58 Chapter 58

Nie Xiaoqian's filming had a "stroke of genius" in the last scene, and Ning Shu was very satisfied with it. Every day when she hid in the room to edit the film, she couldn't help laughing out loud.

"I say, is this really so funny?" Zi Xiao, who was sitting on the side keeping accounts, was so amused by her laughter that his whole body went numb.

"That old Taoist priest with a big nose messed up the ending of our movie, and now even the male lead has been captured. Didn't you say that the actors would still have to cooperate in promoting the movie in post-production? What should we do now?"

"Messed up? No, what a great ending! What a perfect performance! It's something you can only dream of!" Ning Shu pointed at the scene in the Spirit Shadow Stone where the male protagonist was captured and laughed heartily:

"I've decided! This is the ending of our movie! If it's a big hit at the box office, we can make a second part. It'll be about Nie Xiaoqian traveling thousands of miles to find her husband and causing chaos in the Tianyan Sect!"

As she spoke, she copied the completed film, including the music and editing, into other Spirit Shadow Stones. It seemed that she had already made plans for the absence of the male protagonist in the future:

"It'll be easy when promoting the movie. Just put up a poster at the entrance of the cinema saying, 'Shocking! The Tianyan Sect elder actually did that to the beautiful female ghost!'

At the later actor meet-and-greet, we'll directly announce that the male lead was indeed captured by the Tianyan Sect, and let those cultivators who don't believe it go ahead and check it out. When they verify it, it'll definitely spread like wildfire, and we'll get a lot of attention from everyone!"

Thinking of the elder's "heroic image" being displayed in a movie theater for thousands of viewers to publicly execute, Zixiao's frustration over the past few days finally dissipated a little. She picked up one of the completed copies of the Spirit Shadow Stone and played with it in her hands:

"Now that filming is complete, when do you plan to release it in the city that never sleeps? Do you want to use the Eyes of the Wutong tree to promote it first?"

"Well, of course we have to promote it. I'm even planning on having the girl group Neon Clothes sing the theme song to help build some buzz." Ning Shu took the Spirit Shadow Stone from Zi Xiao's hand and put it away carefully. "But there's no rush for the release yet. I plan to use this film to expand the market in other cities, and then release it simultaneously in two cities."

Because Ning Shu had previously said that the Never-Sleeping City market was saturated and that she wanted to move to a new location to "expand the cake," Zi Xiao wasn't surprised to hear her plan this time: "It looks like you've already chosen a location? Does the Sect Master also agree with you going on a long journey?"

"Yes, I've chosen." Ning Shu nodded vigorously and took out a letter from under the table and handed it over. "My sister in Chaoyin City sent me a message saying that the business we invested in there has been losing money year after year. My mother asked me to go there and try to see if there is any way to revitalize the business there."

Chaoyin City is a prosperous city close to the Boundless Sea. Unlike the Never-Sleeping City, which is a satellite city affiliated with a large sect, Chaoyin City has attracted countless cultivators who dream of making a name for themselves because of its unique geographical location and rich and prosperous secret realm. Whether in terms of area, scale or population, it is one of the largest cities in the world of immortal cultivation.

It is impossible for such a rich place to be monopolized by a single snob, so the various forces within Chaoyin City are intertwined. Basically, all the well-known sects, big and small, have set up businesses there, and even send disciples to garrison there. To some extent, it is almost the same as a branch.

"But this is too strange, isn't it? According to you, Chaoyin City should be a city with a large flow of people and a prosperous business. Why has our business been losing money year after year?" Ning Shu has been racking his brains to figure out the problem since he received this task: "Is it because our shop is in a bad location?"

Zixiao was also puzzled by this question: "I've been to that business over there a few times before. The location and environment are obviously very good, but for some reason, business is really slow. I'd better wait until you go there and see for yourself. Maybe you can find out what the problem is."

After all, Ning Shu was able to take over those half-dying brothels in the City That Never Sleeps and turned them from losses to profits in just one month. The sect leader must have sent her there for this reason.

Since Ning Shu had already decided that she was not the type to procrastinate, after simply packing her luggage, she took several full Qiankun bags, plus a Void Ring that had already been recognized by its owner, and went to say goodbye to her mother with her luggage.

"Shu'er, your cultivation is not high. You must pay attention to your safety when you are alone outside. Remember not to act too ostentatiously, and don't trust those demon cultivators, as well as those disciples who claim to be from famous and upright sects. Men are best at sweet talk, you..." The sect leader gently stroked his daughter's fair face, wishing in his heart that he could pass on all his experience to her.

Normally, she was always worried that her daughter's inability to find a lover would affect her cultivation. Now that she was going to let her go out and explore the world, she was worried that she would be foolishly deceived by those bad men. There were countless conflicts and entanglements in her heart. She started to worry about her daughter before she even left.

"Mother, how can I be alone on this journey? Sister Zixiao, Sister Ziqiu, and the other actors are also with me, aren't they?" Ning Shu gently hugged the Sect Master and acted coquettishly in her arms, with a strong sense of reluctance in her tone:

"It doesn't matter. We disciples of the Hehuan Sect are connected to the Internet and are not restricted by distance. Even if we go to Chaoyin City, we can still talk to each other every day. And now that the love network can transmit images, we can also video chat every day!"

The Sect Master hugged Ning Shu back and gently stroked her hair. The mother and daughter hugged each other for a long time before the Sect Master reluctantly let go. She gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with the handkerchief in her hand, turned around, took out a small box and gently placed it in Ning Shu's hand:

"Oh right, yesterday the sacred tree suddenly produced three fruits. I think it might have sensed your departure, so you should take these three fruits with you. Mother believes that you will be able to use them better than I can."

Ning Shu's eyes were also a little moist. After all, this was the first time she had left her mother to go on a long journey since she grew up. She sniffed hard and reached out to take the palm-sized box.

"Mother, don't worry, I will take good care of myself. You should also take good care of yourself. Don't worry too much about the sacred tree and the sect!"

Carrying a large box of pastries made by his mother, Ning Shu reluctantly left the island in the center of the lake and boarded the fairy boat to Chaoyin City.

It is always unpleasant for a traveler to be away from home. Seeing that Ning Shu was in a bad mood, the others wisely did not come to disturb him. Ning Shu stayed in the room for three days and nights, and finally regained his spirits on the eve of the fairy boat arriving at its destination.

Unlike the Hehuan Sect with its distinct four seasons, Chaoyin City is close to the sea, with a warm and humid climate and bright sunshine. From afar, the azure sea and the blue sky are connected as one. Chaoyin City is in the middle of it, and it feels as dreamy as a mirage.

Ning Shu felt that her body and mind were healed in this southern scenery. She jumped off the fairy boat with light steps, bought a coconut-like fruit from the roadside, held it in her hand and drank it while walking around, feeling as relaxed as if she was on vacation.

"Sister Zixiao, I see it's bustling here, and the city is clean and safe. Why is our shop so quiet?"

Ning Shu walked and looked around curiously on the street. This city was completely different from the previous city that never sleeps. Even at noon, the streets were still crowded with people. The buildings on the roadside were magnificent with carved beams and painted rafters, and pavilions and towers could be seen everywhere.

If the City That Never Sleeps is a tourist city dominated by the service industry, then Chaoyin City is more like an international metropolis that integrates economy and culture, exuding wealth and prosperity everywhere.

"I've already told you I don't know. You'll have to wait until you get there to find out the specific reason!" Zixiao was followed by Ziqiu, Xuanmo and all the other actors. She waved her hand to signal the people behind to follow closely, and took Ning Shu and others to a spacious and clean carriage on the side of the road.

Ning Shu originally thought that the reason her shop was doing poorly was probably because it hadn't been able to rob other forces, so it was located in a remote area. However, when she got off the car, she saw that her shop was actually located in the central area of the city. Across from it, a towering building had a very familiar pattern printed on its door. Ning Shu thought about it for a while before she remembered that it seemed to represent the most famous auction house in the world of cultivation, the Jiuxiao Yunque pattern.

Ning Shu stood there and looked around, and found that there were different shops all around him, selling magic weapons, talismans, weapons, and even restaurants and inns. The decoration of each shop was extremely luxurious and high-end, and you wouldn't have the confidence to go in without tens of thousands of spirit stones in your pocket.

This must be the high-end CBD business district in the cultivation world, right? Here, even just collecting rent alone would bring in a ton of money, so how on earth was my shop losing money?

With more and more doubts in his heart, Ning Shu followed Zixiao into a luxuriously decorated but very deserted store. The disciples stationed there had long heard that the young master was coming to inspect, and they all stood in the hall waiting early.

Seeing Elder Zixiao leading a group of people in, they all knelt down and saluted to the girl in the flowing fairy skirt in front: "Greetings, Young Sect Master!"

"Everyone, get up quickly. You've all been working hard these days!" Ning Shu walked over and helped the leading lady in the blue dress to her feet. She turned around and looked around the luxurious and spacious interior decoration, but still couldn't find any problems. So she turned to look at the lady who should be the person in charge and said, "Sister, what kind of business is our store doing?"

Why can’t I see any products on the counter?

Hearing the young master's question, the sister in blue couldn't help but look embarrassed. She turned her head and glanced at the sisters behind her who also looked embarrassed. Finally, she turned around with a wry smile:

"Young Sect Master, to be honest, we've tried selling spirit pets, magical instruments, talismans, elixirs, and even popular clothing and jewelry. But without exception, we've lost everything. We really don't dare to act rashly, so we'll have to wait for you to come and make a final decision."

Ning Shu was shocked by what she heard and subconsciously sighed, "Huh? This shop doesn't have bad feng shui, does it? Has someone cursed us?"

"No, we even spent a lot of money to invite the elders of Shenji Pavilion to take a look, and no one has done anything." The sister in blue clothes looked regretful.

Ning Shu: ...

Oh, it’s so sad that even metaphysics can’t explain it.