Chapter 15: Fictitious Transactions

“Guest, if the information is correct, I'm about to affix my professional seal.”

Inside the shop, after Wu Wan handed the stiff paper certificate, filled with the artifact owner's information, to Chen Mobai for confirmation, he solemnly opened a safe. He took out a crimson seal. Without needing an inkpad, he pressed it directly onto the certificate, and a large, crimson, oval-shaped First-Tier Appraiser's seal appeared on it.

Inside the seal, Wu Wan's name was written in regular script. The upper semicircle read "First-Tier Appraiser," while the lower semicircle contained a series of numeric symbols.

“This string of numbers is a randomly generated anti-counterfeit code produced each time the seal is applied. Once I photograph and register this certificate on the Immortal Sect Network, anyone who enters this string of numbers will be able to view it.”

After Chen Mobai received the needle case and the certificate, he first used his phone to check. However, he found that the page that appeared was blank, which made him look puzzled.

“I haven't uploaded it yet, have I?”

Wu Wan was torn between laughter and tears, but then he immediately logged into the appraiser's electronic archive on the Immortal Sect Network with his own account and uploaded the needle case's certificate.

Chen Mobai tried again, and this time, the relevant page finally appeared.

“Master Wu, thank you for your hard work.”

After satisfactorily paying 200 merit points, Chen Mobai took the needle case.

“Little Chen, if you want to sell this magical artifact, you could list it in my shop. It would help me accumulate some points. If you agree, not only can I refund your merit points, but I can even complete the incantation for its consecration and use for you, free of charge.”

While filling out the artifact owner's information earlier, Wu Wan had learned Chen Mobai's name. Knowing that he was still a student, only eighteen, and inexperienced in society, an idea suddenly formed in his mind.

Within the Immortal Sect, due to resource scarcity, almost everyone who embarked on the path of cultivation faced troubles related to spiritual energy and materials. Many of them would open personal online stores on the Immortal Sect Network to earn money.

Although Wu Wan had obtained a First-Tier Appraiser certificate, making him a respected figure among Qi Condensation cultivators, he was still striving to gather resources for Foundation Establishment.

Besides his inherited shop, he also refined artifacts himself on a daily basis.

After all, appraisers don't get rich. Moreover, every cultivator who learns appraisal knowledge initially aims to become an artifact refiner.

Personal shops on the Immortal Sect Network accumulated points through the buying and selling of merit points. The more points one had, the more official profound techniques, spirit pills, and magical artifacts they could redeem.

The Immortal Sect governed the Terrestrial Star, upholding the order of the previous civilization. Even with Grand Ancestors of the Soul Transformation stage suppressing the world, economic crises had occurred multiple times.

The main issue was the insufficient supply of spirit stones. During times of expansionist wars, cultivators would immediately exchange any merit points in their accounts for spirit stones at the bank. Even if they couldn't use all of them, they would save them for future generations.

Consequently, no matter how many spirit stone reserves the national bank held, it couldn't withstand a rush for exchange by hundreds of millions of cultivators.

An economic crisis ensued.

Although the Immortal Sect successively enacted laws, prohibiting the exchange of spirit stones, raising exchange rates, and even devising secret techniques to restore depleted spirit stones by re-infusing them with spiritual energy, the fundamental laws of a market economy could not be eliminated, even by Grand Ancestors of the Soul Transformation stage with their immense power.

However, over thousands of years, the Immortal Sect's three halls and four departments had recruited countless geniuses from the Terrestrial Star, individuals of boundless wisdom.

A thousand years ago, someone proposed opening the Immortal Sect National Library's collection of eighty-four thousand Taoist scriptures, allowing all cultivators to redeem them freely using points. These points, however, could only be acquired by spending merit points in the Immortal Sect's markets.

For instance, if Chen Mobai bought three Azure Arrow Talismans online for 105 merit points, he would gain 105 points added to his personal ledger.

As soon as this policy was introduced, the Immortal Sect's stagnant and illiquid market economy instantly boomed. In just ten years, ninety percent of the spirit stones stored among the populace flowed back into the national bank, replaced by merit points in everyone's accounts.

Offline transactions could also earn points, but both buyers and sellers had to pay taxes to the Immortal Sect Tax Bureau.

For example, for the 200 merit points Chen Mobai paid Wu Wan as an appraisal fee, if they wanted to convert it into points, a 20% consumption tax had to be paid to the Immortal Sect. In reality, this 20% tax was split: 10% for the buyer and 10% for the seller. However, the person receiving the money would certainly be reluctant to do this, unless Chen Mobai offered an additional 20 merit points to Wu Wan, only then would the latter agree to go to the Tax Bureau with him.

After all, points were only accrued through consumption; receiving money did not yield points.

Therefore, in the Immortal Sect's markets, before a transaction, it would be confirmed whether the consumer needed points. If so, the tax would be added to the total price in advance.

For this reason, the Immortal Sect did not force tax payments; it was entirely voluntary.

But Chen Mobai was clearly not that kind of person.

He hadn't yet reached a point where he needed points.

“Master Wu, what do you mean by that? I don't quite understand.”

“I am an appraiser, and it's perfectly normal for me to earn money based on my skills. If you were to sell this artifact to me, and then I, using my professional knowledge, completed the consecration incantation for the needle case, then the selling price would naturally double, wouldn't it?”

After Wu Wan finished speaking with a smile, Chen Mobai shivered, a chill running down his spine.

“Master Wu, this would be a fictitious transaction, which is illegal.”

Fictitious transactions to gain points were common. Although taxes had to be paid to the Immortal Sect, it allowed an artifact to generate points from two transactions.

In the Immortal Sect Network's official flagship store, potent elixirs that increased the success rate of Foundation Establishment were released for flash sales and auctions periodically, also requiring points for redemption.

Wu Wan had been planning for this and accumulating points for quite some time.

However, this kind of behavior was similar in nature to tax evasion in the Terrestrial Star's previous mechanical civilization. If caught, the Immortal Sect would fine the cultivator until they were utterly ruined.

“Many people do this. The Immortal Sect largely turns a blind eye to it for the sake of economic circulation. If tax revenue is low at the end of the year and the higher-ups are displeased, they'll only target the wealthy elite. You can rest assured.”

“If you agree, I guarantee this needle case can sell for over eighty thousand merit points.”

Seeing Chen Mobai hesitate, Wu Wan upped the ante. Although he looked young, he was already 45 years old. If he didn't attempt Foundation Establishment soon, his chances of success would become increasingly slim.

Next month, the Immortal Sect's flagship store would release a batch of Pulse-Protecting Pills, Spirit-Ascending Powder, and Qi-Condensing Liquid—all spiritual medicines that increase the chances of Foundation Establishment.

Wu Wan still needed a shortfall of 300,000 points to bid on one of these items.

Ordinarily, he would naturally not dare to create fictitious transactions to defraud points. But now, with the Great Dao seemingly within reach and his resources tight, he wanted to try any opportunity to get points.

What if he got lucky and successfully established his foundation!

“This artifact is an ancestral heirloom. If I were to sell it, I would also need to consult with my elders at home.”

Chen Mobai, being a good student, politely declined.

Wu Wan didn't say much more, merely looking regretful. In any case, he had simply seen Chen Mobai's youth and decided to try to mislead him.