.
"The guidance True Person Danri gave back then was very clear. After reaching Qi Refining, I should join Dripdrop Cave. For this, I will still need the family's help."
For a cultivator, the level of their cultivation base was one aspect—and naturally, the main aspect.
However, the corresponding auxiliary arts, various spells, secret magical combat inheritances, escape techniques, and the like could not be lacking either. Otherwise, one would just be a crippled cultivator unable to go far.
The few Foundation Establishment cultivators that Wang Xianzhou had slain were all existences who hadn't built a deep enough foundation during their Qi Refining stage. This was a flaw that Yulou definitely had to avoid.
He needed a cultivation base, but even more so, he needed the strength to completely protect himself!
"With such a large operation in Clear Stream Market, you're just going to let it go like that?"
The Patriarch was extremely surprised—surprised by Yulou's open-mindedness and detachment.
Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the Clear Stream Market Racetrack... these had all been built up bit by bit by Yulou.
"No matter how big the operation is, it belongs to the family. If I wasn't standing on the family's shoulders, there is absolutely no way I could have achieved what I have today relying solely on myself."
Having a clear understanding of boundaries was a kind of wisdom.
Wang Yulou's dormant state in Clear Stream Market was partly due to the family's arrangements and partly because the laws of heaven and earth were locked, but this dormancy would eventually end, and he would return to his primary task of cultivation.
After reaching Qi Refining, every day and every hour could be spent cultivating to his heart's content. How could Yulou bear to waste his time on business operations?
"Moreover, Patriarch, our operations in Clear Stream Market have pretty much reached their limit. We've discussed this before."
Wang Xianmao shook his head and asked pointedly.
"Has it really reached its limit? Yulou, I might be older, but I haven't reached the point of being muddle-headed yet. Tell me your true thoughts."
The wise Patriarch had already seen that Yulou was holding something back.
Wang Yulou looked slightly embarrassed, but he quickly adjusted himself.
"Patriarch, holding a treasure is a crime in itself. The sect taking away Great Goods Store is a prime example.
"Yes, this involved the agreements we made with True Person Xuanzhuan.
"But the essence of this matter is that Great Goods Store represents an incredibly valuable and innovative business model—one that the current Wang Clan cannot protect.
"You should understand this point.
"When I said that the Wang Clan had reached a certain limit in our business operations, this is what I meant.
"If our Wang Clan can produce a few more Foundation Establishment cultivators in the future, we can naturally make more attempts.
"Otherwise, it's better not to hand precious opportunities over to others."
The Patriarch nodded repeatedly, though he continued to press the issue.
"Look, if our Wang Clan can't protect it, why don't we find an ally to run it together?
"Isn't that what you did with the Racetrack? You run it together with the Yang family, and now it's booming."
Cooperation was a good method. Yulou admitted this as well.
"We can find allies, but Patriarch, this involves the issue of dominance.
"In the cultivation world, the right to lead a business operation isn't based on one's share, but on one's strength.
"Our Wang Clan is facing the problem of our strength reaching its limit. Finding a stronger partner could help us, but we would lose dominance right from the start.
"If we find a weaker ally, we might be able to retain dominance in the long run, but that defeats the basic purpose of finding an ally.
"It's a dead end either way. I've been honing myself in Clear Stream Market for so long, but right now, I still haven't found a way to break this deadlock."
The stagnation at the Racetrack had brought Yulou much contemplation, and even reflection.
Too many experiences and concepts from his past life simply couldn't be blindly applied to the cultivation world. The initial failures at the Racetrack were the perfect example.
Yulou's current answer was the final product of his extensive thinking and judgment—everything would return to the hard truth that the bigger fist rules.
The Wang Clan had the Behemoth Lineage as its backing and could borrow a fist, but a borrowed fist was ultimately not their own.
For a family to prosper, there could be strength in numbers. However, the prerequisite for this strength was having a sturdy enough skeleton—they needed a formidable figure as their core!
"Hahahaha! Yulou, oh, Yulou. I was actually worried that your success in Clear Stream Market would affect your Dao heart.
"Looking at it now, it seems this Patriarch underestimated you! Hahahaha!"
Wang Xianmao stood up with a loud laugh. Taking Yulou, he flew down into the Racetrack and began today's work.
The Clear Stream Market Talisman Master Competition was now on a completely different scale. Due to the Patriarch's intervention, the competition's progress had been fast-tracked.
The venue had also changed from the open space in front of Hundred Treasures Pavilion to the Racetrack, perfectly adhering to the principle of "bigger, bigger, bigger."
With Yulou's assistance, Wang Xianmao began using wood-elemental arts to modify the terrain in the center of the Racetrack, preparing the future competition grounds in advance.
"Actually, Yulou, compared to Hundred Treasures Pavilion, I'm far more satisfied with your management of the Racetrack.
"With our family's goods in stock, Hundred Treasures Pavilion will always have a baseline income. Achieving success there isn't difficult.
"But you built this Racetrack up bit by bit from a state of constant loss. It's precisely because of your success with the Racetrack that I dared to let you open Great Goods Store."
Wang Yulou's hibernation in Clear Stream Market was partly due to the family's arrangements and partly because the laws of heaven and earth had been locked down. However, this hibernation would eventually end, and he would return to his primary task of cultivation.
After reaching Qi Refining, he would be able to cultivate to his heart's content every hour of every day. Why would Yulou be willing to waste his time managing businesses?
"Besides, Patriarch, our operations in Clear Stream Market have just about reached their limit. We've discussed this before."
Wang Xianmao shook his head and asked pointedly.
"Has it really reached its limit? Yulou, I may be getting on in years, but my brain isn't muddled just yet. Tell me your true thoughts."
Indeed, the wise Patriarch had already seen that Yulou was holding something back.
Wang Yulou felt slightly awkward but quickly composed himself.
"Patriarch, holding a treasure is a crime in itself. The sect taking away the Great Goods Store is a prime example of that.
"Yes, part of that matter involves our collusion with True Person Xuanzhuan.
"But at its core, the Great Goods Store represented an innovative business model of immense value—one that the current Wang Clan cannot protect.
"You should understand this point.
"When I said the Wang Clan had reached a certain limit in our business ventures, this is what I meant.
"If our Wang Clan can produce a few more Foundation Establishment cultivators in the future, we can naturally make more attempts.
"Otherwise, it's best not to hand over precious opportunities to others."
The Patriarch nodded repeatedly, but continued to press the issue.
"Look, if our Wang Clan can't protect it, why not find an ally and do it together?
"Isn't that what you did with the Racetrack? You run it together with the Yang family, and it's booming right now."
Cooperation was a good method; Yulou acknowledged this as well.
"We can find an ally, but Patriarch, this involves the issue of dominance.
"In the cultivation world, the right to dominate an industry isn't based on shares held, but on strength.
"Our Wang Clan is facing the problem of our strength reaching its limit. Finding a stronger partner can help us, but we would lose dominance from the very beginning.
"Finding a weaker ally might allow us to maintain dominance in the long run, but then we would lose the fundamental purpose of seeking an ally in the first place.
"This blocks us on both ends. I have tempered myself in Clear Stream Market for so long, but as of now, I still haven't found a way to break this deadlock."
The stagnation at the Racetrack had brought Yulou much contemplation, and even reflection.
Too many experiences and concepts from his past life could not simply be applied to the cultivation world. The early failures of the Racetrack were the best example of this.
Yulou's answer at this moment was the final product of his extensive thoughts and judgment—everything ultimately returned to the hard truth that the bigger fist ruled.
The Wang Clan had the Behemoth Lineage as a backer and could borrow their fist, but a borrowed fist ultimately wasn't their own.
A flourishing family could mean strength in numbers, but the prerequisite for this strength was an adequately robust framework—there had to be a formidable core!
"Hahahaha! Yulou, oh Yulou. I was even worried that the success you achieved in Clear Stream Market might negatively affect your Dao Heart.
"Looking at it now, it seems your Patriarch has underestimated you. Hahahaha."
Wang Xianmao laughed loudly and stood up, flying toward the Racetrack with Yulou to begin today's work.
The scale of the Clear Stream Market Talisman Master Competition was completely different now. Thanks to the Patriarch's intervention, the fast-forward button had been pressed on this competition.
The venue had also changed from the open space in front of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to the Racetrack, fully conforming to the principle of 'bigger, bigger, bigger.'
With Yulou's assistance, Wang Xianmao began using wood-elemental arts to alter the terrain in the center of the Racetrack, preparing and polishing the future arena for the Talisman Master Competition in advance.
"Actually, Yulou, compared to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, I am much more satisfied with your management of the Racetrack.
"The Hundred Treasures Pavilion has our family's goods, so there will always be a basic income. Success wasn't difficult.
"But you built this Racetrack up from a deficit, bit by bit. It is precisely because of your success with the Racetrack that I dared let you open the Great Goods Store."
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