Chapter 5

"Loss? Why?" Li Youwei was momentarily at a loss.

"It’s very simple. It’s called advertising, to spread the word. I plan to send these items to the imperial palace and the homes of various ministers. The mirrors will be given to the empress, concubines, princesses, and the wives and daughters of ministers; the night lights will be given to the military, and so on.

However, I need to consult my father about this."

Li Xian finally knew his limits. Matters concerning state affairs must be discussed with his father, the capable minister.

Lord Li Yulong was pleased to accept Li Xian’s invitation. He had observed Li Xian’s changes over the past sixty days. However, when it came to these items, the well-informed Li Yulong gave a rather lukewarm evaluation:

"Very nice, but they are merely ingenious tricks, of no benefit to cultivation. If you just want to play with them, that’s fine, but don’t get too involved. Cultivation is the foundation."

Faced with such a comment, Li Xian secretly gritted his teeth: Father, in at most a year, you will understand that ingenious tricks can also be very useful. Cultivation can take thousands of years, which is too long.

Moreover, cultivation is a solitary endeavor, while scientific research is a collective effort! Which is faster, one person or a group? Hmm!

Seeing Li Xian’s determination, Li Yulong stopped criticizing and began to praise, "These things are indeed very beautiful and colorful. The operation of this small switch is indeed much easier. Since you want to advertise, just send them openly to the imperial palace. The number should be a lucky one, 365, the number of the heavens.

As for giving them to ministers and the military, that is something only the emperor can do. You just need to give them to the emperor.

I will report to the emperor today. Tomorrow evening, light all the colored lamps and send them to the imperial palace."

"Then, Father, should I kneel when I see the emperor?"

"Cultivators kneel only to heaven, earth, parents, and teachers, not to the emperor. Where did you hear that?"

"Um..." Li Xian blinked and chuckled; sorry, I slipped up again.

However, Li Xian was not worried; what truly made him happy was that consulting Li Yulong was indeed the right move. Directly giving the items to the emperor and then having the emperor distribute them as rewards would be even better advertising! And it wouldn’t offend anyone, at least not the emperor.

Li Xian began to pack all the items, first sending them to the inner city of Wuyang. The transportation of the huge Seven Fairy colored lamps was not a problem; two Foundation Establishment cultivators easily delivered them to their destination, leaving Li Xian speechless—there was a long and arduous road ahead if he wanted to develop technology in this world!

On the other side, Li Yulong had already reported the "auspicious signs" to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, my son, who returned from wandering, unexpectedly learned a peculiar technique. After two months of hard work, he made over five hundred exquisite items. He has specially selected 365 of the most perfect ones to present to Your Majesty tomorrow evening."

"Oh?" The middle-aged emperor on the throne was somewhat puzzled, "Why in the evening, my lord?"

"Please allow me to keep it a secret. Your Majesty will understand tomorrow evening. My son is currently preparing. The items are quite valuable, so please send a few guards to inspect them."

"Ha ha, Lord Li always brings joy to the emperor."

The emperor was very pleased. Li Yulong said he was sending guards to inspect, but in reality, it was to monitor. The emperor was very happy. Such a loyal and capable minister is truly a pillar of the state!

This news quickly spread to the ears of the prime minister and the officials. The prime minister only coldly snorted, while the officials were somewhat curious; something that could make the emperor wait must be extraordinary.

As everyone anticipated, Li Xian began to "package" the items. Good things need good packaging.

The small lamps were placed in glass crystal dishes, hung with red silk, and the textiles workshop helped with this. Especially for the mirrors, the carpentry workshop made many exquisite frames. Faced with Li Xian’s generous rewards, the carpenters and textile workers worked very hard.

In no time, it was the next evening. Under the "protection" of several imperial guards, Li Xian led the way, followed by over six hundred people carrying or lifting 365 colored lamps toward the imperial palace, the procession stretching for a mile. At dusk, the hundreds of colored lamps instantly attracted countless onlookers.

"Beautiful!"

"Pretty!"

"That little mouse is so cute, but its tail is so big." "Idiot, that’s a tree squirrel, not a mouse."

"Is that a mirror? It looks like a fairy’s treasure mirror."

"Those fairies are so beautiful, they seem like real fairies."

"Must be very expensive, right?"

"Where did you buy them?"

...

More and more people gathered on the street, and Li Xian, listening to the discussions around him, was overjoyed; this advertising was truly worth it!

Soon, the palace gates were in sight. The emperor sat on a floating dragon throne, with several guards flying around him, watching the unprecedented spectacle. Further back, several concubines and the like came to watch, as the cultivation world was relatively open-minded, with fewer restrictions.

When the brightly lit procession entered the palace, many women exclaimed in amazement.

"Excellent!" The emperor was delighted.

Li Xian stepped forward and bowed slightly, "Your Majesty, your humble subject unexpectedly learned a technique and has now created 365 of the most perfect items to present for Your Majesty’s appreciation."

"Come forward, explain it to me."

Li Xian, trembling with fear, stepped forward and found himself lifted by an invisible force to the emperor’s side. The emperor, with a middle-aged face, exuded a natural air of dignity and authority. Beside him was a concubine dressed in a dignified yet alluring manner—this was the emperor’s favorite concubine, the Noble Consort Hua.

Under the arrangement of the imperial guards, the items were presented to the emperor one by one, and he praised each one.

"This little squirrel is so cute." The Noble Consort Hua spoke for the first time.

"Take it, my love." The emperor was generous.

"Wow, a seven-foot-tall mirror, so clear." The Noble Consort Hua marveled.

"Take it, my love."

"No, Your Majesty, this mirror is for Your Majesty."

Li Xian immediately offered, "If Your Majesty likes it, I will prepare ten more and send them over."

"Good, good." The emperor laughed heartily. With Li Xian’s words, the emperor became even more generous, rewarding concubines, officials, and even his guards.

Seeing such a happy emperor, Li Xian was outwardly pleased but inwardly sighed: Truly the behavior of a ruler who will lead to the downfall of the state.

Finally, the strange night lights were presented. These were among the few items without the lights turned on, with six placed on the tray.

"What is this?" The emperor was very curious and picked one up to examine it. He stopped the guards from inspecting it, confident in his cultivation, and was not worried about any accidents.

"Your Majesty, just push this button."

"Oh? Let me try." The next moment, the emperor was playing with it happily, using the unusual flashlight to shine here and there. But the emperor was still the emperor, and after playing for a while, he finally gave his first order, "Li Xian, from now on, these night lights can only be sold to me."

"Yes." Li Xian understood that the emperor was not entirely foolish and had recognized the military value of the item.

"How much do they cost?"

"Eight taels of silver and 660 copper coins."

"Ten taels of silver each, prepare ten thousand for me!"

Then he continued to display other items, but the emperor’s favorite remained the six strong night lights. These could shine for three miles, combined with a cultivator’s keen eyesight, it was like an eagle with a telescope, a rabbit with a rocket launcher, almost supernatural.

But Li Xian was even happier. Regardless of the advertising effect, just the ten thousand night lights the emperor ordered would amount to ten thousand taels of gold, with a pure profit of 6,000 taels of gold! The price Li Xian quoted, eight taels of silver and 660 copper coins, was the intended selling price, not the cost.

Moreover, the emperor’s rewards were an unprecedented advertisement. Many officials were not present, but the emperor carefully sent guards to deliver the items to them. Li Xian really wanted to jump up and shout—awesome! Making a fortune!

The night passed, and when Li Xian returned to the workshop, Sun Ming and the other craftsmen from the original Biyu Lamp Workshop were all excitedly shouting. The ten thousand taels of gold from the emperor were delivered overnight, and everyone divided the gold that night.

Money has infinite power; once, everyone worked overtime for a few copper coins; now, even the youngest apprentice received 1.5 taels of gold! Gold! And it had only been two months.

"Sniff..." One apprentice actually cried.

"What’s your name? Why are you crying?" Li Xian, curious, looked at the apprentice, who was about his age; everyone else was cheering, why were you crying?

"Master, my name is Wang Dashu. My mother is sick, and now I finally have money to treat her." Wang Dashu’s eyes were filled with tears.

"Is that so?" Li Xian suddenly looked at Sun Ming, "Master, now we have money. If anyone is in difficulty, we can advance their wages, to be deducted from future earnings. If future earnings are insufficient, they can sign a contract for ten or thirty years of work."

Sun Ming, upon hearing this, bowed to Li Xian for the first time, "Master, on behalf of the 58 craftsmen, I thank you."

"I accept!" Li Xian helped Sun Ming up.

From that day on, Li Xian finally laid the foundation for his first group of loyal followers!