Feng Fei's mind was in a daze...

Looking at Junior Brother Xinghe, who didn't seem to be joking at all, Feng Fei just wanted to say, "Junior Brother Xinghe, do you even hear what kind of nonsense you're spouting?"

Isn't it a long-standing tradition to give gifts at weddings?

This is the first time I've heard of guests receiving gifts from the hosts at a wedding.

What kind of twisted logic is this where you give gifts first as a sign of respect?

Even though our Grand Sky Sect is wealthy and doesn't care about wedding gifts, what does this reverse gifting mean?

Compared to this reverse gifting, Feng Fei suddenly felt that having ten thousand Dark Rigids as escorts wasn't such an outrageous idea.

As for other thoughts, Chu Xinghe had previously considered organizing a massive concert at the Grand Sky Sect.

With full stage effects and spirit tools going wild, focusing on an explosive light and shadow show.

But after thinking it over, this plan seemed inappropriate.

Imagine if such a sensational concert were held, what would happen after the wedding ended?

Wouldn't it just take off and earn a fortune right there?

So this matter requires careful consideration and can't be rushed.

While Chu Xinghe was pondering how to manage the sect's expenses prudently and make Senior Brother Feng Fei's wedding grand, the deacons and stewards from various places returned to the Grand Sky Sect.

Upon inquiry, Chu Xinghe realized it was time for the mid-year summary meeting?

But wait... isn't there still some time before mid-year?

Before he could ask the Great Elder, he ran into the spirited Deputy President Qin.

"Senior Brother Xinghe, Qin Xiangqian missed you so much..." Qin Xiangqian ran up to Senior Brother Xinghe, looking at him with teary eyes.

What the... who taught you all to say this? Did you all learn from Ma Liang?

Can't you learn something proper?

Are you trying to say you missed me or you want me dead?

Listen to what Qin Xiangqian is saying, is that even human language?

"Senior Brother Xinghe, under your wise leadership, our Tianyi Spirit Mine's production in the first half of the year increased several times over..."

Moreover, as we continue to mine deeper, the output of top-grade spirit stones increases, while low-grade spirit stones become rarer.

So our low-grade spirit stone production rate this year is significantly lower than in previous years...

Is this even human language?

Low-grade spirit stones are lower than before, so this half-year was all about top-grade spirit stones, right?

Before recovering from the blow brought by Qin Xiangqian, a silly voice came from afar.

"Senior Brother Xinghe, I missed you so much..."

Goodness... another one who wants me dead, right...

Wang Tieniu ran over and gave Senior Brother Xinghe a big hug, and without waiting for him to understand, started his own tale.

But isn't your story even more outrageous than Qin Xiangqian's?

You claim to have achieved a tenfold stone yield rate?

Have you considered Senior Brother Xinghe's feelings?

Even if you don't consider Senior Brother Xinghe's feelings, at least think about the Shi family's feelings?

The Shi family is now calling themselves the second-best stone pointing family in the world... they're almost being squeezed out by you.

And those disciples following Tieniu, kneeling to greet Senior Uncle Xinghe, are you serious?

I'm still young... how did I suddenly become a Senior Uncle?

Tieniu also introduced his few unremarkable disciples.

First, the eldest disciple, who was the earliest to learn stone pointing from Tieniu. According to Tieniu, his talent is too average, after all this time, he barely reached a ninefold stone yield rate, and Tieniu even considered stripping him of his senior disciple status.

The other disciples were even worse, hovering between eight and ninefold, such poor talent... when can they surpass their master...

The disciples knelt, tearfully saying, "Master, it's not that our talent is poor, it's that your talent is too good. You were personally discovered by Senior Brother Xinghe, how can we compare?"

Tieniu agreed with his disciples.

"Though your talents are terrible, you're right. The greatest fortune of my life was meeting Senior Brother Xinghe, and with his help, I, Wang Tieniu, achieved what I have today.

Though I have a good eye, how can the talents I discover compare to those discovered by Senior Brother Xinghe?"

For Tieniu's shameless self-praise, Chu Xinghe felt doubly attacked.

The deacons and stewards from all sides arrived at the Grand Sky Sect, and this year's mid-year summary meeting was held ahead of schedule.

The Sect Master and elders gathered in the Grand Sky Hall, and Chu Xinghe naturally sat in the audience. Unlike the previous two times, now everyone wasn't surprised to see Chu Xinghe.

However, this mid-year summary meeting included a new Deputy Sect Master, Yan Shoujing.

The deacons and stewards also paid respects to the Deputy Sect Master, as the news of adding a Deputy Sect Master was of interest to many.

Though everyone knew the Deputy Sect Master was just a title, the position was indeed high.

Under the Great Elder's chairmanship, the deacons and stewards began reporting on the first half of the year and their outlook for the second half.

Chu Xinghe listened with a numb expression...

Yan Shoujing's face grew more numb as he listened...

Though he knew the Grand Sky Sect was vast and powerful, hearing the reports firsthand left Yan Shoujing unsettled.

What is this? The output of a single spirit mine at Tianyi Spirit Mine surpasses all our Demonic Sect's mines combined? And most of the output is top-grade spirit stones?

Even Qin Xiangqian said there's still room for improvement?

Is Chu Xinghe planning to make Tianyi Spirit Mine a wealth machine for generations, while the sect perishes?

Is this Tianyi Spirit Mine or a perpetual wealth machine?

If Qin Xiangqian's Tianyi Spirit Mine made Yan Shoujing marvel at Chu Xinghe's luck, then when Tieniu claimed to have mastered a tenfold stone yield rate, Yan Shoujing was stunned.

No... I've heard of this Tieniu... but is tenfold really scientific?

Shouldn't there be some consumption in stone pointing?

What is this no consumption at all?

Then Tieniu demonstrated what a tenfold stone yield rate meant...

When everyone saw Tieniu turn a black raw stone into a top-grade spirit stone with incomprehensible techniques, they were all dumbfounded.

But as everyone marveled at Tieniu's godlike skills, Tieniu began outlining his next plan.

"Sect Master... Deputy Sect Master... Elders... I, Tieniu, don't know the limits of stone pointing... but I feel if I work hard, I might use some special means to improve the quality of spirit stones in the stone pointing process..."

Tieniu's words left Yan Shoujing in shock.

Why don't you just ascend to the heavens... stone pointing can improve spirit stone quality? Is this legitimate stone pointing?

Yan Shoujing began considering whether to extract Tieniu's stone pointing divine technique from the sect, as it could greatly enhance the Demonic Sect's power.

After Tieniu, Shi Biao stood up. Compared to Tieniu's godlike techniques, Shi Biao casually announced the Grand Sky Firm's second quarter and first half-year revenue growth.

Looking at the line soaring upward from below... Yan Shoujing was at a loss for words.

He had heard of the Grand Sky Firm, and when Chu Xinghe launched it focusing on experience, the Demonic Sect nearly laughed themselves to death.

Was Chu Xinghe courting disaster?

How much could the Grand Sky Sect afford to lose?

But when everyone thought the Grand Sky Firm would inevitably decline, its rapid rise left everyone in disbelief.

And more terrifyingly, the Grand Sky Firm's revenue soared, and under Shi Biao's unwavering adherence to Senior Brother Xinghe's business model, its reputation skyrocketed.

In the first half of the year, some other firms tried to mimic the Grand Sky Firm.

Those with weak foundations ended up imitating themselves out of business...

Those with strong foundations saw some success, but problems soon followed. Not every manager could uphold Senior Brother Xinghe's invincible business philosophy like Shi Biao.

Their sneaky tricks seemed to save costs, but when things went wrong, people realized these firms, claiming to offer experiences like the Grand Sky Firm, were always up to something behind the scenes.

These tricks seemed minor but were annoying.

So, after some back and forth, people realized the Grand Sky Firm was the real deal, with no hidden tricks.

When they said free, it was free; when they said experience, it was experience; when they said service, it was service.

As a result, the Grand Sky Firm achieved both reputation and performance success.

Shi Biao's mid-year financial report made the Great Elder nod repeatedly.

He emphasized that Shi Biao must always follow Xinghe's guidance and never engage in underhanded tactics.

The Grand Sky Sect not only wanted to make money but also to build a strong reputation, as a good reputation was key to everything.

Shi Biao was full of confidence, as downcast as he was before, he was now equally flamboyant.

He was confident he would secure a top ten reward this year... and if he continued operating in this manner, he might even secure a deputy president position by year's end.

Didn't you hear the Great Elder earlier?

He mentioned there's a vacancy for a deputy president at the Grand Sky Chamber of Commerce, and they plan to appoint one by year's end...

Wasn't that a hint for me?

But just as Shi Biao confidently believed the deputy president position was his, Sima Bian stood up.

Sima Bian then presented the performance chart of the northern branch of the Grand Sky Chamber of Commerce, and with that chart, Shi Biao felt immense pressure!

Damn! How did I forget about the northern branch...

Chu Xinghe looked at the crisis-stricken Shi Biao with teary eyes... yes... Little Biao, you're right... I also forgot about those traitors in the northern branch... they truly have no sense of honor, silently plotting behind the scenes...