Volume 1, Chapter 4: Merchants Do Not Stir Without Profit; Money Makes the Devil Turn the Mill

After receiving the money, Chu Ge went straight home.

In nine days, the spiritual energy would awaken.

He planned to ask his future self how to spend this money, what to buy, and what preparations to make.

For now, the diary showed no response.

Chu Ge was not anxious and began practicing the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art.

Once in cultivation, he could feel himself growing stronger every moment.

However, after half an hour, hunger became unbearable.

It was as if he had gone seven days and nights without food.

Hurriedly, he opened the food delivery app and ordered twenty meals.

After eating, he resumed cultivation, ordering food in advance each time hunger returned.

Time passed slowly like this as he continued training.

By evening, Chu Ge exited cultivation.

Suddenly, the diary on the desk opened by itself.

“How does cultivation feel?” a message appeared.

“Indescribable. I feel like a superhuman now,” Chu Ge whispered.

“Just that after cultivating, my appetite is astonishingly huge. I can eat hundreds of pounds daily.”

“Don’t worry, that’s normal. You’re consuming ordinary food, which requires more energy.”

“Did you get the money?”

“Yes, one hundred million. Is that enough?”

“More than enough. During this period, you can buy some high-protein meats to store, as well as traditional medicinal herbs. These are essentials to ensure you safely get through the early stage of spiritual awakening.”

“In a few days, many rare treasures will appear worldwide. Follow my instructions to seek them.”

“Also, your residential area is unsafe. Soon, a rat plague will break out. Move somewhere else, like the Imperial Hotel—it’s a treasure trove.”

Chu Ge’s eyes narrowed at “rare treasures,” “rat plague,” and “Imperial Hotel.”

He quietly committed these details to memory.

“I’ve noted everything. I also have questions about cultivation—how are the realms divided?”

A line of neat text gradually appeared in the blank area.

“To my knowledge, cultivation is divided into nine levels. The first is Body Refinement, which means tempering the body. The second is Blood Condensation, the third is Qi Transformation... The ninth is Unity of Heaven and Man, where the body connects with the cosmos, and every movement shifts the winds and clouds. At this level, one is called a terrestrial immortal, living up to a thousand years—a true prodigy among prodigies.”

“Some cultivators speculate that beyond the ninth level, new realms exist.”

“My help with cultivation is limited; you must explore on your own. My talent was poor—I only reached the third level, Qi Transformation, before I died.”

The text was crooked and uneven.

Chu Ge sensed a deep, bitter resentment from it.

---

The spiritual energy was awakening, and all things were evolving.

The future Chu Ge had a ticket to enter but could only watch from the sidelines.

No one could accept such a gap.

...

Late at night, a sudden downpour began outside.

Chu Ge exited cultivation.

Ding.

He glanced down at his phone—a message arrived.

“Jiang City Heavy Rain Warning: Today Jiang City experiences torrential rain; floods may occur in various regions. Citizens are advised to prepare accordingly...”

It was already September, well past the rainy season.

The sudden storm seemed abnormal.

Chu Ge suspected the strange weather was related to the spiritual awakening.

He closed his eyes and resumed cultivation.

Early the next morning, Chu Ge dressed and went to Jiang City’s largest production factory.

The factory was vast, supplying all kinds of food and daily necessities.

“I want these items, all delivered here within two days,” Chu Ge said, handing the factory director a pre-prepared list.

“Uh...” The director’s eyes widened in shock.

The order was even larger than the monthly supplies for some high-end restaurants.

A big spender!

The director smiled broadly. “Sir... What should I call you?”

“Just call me Chu Ge,” he replied softly, then asked directly, “I can pay on the spot, but you must deliver everything within two days. Can you manage?”

The director frowned. “This is difficult. By regulation, our goods must be ordered five days in advance, and you want so much at once...”

“I’ll pay extra.”

Chu Ge smiled calmly.

Business thrives on profit; money can move mountains.

The difficulty was simply that the payment hadn’t arrived yet.

Instantly, the director’s face lit up. “Boss Chu, all the goods you requested are stocked in the warehouse. They were originally destined for other restaurants, but I’ll settle the transaction with you first.”

“Good!” Chu Ge nodded slightly, paid, and turned to leave.

The director looked at the tens of millions deposited, barely restraining a broad grin.

With this deal, he could easily skim fifty thousand.

With the food issue solved, Chu Ge immediately took a car to the Imperial Hotel.

He was familiar with this hotel.

---

The most luxurious hotel in Jiang City, the presidential suite cost two hundred thousand a night—utter extravagance.

Ordinary workers wouldn’t even dare dream of it.

His future self said it was a treasure trove; he hadn’t figured out the treasure’s exact location yet.

But following his own advice never failed.

Chu Ge rented a large warehouse near the hotel in advance to store supplies.

To simplify logistics, he also arranged for the factory director to deliver a truckload directly to the hotel.

...

“Enjoy your stay!” The front desk clerk of the Imperial Hotel respectfully handed back Chu Ge’s ID.

Her beautiful eyes curiously examined him.

His attire was extremely plain—his jeans were faded and worn.

By all appearances, he didn’t seem like someone who could afford the presidential suite.

But nouveau riches were plentiful nowadays.

The clerk dared not ask further.

At that moment, a discordant voice spoke up.

“What are you doing here? Move all those things out—quickly!”

Curiosity was human nature.

Other guests couldn’t help but turn to look.

Chu Ge also glanced over, frowning slightly, then strode toward the commotion.

The factory acted swiftly.

The first batch had arrived, personally escorted by the director.

But they were blocked at the hotel entrance by the manager.

“Mr. Chu, your goods have arrived, but they’re not letting them in. What should we do?” the director said helplessly upon seeing Chu Ge.

The Imperial Hotel had deep and powerful connections.

He dared not offend them.

“Leave it to me,” Chu Ge nodded, then politely explained to the hotel manager, “These items are my orders. By protocol, they should be delivered directly to my room, right?”

He figured such a minor issue could be resolved by the rightful owner’s word.

The manager scrutinized Chu Ge carefully.

Seeing his plain clothes, he doubted he was a hotel guest and frowned.

“Food delivery or small parcels can be sent directly to rooms, but these are an entire truckload.”

Then, his tone turned cold. “I don’t think you’re staying here. You look like you’re here to cause trouble.”