"Back out? What a joke! When has Li ever gone back on his word?" Li Fan declared with an air of pride.
"Then it is settled. If I lose, I will voluntarily abandon the Mountain-Sitting Art. But if you lose..."
Li Fan stared coldly at He Zhenghao. "I won't make things too difficult for you. Aside from switching your cultivation technique immediately, you only need to give me half of your wealth!"
He Zhenghao's expression changed drastically. "Th-this... Senior! How could anyone gamble like this?!"
"Hmm?" A glint of murderous intent flashed in Li Fan's eyes, frightening He Zhenghao so much that his heart cried out in distress and he shut his mouth at once.
"Does your current Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals have anything like written covenants?" Li Fan asked casually. "After all, we cannot leave it as mere words without proof! Wouldn't you agree?"
How could He Zhenghao dare say no? Hardening his heart, he had no choice but to purchase a Commercial Contract through his Lesser Heavenly Profound Mirror.
Li Fan took the contract and pretended it was his first time seeing one, studying it carefully with a thoughtful look. Then, he inscribed the terms of their agreement upon it before handing it back to He Zhenghao.
Looking at the harsh terms on the document, He Zhenghao could not help hesitating.
*Turning a hundred and fifty thousand into two hundred and fifty thousand in seven or eight days... That's practically impossible. My chances of winning are quite high.*
*Besides, I am the meat on the chopping block right now. Gamble it is!* His expression shifted repeatedly until he braced himself and signed his name on the Commercial Contract.
Two beams of golden light sank into Li Fan and He Zhenghao respectively.
The contract was established.
Li Fan said, "All right, kid. Hand over the hundred and fifty thousand!"
He Zhenghao was bewildered. "What hundred and fifty thousand?"
Li Fan glared at him and spoke as though it were obvious, "Your hundred and fifty thousand contribution points, of course! I just awoke and am not a member of your Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
"Where would I get so many contribution points to complete the wager? Naturally, I need to borrow yours."
He Zhenghao froze, then panicked completely.
Losing the wager would cost him half his fortune at most.
But if an investment failed, losing everything was entirely possible!
This was a lesson he had learned through tears and blood over many years.
Even facing the almost tangible murderous intent surrounding Li Fan, he firmly shook his head in refusal.
In any case, once two parties signed a Commercial Contract, they could not harm each other before the contract was fulfilled.
He Zhenghao clung to this fact, refusing to part with his life savings no matter what was said.
He had expected Li Fan to turn hostile, but to his surprise, Li Fan broke into a beaming smile instead.
"Kid, put your mind at ease. During the wager, I will remain right here with you and won't go anywhere.
"Furthermore, I will not handle your contribution points directly. I will merely offer operational guidance.
"In the end, you will personally make the final call. If you truly feel something is inappropriate, I won't force you."
Li Fan's words seemed to carry a bewitching magic.
Before He Zhenghao even realized it, his vigilance began to slip. *If what he says is true and the final decision rests with me, there really isn't much risk.*
And so, not long after, He Zhenghao found himself in a daze, liquidating all the investments he had scattered in various ventures.
Because the liquidation was rushed, he took a slight loss.
In the end, he ended up with a total of one hundred and forty-eight thousand five hundred contribution points. By the time he came to his senses, it was too late to regret it.
"All right, kid. Watch and learn," Li Fan said.
While He Zhenghao was secretly lamenting his misfortune, an inexplicable wave of energy suddenly erupted from Li Fan's body, setting his robes fluttering without any wind.
Li Fan's eyes closed slightly as his fingers rapidly formed divinatory seals, seemingly sensing something.
He Zhenghao could only stand quietly to the side, not daring to disturb him.
This divination of Li Fan's lasted a full three days.
His face gradually paled, yet his aura grew steadily stronger with the passage of time.
Though He Zhenghao could not entirely understand what was happening, he could tell the man had reached a critical juncture.
Not daring even to breathe heavily, he kept his eyes glued to Li Fan.
"Command!"
Li Fan abruptly barked, pointing a finger skyward.
He Zhenghao saw what looked like a wisp of purple qi breach the protective array and shoot straight toward the heavens.
*What kind of divine ability is this...?* he marveled inwardly.
A moment later, Li Fan snapped his eyes open, a faint smile curling on his lips. "Got it!"
He Zhenghao was stunned. "Got what?"
Instead of answering, Li Fan asked, "Does the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals currently have something called Wugu Obsidian?"
"Wugu Obsidian?" He Zhenghao frowned, searching for it in his Lesser Heavenly Profound Mirror.
After a brief pause, he answered, "Yes, there is such a thing. It's a rare artifact-refining material. Though precious, it has very few uses.
"Why do you ask about this, Senior?" He Zhenghao felt somewhat baffled.
"Take the hundred and fifty thousand contribution points and buy it all!" Li Fan declared decisively.
He Zhenghao was shocked. "Why?"
Li Fan said impatiently, "Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed. Just buy it! How much we make from that hundred and fifty thousand depends entirely on this run!"
He Zhenghao finally understood, his face full of disbelief. "This is your path of investment, Senior?"
Li Fan shot him a sidelong glance and sneered, "Kid, when I was practicing the Mountain-Sitting Art, who knows where you were! Now you dare question me?"
He Zhenghao opened his mouth, but intimidated by Li Fan's overbearing presence, he did not dare argue back.
However, as a seasoned investor, He Zhenghao did not rush to buy according to Li Fan's orders. Instead, he quietly and thoroughly reviewed the details on Wugu Obsidian.
*The greatest and only real use for this stone is crafting Wugu Skiffs, which can travel freely through earth veins.*
*Both existing reserves and market circulation are relatively small, and price fluctuations are minor.*
*While it might not bring a massive profit, losing a lot seems unlikely.*
*I'll humor him for now. There are still four days left until the wager ends. I refuse to believe this stuff could shoot through the roof in such a short time.*
Seeing Li Fan impatiently prodding him from the side, He Zhenghao pondered a moment longer and made up his mind.
"Very well. Since Senior insists, I shall do as you say."
Wugu Obsidian cost 280 contribution points per jin. As He Zhenghao placed the purchases, he said to Li Fan, "Senior, you have slumbered for a long time. You must understand that today's world is no longer like antiquity.
"Our Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals has supreme treasures like the Heavenly Profound Mirror regulating the market, so prices are generally very stable.
"Minor fluctuations might occur, but if Senior hopes to make a fortune this way..."
He Zhenghao shook his head slightly.
Li Fan let out a cold snort. "Why all the babble? Just wait and see.
"How could a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator comprehend the divine abilities of my Heavenly Mechanism Sect!"
Though dissatisfied in his heart, He Zhenghao held his tongue. Suppressing his irritation, he waited to watch Li Fan make a fool of himself.
Until two days later.
Staring dumbfounded, he witnessed the price of Wugu Obsidian soaring straight into the clouds.
Chapter 424