Strongest Businessman of the Cultivation World

"Open the first page, read and pass it on. Once you are done, get ready to witness the miracle!"

Ikasa took a step back after handing out the books. He joined Feng Yan and his group at the entrance to the residences.

Commander Lu scoffed at his remarks. He gave Ikasa a skeptical look and then shouted, "Do as he says!"

As soon as the first person followed the instructions, he was shrouded in a whirlwind of energy. One after another, energy vortexes formed around the guards.

Face filled with disbelief, Commander Lu watched as his men were surrounded by the energy cocoons. When the last soldier was enveloped by the energy vortex, they came together and formed a giant cyclone.

Commander Lu lost his mind. Within a blink of an eye, he came to Ikasa's side and whispered urgently, "What… What is happening?"

He feared for his men's lives. Ikasa calmly smiled in response and assured him, "Don't worry, Commander. Just enjoy the miracle happening before your eyes."

It did not assuage the anxiety in Lu Shao's mind. And then the surroundings darkened.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky of the Herb Garden, covering the Sun.

Ikasa watched the familiar changes and breathed a sigh of relief.

'Thank the Absolutes! I didn't have to sell the longer energy path as the only miraculous aspect of my manual. Not that it wouldn't be good, but it would be much lamer than the impact caused by an Energy Storm!'

He watched with glee as the Lightning flashed across the sky and the heavens rumbled.

Boom!

A thunderclap sent Commander Lu over the edge. He was about to rush and rescue his men from the energy cocoons when Ikasa's hand firmly clasped his shoulder.

"Commander, if you care for your men, do not go there. The Energy Storm will do them good. This is not the first time I have seen this happen."

Lu Shao whipped his neck to look at Ikasa with utter shock.

"This… This Energy Storm…" He stammered while animatedly waving his hands, "it was caused by you?"

Ikasa smirked with pride and patted the man's shoulder.

"To be precise, my 'Magical Manual' caused this phenomenon."

Lu Shao looked at his cocooned men and Ikasa with an incredulous expression.

Glowing bluish-green raindrops started to drizzle from the heavens, wetting the energy-starved soil of the Herb Garden. Ikasa gently led the stupefied Commander inside the residences.

Back at the entrance, Feng Yan, Xin Ruo, and Chu Kuang looked dumbfounded at the sudden change in the weather.

Chu Kuang remembered the words his master had said upon recognizing the problem of the energy-drained soil of this Herb Garden.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

At that time, he thought Ikasa would buy Energy-infused Water and let a portion of the land rejuvenate; Now, seeing the scene before him, he came to know he was just a frog at the bottom of the well.

Feng Yan looked at his daughter with narrowed eyes. Xin Ruo returned his gaze with equal suspicion.

Both had one question in their minds: 'Did you know of this beforehand?'

The bond between the two was so strong that they didn't need to vocalize their doubt to be understood by the other. They both shook their heads at the same time and returned to watching the beautiful downpour of the glowing drops.

With a fascination in their eyes, the teenaged kids enjoyed the wonder of nature. They wanted to run into the glowing rain, but one stern look from Xin Ruo put an end to their fantasies.

When he returned to their side, they immediately surrounded Ikasa. Luo Qiqi clung to his arm and complained with a pout.

"Big Brother, sister Xin Ruo won't let us go and play in the glowing rain!"

Yan Xiao bobbed his head, seconding Luo Qiqi's complaint.

Ikasa knocked on the little loli's head with his knuckle, lightly scolding her.

"That's not your average rain. It is an Energy Storm! Every drop of Water is Energy-infused Water. It is dangerous out there."

The kids heard Ikasa explain with their mouths forming an 'O'.

The money-grubbing ghost in Chu Qing woke up at the mention of Energy-infused Water. With eyes glinting with greed, he asked Ikasa, "Does the Energy-infused Water sell for a lot?"

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and peeked at the eager Chu Qing.

"No. It is very cheap."

Before Ikasa could distract Chu Qing, Lu Shao blurted and exposed the outrageous lie.

"You call 1000 silver for 10 drops cheap?!"

The glow of the raindrops paled before the light in Chu Qing's greedy eyes as he looked at them.

Other than Chu Qing, the rest of the kids looked at Ikasa with worship in their eyes.

"Big Brother brought so many drops for us in the Sal City. Thank You, Ikasa-ge!"

They might've used it, but Ikasa had never mentioned the price he had paid to obtain the Water for them.

And now that they were keeping track of money, they started to realize the value of every single coin.

Hence, the gratitude.

'It feels good to be appreciated for what I did for them.'

Ikasa beamed at them and gently gave each of their hair a rub.

While everyone was focused on Ikasa, Chu Qing tried to sneak out.

Just as Chu Qing was about to sneak out with a container, Feng Yan held him up by the scruff of his collar.

"Do you want to die? If you go into that Energy Storm now, you will explode from the excess energy your body absorbs!"

"Then why are the men out there not harmed?"

Chu Qing asked petulantly. Feng Yan looked to Ikasa for an answer since he had no idea about this abnormality.

"Because they are isolated by the Energy Cocoons shielding them from the direct rain!"

"Oh…"

The reprimand cooled Chu Qing's enthusiasm but did not quell his desire. He was still thinking of ways to get his hands on the Energy-infused Water and sell it.

Ikasa palmed his face.

'Great! Now I have to be cautious of this brat trying to pull some crap to get his hands on Energy-infused Water.'

He looked at Commander Lu with chagrin and decided to assign Chu Qing some tasks to keep him busy.

While everyone was chastising Chu Qing, the inhabitant of the tree's hollow had come out to take a stroll.

The little black fox pranced in the rain without a care. There was no fear of overloading to death in his sprightly steps.

It stuck out its cute pink tongue and lapped up the few drops of Energy-infused Water falling on it.

Its actions were unnoticed by all except for one.

The creature perceived Pei Yuan's intense stare and waved its paw at him. With a mischievous smirk, it sat down where it stood.

"What is that?"

Pei Yuan shouted when he saw the intelligent actions of this furry fox. His loud question drew everyone's attention to the open space near the tree.

When everyone turned, they couldn't see anything different.

"What are you talking about, little Yuan?"

Xin Ruo asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"There, can't you see that red and black fox near the tree?"

Pei Yuan said, pointing to the exact location where the fox was seated.

Everyone still had questioning looks. Ikasa turned to the two Sense Realm Experts and whispered, "Is there something at the location he is pointing?"

The two Sense Trainers exchanged glances and shook their heads.

Ikasa rubbed his forehead as he pondered this latest conundrum he faced.

He studied Pei Yuan, trying to see a ghost of a smile or hint of deceit that would expose him. However, his actions were earnest and genuine.

'Either his acting has become much more refined, or this place is haunted by a spirit as claimed by the locals.'

When Pei Yuan realized no one was talking, he turned his head to look at them.

The other kids thought he was joking and gloated at his pending misfortune.

Xin Ruo looked suspiciously at the place he was pointing and then at him with a look of disapproval.

Ikasa was lost in thoughts as if he did not care about what he was saying at all.

Pei Yuan desperately tried to convince the people.

"I really am not lying… It is sitting right there, near the…tree…."

When he turned to point to the fox's location, he realized he had lost it. There was no fox in the vicinity of the tree.

"Where did it go?"

Pei Yuan searched for the little critter everywhere with his eyes, but to no avail. There was no sign of it ever being present in the first place.

The teenager sweated as he fearfully turned to look at Xin Ruo.

"Pei Yuan, I swear…."

"Oh, look, your troops are out. Do you want to check on them?"

Before Xin Ruo could start her scolding, Ikasa loudly asked Lu Shao and led the Commander to his troops.

His shout reminded Xin Ruo of their guest, thus saving Pei Yuan from her anger.

When everyone's attention was drawn away, the little fox placed a paw on its mouth. The furry little mane on its chest trembled, and its ears quivered.

If any of the people in the hallway paid attention, a faint sound of laughter was reverberating in the hall. And this sound came from the mouth of this furry fox.

It swung its tail happily at Pei Yuan, who just happened to look at it.  Winking at him, it jumped into the tree and disappeared from his view.