Chapter 330: Our Sect Master's Cultivation is Equal to Yun Zhi of Dao Seeking Sect

Shi Huagu was struck with utter astonishment; even Huo Huashen, who had been maintaining a silent guise of an aloof master, could no longer keep up his facade.

The roaring business of the barbecue shop was a fact evident to all, supply failing to meet demand, turning profits faster than highway robbery.

Even up until closing time, people queued in lines outside, the sheer scale of its popularity easily imagined.

As a mighty expert of the Body Integration Stage, what delicacies of the mortal realm had Shi Huagu not sampled? He had tasted dishes far superior to these skewers, meals whose ingredients could scarce be bought with a thousand pieces of gold, luxuries beyond the reach of spirit stones alone.

Yet this barbecue shop was entirely different; its ingredients could be procured at any ordinary vegetable market.

Common ingredients, yet sold at astronomical prices, yielding profits whose staggering geometry defied calculation.

The earnings of a single barbecue shop were hardly enough to stir figures of the Soul Formation or Body Integration Stages into action.

But what if such barbecue shops were opened across the entirety of the Central Continent?

The wealth generated would be truly immense, enough to tempt the heart of any living soul.

Of course, there remained the most critical detail: he still bore a debt of one billion, and should he fail to repay it, he would be struck by lightning once every month.

He was in desperate need of coin!

Fortunately, Shi Huagu was seasoned and circumspect, showing no outward sign of over-excitement; suppressing the thrill in his heart, he remarked, "The business of your esteemed cult's barbecue shop is naturally exceptional. My Nine Nether Cult possesses industries of its own, but compared to this shop, they fall terribly short."

Whether it was smuggling or running a menagerie, no venture could match the sheer, violent profitability of this barbecue shop, which yielded tens of times the return on investment.

Most crucial of all, theirs was a legitimate enterprise, immune to scrutiny; unlike his Nine Nether Cult, which possessed virtually no lawful business, save for their singular brush with legitimacy in the funeral industry.

Even the funeral industry carried its perils; a certain high-ranking member of the Nine Nether Cult, who excelled in the refinement of corpses, had a sudden whim to dig up and refine the very bodies buried by their patrons.

Somehow, the truth eventually leaked to a customer, who promptly reported them.

Mercifully, the Nine Nether Cult acted with decisive swiftness, pushing the fool forward to take the blame and severing all ties with him.

"I merely wonder how such an enterprise could be promoted across the continent? I consider myself to have tasted a fair share of barbecue, yet none can compare to what I ate today. I presume your esteemed cult possesses unique grilling techniques and recipes, and most importantly, that secret method of aphrodisiac enhancement. Can these be propagated as well?"

Cult Leader Shi possessed a shrewd eye, discerning the difficulties of nationwide expansion after only a brief reflection.

Lu Yang gave a soft chuckle: "Our barbecue recipe dates back to antiquity; it is only natural that Cult Leader Shi has never encountered it before."

"Please follow me."

Lu Yang rose and led Shi Huagu into the backyard, presenting him with the automatic grilling racks and the automated skewer-piercing formations, a sight that left Shi Huagu gazing in absolute wonderment.

Worthy indeed of the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Court Cult, to have prepared so thoroughly.

"The automatic grilling racks were forged by Guardian Duobao, whereas this automated skewer-piercing formation..." Lu Yang offered a smile fraught with hidden meaning.

"From whence did this automated skewer-piercing formation come?"

"This particular set of formations was crafted by several Body Integration Stage changgui under the command of our Cult Leader," Lu Yang disclosed, delivering a piece of news that shook Shi Huagu to the core.

Shi Huagu's pupils contracted slightly.

Body Integration Stage changgui—these were the highest-cultivation ghost-servants known to exist.

Only by exceeding a thrall by an entire major realm could one refine them into a changgui.

This meant that the "Cult Leader" Lu Yang spoke of was a mighty figure of the Tribulation Transmutation Stage!

The Heavenly Court Cult truly possessed a Tribulation Transmutation expert!

"May I ask who your esteemed Cult Leader might be..."

Lu Yang offered no direct answer, replying instead with a smile: "I wonder if Cult Leader Shi has ever heard of Yun Zhi of the Daoist Sect?"

Shi Huagu had secretly gathered much intelligence regarding the Five Great Immortal Sects, including Yun Zhi, who single-handedly suppressed the leaders of those five great sects.

By his estimations, Yun Zhi of the Daoist Sect had already attained the late stage of Tribulation Transmutation; achieving such a realm at so tender an age made her a formidable obstacle in the struggle for immortality in this grand era, an exceedingly troublesome adversary!

"Our Cult Leader once clashed with Yun Zhi of the Daoist Sect, and their cultivations proved evenly matched."

"What?!"

Shi Huagu’s eyes widened in sheer shock; this Cult Leader of the Heavenly Court Cult truly possessed a cultivation that defied nature itself.

Likely only a person of such profound power was qualified to hold the mantle of Cult Leader of the Heavenly Court Cult.

Initially, Shi Huagu believed the Heavenly Court Cult was merely a gathering of slumbering ancients whose current strength was a shadow of its past, but today's revelation completely upended his previous deductions.

Perhaps the strength of the Heavenly Court Cult could not rival the ancient Heavenly Court, but it was certainly several cuts above their Nine Nether Cult.

Choosing to approach the Heavenly Court Cult had indeed been a brilliant decision!

"Furthermore, this kindle is a brand-new true fire developed by our cult; it not only elevates the flavor of the skewers to a higher level, but it also carries an aphrodisiac effect!"

Lu Yang conjured a small flame in his palm, which was precisely the fusion of the Samadhi True Fire and the Pure Yang True Fire.

Shi Huagu examined the flame closely with his divine sense, discovering that it was indeed an entirely original true fire, absent from the known one hundred and eight varieties of true fire, bearing traces of both Samadhi and Pure Yang, yet existing only as their shadows.

Pure Yang True Fire possessed no aphrodisiac properties.

It appeared the Heavenly Court Cult had been quietly making moves without a sound; though seemingly inactive, they had already laid out their pieces step by step, merely waiting for the final trap to spring!

Otherwise, why would they go to the trouble of inventing a new true fire specifically for the sake of barbecue?

"Young Cult Leader, these things ought not be shown to outsiders. This was originally intended to be the foundation of our Heavenly Court Cult's expansion and intelligence network!" the Fifth Elder advised with a frown.

Lu Yang, displeased by the Fifth Elder's remarks, countered: "No matter. In ancient times, the Heavenly Court and the Nine Nether maintained close ties. Seeing the Nine Nether Cult today, it is only reasonable to assist them in restoring their ancient glory. Even if the Cult Leader and my Master knew of this, they would not blame me."

"Moreover, the personnel of the Heavenly Court Cult are scarce; even if we were to deploy everyone, how many barbecue shops could we possibly open?"

The Fifth Elder fell silent; since the Young Cult Leader was willing to bear the responsibility alone, it was not his place as a Guardian of the Heavenly Court to say anything further.

Shi Huagu was deeply moved, never imagining their Nine Nether Cult possessed such a wealthy relative.

This Young Cult Leader possessed a noble character, risking the reprimand of both the Cult Leader and Heavenly Venerable Dou just to aid their Nine Nether Cult.

Lu Yang turned around, his face shifting into a warm smile as though no disagreement had just occurred with the Fifth Elder, and said: "Cult Leader Shi, you heard it yourself. Though I am a disciple of the Heavenly Venerable, I still cannot make the ultimate decision on certain matters. However, this does not impede our cooperation."

"The method for blending the barbecue seasoning and the instructions for setting up the automated skewer-piercing formation can be provided to your esteemed cult free of charge."

A mere sweep of divine sense would reveal seventy to eighty percent of the principles behind the seasoning and the skewer-piercing formation anyway; there was no need for Lu Yang to hoard them, so he chose instead to grant the Nine Nether Cult a favor.

"As for these automatic grilling racks and the kindle, I can supply them to your esteemed cult regularly and in fixed quantities, but our Heavenly Court Cult requires sixty percent of the profits."

The automatic grilling racks had been enchanted with restrictions by the Fifth Elder, rendering them impossible to crack.

The kindle required the direct intervention of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

Since opening the barbecue shops was an initiative championed by the Heavenly Court, it was only natural they take the lion's share, a point Shi Huagu could well comprehend.

Yet, in consideration of his own status, he could not simply accept Lu Yang's proposal outright: "Forty percent for you, sixty for me!"

"Our Heavenly Court Cult takes sixty percent," Lu Yang stated, entirely unmoved.

"A fifty-fifty split!"

"Our Heavenly Court Cult takes sixty percent."

Lu Yang held his ground with absolute finality, leaving Shi Huagu no room for negotiation.

Knowing his side held no leverage, Shi Huagu bit his lip, ceased his haggling, and accepted the profit-sharing method proposed by Lu Yang.

The two discussed several finer details, and a contract was swiftly finalized.

"A pleasure doing business with you," Lu Yang said, offering a handshake with a beaming smile.