Chapter 16: The Frenzy of Bubbles
Chapter 16: The Frenzied Bubble
With Zhao Xuhe's guarantee, Lü Yang successfully borrowed 2,000 Contribution Points from the "Three Rivers Association" behind him and went all-in on Substitute Death Yin Puppets.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xuhe paced excitedly in his cave abode.
"The news was actually true!"
After receiving the message from his master, he was instantly exhilarated: "The Primordial Saint Sect's mass grave in Jiangnan was actually breached by the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion!"
"The attacker was none other than the Third Elder of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion—the peerless sword cultivator known as 'True Person Dangmo.'"
"In the short term, reclaiming it is impossible."
"With the mass grave lost, the price surge of Substitute Death Yin Puppets is inevitable. This is the perfect opportunity for speculation and hoarding!"
"I'm going to get rich!"
Having secured a position as a Merit Hall disciple within the Primordial Saint Sect, Zhao Xuhe naturally had no shortage of connections, insight, or greed. The moment he confirmed Lü Yang's information was accurate, he immediately began pooling funds and went all-in on Substitute Death Yin Puppets.
And just as he predicted, events unfolded accordingly.
As news of the Jiangnan mass grave incident spread, more and more people "sensing the opportunity" began sweeping up Substitute Death Yin Puppets at high prices.
Like all speculative bubbles, the earliest entrants made substantial profits.
However, as the situation escalated, people realized the price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets showed no signs of decline—buying high only led to selling higher.
Making money suddenly became effortless.
All one had to do was buy and then sell, effortlessly earning Contribution Points that would have previously required completing several, or even dozens, of sect missions.
Thus, the frenzy intensified.
More and more people began investing their savings, hoping to profit—and indeed, they did, further stimulating the market.
Even the more cautious individuals, upon seeing peers they once looked down upon earning more money than them simply by buying and waiting a few days, naturally grew envious and joined the wave.
Amidst this frenzy, the price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets soared relentlessly.
From an initial 200 Contribution Points, it surged to 300—a 50% increase—driving countless speculators into madness.
After all, the price showed no signs of stopping.
If it rose today, it would surely rise tomorrow. And if it rose tomorrow, why wouldn't it continue the day after? Not buying now meant losing out!
Thus, more and more people rushed in.
300, 400, 500... Finally, when the price hit 500 Contribution Points, people's rationality began to return, thinking it might have peaked.
"It's time to sell!"
Zhao Xuhe was the first to seize this delicate moment, quietly offloading his hoarded Substitute Death Yin Puppets in batches, preparing to cash out and exit.
At the same time, the entire Substitute Death Yin Puppet market began to decline.
After all, Zhao Xuhe wasn't the only smart one—others also sensed the downward trend and started selling their holdings.
If things continued this way, within days, the price would crash and return to normal.
Yet, just as this wave was about to subside, a sudden announcement from the Primordial Saint Sect's upper echelons spread throughout the sect overnight.
"The Primordial Saint Sect is preparing a counterattack!"
"The loss of the Jiangnan mass grave has enraged one of our True Persons, who has decided to personally lead a force of disciples to strike back against the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion!"
"A great battle is imminent!"
During wartime, all resources beneficial to the conflict would rise in price.
And Substitute Death Yin Puppets—items capable of saving lives at critical moments—how crucial would they be in the bloody, brutal Righteous-Demonic War to come?
They were nothing short of a second life!
Unsurprisingly, on the very night this news broke, the already declining price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets surged once more!
Not only did it instantly rebound to its peak of 500 Contribution Points, but it continued climbing!
By the next morning, 500 Contribution Points had become 1,000—a staggering fivefold increase from the original price of 200!
"Hahahahaha!"
In the Library Pavilion, Wang Bairong stood atop his beloved rocking chair, dancing excitedly, his aged face flushed with exhilaration and fervor.
"Rise! Keep rising!"
"No, I need to buy more. Selling now wouldn't earn me much... I must hoard more. A cave abode's worth of Contribution Points is within reach!"
At this moment, the entire Primordial Saint Sect was swept up in the frenzy of ordinary disciples.
These disciples lacked insight, connections, or reliable information channels. While others quietly sold, they continued buying.
And now, they struck gold.
Countless ordinary disciples saw their fortunes double overnight, earning more than the total assets of some senior disciples with backgrounds and connections.
Overnight, countless fantastical tales spread throughout the sect.
Like the destitute youth publicly humiliated by his fiancée's rejection, who, after doubling his wealth, angrily broke off the engagement, declaring, "Do not bully the young for their poverty!"
Or the little girl, orphaned after her father's death and forced to live under her stepfather's abuse, unable to protect her inheritance—until she doubled her wealth by investing in Substitute Death Yin Puppets and outright purchased a high-grade cave abode...
Do you have dreams? Want to fulfill them?
Buy Substitute Death Yin Puppets!
This collective madness reached its peak when a Qi Refining Perfected disciple suddenly broke through to Foundation Establishment.
The disciple publicly admitted that his breakthrough was entirely due to the Contribution Points he earned trading Substitute Death Yin Puppets, which allowed him to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill outright. He expressed gratitude to the Substitute Death Yin Puppets—without them, he could never have defied fate...
Utter insanity.
1,000, 2,000, 3,000... The price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets soared unchecked. And as the price skyrocketed, while some rejoiced, others despaired.
Among the joyful was Lü Yang.
He wasn't greedy—when the price hit 2,000, he decisively sold.
After all, buying 10 at 200 Contribution Points each and selling at 2,000 meant a tenfold profit—20,000 Contribution Points in his pocket!
Among the despairing was Zhao Xuhe.
When he saw the price rebound, regret gnawed at him—especially after encountering Wang Bairong, whom he once looked down upon and even planned to exploit.
From what he knew, Wang Bairong—a mediocre man who had muddled along for decades, half-buried in the grave—had hoarded over 20 Substitute Death Yin Puppets, all bought at high prices during this period. When Zhao Xuhe secretly sold, he had privately mocked Wang Bairong as a fool waiting to be fleeced.
But now? The man was about to earn nearly 100,000 Contribution Points!
If Zhao Xuhe had merely missed out on profits, that would have been one thing.
But seeing Wang Bairong rake in such wealth, grinning from ear to ear every day, felt worse than losing money himself!
And as the price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets continued its relentless climb, Zhao Xuhe agonized all night, weighing his options.
In the end, he re-entered the market.
The Contribution Points he had earned from exiting earlier were thrown back into Substitute Death Yin Puppets.
At first, he remained cautious, not investing everything. But with each rise in price, he felt he was missing out more and more.
"Opportunity knocks but once. I already missed it once—how can I miss it again?"
"It will keep rising. Buying now is better than buying later..."
Many shared Zhao Xuhe's thoughts.
And when this group of early cash-out sellers re-entered the market, they further fueled the surge in Substitute Death Yin Puppets, reinforcing everyone's confidence.