Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: When Others Fear, I Increase My Position
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Zhao Xuhe knew it too, deep down. By now, the Death-Substituting Yin Puppet was a bubble, plain and simple, one that could burst at any moment and bring the whole market crashing down.
But he trusted his own sharp instincts to get out in time.
So when Lu Yang contacted him, saying he had already sold off his stock and wanted to repay the 2,000 contribution points he had borrowed, Zhao Xuhe felt it was a pity.
“Hasty, Junior Brother! You’ve been far too hasty!”
“Can’t you see the price of the Death-Substituting Yin Puppets is still climbing? And the war hasn’t even started yet! Once it does, that’s when demand will truly outstrip supply!”
“I suggest you buy them back quickly, before the price gets too outrageous.”
Faced with Zhao Xuhe’s earnest persuasion, Lu Yang remained rational.
Although he too felt a pang of envy seeing the soaring price of the puppets, and even regretted selling so early, he understood exactly why Zhao Xuhe was trying to convince him now.
Worried about him?
Don’t be ridiculous. He just wanted to lure more buyers in.
After all, the more people who entered the market, the better his chances of cashing out and making his exit.
“Hold on. I’m not in a hurry.”
“I’ll just observe the situation in this life, confirm the absolute peak price, and then repeat the process in my next life. That will be my real chance to make a fortune.”
With the Book of a Hundred Lives, I can only win. I will never lose!
At this thought, Lu Yang’s mood instantly stabilized. He settled his debt with Zhao Xuhe and immediately entered seclusion, paying no more heed to the outside world.
While Lu Yang was in seclusion, the price of Death-Substituting Yin Puppets continued to skyrocket.
Because the Primal Saint Sect had genuinely begun preparations for war!
Large numbers of disciples received mobilization orders and left the sect one after another, their destinations unknown. In such a climate, there was no way the price of the puppets would drop.
No matter how expensive they became, those about to head into the great war between the righteous and demonic sects could only grit their teeth and buy.
After all, money could be earned again, but you only had one life.
Under these circumstances, more and more people entered the market, many of whom were not ordinary disciples but the scions of prominent families.
Compared to ordinary disciples, these heirs hailed from powerful clans, with elders who were at the very least Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings. The contribution points they could wield were far greater than what common disciples could muster. Thus, after their entry, the price of the Death-Substituting Yin Puppets, which had begun to slow, took off once more.
Three thousand, four thousand, five thousand…
Clearly, this price was no longer on the same level as the puppet’s actual value. Some, driven by fear, had even begun to exit the market.
Naturally, the price of the Death-Substituting Yin Puppets began to fall.
A similar panic started to spread, but many more, especially those who had weathered the first dip, remained full of confidence.
“Don’t panic! This is just a technical correction!”
“Sell? It’s far too early for that!”
This time, Zhao Xuhe felt he had learned his lesson.
He had exited too early before, and when he re-entered the market, he not only failed to profit but even took a small loss. How could he make the same mistake twice?
“The great war between the righteous and demonic sects hasn't even started yet, and the supply of Death-Substituting Yin Puppets is still plentiful, so it might seem like the price has peaked. But once the fighting begins, the puppets will be consumed in massive numbers, and with no equivalent substitute, everyone will have to come back and buy!”
“When that time comes, the price will inevitably see a third surge!”
“A mere five thousand contribution points is nothing! Seven thousand, maybe even ten thousand is possible! When it’s a seller’s market and lives are on the line, people will sell everything they own to buy one!”
Zhao Xuhe felt his analysis was simply flawless.
“So, while those fools are panic-selling out of fear… I’m going to increase my position!”
With that thought, Zhao Xuhe not only invested all his savings but even took out loans, leveraging the reputation of the Three Rivers Association to borrow a huge sum.
He went all-in.
Of course, Zhao Xuhe wasn't the only "smart" one. Others had reached the same conclusion and began to sweep the market, buying up all available stock.
Influenced by this, the price, which had just begun to fall, started to climb again.
Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe, who had felt a little uncertain, was now filled with confidence, as if he’d swallowed a calming pill. He felt his decision to go all-in was an act of pure genius.
Then, early the next morning.
A voice emanated from the Sacred Fire Cliff, instantly spreading throughout the entire Primal Saint Sect. “Recently, the Sect Master himself laid out a plan. While openly mobilizing disciples and feigning preparations for war, he secretly dispatched a force to raid the Ten Thousand Men Pit of Jiangnan.”
“Therefore, it is my great pleasure to announce to all disciples…”
“As of yesterday, the Ten Thousand Men Pit of Jiangnan has been reclaimed by the Sect Master himself. Simultaneously, the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion has contacted the Sect Master, expressing their willingness to enter peace talks with our Primal Saint Sect.”
It exploded.
Literally. The moment the news spread, the sound of an explosion erupted from a certain cultivator’s cave residence. It seemed someone had suffered a qi deviation and self-destructed.
Then, an eerie silence fell.
The vast Primal Saint Sect, which just yesterday had been a scene of vibrant life and boundless ambition, was now shrouded in a silence so profound it was suffocating.
Everyone understood. The reclamation of the Ten Thousand Men Pit meant the supply of Death-Substituting Yin Puppets was no longer scarce. The Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion’s proactive peace talks meant the great war was a distant prospect. More importantly, this news was delivered via the Disciple Tokens, making it an official announcement.
It couldn’t be false.
The bubble named Death-Substituting Yin Puppet burst with a deafening roar. The result was a cataclysmic crash, its price plummeting from a peak of seven thousand.
Five thousand, three thousand, one thousand, two hundred.
The price that had taken over a month to build up now crashed back to its original value in less than fifteen minutes, and it was still falling!
Everyone wanted to sell, but no one was willing to buy.
Those who had hoarded large quantities of the puppets could only watch helplessly as the price fell through the floor, their wealth evaporating into thin air.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
That night, deafening explosions echoed through the Primal Saint Sect at regular intervals. It was impossible to know how many had their Dao Hearts shattered by this.
Inside his cave residence, Zhao Xuhe had long since fainted.
When he opened his eyes again, his expression was still dazed, as if he were in a dream. “What a terrible dream. I actually dreamed that the price of the puppets crashed… hahaha.”
Then he glanced at the price of the Death-Substituting Yin Puppet again.
100 contribution points a piece.
“…I must be seeing things.”
After a moment of silence, Zhao Xuhe turned off his Disciple Token, took a deep breath, then opened it again with a trembling hand to check the price.
50 contribution points a piece.
“Pfft!!!”
Zhao Xuhe spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot. His face turned the color of liver, and his aura, much like the price of the puppets, hit rock bottom in an instant.
“I hate this…!”
With no time for further thought, Zhao Xuhe desperately suppressed the rampaging thoughts in his mind, circulating his energy and regulating his breathing, narrowly avoiding a true qi deviation.
Just then, a voice came from outside his cave.
“Senior Brother Zhao, Lu Yang has come to visit.”
“Lu Yang?”
Zhao Xuhe was stunned for a long moment before he remembered his junior brother. Thinking about how the man had gotten out early and paid off his loan, while he himself was now utterly ruined…
“Pfft!”
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Zhao Xuhe staggered out the door, only to see Lu Yang standing there looking refreshed and vigorous, waving at him enthusiastically:
“Senior Brother, how much did you make today?”
*Crack!*
With a sharp sound, Zhao Xuhe’s teeth clenched so hard they nearly shattered. His entire body showed signs of rampaging true qi, with cracks appearing on his skin as it tore under the pressure, seeping trails of blood.
Lu Yang looked horrified. “Senior Brother!? Are you alright?”
“…I’m fine.”
Zhao Xuhe managed to squeeze out a smile. “By the way, Junior Brother Lu, I recently discovered a predecessor’s cave residence. It seems to hold quite a few treasures.”
As he spoke, a vicious glint appeared in Zhao Xuhe’s eyes, and he forced the words through his teeth, “I was wondering if Junior Brother you might be interested?”