Chapter 625

Chapter 625: Heaven’s Machine Newspaper

Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Ye Xu snapped his fingers, and a young man in the green robe appeared out of thin air.

"Master, when you summon me next time, could you give me a notice beforehand?" Lu Chengfeng complained, "What if I’m still in bed then? That would be so embarrassing!"

During this period, Lu Chengfeng had been managing Heaven’s Machine Auction House. He had not taken part in the founding of Tianxia, merely holding a sinecure role in the Ministry of Revenue.

"You don’t even have a girlfriend…" Luo Nishang sneered.

"…"

Ye Xu and Lu Chengfeng exchanged stunned looks.

"Ahem…" Ye Xu cleared his throat and said, "Lu Chengfeng, I summoned you here to discuss something with you and hear your views."

"Master, whatever you decide is fine," Lu Chengfeng said with a smile.

These days, Lu Chengfeng could be regarded as a winner in life.

Not only did he manage Heaven’s Machine Auction House, but he also rebuilt the Lu and Yuan families, thriving all the while in Eternal Emperor City.

"Do you plan to guard the Auction House for the rest of your life?" Ye Xu said discontentedly.

"Of course not."

Lu Chengfeng said earnestly, "I should serve Master loyally, through hell and high water."

"I have a way to earn money."

Ye Xu said gravely, "I plan to launch a newspaper."

"A newspaper?"

Lu Chengfeng and Xixi stared at each other with wide eyes.

We’ve never heard of such a thing.

"It’s like an intelligence agency that gathers information and then releases it," Ye Xu said. "But it won’t be directed at one person; it will be aimed at the yang realm, and even the yin realm."

He briefly explained the nature of a newspaper and its workings.

Lu Chengfeng clicked his tongue in surprise.

"Master, handling this matter would likely require a large number of people."

"The information we could publish would probably be quite limited too."

"Go on."

Ye Xu said.

Lu Chengfeng thought for a moment and said, "For example, information about Secret Realms—that can’t just be printed in the newspaper, right?"

Ye Xu shook his head.

He wasn’t a fool.

If details on Secret Realms were put in the newspaper, it would inevitably cause chaos everywhere.

"And details about treasures—that can’t go in the newspaper either?" Lu Chengfeng added.

"Say it all at once."

Ye Xu frowned and said.

Lu Chengfeng smiled awkwardly and said, "In my opinion, to start a newspaper, we could gather news related to people’s livelihood, like the merging of the yin and yang realms, information crucial to every cultivator."

"We could also add a section to note down trivial matters, especially the small grudges and daily squabbles among high-level cultivators."

"Additionally, there must be real-time updates."

"Had you thought of this long ago?" Ye Xu said in surprise.

Lu Chengfeng and he were thinking the same thing.

"Of course I thought about it," Lu Chengfeng said. "Tianxia founded a nation and united the Nine Regions, and now it’s uniting dozens of immortal domains; mobilizing Tianxia’s strength would mean we’d be unstoppable."

"Launching this newspaper is just a small appetizer."

Ye Xu got excited.

When it came to making money, Lu Chengfeng was unbeatable.

"Master, what are you staring at me for?" Lu Chengfeng felt uneasy under Ye Xu’s gaze.

"Why not finish what you were saying?"

Lu Chengfeng laughed and said, "Just like eating, things must be taken one step at a time."

"Since Master wants to start this newspaper, let’s get it done first."

"For the first issue, the headline act must be huge."

"The merging of the yin and yang realms is more than a big enough draw," Ye Xu said with a laugh.

His inspiration had come from this very topic.

Those in the know were top practitioners from the yang realm and yin realm, yet Dao Sovereigns and even some Tian Zuns hadn’t grasped the truth behind the recent disaster.

That money was bound to be made.

After all, it was secondhand news, and he didn’t need to pay extra for it.

Most importantly, it cost almost nothing.

"Overkill for what we need," Lu Chengfeng chuckled.

"Master, how much do you want to charge per issue?"

"Ten divine stones each," Xixi said.

…

Ye Xu rolled his eyes.

The little girl had stayed too long at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and seemed obsessed with money.

"Tell me your own idea first."

Lu Chengfeng nodded and said, "Since we’re targeting the masses and relying on volume, the price can’t be too steep. In my view, no more than two divine stones per issue."

It had to be remembered that when Li Ruoyu and others ascended to a higher world, they couldn’t scrape together a handful of divine stones.

Two divine stones still wasn’t pocket change for the average cultivator.

"One."

Ye Xu was firm in his view.

"Good."

Lu Chengfeng immediately nodded. "Then I’ll get right to it."

"Regarding staffing, if it’s insufficient, approach Dao King. Have him allocate personnel to quickly establish Heaven’s Machine Newspaper." Ye Xu instructed.

"As you command!"

Lu Chengfeng flew out from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Given my current renown, Heaven’s Machine Newspaper may not earn vast profits, but it surely won’t operate at a loss," Ye Xu murmured to himself.

His primary motivation was sheer boredom.

"Anyway, my invincible domain envelops all seventy-two immortal domains. From now on, all significant and trivial matters within can be recorded, filtering out intriguing information."

Ye Xu chuckled.

Affairs outside the seventy-two immortal domains would be entrusted to Lu Chengfeng.

As for the private details of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s clients, Ye Xu wouldn’t publish them without permission.

Privacy rights still had to be guaranteed.

"Esteemed Master," Luo Nishang inquired, "may I, too, join Heaven’s Machine Newspaper?" She had been playing chess with Xixi day in and day out at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, a cycle of utter tedium.

Participating in the newspaper’s operation would not only let her engage with fresh happenings but also provide earnings through work – a win all around.

"Discuss it directly with Lu Chengfeng when he returns."

Ye Xu replied languidly.

He was the proverbial "hands-off master," someone quite unattached to overseeing mundane chores.

"Esteemed Senior," Xixi blinked her large eyes, peering at him with hopeful intent. "May I join as well?"

"If you leave, there will be no one left to pour tea or water."

Xixi continued to gaze steadily at him.

"Fine."

Ye Xu conceded. "Starting today, I’ll grant you ten thousand divine stones per month."

"Thank you, senior…"

Xixi’s eyes curved into crescent moons, unable to suppress her mirth.

"You little money grubber…"

Ye Xu sighed.

Why were the members of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion obsessed with either riches or idleness?

When compared to them, Dao King was utterly the workaholic!

Ten days later.

Lu Chengfeng returned to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Master," he reported, "I have fully arranged all personnel. Currently focused on eighteen immortal domains, branch offices are established across major divine cities, making three thousand six hundred in total."

"Ahem…"

He coughed and said, "One million two hundred thousand divine stones are planned to be distributed daily."

"Hiss…"

Xixi drew a sharp breath.

"This is trivial."

Ye Xu shrugged it off.

Since they were recruiting people to handle work, payment was essential.

A cost of one million two hundred thousand divine stones per day remained manageable.

"Master, there’s another matter."

Lu Chengfeng spoke cautiously, "The intelligence-gathering team totals twelve thousand individuals, led by Chief Dao Sovereign Qingyuan. Their daily distribution is projected at three million six hundred thousand divine stones."

"In just one day of operation, Heaven’s Machine Newspaper would consume four million eight hundred thousand divine stones—even before accounting for other expenses."

Ye Xu’s eyelid twitched.

He fixed a deep, earnest gaze on Lu Chengfeng and declared, "Chengfeng, whether we profit rests entirely on your shoulders."

"Rest one hundred and twenty percent at ease, Master."

Lu Chengfeng responded confidently, "I have every faith in launching Heaven’s Machine Newspaper into roaring success. I will never disappoint your expectations."

"Furthermore, even if the newspaper operates at a loss, the resources currently held by Heaven’s Secret Pavilion will allow me to multiply our returns—by tenfold, even a hundredfold."

This bold declaration pumped Ye Xu with enthusiasm.

Young brat, he realized after a long moment, you’re painting rosy pictures to win me over.

"Less talk, more action," Ye Xu cut in firmly.

Lu Chengfeng chuckled awkwardly.

"Master, would you like me to compile the inaugural issue of Heaven’s Machine Newspaper?" Lu Chengfeng inquired.

"I’ve already prepared it."

Ye Xu smiled faintly.

"See for yourself."

Waving his sleeve, he sent a newspaper page gliding toward Lu Chengfeng.

Xixi and Luo Nishang hurriedly leaned in to look.

Upon the page stood an imprint of a pavilion—simple and unadorned, yet radiating an elusive mystique. An exact replica of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, it was unmistakably the logo Ye Xu had designed.

Beside the logo, bold characters announced: Heaven’s Machine Newspaper.

The entire page was meticulously segmented into one major section and four minor sections.

The major section chronicled the day’s vital headlines.

The minor sections captured diverse tales unfolding across the lands:

Amorous affairs… A Secret Realm unveiling itself…

Lu Chengfeng’s eyes scanned the content within the major section.

A stark headline seized his gaze:

[Shocking News: The YIN AND YANG REALMS Begin Their PRELIMINARY MERGE!]