"Our restaurant accepts Soul Beast remains primarily to benefit civilian Soul Masters. This is a process of earning reputation."
Li Xun looked at the somewhat portly bishop across from him: "Some grateful civilian Soul Masters will remember our efforts."
At this point, Li Xun suddenly thought of the subsidies provided by the Spirit Hall for Soul Masters and felt that this approach might not be very effective. However, upon further reflection, his goal wasn't to make these Soul Masters grateful to him in the first place. So, he decided to let it be.
Dismissing these thoughts, Li Xun looked at Gelaf with great seriousness: "For this, you need to educate the public about the consequences of indiscriminate killing, encouraging civilians to voluntarily resist the wanton slaughter of Soul Beasts, and to control access to the Soul Beast Forest."
"Of course, we will also make some adjustments in the pricing of the Soul Beast meat we collect."
"How should we price it?"
"For Soul Beasts that are ten to a hundred years old, we'll treat them as game meat. The price should be slightly higher than that of ordinary wild animals, making ordinary people weigh the pros and cons and making Soul Masters feel it's a pity to discard them, thus preventing them from specifically hunting them."
Li Xun pondered for a moment: "For high-tier Soul Beasts over a thousand years old, we'll price them based on their age, corresponding to the subsidies that Soul Masters of equivalent levels can receive."
"Considering that there might be desperate high-level Soul Masters who would hunt and sell thousand-year Soul Beasts on a large scale, we'll need to register and restrict the identities of those who sell them."
"If they refuse to cooperate, the restaurant will revoke their selling privileges. I don't think anyone would dare to cause trouble in the territories of our two major forces, right?"
Gelaf laughed heartily: "I don't think such lunatics exist."
"But what if someone imitates us and opens a restaurant? After all, there's no law prohibiting others from opening Soul Beast restaurants or hunting Soul Beasts."
Laws are constraints for ordinary people, but for high-level Soul Masters, they are virtually non-existent.
"At that point, it will test your ability to represent and engage in business warfare," Li Xun said with a smile, looking at Gelaf.
When it comes to his own interests, Li Xun believed that this Cardinal would find a way when the time came.
These people might not be a deterrent to the continent's top powerhouses, but for mid to low-level Soul Masters and even civilians, they are like the revered officials of justice.
"What about the profit distribution?" Gelaf tentatively asked.
"In the areas under your jurisdiction, all store profits will be split 40% to you and 60% to me," Li Xun gestured upwards with his hand: "Don't think it's too little. The profits I receive will also need to be shared with your superiors. Otherwise, one day, the Spirit Hall might call off our cooperation."
"Not bad, not bad," Gelaf was momentarily stunned, then his face lit up with joy.
This was a business with a 200% profit margin. He had just looked at the map Li Xun had marked, and the area he was in alone had no less than twenty locations, and that was just what the other party had drawn on the spot.
With the financial resources of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, once they opened these restaurants, there might be further actions.
"Bishop Gelaf, today we are just setting the initial framework for this matter. Some details and external restrictions will need further discussion."
Li Xun stood up and clasped his hands in a salute to Gelaf: "However, professional matters should be handled by professionals. The person who comes to discuss this with you in the future might not be me."
Seeing that Li Xun was about to leave, Ning Rongrong quickly stood up and obediently positioned herself beside him.
"Ha ha, it's fine. Would you like to have a meal before you leave? I've already reserved a high-end restaurant, and it would be a shame to cancel it," Gelaf quickly stood up, patting his round belly and laughing.
"My dear bishop, I must criticize you for this. From now on, our family's restaurant will be the truly high-end one. As the spokesperson, you can't just go out to eat casually."
"Oh dear! I completely forgot about that. It won't happen again, it won't happen again."
"Ha ha."
After leaving the Spirit Hall, Li Xun and Ning Rongrong strolled along the broad streets of Suotuo City.
"Brother, I think your strategy of restricting Soul Masters from hunting Soul Beasts is a bit unreliable," Ning Rongrong said, holding Li Xun's arm as they walked, her mind still occupied with thoughts about the restaurant.
"Huh? Since when did you start caring about these things?" Li Xun was somewhat surprised, looking down at Ning Rongrong. Was this still the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School who only thought about slacking off and playing all day?
"You're so annoying, I'm not little at all," Ning Rongrong puffed out her chest and stood on tiptoe, trying to make her head surpass Li Xun's shoulder. "We're the same age, so why did you grow so fast?"
"Indeed, you're not little anymore," Li Xun squinted his eyes, giving Ning Rongrong a once-over. "But you still need to work harder."
"Hmph! You're so inappropriate." When it came to her shortcomings, Ning Rongrong quickly changed the subject. "You still haven't answered my question."
"Do you sympathize with the Soul Beasts? Do you empathize with them?"
"Well, no..."
"Then that's that. We need to ensure our own survival before we can consider other things."
"Huh? Our survival?" Ning Rongrong felt like there were many things she didn't know.
"So you didn't know? Here's the thing..." Li Xun was somewhat surprised, then remembered that Ning Rongrong wasn't present when he and his Teacher discussed the Spirit Hall. He briefly explained the situation.
"Isn't the Clear Sky Sect the number one sect on the continent? How did it end up in such a state? Huh... So the Spirit Hall is that strong?" Ning Rongrong was shocked. "No wonder Tang Hao didn't dare to bring A Yin back to the sect for refuge."
"Ahem, Tang Hao's situation was entirely his own choice. You can't blame it all on the Spirit Hall."
"What if these bishops become even more greedy in the future?"
"That's a problem for the future. Maybe by then, we'll have the power to change the world."
With the Sword Douluo leading the way, Zhu Zhuqing's journey to obtain a Spirit Ring went smoothly without any unexpected incidents. After the four of them regrouped, they took a short rest before returning to the sect.
"What! Xiao Xun's Soul Power has already broken through to level 40! And he even chose a thirty-thousand-year Soul Beast as his Fourth Soul Ring."
"Uncle Jian, why didn't you try to dissuade him?" Ning Fengzhi was surprised that so much had happened during the one and a half months Li Xun and the others were away.
When he heard about the Sky Blue Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape, his heart skipped a beat, and his palms were instantly covered in cold sweat.
If it weren't for the fact that these people were now sitting safely beside him, Ning Fengzhi felt he might have done something drastic.
"Xiao Xun! Don't you think you're being a bit too extreme?"
Ning Fengzhi wasn't sure how to describe his current emotions, so he could only offer words of advice: "With your talent, as long as you proceed steadily, you will undoubtedly become a powerhouse on the continent. Why take such a risk?"
"Cough, Teacher, this time the risk was just an accident. Who could have expected two 100,000 Year Soul Beasts to wander aimlessly to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest?"
Seeing that Ning Fengzhi was genuinely worried, Li Xun quickly tried to soothe his teacher's emotions: "As for absorbing the Spirit Ring, it poses no risk to me at all."
Li Xun then proceeded to explain how he had obtained the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, albeit in a slightly altered version.
"You even went to Tang Hao's lair to steal a Soul Bone, and you don't consider that a risk?" Ning Fengzhi's voice rose in agitation.
(End of Chapter)