59 Chapter 59

In the end, Ning Shu still didn't believe that the Hehuan Sect's shop could really lose money for no reason, so after a week of field visits and investigations, she finally figured out the reasons for the store's losses.

This is not a question of metaphysics, but an economic question.

As mentioned before, the Hehuan Sect's shop is located in the most prosperous commercial CBD center of the "international metropolis" Chaoyin City. All the well-known sects or forces have set up businesses nearby.

The monks who come here to shop are of course either rich or noble. At this time, the goods sold in the shops are similar to luxury goods to some extent - the price-performance ratio and quality are not that important, what matters is whether the goods you sell have formed a brand effect.

For example, if a customer wants to buy a bottle of Chalcedony Pill without considering the budget, would he or she be more willing to patronize the Jiuyang Sect store that specializes in alchemy or the Hehuan Sect store that specializes in the Way of Love?

Do you feel that the pills you buy from the Hehuan Sect shop sound unreliable?

Similarly, if you want to buy a sword, go to the Qingfeng Sword Sect's shop; if you want to buy a spirit pet, go to the Beast Taming Sect's shop; even for meals and accommodation, there are more famous local brands. In comparison, those who go to the Hehuan Sect to spend money are mentally abnormal.

Huh? You mean those fancy clothes and jewelry? Sorry, before the brand effect and celebrity influence spread, people didn't have that demand.

"If that's the case, then aren't all the assets our Hehuan Sect spent so much money on useless?" Zi Xiao collapsed on the table in despair after hearing Ning Shu's research results, the two thin sheets of the investigation report covering his face.

"Unfortunately, Chaoyin City is too important for the Hehuan Sect to retreat. Now this shop will suffer losses forever."

After all, there are so many secret realms in the Infinite Sea that are opened at irregular intervals. If we wait until the news is passed back to the Hehuan Sect before making preparations, we will never be able to eat anything that is not hot.

"Um... I don't think there's no solution." Ning Shu picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. The rich taste with the aroma of coconut made her squint her eyes comfortably.

"Like I said before, as long as we leverage the branding effect, we can attract many generous customers. As long as our store follows the same unique characteristics as the Nine Suns Sect and the Qingfeng Sword Sect..."

Hmm... the characteristics of the Hehuan Sect...

"Young Sect Master, are we going to open a brothel?" The woman in blue who had previously reported the situation to Ning Shu spoke nervously.

In fact, viewing the disciples of the Hehuan Sect as prostitutes is a very old stereotype. After all, everyone just likes to practice dual cultivation with someone they like and have a romantic relationship with them. Who in their right mind would want to live a life without dignity and being frivolous?

"Cough, cough, cough! No, no, no, of course not!" Ning Shu was so scared that the coconut juice in her mouth was about to spray out. She coughed and shook her head repeatedly:

"Sister Yu Lan, our Hehuan Sect is originally composed of women. How could we do such a bad thing as persecuting women? What I mean is, we can start from the unique characteristics of the Hehuan Sect and open a one-of-a-kind store in Chaoyin City!"

"It's the only one of its kind in Chaoyin City?" Yu Lan thought for a long time but couldn't come up with an answer: "What store?"

"I know, it must be a movie theater, right?" Zi Xiao finally climbed up from the table and took out a Spirit Shadow Stone from his Qiankun bag and handed it to Yu Lan: "After all, we came here with weapons, so we can't waste this prime location, right? Young Sect Master?"

Ning Shu smiled and gave a thumbs up: "Hehe, Sister Zixiao still understands me!"

After determining the business direction of the store, Ning Shu carefully toured the large shop. It was a three-story building, and each floor covered a large area, even enough to be converted into a small shopping mall.

Considering that there might be a large number of people coming to watch the movie, Ning Shu waved his hand and converted the second and third floors into screening rooms of different styles. The first floor was used as the lobby ticket office, and snacks and other peripherals were sold by the way.

"Let's leave it at that for now. We'll expand the store when we make some money." Ning Shu stood at the door of the empty theater, frowning unsatisfiedly. She seemed very dissatisfied with the size of the store. "Let's arrange a few more sisters to sell tickets in the hall. It would be bad if the audience is too crowded and causes a stampede."

Yu Lan was quite uneasy about such a large-scale change. Although she didn't have to pay for the initial investment, she was still terrified by the thought of spending such a large amount of spirit stones.

"Young Master, aren't six theaters enough? This place can accommodate thousands of people." At this point, she couldn't help but worry, fearing that these chairs would be empty.

"Young Sect Master, although I thought your filming of that movie was very exciting after watching it, Chaoyin City has never had such a novel way of watching a play before. I don't think there will be many cultivators interested in a new drama that suddenly appeared. When the time comes..."

If no one comes to see you, won’t you be at a loss?

"Well, of course no one is interested in the movie now, because we haven't started promoting it yet!" Ning Shu nodded and acknowledged Yu Lan's opinion, but she didn't seem worried at all. Instead, she pulled Yu Lan's sleeve and turned to leave. She turned right a few steps and took her to her newly renovated office:

"But it doesn't matter. It's just a movie promotion, right? This kind of thing isn't difficult for me. I also promoted the talent show in the city that never sleeps. I'm very familiar with this kind of thing!"

Yu Lan did know through her love network that there was a new type of cultivation method called a "talent show" in Nevernight City, but she wasn't in a sect after all, and she always had that subtle distrust of things that older people have when it comes to new things. Her expression changed several times between "Don't meddle in other people's business" and "Or I should try to persuade him again", but she finally couldn't help herself and asked: "What publicity methods have you come up with?"

"The most basic thing is, of course, the poster, and then there are some movie trailers and so on. Look! This is it!" Ning Shu unfolded a very realistic picture on the table and showed it to Yu Lan: "How is it? Is it exciting enough? Do you want to rush in and see what it is right now?"

Yu Lan really covered his chest and took a deep breath. After a long while, he spoke tremblingly: "This... is quite shocking. Aren't you afraid that the elder in the painting will cause trouble for us?"

"Hehe, it's okay, it's okay. Fighting is not allowed in the city." Ning Shu waved his hand with a wicked smile, turned around and took out a palm-sized box: "And I also brought the same barrier as the sect. If that elder doesn't mind being embarrassed, he can continue to rage helplessly at the entrance of the cinema!"

As a result, merchants and monks near Chaoyin City discovered that the Hehuan Sect store, which was losing money on everything it did, had started to come up with new tricks.

Not only was the exterior decorated in a luxurious and grand manner, they even brought in the barrier that had been passed down from generation to generation in their Hehuan Sect. However, the wall of the main entrance, which should have been decorated most exquisitely, was left flat and blank. I wonder what their intention was.

"Is the Hehuan Sect planning to open a new store? What are they planning to sell this time?" A curious cultivator sitting in a nearby restaurant asked. His tone didn't sound too concerned, as if he was just chatting casually while waiting for the food.

After all, the shops of the Hehuan Sect were closing down at a speed comparable to the franchised milk tea shops in the Earth era. Nine out of ten times when the monks passed by, the shops were closed for renovations. It was the most "beautiful" scenery in this area of ​​bustling shops.

"When I passed by earlier, their sign was already up. It seemed to be called something like...a movie theater. I can't quite figure out what it was for. Maybe it's one of those new things that's trending in the city that never sleeps."

"New stuff? What is that? Is it beneficial to cultivation?" The monk finally showed some interest.

"This... I'm not quite sure, but I heard from a monk passing by the City That Never Sleeps that it seems to be some new way of entertainment. The third son of the Wang family has become addicted to it, and as a result, many other rich young men from other families have been trapped in the City That Never Sleeps and refuse to come out!" The monk next to him was beaming with joy when talking about the gossip.

"Tsk! Sure enough, it's another one of those hedonistic things. It's probably similar to those clothes and jewelry they sold before!" Another monk said with disdain: "This kind of store won't last long in Chaoyin City. We are different from those women-crazed shop owners!"

"That's right! I think they'll go bankrupt in less than half a month this time!"

"I would never go to a store like this even if it really opened!"

Even as they were talking, the shop over there that had been closed for renovations finally made some new moves. They placed a giant spirit shadow stone on the bare wall at the main entrance, and hung a huge colorful painting on the other side.

"Hmph! I won't watch those fancy little tricks!" The monk who was gossiping just now started to concentrate on eating.

But reality just wouldn't let him rest, and not long after, another group of people passed by their table, chatting noisily.

"Hey, did you see the painting posted at the entrance of Hehuan Sect just now?"

"How could I not see it? The Tianyan Sect elder's face is so huge and fierce right there. It looks so frightening at first glance!"

"Why would this Hehuan Sect's shop be attached to the Tianyan Sect elders? Aren't these two families sworn enemies?"

The gossipy monk slowed down his food picking up and couldn't help but prick up his ears to eavesdrop.

"Oh! What else could it be? Love, hate, and those trivial things! Didn't you see it written under the portrait? The elder of Tianyan Sect actually did such a thing to the female ghost cultivator!"

"Ah? What's going on here?"

"How should I know? The picture book doesn't say anything."

"You guys came in too hastily and didn't see the Spirit Shadow Stone, did you? I stood there and watched for a while. It seemed like a disciple was having a messy love affair with a female ghost, and there were also some stories about an old female ghost from the previous life. Oh, it was fascinating, but it was too short, so I only understood half of it..."

"I also saw the Spirit Shadow Stone. It said that some scumbag was trying to kill his wife to prove his faith. Let me tell you..."

Their noisy group finally walked upstairs and turned into a private room. The sounds from the back were no longer clear. The lobby, which was bustling just a moment ago, suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Even the waiter was holding his breath and straining his ears to eavesdrop.

Kill, kill your wife to prove your faith? What is that?

Oh, it sounds so exciting, I really want to rush in and listen to it more!

The monks, feeling anxious and worried, looked up at each other as they listened to the gossip. The monk who was keen on gossip said tentatively, "Ahem! It's free to look at the things hanging outside anyway. Why don't we go see what the Hehuan Sect is up to?"

"That makes sense. We'll just take a look and come back. We definitely won't go into the store!"

The monks in the hall left their seats one after another and walked towards the cinema. Soon the huge hall was empty and only the waiter who could not leave was left standing at the door scratching his head.