Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 283 - 22: Li Xinyu Throws Money Around

In the evening, before leading Wang Jiu and his group to the industrial park for a major shopping trip, the two tour guides briefly met at the small courtyard gate, each with a miserable look on their face, clutching the fantastical crimson bill in their hands. There was truly no need for words, everything was conveyed in a silent bitter smile.

"Senior sister, what should we do next?"

"What else can we do? Take them to the industrial park and sell as much as we can; it would be best if they could contract the high-tech zone."

Shen Rong spoke with little hope in her heart; this group of people could scam even a cheap tour group costing 98 silver per person, what wouldn't they do? A hundred-person seafood feast, and they can actually eat it all!

With such determination to scam to the end, what would taking them to the industrial park achieve? No matter how much the guides embellished their introductions, as long as they tightly clutched their money bags, could the Shen Family resort to robbery?

——

The development of the matter, as predicted by the two elite members of the Shen Family, was almost spot on.

In the evening, Wang Jiu and his group arrived at the Lingshan Industrial Park, where they toured the Shen Family's proud all-in-one production line of alchemy and artifact refining mechanical puppets and gave high praise to the various products produced in the park.

Then they spent no money at all.

Although Shen Rong, the salesperson in charge of the presentation, tried her best and spoke eloquently, her words seemed powerless in the face of the steadfastness of these penny-pinchers.

"This is the Lingfeng Power Armor from Lingshan Heavy Industry, initiated in 2000, with theoretical research completed in 2010, and the first prototype assembled last year. It is designed specifically for cultivators below the Cloud Flipping Realm. Once equipped with the power armor, not only does the physical strength soar tenfold, allowing one to split mountains and crack earth with a mere gesture, but its defense is as hard as rock, almost reaching Vajra Unbreakable. Additionally, the armor is fitted with various fixed-position spirit stone magical artifacts, capable of continuously unleashing Cloud Flipping Realm-level destructive immortal techniques. The energy for these techniques does not require supply from the user. The power armor also has self-positioned Spirit Wind Wings, which, when unfolded, can autonomously collect Heaven and Earth Spirit Wind to transform into usable power, not only supplying the armor's magic releases but also feeding back to the user. Lastly, the helmet is inscribed with a superior Ice Heart Array, which operates continuously, nurturing divine sense to maximize endurance during combat."

"Oh, sounds good, but we can't afford it."

Shen Rong's smile twitched: "Well, everyone here is a star customer who won awards from the Outer Courtyard and can enjoy VIP discounts. At 10% off, it's only 27,000 spirit stones..."

Shen Qingming said firmly, "Can't afford it."

Shen Rong smiled, "We support installment payments."

Shen Qingming continued firmly, "But I don't support it; I can't afford even installments."

Shen Rong continued to persuade, "Even if it's not for yourself, for the sake of the family, it's okay to buy a dozen or twenty units to reward the family's young elite cultivators. It's both encouragement and protection for them."

Shen Qingming said, "The family can't afford it either."

"..."

Wang Jiu explained, "The Li Family's economic situation is actually quite poor. Even the daughter of the patriarch has to shamelessly rely on cheap tour groups for meals. Usually, they only have vegetables and radishes, with not even a hint of oil. The so-called 'blossoming' 14-year-old girl is at a similar development stage as a 10-year-old child..."

Shen Qingming blushed and stomped her foot: "Enough! I wanted you to back me up, not stab me in the back, okay!"

Wang Jiu said curiously, "I think your physique is very good evidence supporting your family's poverty argument, how is this stabbing you in the back?"

"...Okay, even if I'm underdeveloped, what about those over there?" Shen Qingming pointed angrily at Li Chaolu and Li Xinyu, "Bulging stomachs and thick legs, how do they seem poor?!"

Wang Jiu explained, "Many dethroned monarchs wore patched dragon robes with empty national treasuries, while local tycoons lived in luxury. This contrast between a hungry and cold patriarch's daughter and her well-fed and fat cousins further illustrates the current waning of the Li Family, with poor financial status."

"..." Shen Qingming was speechless, starting to understand why her intelligence index was only a third of Wang Jiu's.

So in the next moment, the girl could only regain her composure and question Shen Rong: "So, why do you think we can afford a power armor costing 30,000 spirit stones each?"

"..." Shen Rong was speechless, feeling that the painstakingly prepared sales pitch had gone to waste.

Seeing Shen Rong had given up struggling, Shen Qingming suddenly had a flash of inspiration, smiled broadly, and said: "However, if you're willing to sponsor me with a battle armor for free, I can consider becoming a spokesperson for your industrial park. I'm not bragging, but the Spirit Cat Plan is already very popular around Cyan Cloud, with more fans than the Li Family patriarch. The younger generation may not know who the Li Family patriarch is, but they all know the Spirit Cat Plan. Incidents of kids spending all their pocket money or even stealing their parents' private money for idol products are common. With the Cyan Cloud Competition, the Spirit Cat Plan has even gained influence in Lingshan City and Golden Jade City. It would be a perfect opportunity to help your Lingshan Industrial Park expand beyond Shen City and establish a wider market."

Shen Rong was stunned!

Everyone was stunned, not expecting these words to come from Shen Qingming.

Wang Jiu mused for a moment: "Even Qingming has a good idea once in a while."

——

Wang Jiu's evaluation of Shen Qingming was evidently hard to interpret positively.

Yet at this moment, Shen Rong wished she could occasionally come up with a good idea amidst a million thoughts.

Faced with such a group of unconventional guests, this Shen Family woman indeed felt mentally exhausted. She had already exerted her utmost effort in her work, even overloading her Divine Sense to support her mental labor. Hosting exchange students from the Three Academies in the past was never as taxing as today! 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Leading the Li Family around the industrial park until the work meal time came, the woman still hadn't closed a single deal!

Aside from the somewhat misleading Ding 60 Power Armor, several other reasonably impressive key products failed to entice the other party at all, which made Shen Rong righteously indignant!

Back when exchange students from the Three Academies visited the industrial park and saw these products, they practically glowed with excitement and scrambled to buy them. The Shen Family, on the other hand, maintained their stance, imposing purchase limits and lotteries, reveling in the game. Who would have imagined that today, in front of these impoverished Li Family members, they would face a cold reception!

Helpless, Shen Rong could only report the situation to Shen Yueying during the work meal, which immediately resulted in a scolding.

"How stupid! Do you really need to be taught this? The Shen Family shows such sincerity in offering good things, yet they dodge and evade, using absurd excuses to brush us off. It's blatantly insulting the Shen Family! It hardly seems like they're here to mend historical grievances! They want to make peace without spending a penny; where in the world is there such a cheap deal?"

Shen Rong suddenly saw the light.

Exactly! Expecting goodwill without spending money? Dream on! Even couples who have been in love for years can't get married without a house or a Flying Sword. Your diplomatic mission visits Shen City, enjoying lavish food without buying anything? You're here to make enemies, not friends!

"Of course, I knew all along that these Li Family members weren't coming with good intentions. But if they had any sense of dignity at all, they wouldn't fall out over these matters. And if they do fall out, they shouldn't expect to walk out of Lingshan!"

With these words from the Deputy City Lord, Shen Rong felt greatly emboldened, even showing a slightly more gallant manner while eating the work meal.

Once she finished her meal, she planned to rally herself, displaying the level of a top Shen Family operative, and secure a substantial order!

Yet when she finally shoveled down her last mouthful of rice, she saw her partner Shen Fang running over joyfully, gingerly holding an order slip, his light steps as if a young lad in love receiving a first kiss from his beloved.

"Senior Sister, Senior Sister, I got a big order! A hundred thousand Spirit Stones!"

Shen Rong felt a slight choke at that moment.

Looking at the beaming face before her, Shen Rong found it hard to believe. This little ditz, who always called her Senior Sister and seemed unreliable even as an elite Shen Family operative, had actually... accomplished what she couldn't.

A hundred thousand Spirit Stones order, how on earth did he manage it?!

Did he preempt the Deputy City Lord's prompt and threaten with the two families' friendship? Or did he have an ingenious plan she never considered?

"Honestly, I don't even know what happened," Shen Fang scratched his head, revealing a familiar confused expression to Shen Rong. "I was just having a chat about the Shen Family's training facilities with Li Xinyu during the meal, and then he pledged as the third heir of the Li Family and signed a hundred thousand Spirit Stones order."

Shen Rong was even more perplexed, the Shen Family's industrial park training facilities? Truth be told, what was so special about them?

"I don't know either, but Li Xinyu seemed particularly interested."

Shen Rong frowned and asked for the order: "Let me see what he bought."

"Really nothing special, not even any of those core design technology things," Shen Fang explained as he handed the order over, "Mainly just a set of Fully Simulated Battle Array Map."

Shen Rong inquired: "This thing... while it's certainly useful, doesn't the Li Family already have something similar? It's impossible, even a moderately ranks sect would have a virtual reality training ground like this."

Shen Fang said, "Li Xinyu mentioned the Li Family's training ground lacks simulation fidelity, its functions are too limited, and apart from combat itself, doesn't allow for much interaction with virtual characters."

Shen Rong pondered and nodded: "True, our Fully Simulated Battle Array Map can virtually create a complete world, surpassing similar Magical Treasures in comprehensiveness—hence, it also costs much more."

"He also ordered a few special custom character packages."

"Oh? Actual combat exercises targeting specific historical figures? That's indeed a specialty of our Shen Family, only the battle-hardened members could create simulations of those endless genius Cultivators from history. Which characters did he order, let me see."

Shen Fang flipped to the appendix page of the order and said, "Princess Xuan Jin of the Nether Sea, Enchanting Mother Demoness of Feiyan Mountain, Bloodthirsty Princess of Teng Country's Female Monarch, White-clothed Female General of Snow Country, Sun-Devouring Little Fox Immortal of Huai Mountain Range."