Chapter 147: Li Kui
“Heh heh, thank you for your help, Senior Wan. I will certainly pass on your message to Elder Ma.”
Lu Qingyang raised the jade talisman and replied to Wan Hua’s voice transmission without betraying any emotion.
Then he brought Jiangxin before him.
“Read me the three years of accounts Senior Wan sent over.”
“Beep beep, as you command, Master.”
Perhaps sensing that something was off with Lu Qingyang’s state, Jiangxin hurriedly agreed.
“Over the past three years, our Chaotian Sect’s sales of first-tier Battle Puppets totaled twenty-two thousand units, for a total of over forty million low-grade spirit stones.”
“Second-tier Battle Puppets totaled five thousand units, sold for eighty million low-grade spirit stones.”
“Third-tier Battle Puppets totaled…”
“…”
“Fifth-tier Battle Puppets totaled two hundred units, sold for over six hundred million low-grade spirit stones.”
“Total sales: nine hundred million spirit stones.”
Listening to Jiangxin’s report, Lu Qingyang’s eyelid could not help but twitch.
“Nine hundred million spirit stones…”
Has the Chaotian Sect really taken in this many spirit stones over the past three years?
“Beep beep, n-no… no.”
Jiangxin’s voice stuttered, a rare occurrence.
With its current grade, such a problem was absolutely impossible.
And the reason it stuttered was naturally because it too had noticed something was wrong.
“The numbers for fourth and fifth-tier puppets are fine.”
“But puppets below third-tier — with the Chaotian Sect’s current yearly revenue, how could we possibly produce so many?”
“First-tier puppets: our sect produces at most a few thousand a year.”
“Yet judging solely from the Seven Stars Pavilion’s accounts that Senior Wan provided, our Chaotian Sect somehow sold twenty thousand first-tier puppets over three years?”
“And that is only the Seven Stars Pavilion’s accounts. What about those sold to Vast Sea City? And the scattered sales?”
Lu Qingyang tossed one question after another at Jiangxin.
Which left Jiangxin mired in silence as well.
“Go investigate. Someone is using the Chaotian Sect’s name to sell puppets in the Seven Stars Sea Region.”
“Find out who this person is. No — to produce so many puppets, there must be a major power behind them.”
“Spare no cost to root out this faction.”
A cold gleam flashed in Lu Qingyang’s eyes.
Someone impersonating the Chaotian Sect to sell puppets was not a big deal in itself.
But the fact that their sales volume nearly rivaled the Chaotian Sect’s — that was a big deal.
The data said everything.
Though the other party had not tampered with fifth-tier puppets.
Their figures alone proved that this pack of counterfeits was very likely no weaker than the Chaotian Sect in puppet-refining technique.
However, no matter what their background was, since they were using the Chaotian Sect’s banner to earn spirit stones.
Then this karma — they would have to bear it.
With that, Lu Qingyang’s figure flickered, and he vanished from the peak’s Spirit Lake.
And as Lu Qingyang’s orders were issued.
Squad after squad of puppets shot away from Tiangong Island in an instant.
At the same time, the great screen within the Mission Hall refreshed with rows upon rows of missions to investigate this matter.
“Look! A new mission!”
“Hm? Investigate the mastermind behind the counterfeit Chaotian Sect puppets in the Seven Stars Sea Region?”
“No time limit, no headcount limit! Mission reward… one fifth-tier Battle Puppet! Plus a fifth-tier Battle Spirit Armor!”
“Hisss! A major mission! Quick, quick, who will Team Up with me!”
For a time, the disciples of the Chaotian Sect all cried out like madmen.
Streak after streak of light flickered ceaselessly at the Mission Hall’s entrance.
Clearly, more disciples had been drawn in to accept the mission.
And on the other side, Lu Qingyang’s figure arrived at the back mountain of Chaotian Peak.
At the back mountain of Chaotian Peak, upon a vast platform.
A huge boulder stood to one side, carved with the three words: Grand Elder Court.
This place was clearly the cultivation grounds of the Chaotian Sect’s Grand Elders.
But within the Grand Elder Court, there were now only two people.
One was Jun Moyan of the Soul Transformation stage, and the other was the Mahayana Venerable, Ma Liang.
“Whoosh!”
Lu Qingyang’s figure flickered and he stood before Ma Liang’s cave residence.
“Bzz~”
Before he could speak, the formation before the cave residence had already opened.
“Sect Master, you’ve come. Please, come in.”
Ma Liang’s voice came from within the cave.
Watching the cave residence’s door slowly open, Lu Qingyang’s eyes flickered.
Without another word, he stepped inside.
“Sect Master, what brings you to see me today?”
Inside the cave residence, Ma Liang sat cross-legged on a rush mat.
“Elder Ma, there is something I do not understand, and I need you to help me clear it up.”
Lu Qingyang got straight to the point, stating his purpose.
“Oh? Speak freely, Sect Master. Whatever this old man knows, I will tell you all without reserve.”
Ma Liang gave a slight nod.
“In the Seven Stars Sea Region — no, in all of Qingnan Shengzhou — are there any puppet-refining sects whose technique surpasses our sect’s?”
“Hm? Puppet-refining sects? Technique surpassing our sect’s?”
“There seem to be… not many. Only the former Thousand Bamboo Sect. No, the Thousand Bamboo Sect’s technique is not necessarily deeper than ours either.”
“Why does the Sect Master ask this? Is there some problem?”
“A problem? Heh heh, the problem is the matter of Li Kui and the counterfeits.”
Lu Qingyang laughed, then laid out the day’s problem in full.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ma Liang also understood the cause and effect.
But from what he knew, within all of Qingnan Shengzhou, there were hardly any puppet-refining techniques superior to the Chaotian Sect’s.
“Could it be that they came from another province?”
“No. Among the three hundred great provinces of the Central Region, each is separated by millions of miles. Even neighboring provinces would not go to such lengths just to sell a few puppets.”
Ma Liang cut off Lu Qingyang’s speculation.
“In my view, it must be a local sect. If you wish to investigate, it is actually quite simple.”
“The Sect Master need only reduce puppet sales this month, then send someone in disguise. After that, you can…”
Hearing Ma Liang’s words, Lu Qingyang’s eyes lit up.
“Not bad. This method is good. Let us do as Elder Ma says.”
“Why not have Elder Ma accompany me personally for the trip?”
“This old man is willing!”
After pondering for a moment, Ma Liang agreed.
Hearing this, the corner of Lu Qingyang’s mouth revealed a faint smile.
“Elder Ma, after you!”
“Whoosh!”
Two escape lights shot through the sky, heading straight for the Seven Stars Sea Region.
…
At the same time, on the other side.
Huangji Island, Great Qian Imperial Dynasty.
Within the imperial palace.
Gong Luo listened to her State Preceptor’s report below, her eyes filled with joy.
What Mo Chen held in his hands were precisely the accounts of Great Qian since it began selling puppets.
“Your Majesty, puppet refining is now the greatest pillar of industry in Great Qian.”
“For this reason, I beg Your Majesty to absorb the refining workshops, expand the scale, and designate an entire island specifically for puppet refining.”
“Designate an entire island specifically?”
Gong Luo’s eyes narrowed.
Three years of selling puppets, and the cultivator population within her imperial dynasty had nearly doubled.
Even her own cultivation was approaching Soul Transformation.
Such resources truly made her unable to stop.
But if they expanded puppet refining further, even designating a dedicated island, would that not be far too conspicuous?
By nature, she was absolutely not a timid person.
But whenever she thought of that green robe, Gong Luo could not help but shudder again.
“State Preceptor, will this not draw the Chaotian Sect’s attention?”
“Hmph, and what if they notice? How can Great Qian suffer to be controlled by others!”
“What is a mere Chaotian Sect? In the future, Great Qian will eventually reign over this realm!”
Mo Chen spat flying spittle, his voice ringing with force.
As if he could already see that day…