"Boss, are there any more figurines left?"
"Hurry and restock! Why aren't you putting more out?"
"Can't get any figures? Then I'll buy Bu Jingyun's outfit instead, and give me a Perfect Sword while you're at it!"
The merchandise and figurines had become a massive hit, so much so that even Ningguang hadn't expected such explosive popularity.
In just half an hour, profits reached two million mora. And that was only because they'd run out of stock, otherwise, they could've earned even more.
Hearing this, Ningguang immediately sent more workers to rush production. After all, with the Wind and Cloud manga finale about to launch, the story would soon reach a height no one could imagine.
When that happened, all these side products would definitely sell like crazy.
At a teahouse near Yujing Terrace, Cloud Retainer had just descended the mountain. She was holding a manga in her hands. Though she'd only picked it up for leisure, she soon found herself immersed in the story. Today, she had even managed to grab a first-edition copy.
"Let this immortal see how the story ends."
The story continued seamlessly from the previous chapter.
Since no one was a match for Jue Wushen, the Third Pig Emperor suggested that Nie Feng cultivate the Demonic Blade. It was an evil and terrifying technique, but equally powerful.
Sure enough, after Nie Feng succumbed to the demonic power, his strength skyrocketed. He beat Jue Wushen to a pulp, though he still failed to finish him off completely. Jue Wushen eventually died, not in battle, but poisoned by his own son. A tragic end indeed.
Cloud Retainer snorted coldly. "Such a vicious, bloodthirsty man deserved no better. But that Yan Ying woman isn't any better, fickle and deceitful, bringing doom upon every husband she's had. I wonder what fate awaits her."
After Nie Feng fell into madness, Yan Ying, though hardly a good person, still loved her son dearly.
But soon, it was revealed that the corruption in Nie Feng's heart had been caused by poison from Xiongba himself.
Even Jue Wushen's poisoning had been orchestrated by Xiongba's schemes. At that moment, Yan Ying finally saw through his cruelty, but it was far too late.
Once Xiongba's ambition was exposed, it swelled uncontrollably. He sought to seize the Nine Provinces' Dragon Veins and crown himself the supreme ruler of the martial world. The Dragon Vein's location, of course, was Lingyun Grotto.
The truth behind the Fire Qilin was also unveiled, it attacked intruders not out of malice, but because it was guarding the Dragon Vein of the Nine Provinces.
Those thought dead, Nie Renwang and Duan Lang's father, hadn't perished at all. They were moved by the Qilin's spirit and spent their final days protecting the Dragon Vein together.
Now, with Xiongba's arrival, everything finally came to light.
Seeing the Fire Qilin perish while protecting the Dragon Vein to its last breath, Cloud Retainer sighed. "No wonder Ganyu said that Su Han would never defame the Qilin. So that's why."
Though the Qilin had been misunderstood as a beast of destruction, it had been guarding the lifeblood of the land all along. Its duty reminded Cloud Retainer of the ancient Liyue Adepti.
They, too, had once stood watch like that. Without their sacrifices, there would be no prosperity today.
The story reached its emotional peak, and countless fans felt the same wave of regret.
"Heavens, I thought it went mad! But it was guarding the Nine Provinces' Dragon Vein all along!"
"Exactly! To protect the land, slaying intruders makes perfect sense."
"The Yellow Emperor has fallen, yet the Qilin still protects the Dragon Vein… it's heartbreaking."
The people of Liyue were deeply moved. They thought of the Adepti who had sacrificed themselves for their city. Without them, how could Liyue flourish as it did today?
Su Han's storytelling didn't just stir emotions, it rekindled reverence for those long-gone immortals. Truly, a masterstroke.
After Nie Feng regained the Dragon Vein, he came to his senses, but sadly, he lost control again when Jue Wushen's son stole it away.
Fortunately, Second Dream sacrificed herself to awaken him by exchanging her blood for his. Finally, Wind and Cloud reunited and erased Xiongba completely. Thus, the story came to an end.
"What a magnificent tale…"
Even Cloud Retainer couldn't help but praise it. No wonder mortals adored Wind and Cloud, it truly had its brilliance.
Even immortals found it compelling; how could ordinary citizens not?
In just one morning, sales exceeded ten thousand copies. Such was the power of manga!
On the third floor of the manga shop, Su Han heard a familiar system notification.
[Ding! Congratulations! The manga Wind and Cloud has surpassed 20,000 sales! New manga permissions unlocked!]
[Host, please draw your next manga. Unlocking requires 5 million mora!]
"Draw."
With Wind and Cloud completed, he was eager to see what new manga would follow.
The massive prize pool appeared before him, filled with familiar covers.
[Demon Slayer]
[Inuyasha]
[Fate]
[Fox Spirit Matchmaker]
[Naruto]
[One Piece]
…and more.
However, most were sealed by red locks, likely due to system restrictions. Su Han guessed that with higher permissions, they'd become available.
Finally, the pointer stopped on a modern-style manga.
Su Han's eyes widened. "Under One Person?"
(TL/N: Did my research, it's called The Outcast. There's also a anime version with the title: Hitori no Shita: The Outcast)
He hadn't expected that one to appear in the first-tier pool.
But it made sense. While Under One Person involved cultivation, it wasn't purely a cultivation story like Fox Spirit Matchmaker.
The "Eight Mysterious Arts" within it were immensely powerful, Su Han couldn't help but imagine how strong he'd become after obtaining them.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the manga Under One Person. Unlocking requires 5 million mora. Proceed?]
"Yes."
A few million mora was nothing. This manga alone could earn tens of billions, and the techniques within were priceless.
After completing the exchange, a new manga panel appeared on his system interface.
[Manga]: Under One Person
[Permission]: Level 1 (Can produce Volumes 1–2)
[Restriction]: Sell 600 copies to unlock the next content
[Reward]: Selling 600 copies unlocks the first lottery; after 5 lotteries, a free treasure draw becomes available
[Prize Pool]: May contain cultivation techniques, elixirs, artifacts, or mystical treasures from the Under One Person world. (Eight Mysterious Arts unavailable below Level 5 permissions.)
[Bonus]: If the Host acquires a technique, it can be upgraded with points (1 point per manga sold).
"Seems the beginner permissions are similar to Wind and Cloud, but these techniques… are genuine cultivation arts."
Muttering to himself, Su Han quickly began printing. This manga followed the same story he remembered, with some early parts condensed for pacing.
Volume One told Zhang Chulan and Bao'er's story; Volume Two covered the first half of the Luo Tian Dajiao tournament, up to Zhang Chulan's duel with Master Lingyu.
It was tightly structured and fast-paced, sure to attract anyone interested in cultivation.
With Wind and Cloud at its peak, Su Han decided to seize the moment. Releasing Under One Person alongside the finale would save a fortune in advertising.
He entered the warehouse, and with a flash, reams of blank paper vanished, transformed into six thousand fresh copies of Under One Person.
Su Han called out, "Xiao Zhang! Send these to the two shopkeepers. Same price as before, and make sure they're displayed next to Wind and Cloud!"
After finishing the arrangements, Su Han grabbed a copy himself and went to find Zhongli, wondering whether the old man was still slacking off somewhere.
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