Cultivation, Inc.I Use Capitalism to Fix a Dying Sect

Xiao Yue stood with her head bowed as the senior female cultivator berated her. Her face was pale, and she didn’t dare utter a word of rebuttal—the very picture of a workplace rookie being bullied by a toxic senior.

“Hmph. Idiot,” Sun Yi scoffed, his voice carrying across the lobby. “If the Seven Star Tower’s HR department recruits staff based on such superficial criteria, your brand reputation is in serious jeopardy.”

He looked the rude woman up and down with cold disdain. “I heard your headquarters is in the Heavenly Saint Commandery, a conglomerate spanning the continent. Yet, with a liability like you on the front lines, it seems the Seven Star Tower is severely overrated.”

Sun Yi had no intention of tolerating this kind of snobbish behavior. He engaged immediately, his voice loud enough to attract the attention of every cultivator in the first-floor hall.

“You… who are you calling an idiot?”

The female cultivator, Hua Ling, trembled with rage. A mere Qi Refining ant dared to speak to her like this? “Do you know where you are? Daring to cause a scene in the Seven Star Tower… I think you have a death wish!”

She pointed a shaking finger at Sun Yi, looking as if she wanted to devour him whole. If the store’s security protocols didn’t forbid violence, she would have attacked him right then and there.

Sun Yi glanced at her, his expression filled with the kind of pity one might show a bug in a system code. “I think you’re the one who’s confused about the protocol.”

He took a step forward. “Have you forgotten the entry requirements for Qi Refining cultivators? Aren’t you worried that I’m here with a Golden Core senior? Or perhaps an angel investor?”

Hua Ling’s face flashed with a trace of panic.

But she quickly recovered, snorting coldly. “I saw you walk in alone. Where is this Golden Core senior? Trying to bluff me? You’re dreaming!”

Sun Yi smiled faintly, his demeanor calm and unbothered. “Hehe. Even without a senior, I passed the asset verification check to enter. If you don’t even know the basic compliance rules, you are truly unfit for your position.”

He shook his head mockingly. “And if your branch doesn’t understand that ‘The Customer is King,’ then you really don’t deserve the title of a top-tier merchant alliance.”

Sun Yi’s merciless deconstruction of her professionalism caused Hua Ling’s face to cycle through various shades of red and purple.

She knew the rules—Qi Refining cultivators could enter with proof of funds—but she had seen too many poor cultivators pooling money just to window shop. She had simply assumed Sun Yi was another broke tourist.

“Hmph! How can a mere Qi Refining cultivator evaluate the Seven Star Tower?” she shrieked, trying to regain control.

“Hehe. I’d like to know which enterprise’s reputation isn’t built on user feedback,” Sun Yi retorted sharply. “The Seven Star Tower’s market dominance relies on its customers, not on entitled attendants like you. If you can’t grasp that simple business logic, you are a net loss to this establishment.”

“Well said! This young master speaks reason.”

Suddenly, applause rang out from the side. Sun Yi turned to see a middle-aged cultivator in a blue robe walking over, a professional smile on his face.

Sun Yi’s pupils contracted slightly. Golden Core.

Although the man suppressed his aura, Sun Yi’s instincts screamed danger. This was a regional manager level threat.

Xiao Yue and Hua Ling turned pale the moment they saw him. They hurriedly bowed, their arrogance vanishing instantly.

“Greetings, Tower Master Mo.”

The CEO of this branch, Sun Yi noted. He cupped his hands respectfully but maintained his composure. “So it is the Tower Master. This junior, Sun Changqing, pays his respects.”

Mo Wen observed Sun Yi with a calculating gaze. “Although the young master is dressed simply, your bearing is extraordinary. Your analysis of business principles just now shows remarkable insight. Truly an outstanding talent.”

“Hehe, merely some basic observations,” Sun Yi replied smoothly. “I happened to be in the Red Fire Market and heard the Seven Star Tower is a top-tier conglomerate. I wanted to conduct some market research… I didn’t expect the user experience to be so poor.”

Sun Yi sighed and shook his head, looking visibly disappointed.

“Is the young master dissatisfied with our inventory?” Mo Wen couldn’t help but ask.

“The first floor has a decent selection for the mass market,” Sun Yi said, adopting a professional tone. “Ideally suited for rogue cultivators. However, none of it meets my specs. I was attempting to access the premium tier upstairs, but I encountered… a firewall.”

He glanced at Hua Ling.

“Hmph! Only VIPs can access the second floor!” Hua Ling interjected, unable to help herself. “You think a Qi Refining cultivator like you can go up? Keep dreaming!”

Mo Wen frowned slightly at her outburst.

Sun Yi ignored her and looked directly at Mo Wen. “Is the barrier to entry for VIP status that high, Tower Master Mo? What are the requirements?”

Sun Yi’s attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, which intrigued Mo Wen. “A Golden Core cultivation base,” Mo Wen said slowly, “or proof of sufficient liquidity.”

“So it’s just a capital requirement.” Sun Yi smiled faintly.

He reached into his robe, pulled out a Storage Bag, and tossed it casually to Mo Wen.

“Audit this.”

Mo Wen caught the bag. He swept it with his Divine Sense—and his professional smile froze.

His eyes widened in genuine shock.

Five hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

This wasn’t just ‘sufficient liquidity.’ This was a massive amount of liquid capital. Forget a Qi Refining cultivator; even top-tier Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn’t have this kind of cash flow. Even some Golden Core cultivators would be hard-pressed to produce this amount instantly.

Mo Wen’s attitude underwent a complete transformation. He was a businessman, and he had just found a whale.

“Tower Master Mo,” Sun Yi asked with a knowing smile. “Does my capital meet the requirements for the second floor?”

“Of course! Of course!” Mo Wen handed the bag back with both hands, his smile now beaming with genuine warmth. “Young Master is more than qualified. Starting today, you are a distinguished VIP of the Seven Star Tower.”

He produced a black token from his sleeve. “This is our VIP Token. Please keep it safe. It entitles you to priority service and exclusive discounts.”

A Black Card, Sun Yi thought, accepting the token. Standard loyalty program.

“Hehe, then I won’t stand on ceremony,” Sun Yi said. He then turned his gaze back to Hua Ling. “However, Tower Master Mo… aren’t you worried that retaining an employee like her will negatively impact your brand equity?”

Hua Ling’s face drained of blood. She realized she had made a fatal error in judgment. This wasn’t a poor cultivator; this was a walking treasury.

“Young Master Sun is absolutely right,” Mo Wen said, his voice dropping to absolute zero. “Previously, our management was lax. On behalf of the Seven Star Tower, I apologize. To compensate for the poor user experience, all your purchases today will be discounted by twenty percent.”

“Thank you, Tower Master Mo. That is an acceptable settlement.” Sun Yi nodded.

Mo Wen turned to Hua Ling. The smile was gone, replaced by the cold indifference of a corporate executioner.

“Hua Ling. Your employment is terminated effective immediately. Leave now, and never set foot in the Seven Star Tower again.”

Hua Ling’s legs gave out. “Tower Master, I was wrong! Please, give me another chance! I will reform, I swear…”

“I do not repeat myself. Get out!”

Under the pressure of a Golden Core cultivator’s gaze, Hua Ling shuddered violently. She knew there was no appeal process here. She glared venomously at Sun Yi one last time before slinking away in disgrace.

“Young Master Sun, are you satisfied with this resolution?”

“Hehe, Tower Master Mo is decisive. A blessing for the customers.” Sun Yi smiled. “I can see why your franchise dominates the continent.”

Sun Yi was satisfied. He had no sympathy for people who profiled customers based on appearance.

Looking at the shrewd Tower Master in front of him, Sun Yi had a thought. Why waste time searching for resources myself? I have a massive supplier right here. And with the Seven Star Tower’s logistics network… this is a partnership I can leverage.