Chapter 17: Others Are Fearful, I Increase My Position

Actually, Zhao Xuhe was also aware that by now, the Substitute Death Yin Puppet market had turned into a complete bubble. It could explode at any moment, followed by a total collapse.

But he felt that with his keen senses, he could definitely exit the market in time.

Therefore, when Lu Yang contacted him, saying he had already exited and wanted to repay the 2000 Contribution Points loan he borrowed earlier, Zhao Xuhe even felt pity for him.

“Rash, Junior Brother, you are too rash!”

“Don’t you see the price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets is still rising? And the war hasn’t even started yet. When the war truly begins, that will be when supply truly cannot meet demand.”

“While it hasn’t risen too outrageously yet, I suggest you hurry up and buy back in.”

Facing Zhao Xuhe’s vigorous persuasion, Lu Yang maintained his rationality.

Although he was also envious of the skyrocketing Substitute Death Yin Puppets and even regretted selling so early, he understood Zhao Xuhe’s reason for persuading him right now even more clearly.

Caring about him?

Don’t be silly. He wanted to pull people into the market!

After all, the more people entered the market, the more chances he had to cash out and leave.

“Hold it in. I’m not in a hurry.”

“In this life, I’ll observe the situation first and confirm the highest price point. In the next life, I’ll repeat the operation. That will be my golden opportunity to make a huge profit…”

With the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], I will only profit, never lose!

Thinking of this, Lu Yang’s mood instantly became much more balanced. He settled the loan with Zhao Xuhe directly, then immediately went into seclusion, ignoring the outside world.

While Lu Yang was in seclusion, the price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets was still skyrocketing.

Because the Primordial Saint Sect really made moves to prepare for war!

A large number of disciples received transfer orders and left the sect one after another, their destinations unknown… Under these circumstances, it was naturally impossible for the price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets to drop even slightly.

No matter how expensive, those about to rush to the Righteous-Demonic war could only grit their teeth and buy.

After all, money could be earned again, but life was only one.

Under these circumstances, more and more people chose to enter the market. Most of them weren’t even ordinary disciples, but true disciples from aristocratic families.

Compared to ordinary disciples, these scions came from wealthy and powerful clans. Their elders were at worst Foundation Establishment Perfected Ones. The Contribution Points they could mobilize were undoubtedly far superior to those ordinary disciples. Thus, after they entered the market, the price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets, which had shown signs of slowing down, took off again.

Three thousand, four thousand, five thousand…

Clearly, this price was no longer on the same level as the value of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet itself. Some people, driven by fear, had even begun to leave the market.

In this situation, the price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets naturally experienced a drop.

Similar panic gradually began to spread. However, even more people—especially those who had experienced the first dip—were still full of confidence.

“Don’t panic, this is just a technical adjustment!”

“Selling off? It’s still too early!”

This time, Zhao Xuhe felt he had learned his lesson.

Previously, because he left the market too early, his second entry not only failed to make a profit but also resulted in a small loss. How could he suffer the same loss a second time?

“The Righteous-Demonic war hasn’t even started yet, and there’s still a sufficient quantity of Substitute Death Yin Puppets on the market. So right now, at first glance, the price seems to have peaked. But once the fighting starts, Substitute Death Yin Puppets will inevitably be consumed in large quantities. With no other homogenous substitutes, everyone will have to come back and buy!”

“At that time, the price will inevitably welcome a third skyrocketing surge!”

“What is a mere five thousand Contribution Points? Seven thousand, even ten thousand is possible! Priceless but with no market supply— when it concerns one’s life, everyone will buy even if they have to smash their pots and sell iron!”

Zhao Xuhe felt his analysis was simply flawless.

“So while those idiots are selling off out of fear… I’m going to increase my position!”

Thinking of this, Zhao Xuhe not only invested all his savings but even went to take out loans, borrowing a large sum relying on the credit of the [Three Rivers Society].

He went all in.

Of course, Zhao Xuhe wasn’t the only “smart person.” Others made the same judgment as him and also began taking the opportunity to sweep up goods on the market aggressively.

Affected by this, the price that had just fallen began to rebound again.

Seeing this scene, Zhao Xuhe, who originally felt a little uncertain, instantly felt like he had taken a calming pill, feeling that his choice to go all in was simply wise.

Then, early the next morning.

A voice transmitted directly from the Sacred Fire Cliff, instantly spreading throughout the inside and outside of the Primordial Saint Sect.

“Recently, the Sect Master Perfected Lord personally made arrangements. Openly, he mobilized disciples to pose for war preparation— secretly, he sent people to raid the Jiangnan Ten-Thousand-Man Pit.”

“Therefore, I am pleased to announce to all disciples.”

“Just yesterday, the Jiangnan Ten-Thousand-Man Pit was personally retaken by the Sect Master Perfected Lord. Simultaneously, the [Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion] has contacted the Sect Master, willing to hold peace talks with the Saint Sect.”

It exploded.

Literally. The moment the news spread, the sound of an explosion came from a certain Cave Abode. It seemed someone had suffered a deviation in cultivation and self-destructed.

Immediately after, all sounds fell silent.

The massive Primordial Saint Sect, which yesterday was a scene of vibrant life and competitive spirit, now only had a deathly silence that was terrifying to the point of suffocation.

Because everyone understood that by retaking of the Jiangnan Ten-Thousand-Man Pit meant the supply of Substitute Death Yin Puppets was no longer short. The [Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion] proactively seeking peace talks meant the Righteous-Demonic war was indefinitely postponed… More importantly, this news was released through the disciple tokens, equivalent to an official announcement.

So it couldn’t be fake.

At this moment, the bubble named Substitute Death Yin Puppet blasted apart with a boom. The result was its price plummeting from the peak of seven thousand in a cliff-diving crash.

Five thousand, three thousand, one thousand, two hundred.

The price that took over a month to rise had now plummeted back to its original price within a mere quarter of an hour, and was even continuing to fall!

Everyone wanted to sell, but no one was willing to buy.

Especially those who had hoarded large quantities of Substitute Death Yin Puppets. Now, they could only watch helplessly as the price broke through the floor, watching their wealth evaporate continuously.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

That night, deafening explosions rang out within the Primordial Saint Sect almost periodically. Who knew how many people had their Dao Hearts shattered because of this?

Inside his Cave Abode, Zhao Xuhe had fainted long ago.

When he opened his eyes, his expression was still somewhat blank, as if in a dream. “Truly terrifying. I actually dreamed the price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets fell… Hahaha…”

Then he took a look at the price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets.

100 Contribution Points per puppet.

“…Must have seen it wrong.”

After a moment of silence, Zhao Xuhe turned off his disciple token, took a deep breath, then with trembling hands, opened it again to check the price.

50 Contribution Points per puppet.

“Pfft!!!”

Zhao Xuhe spat out a mouthful of old blood on the spot. His face turned the color of a pig’s liver, and his Qi aura instantly plummeted to rock bottom, just like the price of the puppets.

“Damn it!”

Zhao Xuhe didn’t have time to think too much. He desperately suppressed the thoughts running wild in his heart, regulated his breath, and smoothed out his True Qi, barely avoiding a true Qi deviation.

Just then, a voice came from outside the Cave Abode.

“Senior Brother Zhao, Lu Yang has come to visit.”

“Lu Yang?”

Zhao Xuhe was stunned for a long while before remembering this Junior Brother of his. Then thinking of how the other party had left the market early and paid off the loan, while he himself had lost everything…

“Pfft!”

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Zhao Xuhe walked out trembling, only to see Lu Yang standing in front of the door looking refreshed and energetic, waving at him enthusiastically.

“Senior Brother, how much money did you make today?”

Bang!

With a crisp sound, Zhao Xuhe gritted his steel teeth. True Qi rampaged throughout his body, cracking his skin and flesh, causing threads of blood to seep out.

Lu Yang immediately looked terrified. “Senior Brother!? Are you okay?”

“…I’m fine.”

Zhao Xuhe forced out a bit of a smile. “By the way, Junior Brother Lu, I recently discovered a predecessor’s Cave Abode. There seem to be quite a few good things inside.”

As his voice fell, a fierce glint instantly appeared in Zhao Xuhe’s eyes. He squeezed the words out from between his teeth: “I wonder if Junior Brother is interested?”

TN: 真人 (Zhenjun)/ Perfected Lord/ True Lord is a cultivation title. It comes from Daoist terminology and is used in both classical texts and xianxia novels.. A higher title, usually for the Sect Master or higher-realm cultivators.

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