Eldest Sister is definitely acting suspicious.
Earlier, when I tricked her into a bet, she was sharp as a tack.
The whole point of the bet was just to scam more massage sessions out of her.
But just now, to stop Cao Cheng from entering the room, Eldest Sister didn’t hesitate for even a second before agreeing to his request for a "scalp massage."
What does that mean?
The more Cao Cheng thought about it, the more convinced he became that something was off.
But he didn’t bring it up—he’d deal with it later.
First, time to draw the prize.
……
"Wait, hold on—"
Back in the room, Cao Cheng turned serious.
Out of nowhere, he produced three sticks of incense.
[Dragon’s Saliva Incense]
Last time, Second Sister had "snatched" a whole box of it—a full pound—but he still had over ten pounds left at the time.
But after grinding through gold and diamond treasure chests lately,
his stock of Dragon’s Saliva Incense had ballooned to around fifty boxes.
Even his [Longevity Tea] stash had grown by nearly a hundred and fifty packets, bringing the total to over three hundred.
Our Young Master Cao was practically rolling in wealth now.
Incense burning and ritual cleansing… Well, no time for a bath—he couldn’t keep Eldest Sister waiting.
Besides, she’d just bathed, so he might as well consider himself cleansed by proxy.
Blessings, blessings~~
Cao Cheng lit the three sticks of incense.
Hands pressed together, eyes closed, he raised the incense above his head with utmost piety and ceremony.
Under his breath, he muttered some incomprehensible Sanskrit chant.
Eldest Sister stood at a distance, unable to make out the words.
Had she stepped closer, she would’ve heard:
"Elixir of immortality, potion of eternal youth, anti-stupidity halo, anti-fainting charm."
"By the decree of the heavens…"
"Luck Aura, activate!"
"Eldest Sister’s fortune, absorb~"
"……"
After this fervent prayer, Cao Cheng felt fortune coursing through him.
Now, time for the massage.
Eldest Sister was baffled. Since when did someone so young get so superstitious?
She didn’t get it, but she respected it!
Cao Cheng sprawled on the sofa, and the session began.
Bliss.
Eldest Sister’s technique was nowhere near as strong as Second Sister’s, so for back and leg massages, she was a no-go—just not satisfying.
But for delicate areas like the scalp? Perfect.
Her touch was just right—a fraction more would hurt, a fraction less would be unnoticeable.
"Eldest Sister, your skills are unmatched!"
"……" She gave a soft hum in response.
After tossing out this perfunctory praise to give her a little emotional boost, Cao Cheng didn’t waste any more time.
System.
Open the treasure chest.
Ten Divine Treasure Chests in a row!
As usual, a flashy, cosmic display of chest-opening unfolded in the void.
After an agonizing wait, the notification chimes rang in his mind.
[Ding~]
[Congratulations, Host, for witnessing a miracle! Obtained Divine Treasure Chest reward: Pearl-White Jade Cream (Formula)!]
"Oh?"
"Is this… body lotion?"
[Ding~]
[Congratulations, Host, for witnessing a miracle! Obtained Divine Treasure Chest reward: Cinnabar Beauty Balm (Formula)!]
"Whoa!"
"Beauty cream?"
[Ding~]
[Congratulations, Host, for witnessing a miracle! Obtained Divine Treasure Chest reward: Cinnabar Temptation Lip Gloss (Formula)!]
"Nice."
"Lip gloss? I’d love a taste."
[Ding~]
[Congratulations, Host, for witnessing a miracle! Obtained Divine Treasure Chest reward: Jade Dew Hand Serum (Formula)!]
"Hmm."
"Hand cream."
[Ding~]
[Congratulations, Host, for witnessing a miracle! Obtained Divine Treasure Chest reward: Lingzhi Lightweight Concealer (Formula)!]
"Whoa??"
[Ding~]
[Congratulations, Host, for witnessing a miracle! Obtained Divine Treasure Chest reward: Rainbow Radiance Eyeshadow (Formula)!]
"Are you kidding me…"
"Eyeshadow now?"
[Ding~]
[Congratulations, Host, for witnessing a miracle! Obtained Divine Treasure Chest reward: Spirit Ink Brow Pomade (Formula)!]
"Oho~~"
"Brow gel?"
[Ding~]
[Congratulations, Host, for witnessing a miracle! Obtained Divine Treasure Chest reward: Botanical Pure Cleansing Oil (Formula)!]
"……"
"Speechless."
[Ding~]
[Congratulations, Host, for witnessing a miracle! Obtained Divine Treasure Chest reward: Dragon’s Breath Perfume Bead (Formula)!]
"Perfume? Scented sachet?"
[Ding~]
[Congratulations, Host, for witnessing a miracle! Obtained Divine Treasure Chest reward: Moonlight Dew SPF Mist (Formula)!]
"And that’s… it?"
Ten consecutive notifications.
Cao Cheng was floored.
What even was this?
Cultivation-themed cosmetics?
Well, of course—women in any world love beauty.
Even immortal fairies in the cultivation realm are no exception.
After skimming through the descriptions and instructions, Cao Cheng confirmed these were indeed the go-to cosmetics for high-ranking immortal ladies.
But they weren’t just cosmetics.
These products had zero side effects.
In fact, they were more like premium health supplements.
Take the [Pearl-White Jade Cream], for example—a body lotion that, with long-term use, would give the skin a flawless, jade-like glow.
Even after stopping, the skin would remain in peak condition for a while.
It even healed scars.
Being cultivation-world products, beauty was just one aspect—they had therapeutic benefits too.
After all, in a world of constant battles, injuries were common.
So, their purpose wasn’t entirely the same as Earth’s cosmetics.
After reviewing everything, Cao Cheng understood.
In short, if an average-looking woman with mediocre skin got her hands on these ten divine products,
within half a year, she’d be stunning like an immortal fairy.
Not plastic surgery-level transformation, of course.
But flawless, luminous skin could elevate anyone’s attractiveness.
As the saying goes, "Fair skin hides a multitude of flaws."
Even those with less-than-ideal features would see a noticeable boost.
Definitely top-tier stuff!
……
Far from disappointed, Cao Cheng was actually thrilled.
At least these weren’t life-saving items.
Even if they weren’t elixirs of immortality, they’d be fantastic for harvesting emotions on a large scale.
He refused to believe women wouldn’t shower him with emotional value after using these.
And those who couldn’t afford them? Watching their friends become more beautiful would surely breed envy.
Either way, he’d reap the rewards.
Perfect!
……
"Eldest Sister."
"Hmm?"
"How’s the family’s cosmetics business doing lately?"
"Not bad. But with the global crisis these past two years, consumer spending has dipped. Revenue’s down compared to before—only a few products, like lipstick, are selling better."
She answered casually, then asked, "Why? Don’t tell me you’re interested in cosmetics now?"
Cao Cheng opened his eyes, glancing up at her as she massaged his scalp. He smirked. "Actually, yeah. A little."
"After all, you know how it is—one casual move in the entertainment industry nets me billions. The competition’s too weak. No challenge at all."
"……" Eldest Sister rolled her eyes elegantly and didn’t bother responding.
Cao Cheng continued, "Besides, entertainment and beauty are linked. Cosmetics are part of the fashion world. So I’m thinking of diving in."
"I could build an entire fashion ecosystem centered around entertainment, with cosmetics as just one piece."
Eldest Sister raised a brow.
He did sound serious.
But she knew just how brutal—and difficult—the cosmetics industry was.
Especially when all the discourse power lies overseas.
As for the domestic scene…
It’s just as chaotic.
There are around 4,000 companies in China with official production licenses for fragrances, flavors, and cosmetics.
And that’s just production.
If you include contract manufacturers and small cosmetics businesses incapable of independent production, the number exceeds tens of thousands.
The future looks even crazier.
Yet only one or two brands ever gain real fame.
And even these few well-known domestic brands can’t compete—they sell for cheap and are dismissed as "knockoffs" compared to foreign products.
No dignity whatsoever.
……
Even a diversified conglomerate like the Ren family, which owns a small cosmetics subsidiary, struggles to make a name for itself.
Most of the time, their products end up as freebies for clients or in-house amenities at their hotels.
Otherwise, they peddle "generic" masks, lipsticks, creams, and hand lotions online…
Barely turning a profit.
That’s how industries work—once profitability dries up, the vicious cycle begins.
No profit means no budget for R&D.
No R&D means subpar products.
Subpar products mean fewer buyers and potential skin damage.
Skin damage leads to bad reviews and even lower prices.
No money means no innovation…
Round and round it goes.
This sector is utterly monopolized by foreign capital. Even two decades later, while a few domestic brands gain recognition, they’re still stuck in the same rut.
At best, they’ve clawed back a sliver of influence.
Is that enough?
Of course not.
As a visionary leader committed to China’s soft power, Cao Cheng couldn’t just stand by.
"Eldest Sister, sell me the family’s cosmetics company."
"Huh?" Eldest Sister was stunned.
Cao Cheng continued, "Sell it to me. I’ll merge it into Miracle Group and rename it: 'A Group of Dream-Chasing Employees in the East Who Believe Under the Leadership of Cao Cheng and Eldest Sister Will Create the Miracle of Life Cosmetics Co., Ltd.'…"
"……"
Eldest Sister’s skin crawled.
The cringe was unbearable.
She’d heard about how Cao Cheng had tormented Third and Fourth Sister with that absurdly named company.
At the time, she’d found it amusing.
Now the boomerang had come back to hit her.
Wasn’t this name downright embarrassing?
It’d be humiliating to say out loud.
Hadn’t he seen how the internet memes were tearing Miracle Media’s ridiculously long name to shreds?
Sure, it went viral.
But did a name like that scream "serious business"?
No wonder people used to dismiss Miracle Media—it reeked of a spoiled rich kid’s half-baked hobby project.
Only after Miracle Media blew up, with shows like The Voice taking off, did the name start to seem… endearing?
Before that, it just sounded dumb.
But here’s the thing:
Miracle Media operates in entertainment, where content speaks louder than branding.
Cosmetics is a different beast.
Could it really take off?
Could they actually develop a premium product and salvage their reputation?
Hard.
Really hard…
Eldest Sister sighed. "The cosmetics industry is tough."
Her tone was defeatist.
Cao Cheng, however, wasn’t having it. "That’s your perspective. To me, nothing’s impossible."
"If you think it’s tough, maybe look inward."
"Maybe the problem is you."
"Ask yourself—have you even been trying all these years…"
his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
pression Bureau] Transported to a fantasy world overrun by demons and monsters, Gu Qingfeng becomes a jailer in the Demon Suppression Prison of the Great Yan Dynasty's Demon Suppression Bureau. From this point on, bizarre cases frequently occur in the Demon Suppression Prison, once known as hell on earth and infamous for its gloomy, terrifying atmosphere! Why do the demons and monsters in the prison wail miserably every night? Why has the corpse demon, capable of transforming into various beauties, donned black stockings and switched careers to become a foot massage therapist? Why has the eye demon, expert in soul-snatching and illusions, turned into a VR headset? Why is the fox spirit performing otaku dances? Are all these occurrences a twisted expression of demonic nature, or a descent into moral depravity? After peeling away layer upon layer of mystery, all clues ultimately point to a jailer named Gu Qingfeng. Gu Qingfeng: "Hehehe... My dear demons and monsters, whose card shall we flip today?"
to panic—he has a system. As long as an investment target dies, he can claim a reward. And since he is immortal, the one thing he has plenty of is time. ... Countless years later. “Immortal Emperor of Longevity? I invested in him.” “Supreme Celestial Venerable? I invested in him.” “Undying Empress? I invested in her.” “...” “Heh. Once they’ve all died, even the Heavenly Dao will have to kneel and call me Dad.”
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
