Translator: AnubisTL
In order to convene the first preliminary shareholders' meeting, Gu Feng splurged twenty million low-grade spirit stones to construct a conference room that could float above the swamp.
To be honest, this might sound a bit exaggerated. In reality, it was just a larger house made of ordinary obsidian ironstone, divided into two floors. The reason it could float was due to an energy core built into the lower level.
He also arranged for one hundred Innate Realm cultivators to sit on the ground, channeling their spiritual power into the core to prevent it from sinking into the swamp.
"You have so much money you don't know where to spend it, huh? What's the point of making something like this?" Chu Youhuan couldn't understand some of Gu Feng's actions. This lavishly expensive conference room was all show and no practical use, except for flaunting wealth.
"You just don't get it. I need to instill confidence in the shareholders. These things can't be skimped on. If I had more money right now, I'd make it even more extravagant!" Gu Feng retorted with a smirk.
As a transmigrator, he knew the secrets all too well. He understood exactly what the shareholders wanted to see. The more wealthy you appeared, the less likely they were to demand exorbitant prices during negotiations.
It was the same principle as a shell company using a Rolls-Royce to pick up clients.
"By the way, have the uniforms arrived?"
"They've been delivered!"
"Get everyone to change into them immediately."
To welcome these shareholders, Gu Feng personally designed and tailored a set of uniforms for each person.
From head to toe, everyone was dressed in black, exuding solemnity and dignity!
"Not bad. Everyone looks particularly dashing in the uniforms!"
"Remember, on the day of the meeting, keep your heads high, chests out, and maintain a smile. I want to see boundless confidence on your faces."
"Keep your spirits up!"
"Such a waste of money!"
Chu Youhuan said this, but her hands were caressing her brand-new uniform, a smile spreading across her face.
She and Sima Juncong were vice marshals, and their uniforms were a grade higher than the others, looking even more luxurious. As for Gu Feng, he was on another level entirely. His outfit cost five million low-grade spirit stones.
He held a gilded smoking pipe in his hand, the tobacco inside made from spirit-grade petals that had been sun-dried and roasted. Each puff burned through a hundred low-grade spirit stones—absolute luxury and indulgence.
His extravagant demeanor even made Sima Juncong, who was used to splurging, stare in awe. Sima's extravagance was limited to his "Hundred Birds Glazed Carriage," while Leader Gu's extravagance was all-encompassing.
"First Vice Marshal!"
"Here!"
"On the day of the shareholders' meeting, send a few people to use your 'Hundred Birds Glazed Carriage' to pick up the guests!" Gu Feng issued an order.
"What??? My 'Hundred Birds Glazed Carriage' is for picking up guests?" Sima Juncong was clearly reluctant. Turning his private property into a public transport vehicle was something anyone would object to.
"Do you have any objections?" Gu Feng glared at him.
"None! Should I activate the Divine Bird Phantom?"
"Use manpower to drive it. Using spirit stones would be too extravagant," Gu Feng said casually.
...
Elder Liu of the Sunset Glow Sect, along with several other elders, entered the swamp area.
Riding in an extremely luxurious chariot, these Outer Sect Elders of the Sunset Glow Sect, who had never seen such opulence, were dumbfounded.
They were poor, but they still had an eye for quality. A chariot worth one billion low-grade spirit stones to pick them up? Had Gu Feng struck it rich?
"It's truly astonishing! I thought we'd be holding the meeting in the swamp, but I never expected you, Gu Feng, to pull off such a grand spectacle!"
"Gu Feng, be honest with me. How much did this room and the Spirit Purification and Qi Locking Formation cost?"
"Just a small sum, around 500 million Low-grade Spirit Stones!"
Chu Youhuan, who was accompanying Gu Feng to receive the guests, twitched her lips. Gu Feng really knew how to exaggerate!
But it wasn't entirely Elder Liu and the others' fault for not recognizing the true value. The interior of the meeting room was lined with an extremely precious metal, but in reality, it was all just a facade. Inside, it was just ordinary bricks. A closer inspection would reveal the truth.
Upon hearing this, Elder Liu and the others stroked their beards, deeply moved, as if they were elders witnessing the success of a younger generation. They muttered phrases like, "I always knew you'd make it big," "The younger generation these days is truly remarkable," and "Every era produces its own talents!"
Gu Feng, standing nearby, humbly smiled and said he still had a long way to go.
"Please wait here for a moment. Once everyone has arrived, we'll start the meeting immediately!"
Gu Feng snapped his fingers at the cultivator beside him, and cups of expensive Spirit Tea, each worth thousands of Spirit Stones, were brought out, once again stunning Elder Liu and the others.
Batch after batch of guests entered the meeting room. To Gu Feng's surprise, even the Grand Harmony Academy from the capital had sent a representative.
"I declare the first preparatory shareholders' meeting of the Swamp Army officially open!"
Gu Feng's opening remarks were simple and clear, and everyone grasped the key point: "preparatory," meaning there could still be changes.
"Next, I'll outline the ten-year plan for this area and the expected returns!"
Most of those who came were already well-informed, but Gu Feng was willing to explain again to reinforce their investment intentions.
After his passionate speech, the room erupted in applause, and people began whispering among themselves.
The crucial part came next: negotiating investments and shares.
"First, let me clarify. The reason I was able to secure this place is largely due to my connection with the Sunset Glow Sect. The outer sect of the Sunset Glow Sect is like my home, and I believe they will continue to support me as always. Ten percent of this belongs to the outer sect of the Sunset Glow Sect."
This was something Gu Feng had planned from the start. So far, the outer sect of the Sunset Glow Sect was his most solid ally, and it was because of them that he had the opportunity to create such a grand spectacle. Giving them ten percent of the shares didn't hurt at all.
This move shocked everyone present. Ten percent of the shares was an astronomically high number, making the outer sect of the Sunset Glow Sect the second-largest shareholder after Gu Feng.
"The Bian family offers 50,000 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones for five percent of the shares!" The Bian family was the maternal family of Sima Juncong.
This statement left everyone stunned. 50,000 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones for just five percent of the shares? That was a clear case of being taken advantage of!
The representative from the Bian family, his face dark, glared fiercely at Sima Juncong. By now, he fully understood that Sima Juncong's mother had played a significant role in this deception.
No wonder she had been so enthusiastic when she came to persuade them—it was all for the hefty kickback in the middle!
Knowing full well that there was something fishy inside, the Bian family still gritted their teeth and invested, all because Gu Feng had just said one thing: the profits from the swamp area were simply too great. The entire northern border had never seen such an opportunity before, and it would never appear again. The Chu Kingdom's officials had already suffered a loss once and would surely set up various restrictions. No matter how powerful a sect was, they could never obtain the extraordinary conditions that Gu Feng had secured.
The Bian family's actions also made other forces realize the reality of the situation. Not only did they not take the opportunity to demand higher shares, but they even proactively requested to increase their investment, fearing that Gu Feng might kick them out.
In the end!
Gu Feng became the largest shareholder, holding 51% of the shares; the Sunset Glow Sect's outer sect became the second-largest shareholder with 10%; followed by the Grand Harmony Academy with 8%, and Sima Juncong personally holding 5%, making him the second-largest individual shareholder after Gu Feng, which thrilled him to no end.
The Bian family held 5%, the Myriad Harmony Guild invested 5 billion low-grade spirit stones for a 3% stake, the Cloud Prefecture's royal family, the Bao family of Cloud Prefecture, the families of the Jade Maiden Sect disciples gathered by Qi Tingting, Chu Youhuan personally, Wu Qi's small family business, and over thirty other forces held the remaining 18%!
It's worth mentioning that the Bao family offered a Spirit Fire, and Gu Feng waived the 500 million low-grade spirit stones that Bao Shaoqiong owed.
In high spirits, Gu Feng also waived A Fei's debt of 200 million low-grade spirit stones.
In the face of a total investment of nearly 120 billion low-grade spirit stones, these were just small crumbs!
The Sunset Glow Sect, holding 10% of the shares, would unconditionally provide combat support. Elder Liu immediately stated that he would dispatch ten Spirit Nurturing Realm Elders to assist in guarding the swamp area.
Gu Feng would take out his previous investment, roughly estimated at 500 million low-grade spirit stones. Of course, Gu Feng exaggerated some items, and everyone turned a blind eye without delving deeper.
The remaining over 100 billion low-grade spirit stones would be subject to financial supervision by a monitoring team composed of various forces.
After signing the agreement, everyone was shocked to discover that Gu Feng had suddenly become a billionaire tycoon!
Although he didn't have many spirit stones on hand, as long as he was willing to sell some shares, a large amount of spirit stones would immediately flow in.
The key was that as the project progressed, the value of his shares would only increase.
"Hahaha, this is the power of financing, beyond imagination. Making money is just that simple!" After seeing off the various financial backers, Gu Feng held the share agreement and laughed heartily.
"Brothers, work hard and contribute diligently. As long as you perform well, I will definitely take out some shares as your reward!"
Through Gu Feng's promotion, shares had replaced spirit stones in everyone's minds, becoming the most desired thing at the moment.
Even a tiny ten-thousandth share could yield huge returns annually, so why worry about lacking resources for cultivation?
"Great!!"
Everyone cheered wildly, excited to the point of forgetting themselves.
"Are you really going to use shares as rewards?" Zhu Qingyan was also shocked by Gu Feng's move. If possible, she would also like to get some shares.
"Shares are too volatile, and their risk resistance is far inferior to spirit stones.
Once a war breaks out, it will surely be a mess here. I can only hope that the war comes later."
"I need to figure out a way to establish an intelligence team dedicated to monitoring the movements of the Great Li Kingdom across the border. At the first sign of trouble, I'll sell all my shares and retreat immediately!" Gu Feng whispered to Zhu Qingyan.
"Actually, there's no need to form an intelligence team. I can probably guess when Great Li will launch its attack," Zhu Qingyan said leisurely.
(End of the Chapter)
📚 Read [FD] on Patreon.com/AnubisTL – Up to c236. [+2]
☕ Supportme and ReadAhead for just $5/mo.
🎯 Translated [2] Novel [400k+] Words and counting!