Cultivating with Bragging System

Regarding the promotional work for the Immortal Sect Loan, Wang Xiu had made more than one preparation.

Aside from asking Li Longhao, his brothers, Huang Yunchong of the Divination Sect, and others he was on good terms with to help distribute flyers, he himself had come to the front of the Dragon Head Peak Task Hall to set up a platform.

A banner was hung high above, reading: "Spirit Turtle Peak Immortal Loan: Borrow Your Way to a Better Life!"

Wang Xiu stood in the middle of the platform, clothed in white as pure as snow. His smile was like the warm sun on a spring day, easily leaving a favorable impression.

The Task Hall was undoubtedly the busiest place in the entire Sanqing Immortal Sect. In just a short moment, a large crowd of disciples and elders had gathered. Many who were still confused looked at Wang Xiu with curiosity, wondering what the chief disciple of the Divination Sect wanted to do and why he was making such a scene.

...

"My fellow senior brothers, junior brothers, senior sisters, and junior sisters!" Seeing that a sufficient crowd had gathered, Wang Xiu greeted them with a loud, clear voice, "I am Wang Xiu, the Chief Disciple of Spirit Turtle Peak, here to pay my respects to you all!"

"I’m sure you’ve all heard the news! Recently, our Spirit Turtle Peak has gained a brand-new Blessed Land! Thanks to the Sect Leader’s generous favor, and the preference shown by my esteemed martial uncles, the peak masters, Spirit Turtle Peak has been allowed to possess fifty percent of this Blessed Land’s Spirit Stone yield for ourselves!"

Hearing this, the faces of the surrounding elders and disciples darkened.

"So that’s it! I was wondering why this disgrace from the Divination Sect was making such a fuss. Turns out he just came to show off!"

"A dog can’t spit out ivory. I knew this brat wasn’t up to any good!"

"The Sect Leader must be senile! How could he agree to such a request?"

"He’s just like his master!"

"Goddamnit, don’t hold me back! I’m going to kill him!"

"Calm down, Uncle-Master!"

The crowd was in an uproar as countless people glared at him with rage. Several older elders even drew their Magical Treasures, wanting to rush onto the platform and fight Wang Xiu.

Faced with this situation, Wang Xiu seemed to have expected it all. Unfazed, he continued, "To be honest, when I first heard this news, I refused it!

"Yes, it’s true that I ventured into the Demon Cavern for this Blessed Land, facing dangers at every turn... brushing shoulders with death multiple times!

"It’s also true that as a mere junior disciple at the Core Formation Stage, I survived near-death experiences amidst the shockwaves from a battle between Saint Manifestation Stage Great Abilities!

"And to bring the Blessed Land back, it cost my master a portion of her already limited lifespan!"

Wang Xiu spoke calmly, a nonchalant expression on his face.

The area fell into a brief silence. The previously agitated atmosphere cooled by several degrees.

Some of the younger disciples looked taken aback. They had heard bits and pieces about Luo Binglan’s story and vaguely knew that she didn’t have long to live. Hearing Wang Xiu say this, they couldn’t help but feel a subtle shift in their hearts.

The older cultivators scoffed at his words, but they didn’t lash out as viciously as before. They didn’t deny the contributions Wang Xiu and his master, Luo Binglan, had made for the Blessed Land. But their hatred for the Divination Sect was never just about the Blessed Land. Besides, it had little to do with their personal interests, so this was hardly enough to change their minds.

...

Wang Xiu’s expression remained unchanged as he continued, "I know that these things may not be important to any of you here! You might scoff at them! You might think I’m playing the victim card! That’s not important to me, either! I’ve grown used to it.

"But my master taught me! No matter how people outside slander us, calling the Divination Sect the shame of Sanqing, or the main reason for the Sanqing Immortal Sect’s decline... we must know in our hearts that our original intention—to be wholeheartedly dedicated to the Immortal Sect, to the Righteous Path, and to the extermination of the Demon Race—has never once wavered!"

Wang Xiu took a deep breath, a smile gracing his face. "Now, the lineage of our Divination Sect is on the verge of extinction. On all of Spirit Turtle Peak, there is only my master, my junior sister, and myself! Fifty percent of the Spirit Stone output is too much! We can’t possibly use it all; it would be a waste! Instead of letting these resources go unused, it’s better to put them in the hands of those who truly need them!

"Therefore, I have decided that starting today... I will officially launch the Immortal Sect Loan!"

His voice was resonant and rhythmic, each word landing with weight and impact. "Any disciple of our Sanqing Immortal Sect can come to Spirit Turtle Peak with their identity token to apply for a loan and borrow Spirit Stones! Fellow disciples, you may use this money to purchase elixirs, buy Magic Artifacts, and improve yourselves. In the future, once you’ve completed missions and earned money, you can gradually pay it back!"

Upon hearing this, the previously chaotic scene fell silent.

All eyes were fixed intently on Wang Xiu. Their expressions shifted from amusement, sneering, and disdain... to doubt and contemplation.

Without a doubt, the younger generation of disciples in the Sanqing Immortal Sect was trapped in a vicious cycle. Without Spirit Stones, their power grew slowly. Without enough power, they couldn’t accept high-level missions, which meant they couldn’t earn more cultivation resources. Without cultivation resources, their power grew slowly. And so the cycle repeated.

If Wang Xiu could really provide a loan, it could break this vicious cycle.

First, borrow a sum of money. Use it to enhance one’s strength, one’s realm! Once my strength has improved, won’t I be able to earn even more money?

These simple points were easy for people to grasp, and a flicker of desire appeared in their eyes. But they didn’t get overly excited. After all, the concept of a loan was not something Wang Xiu had invented. Businessmen throughout the world had long mastered this game, with money-lending shops open in every major city.

An elderly Elder scoffed, "So after all that beating around the bush, this is what you were planning... you want to offer usurious loans and profit off of us? Tell me, lad, what interest are you planning to charge? Eight percent? Or nine?"

As the saying goes, prejudice is a mountain that can never be crossed. The moment they heard Wang Xiu was offering an Immortal Sect Loan, a similar thought sprang into countless minds.

In an instant, the crowd erupted once more.

Wang Xiu calmly said, "One percent!"

"Hahaha, you see? I told you this brat would charge one per—"

The questioning Elder’s voice caught in his throat. His expression changed drastically. He turned and stared intently at Wang Xiu, hardly daring to believe his ears. "What did you just say?"

Wang Xiu met his gaze without flinching. "I said, I only charge one percent interest!"

A collective gasp swept through the crowd. In an instant, the scene fell deathly silent.

Countless people stared in disbelief at Wang Xiu on the high platform.

One percent interest? Is that for real?

It was common knowledge that money-lenders in this world charged a monthly interest rate of over five percent, no matter the amount borrowed. Even when pledging expensive items like Magical Treasures or property as collateral, the interest rate, though lower than an ordinary loan, was still upwards of three percent!

In Vermilion Bird City, the merchant guilds that specialized in providing loan services to cultivators charged interest as high as seven percent! Some of the shadier operations would even charge double that! Borrow ten thousand this year, and you’d owe twenty or thirty thousand the next!

Moreover, considering the risk that a cultivator might kick the bucket at any moment, not only were their interest rates higher than those for ordinary people, but they also almost always required collateral. This was especially true for the disciples of the Sanqing Immortal Sect. Almost everyone knew they were poor and that they fought demons with a reckless abandon, leading to an outrageously high mortality rate. Their loans could easily turn into bad debt.

Thus, for them, loans were difficult to obtain, the amounts were small, the approval times were long, and the interest rates were even higher than for an average person.

One percent interest? Unheard of and unseen!

What’s the damn difference between this and getting the money for free?

Everyone was astounded. Their breathing quickened as their eyes locked onto Wang Xiu’s face, trying to determine if the young man on the platform was joking.

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