Lin Xuan had successfully manipulated the local stock market to secure the required $50,000, but such volatile, direct interference was inefficient. The Grand Dao of Finance was fickle; luck was temporary. True power lay in establishing a steady, passive flow of resources.
His first priority, even above the Industrial Zone, was creating a reliable engine of capital.
A Rank D Wealth Talisman will provide a constant, low-grade boost to financial luck, converting chaotic ambient spiritual energy into favorable market conditions for passive investments. It is a necessary foundation for a financial empire, he calculated.
He needed base materials. The Talisman required components saturated with the energy of the modern mortal economy. Lin Xuan swept his gaze around the house and quickly determined he needed items representing both will and control.
He found what he was looking for: a crumpled, rejected bank loan application with powerful, negative 'Destiny Qi' and a cheap, discarded digital wristwatch that was currently displaying the wrong time. The raw will of mortal greed and the concept of controlled time—perfect for anchoring a luck array.
[Synthesis Query Initiated: (Faulty Digital Watch (E) + Rejected Loan Application (F) + $100 Cash (F)) = ?]
[Suggestion: Rank D Wealth Talisman (D). Cost: 1 Synthesis Point.]
Lin Xuan nodded in satisfaction. The monetary component acted as a catalyst, focusing the intent of the resulting artifact. "Execute synthesis."
The three components dissolved instantly, accompanied by a sharp, clean surge of energy that was far more pronounced than his previous attempts. When the light subsided, a small, polished brass coin with an intricate, almost microscopic hexagonal array etched onto its surface rested in his palm. It hummed softly, radiating a gentle, golden warmth that felt distinctively stable.
[Artifact: Rank D Wealth Talisman][Grade: D][Effect: Passive. Generates minor, favorable market conditions and amplifies chance encounters related to wealth acquisition within a 100-meter radius. Requires daily anchoring via $10 deposit into a linked account.]
This was excellent. The Talisman was a self-sustaining asset. He quickly linked the Talisman to the newly created bank account holding his $50,000, setting up a recurring small deposit—the daily 'anchoring.'
To test its passive effect, Lin Xuan made a trivial investment: $500 in a micro-cap company, chosen not by its Golden-Green Qi, but simply by its proximity in the trading window.
He watched the news feed as he walked away from the café. Within five minutes, a major financial publication reported a small, overlooked loophole in a new governmental regulatory bill—a loophole that happened to overwhelmingly benefit micro-cap companies in that specific sector. The stock price immediately surged 15%.
Passive, efficient, and reliable. The Rank D Wealth Talisman was working flawlessly, giving him a constant, slow influx of spiritual funds without the constant attention of an Emperor.
He smiled, a genuine, if slight, upturn of his lips. The foundation was now truly stable. He glanced at the time. He had a meeting set for the following morning.
"Now that the capital flow is secure," he murmured, "it is time to deal with the inevitable annoyance of corporate arrogance."