Getting Stronger... Business Partner.

After cultivating through the night, Mao Jin woke up feeling refreshed.

'Ah! Who would have expected I'd cultivate all night?' he thought, a light smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

Just as he prepared to stand up, he tripped and fell.

"Ahh!"

He winced in confusion. "What happened to me?!"

Looking at his body, he discovered black soot covering his skin. "What is this?"

It was then that he noticed his firm body, now brimming with strong Qi.

'Huh! Did I get stronger?' He quickly checked his body.

"What?! I've broken through!"

After cultivating all night, he had advanced three sub-stages, moving from Mortal Rank-1 to Mortal Rank-4.

While he was cultivating, he hadn't encountered any bottlenecks—everything had gone smoothly. If not for daybreak, he would have continued.

Realizing this, he burst into hysterical laughter. "Now, I'm not the weakest disciple in the sect anymore!"

A minute later, he recovered from his shock and excitement and began testing his newfound strength.

It took him two hours of performing various body-refining exercises to fully adapt.

"I stink. I need a serious bath."

Smelling the thick stench coming from his body, he rushed to the bathroom.

When he emerged, he looked energetic, and his long silver hair glowed brightly.

[New Mission.]

[Objective: Earn ten thousand low-grade spirit stones in three days to increase your influence in the sect.]

[Reward: 1,000 IP]

Looking at the new mission, Mao Jin frowned slightly before his expression returned to normal.

Although earning ten thousand spirit stones in three days would be difficult, he had no intention of failing.

'Hmm… I need to make a lot of Spirit Links and Relay Hubs,' he thought as he walked out of his courtyard.

"Senior brother!"

A voice called, jolting him out of his thoughts.

Mao Jin raised his head in the direction of the voice and saw Zhao Tian rushing toward him.

'Is there a problem with the Spirit Link? Or perhaps the Relay Hub?' He furrowed his brows.

"What is it?" he asked solemnly.

Zhao Tian arrived before him, flashing a bright smile. "Senior brother, I've been waiting for you all day. Thank the heavens you came out early!"

"What happened?"

He was confused. Even if there was an issue with the Spirit Link, it shouldn't warrant Zhao Tian waiting for him all day.

"Nothing—but there's a chance for us to make a lot of money," Zhao Tian whispered.

When Mao Jin heard this, realization dawned on him, and he smiled.

"Come in, let's talk."

Seated on a stone bench, Zhao Tian eagerly explained how the inner disciples were willing to pay high prices for the Spirit Link and Relay Hub.

Mao Jin was surprised. He knew the Spirit Link and Relay Hub had several weaknesses, the most significant being their low coverage area.

The Spirit Relay Hub could only cover a 1-5 km radius—beyond that, it was useless.

Although he was aware of this issue, he didn't have a solution yet and could only go with the flow.

"Senior brother, how about we partner up? You make the devices, and I'll sell them. With me handling sales, there won't be a shortage of buyers," Zhao Tian said earnestly.

"Alright," Mao Jin replied casually. "As my junior brother, I'll give you 30% of the total sales while I take 70%."

Zhao Tian opened his mouth to argue, but before he could protest, Mao Jin continued,

"Don't bother arguing. That's my final offer. If you don't like it, you can leave—but I assure you, you'll regret it."

Zhao Tian was silent for a moment as he studied Mao Jin.

The weak, timid Mao Jin was gone.

The person in front of him radiated confidence and sharpness.

"Fine. I agree."

"Good. Let's start immediately."

Bright smiles appeared on their faces as they rushed toward the Refining Hall. Along the way, Mao Jin instructed Zhao Tian to purchase all the materials needed for the Spirit Link and Relay Hub.

"Senior brother, you're back."

The ordinary-looking girl behind the counter greeted him.

"Yes. I need to refine something. Is my room available?" Mao Jin asked.

"Yes. No one can use your room without permission."

"Alright. When Zhao Tian arrives, lead him to my room." With that, he departed for his refining room.

The girl watched his retreating figure and frowned.

'Why do I feel like senior brother is a bit different today?' she thought, shaking her head.

For an entire day, Mao Jin remained inside, refining Spirit Links and Relay Hubs.

Since he was the creator, the process was relatively easy.

Outside the Refining Hall, one of Zhao Tian's lackeys waited patiently.

Finally, Mao Jin emerged, looking exhausted—but the bright smile on his face told another story.

"Senior brother!" Green Snake called out cheerfully.

"Where is Zhao Tian? Call him immediately."

"Yes, yes!"

Quickly, he took out his Spirit Link and called Zhao Tian.

Five minutes later, Zhao Tian arrived with a broad grin.

"Senior brother, how did it go?"

"I'm done." Mao Jin handed him a spatial pouch. "Inside, there are twenty-five Spirit Links and five Relay Hubs."

"Good. I'll go sell them immediately," Zhao Tian said, his excitement palpable.

"How much should I sell them for?"

"One thousand spirit stones each."

"Alright."

Unable to contain his excitement, Zhao Tian rushed off to meet his first buyer, eager to brag about his new wares.

Meanwhile, Mao Jin returned to his room, cultivating through the night.

The inner disciples who had purchased the Spirit Links and Relay Hubs were ecstatic, chatting through the night using their new devices.

The following morning, Zhao Tian waited outside Mao Jin's courtyard.

"How was it?" Mao Jin asked as he stepped out.

"Senior brother, it went perfectly! Many are asking for more," Zhao Tian reported excitedly. "If you can increase production, that would be amazing."

He handed Mao Jin a small pouch.

Inside was his share of the earnings.

Looking at the shiny spirit stones, Mao Jin's smile deepened.

'At this rate, I'll complete the mission by tomorrow,' he thought.