Quote of the Day: "Profit is an opinion. Cash flow is a fact. But Karma is the interest rate on the soul's debt, compounding in silence."
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The aftermath of the Guild meeting was a whirlwind of calculated activity. The Serene Heart teahouse was no longer just a place of business; it was a headquarters. Messengers from minor sects and independent alchemists arrived in a steady stream, drawn by the rumor of the city-wide license. Lin Feng let Elder Bai handle the initial inquiries, his grandfather's traditional demeanor and honest face perfectly suited to the role of respectable frontman.
Lin Feng himself was in the back, seated cross-legged on the floor, his consciousness divided. One part of his mind was immersed in the [Franchise Management Console], analyzing the latest yield reports. The other part was focused inward, on the new, intricate sensation that had appeared since his breakthrough: the flow of Karma.
It wasn't a number anymore, not just a score. It was a current, a subtle, golden stream interwoven with the silvery flow of his Qi. He could feel it now, a direct consequence of the System's 10% synchronization. Every action he took, every decision, caused ripples in this current.
When he approved a bonus for Team Beta for their exceptional haul of Earth-Aspected ore, a warm, affirming pulse flowed through the golden stream, strengthening his Qi and clarifying his thoughts. [Karma +2. Dao Heart Stability: 77/100.]
When he rejected a plea for credit from a new, unproven franchise applicant with a cold, logical assessment of their high risk, the golden stream chilled slightly, and a faint resistance formed in his Qi circulation, like a tiny grain of sand in a bearing. [Karma -1. Temporary minor Qi stagnation noted.]
He was learning to read the unseen ledger. The System wasn't just a game mechanic; it was a reflection of the fundamental laws of this world. Goodwill, trust, and fairness had a tangible spiritual value. Exploitation, cruelty, and broken promises created spiritual friction that hampered growth.
It was the most fascinating and frustrating economic system he had ever encountered.
His musings were interrupted by Su Ling. She approached with a tray holding two cups of tea. Her movements were still hesitant around him, but there was a new confidence in her eyes.
"Young Master Lin," she said, bowing and offering him a cup. "This is the first batch from the cross-pollination experiment. The Silverleaf Grass and a trace of the Shadow Moss. I... I used a one-ten-thousandth dilution of the catalyst during the germination cycle, as you suggested."
Lin Feng took the cup. The tea was a pale, shimmering grey, like moonlight on water. He didn't drink it. He closed his eyes and extended his spiritual sense, using his [Meridian Sight].
The energy within the tea was remarkable. It held the solid, stabilizing quality of the Silverleaf Grass, but it was overlaid with a subtle, flexible sharpness from the Shadow Moss. The two energies weren't just mixed; they were harmonized, creating a new, complex profile that promised both fortification and enhanced spiritual perception.
"This is not a tea," Lin Feng said, opening his eyes. "This is a low-grade comprehension aid. You've created a new product line."
Su Ling beamed, her relief and pride a tangible warmth that actually caused a faint, positive ripple in his Karma stream. [Karma +1. Acknowledgment of subordinate's achievement.]
"The yield is low," she cautioned. "And the process is fragile. It requires constant, gentle Qi infusion."
"Then your next task is to design a formation to automate that infusion," Lin Feng said, taking a sip. The effect was immediate and subtle—a slight sharpening of his focus, a feeling of mental "lubrication." "Document the process. This is our first truly proprietary intellectual property. We will not license this. We will produce it exclusively."
He was building a product portfolio. The catalytic solution was the open-source platform, the tide that would lift all boats and establish his brand. But this "Moonlit Mind Tea" was the high-margin, exclusive product that would define the luxury tier of the Serene Heart Conglomerate.
As Su Ling hurried away, energized by her success, Elder Bai approached, a troubled look on his face.
"Feng'er, the Formation Master, Master Yi. He has agreed to a meeting. But his terms are... particular. He will not work for a salary. He demands a one-time payment of five hundred Spirit Stones for his first commissioned formation, and then a ten percent equity stake in any profits generated from formations he designs for us."
Lin Feng's first instinct, the old instinct, was to reject it outright. Equity was the lifeblood of a company; giving it away was dilution of control. It was a bad deal.
But he paused. He focused on the Karma stream. The mere act of considering this proposal, of valuing the long-term potential of a master's loyalty over short-term capital preservation, caused the golden current to flow more smoothly. He was being tested.
"Agree," Lin Feng said, the words feeling foreign but correct. "But with conditions. The ten percent equity is only on the net profits directly attributable to his formations, not the entire Conglomerate. And it is vested over three years. If he leaves before then, he forfeits the unvested portion."
Elder Bai's eyes widened. "You would give him a stake?"
"I am not giving it. I am investing it," Lin Feng corrected. "I am purchasing his loyalty, his creativity, and his Dao. A hired hand will build a wall. A partner will build a fortress. We need fortresses."
The moment he finalized the decision in his mind, the Karma stream didn't just warm; it surged. A wave of pure, harmonious energy flooded his meridians, so potent it felt like he had consumed a powerful spirit pill. His comprehension of a minor technical problem he'd been having with the franchise logistics sharpened, the solution appearing in his mind with crystal clarity.
[Karma Significantly Increased!]
[Trait 'Wisdom Synthesis' has been acknowledged.]
[Trait 'Loyalty Magnet' effect strengthened.]
[Dao Heart Stability: 85/100.]
[Cultivation Progress: +5%.]
The reward was immense. The System was showing him that the most profitable investments were not always in Spirit Stones, but in people and principles.
Later that night, as he meditated, he felt a familiar, sharp presence at the edge of his spiritual sense. Chu Yue stood outside, not attempting to enter, just observing. He could feel the complexity of her Karma in relation to his own—a tangled weave of competition, respect, and a burgeoning, dangerous curiosity. She was both a threat and a potential ally, and the System had no simple verdict on how to handle her.
He didn't invite her in. He simply sent a pulse of Qi towards the door, a silent acknowledgment.
She stayed for a few minutes, then left as quietly as she came.
Lin Feng opened his eyes, looking at the quiet, moonlit teahouse. He had cash flow. He had a growing product line. He had a seat at the table of power.
But the real battle, he now understood, was not fought in guild halls or on balance sheets. It was fought here, in the silent accounting of his own soul. Every decision was a transaction on the unseen ledger, and the compound interest of Karma would ultimately determine whether he ascended to godhood or was dissolved into spiritual bankruptcy.
He had mastered the market. Now, he had to master the metaphysics. And the interest was already accruing.