Immortality Starts From Making Money.

Central Region.

Imperial Capital.

Zhao Tian was busy managing the Golden Phoenix Restaurant. With its rising fame, the flow of customers had grown drastically.

Previously, Foundation Realm cultivators and Core Refining Realm warriors made up the majority of their patrons.

But ever since the start of the Summit, the tide had shifted.

Golden Core Experts, once rare visitors, were now appearing more frequently. At first, only a handful came sporadically, but word of mouth spread like wildfire.

Soon, the number of Golden Core Experts visiting shot through the roof.

Sects and clans traveling from far beyond the capital would never pass up the chance to taste a Tier-1 Spirit Food.

They were willing to spend lavishly, a fact that had long made the Nine Star Restaurant rich during previous decade-long Assemblies.

But now, the tables have turned.

The Golden Phoenix Restaurant had utterly dominated the Spirit Food business.

Unlike the Nine Star Restaurant, whose menu was limited, Golden Phoenix offered a wide variety of dishes tailored to different cultivation realms.

This diversity left even Golden Core experts deeply satisfied.

And they were not limited to food alone. Spirit Tea was also served here, a luxury that gave them a decisive advantage over their competitor.

Every day, the number of Golden Core Experts entering their doors numbered in the thousands.

To meet this overwhelming demand, and to maximize profits, Zhao Tian had no choice but to keep the restaurant open around the clock.

Fortunately, the Thousand Wealth Chamber was not lacking in Tier-1 chefs. They worked in shifts, and so did the attendants.

With this new arrangement, spirit stones poured in like water. The treasure vaults of the Thousand Wealth Chamber were overflowing.

Compared to other regions, the Imperial Capital held far more wealthy cultivators, and they were eager to spend.

On the seventh floor of the restaurant, Zhao Tian was buried in work. His desk was piled high with documents that required his immediate attention.

Supplies were dwindling at an alarming rate, and every detail had to be managed carefully.

Just as he was flipping through the mountain of papers, his Noble Grade Spirit Link vibrated.

His brows knitted together. He had made it clear to all of his contacts that they were not to disturb him unless the matter was of grave importance.

Reluctantly, he picked it up, a frown still etched on his face. But the moment his eyes landed on the notification, his expression changed drastically.

"T-This…"

His jaw dropped as he stared at the image on the Spirit Link. Just looking at it sent a cold shiver crawling down his spine.

"I…I need to report this to the Young Master…" His voice shook as his hands trembled.

He quickly scrolled through his contacts in search of Mo Jian's number.

He dialed it once. The call disconnected.

He tried again.

And again.

All the while he paced back and forth inside his office, sweat forming on his forehead.

"Young Master… please remove your Spirit Link from Do Not Disturb," he muttered through clenched teeth.

Another notification appeared on his device, breaking his frantic attempts.

"Asking for a directive?" he read aloud, his frown deepening.

The situation was dire.

Immediate action was needed and any delay could lead to serious losses.

"What should I do? What should I do?" Zhao Tian muttered under his breath, his voice tight with panic as he continued to pace the room.

The Spirit Link vibrated again. The same message: asking for a directive.

He clenched his fists. Delaying would cost lives. It would jeopardize everything they had built so far.

He had to decide.

Drawing in a deep breath, he steadied himself, then quickly dialed another contact.

"Withdraw immediately and wait for further instructions," he commanded in a single breath before ending the call.

Exhaling heavily, Zhao Tian felt as though a massive burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

His eyes drifted toward the untouched cup of Spirit Tea on his desk, steam still rising from it.

He grabbed it, downed the contents in one gulp, and let out a slow, shaky breath.

But even as the warmth spread through him, he knew this was far from over.

"I need to find the Young Master."

Without wasting another second, Zhao Tian rushed out of the office at his greatest speed.

He did not forget to put on his disguise mask—his round body barreled forward like a rolling boulder as he left the restaurant.

At the Dust Valley Hotel, laughter and cheer filled the lobby. The disciples were jubilant, their faces glowing with pride.

Once again, they had dominated the summit grounds.

"Did you see the thousands of people today?" one disciple exclaimed.

"Hahaha! Now I don't regret us not joining the Martial Battle. This is way more satisfying."

"You're right," another chimed in. "If we had joined the Martial Battle, we would've only embarrassed ourselves. This is much better!"

Their chatter was lighthearted, but the pride in their voices was unmistakable.

Just then, the doors of the lobby burst open, and a figure rushed in, his face tight with urgency.

"Have you seen the Young Master?" he shouted, his voice echoing across the hall.

The disciples froze, confusion flashing across their faces.

"Eh?"

They turned toward the intruder, puzzled expressions written on each of their faces.

But Zhao Tian didn't waste time explaining. His eyes swept the lobby, then he dashed toward the stairs leading to the upper floors.

"Why are you looking for the Young Master?" Elder Bai asked, stepping forward with a frown. His voice carried confusion as he watched Zhao Tian's anxious movements.

"There's an urgent matter, and I must speak with him immediately," Zhao Tian replied in a rush, his eyes darting around the room as if searching every corner.

"Do you know where he is?" he pressed, his voice sharp with desperation.

"We don't know," Elder Bai answered, shaking his head. "He and the Supreme Elder haven't returned yet."

Just then, the sect master's wife stepped out of her room, her husband right behind her.

Concern clouded her eyes as she looked at Zhao Tian's panicked state.

"Little Tian," she said softly, "tell me what is going on. Why are you so worried?"

"Nothing," Zhao Tian replied too quickly, shaking his head. He wiped the sweat beading on his forehead, avoiding her gaze. "I just need to find the Young Master immediately."

The group exchanged uneasy glances.

What in the world was happening?