Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 763 Using Stocks as Goods: A Dilemma Resolved

A long queue had already formed outside the Amazing Pavilion.

Some people arrived last night, but many more had already brought their stools and reserved spots outside the door by yesterday afternoon.

After all, good things are always limited in quantity, so it's first come, first served.

Just look at those three cursed artifacts on display; you could make a profit even if you bought them and resold them.

"500 ghost money, 500 ghost money! Anyone want a seat, a front-row seat?!"

"Personal shopping agent!! Cursed items from designated display cases, personal shopping agent, only 2% handling fee per item."

Even before the store opened, the line of customers was already incredibly long.

Nearby locations have even seen offers of up to 800 coins for the dead.

The closer to the gate, the more expensive it is.

There were even many vendors on both sides of the street who set up temporary food carts and started small businesses, and many snacks were selling like hotcakes.

Of course, this is also thanks to the fact that the nearby [Zhen Ding Wei] restaurant is closed today.

Most people don't understand why [Zhen Ding Wei] is closing down today, but this move has indeed allowed many vendors to make a fortune.

Some say this is because "Zhen Ding Wei" doesn't compete with the people for profit.

While this statement is debatable, it has certainly garnered praise from many.

As the doors of the Amazing Pavilion slowly opened, the welcoming boys came out, and everyone looked up at the entrance.

The old manager, Li Botong, stepped out the door, and together with the other managers, shouted, "Grand opening!!"

Two strings of firecrackers suddenly went off with a loud crackling sound at the door.

Immediately, a crowd surged into the Amazing Pavilion.

Upon entering, one can see that the display cases and shelves on both sides of the Amazing Pavilion are already filled with various cursed items.

But most people came specifically for the three cursed artifacts that had been exhibited earlier.

The entries for the three items, namely the Yin Magnetic Aurora Jade Pendant, the Irregular Mirror, and the Vajra Mask, offer significant improvement for most beginners.

In particular, the [Yin Magnetic Aurora Jade Pendant] is a small item that can double the survival rate of beginners.

The Vajra Mask, with its three attribute boosts and the privilege of the Vajra Body, is ridiculously powerful. It's a top-tier item that any class, except the Profiler, would absolutely have to fight for.

The freestanding mirror is the least noticeable of the three.

But this thing can also save lives in critical moments, even though it only lasts for three minutes each time.

In a life-or-death moment where every second counts, this is already more than enough time.

However, just when everyone was prepared to bleed a lot on these three cursed items, they were shocked to find that the prices of these three items were ridiculously cheap.

[Diamond Mask]: 2500 ghost money
[Irregular Mirror]: 1000 ghost money
[Dark Magnetic Aurora Jade Pendant]: 3000 Hell Money
While the price was enough to buy a decent D-grade cursed item, it was far cheaper than they expected for these three items.

The only thing that bothered everyone was that each person could only buy one of these items.

"I'll take them all! I want all three!"

Someone was leaning on the counter and shouting loudly. He had been holding back his budget, thinking that he could buy even one item. But after seeing the price, he decisively bought all three.

The people behind them didn't see the price, and when they saw someone buy three items in one go, they were sweating profusely.

However, this does not affect the sale of items in other display cases in the Amazing Pavilion.

Many people, while queuing, looked at the items in other display cases and discovered that everything in this shop was top-quality, and most importantly, the prices were cheap.

Some cursed items that do not require activation with runes often start at three figures, making them affordable even for beginners at the E-rank with limited strength.

The people who flooded into the Amazing Pavilion got carried away and started placing orders to buy things.

It's not that they are actually easily provoked.

This thing is just too practical.

Putting everything else aside, just take this thing called the Heart-Dry Fruit. After eating it, you can become immune to curse damage of D-level or lower for 10 hours, and it only costs 20 ghost coins.

Although the effects will be followed by severe diarrhea.

However, potions that can grant immunity to D-level curse damage cost 300 ghost coins on the market.

And it only lasts for about 20 minutes.

Compared to this, what are those negligible side effects?
"How many of these are there? I'll buy ten!" a beginner said, pointing to the dark-colored fruit in the display case.

Hearing this, everyone curiously crowded over to take a look, and couldn't help but rush to buy.

【Ghost Eye Berry】

Effect: Visual motion capture ability is enhanced 10 times for 5 minutes, and can see through low-level illusions.

Side effects: The eyeballs temporarily turn grayish-white, and there is photophobia and tearing within 24 hours.

Priced at 80 ghost money.

This thing is an essential booster in battle, and at 80 ghost coins, it's incredibly affordable.

As for side effects, a pair of sunglasses can solve that, so who would care?

Less than half an hour after opening, the sound of abacus beads turning in the backstage area was like the constant clicking of a typewriter.

Li Botong and several other veteran managers wished they had more hands, so they calculated and recorded the accounts simultaneously. In less than an hour, the first ledger was filled with entries.

The waiter hurriedly grabbed the ledger and ran from the backyard straight to the adjacent [Zhen Ding Wei] restaurant. His footsteps echoed as he ran up to the third floor.

On the third-floor terrace pavilion, Xiao Ran and her group were sitting, and the waiters sitting next to them were people they didn't recognize.

But the shop assistant didn't dare to ask any more questions and handed the ledger directly to Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran picked up the ledger and looked through it for a while before handing it to Yao Huo, who was standing to the side.

"Brother Demon Calamity, it seems that your medicines are selling even better than I expected."

Most of the medicines sold at the Amazing Pavilion this time were purchased from Yao Huo's shop. Yao Huo glanced at them and his mouth was practically stretched to the back of his head with a grin.

Things that would normally be impossible to sell are now in high demand.

The sales figures achieved in just half an hour made Yao Huo's eyes light up with envy.

Although the money didn't go directly into his pocket, Xiao Ran had promised to give him shares in Amazing Pavilion.

In other words, they can make a profit from selling their own drugs and also from their shares in Amazing Pavilion. This business is incredibly lucrative.

The others then took the ledger and examined it carefully.

After seeing the staggering sales figures, they looked at each other in disbelief.

The underworld has long had its rules.

Things from the underworld are not allowed to be taken out of the pass, so there are too many good things in the underworld, which can only rot in the soil in the end.

A large amount of valuable resources are just piled up there like garbage.

But now that Xiao Ran has brought these resources out of the Underworld, their monetization potential is beyond imagination.

The figures in this ledger may not be astonishing enough yet.

But this is only half an hour's worth of ledger entries.

Even if the hype dies down, the potential of the Amazing Pavilion is still enormous.

Xiao Ran sat calmly at the table, her gaze sweeping over everyone's expressions.

Xiao Ran was fully aware of the reasons why Di Ting, Li Shan Jia, and the others had come uninvited.

But that's exactly what he wants.

If you want your business to grow and thrive, you need partners.

Moreover, as the Yin-Yang Inspector, he didn't even have a single soldier under his command. He had authority but lacked sufficient strength, and had been repeatedly schemed against by that old devil, Fu Zi.

They're just taking advantage of the fact that you don't have any allies.

Now that Xiao Ran has laid out his sincerity before everyone, he doesn't believe that these people have come here just to join in the fun.

Just as Xiao Ran had predicted, upon seeing the ledger in her hand, Li Shanjia and the other two began to show signs of eagerness.

But they dared not speak rashly, after all, the three of them were just minor figures here. Their eyes could only be fixed on Di Ting and the little black dog that was chewing on a large bone.

Seeing everyone's gaze fixed on him, Di Ting closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before speaking:
“Our family’s Bodhisattva made a great vow that he would not become a Buddha until hell was emptied. In order to educate the evil ghosts in hell, he personally created a lotus pond in hell so that the evil ghosts could be diligently influenced and be able to let go of the evil thoughts in their hearts.”

Li Shanjia and the others all knew about this, and even Chong Shan had heard about it.

However, it is said that the effect is only so-so.

Legend has it that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva once said that as long as one has good intentions, the lotus flowers planted will bloom and one can recite Buddhist teachings to guide them to be reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

As a result, the lotus flowers planted by these evil spirits all exhaled fragrant scents. It is said that when the flowers bloomed that day, the entire hell was filled with cursing, and the cursing was extremely offensive.

In the end, they had no choice but to seal up that hellish place where lotus flowers were planted.

They didn't understand why Di Ting was bringing this up at this time.

Di Ting said, "Those ghost lotus flowers are all good things. The lotus seeds and lotus roots have many wonderful uses. I wonder if Brother Xiao would like to try this business? You can decide on the price. The Bodhisattva doesn't care about these small amounts. The Bodhisattva's intention is that as long as these lotus flowers are disposed of, it will be a great merit."

Upon hearing this, everyone rolled their eyes inwardly. Good heavens, making money is one thing, but to call it doing good deeds? The way you put it makes us all seem greedy.

"Of course, doing things for the Bodhisattva brings immeasurable merit."

Although Xiao Ran already knew in her heart that the Bodhisattva mentioned by Di Ting was probably that bald man, she still spoke with utmost respect and devotion.

Xiao Ran then remained silent for a moment: "But I cannot agree to this."

"Ok!"

Everyone stared wide-eyed at Xiao Ran.

Even Di Ting narrowed his eyes, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the little black dog on the table who was munching on a bone.

Does this guy want to hog all the food?

This thought couldn't help but cross everyone's minds.

Even the demon felt a sudden unease.

Fortunately, Xiao Ran changed the subject: "The Bodhisattva entered Hell with great vows and compassion, and his merits are immeasurable. If I were to offer money to the Bodhisattva, it would be a desecration of the Bodhisattva. So... could we use stocks instead of goods?"

Upon hearing this, a smile immediately appeared on Di Ting's face: "In lieu of goods, in exchange for shares?"

“Yes.” Xiao Ran nodded: “I can’t buy or sell the Bodhisattva’s things cheaply, but my business is just starting out. If I take out so much money at once, I won’t be able to do business. So I’m willing to give up a portion of the shares of Amazing Pavilion to support the Bodhisattva. I ask the Bodhisattva to have mercy and let me handle those ghost lotuses. This way, I can resolve my dilemma.”

These words made Di Ting's smile grow wider and wider, and he immediately raised his wine glass: "What a brilliant idea to use stocks as a substitute for goods, resolving the dilemma. Excellent."

(End of this chapter)