"Go back on my word? Preposterous! When I, Li Fan, say something, I mean it." Li Fan declared with an air of arrogance.
"Then it's settled. If I lose, I will voluntarily give up cultivating the Mountain-Sitting Art. If you lose, however..."
Li Fan fixed He Zhenghao with a cold stare. "I won't make it too difficult for you. Besides immediately switching your cultivation technique, you'll just need to hand over half your assets to me!"
He Zhenghao's face paled dramatically. "Th-this... this is... What kind of bet is that?!"
"Hmm?" A flicker of killing intent flashed in Li Fan's eyes, startling He Zhenghao into a cold sweat and silencing his protests.
"Does the current Myriad Immortals Alliance have anything like written contracts?" Li Fan asked offhandedly. "A verbal agreement isn’t enough, don’t you think?"
He Zhenghao didn't dare disagree. Gritting his teeth, he purchased a Commercial Contract from his Mini Tianxuan Mirror.
Li Fan took the contract, pretending to examine it for the first time. He studied it carefully before nodding thoughtfully.
He then wrote down the terms of their agreement on it and handed the contract back to He Zhenghao.
He Zhenghao hesitated, looking at the extremely harsh conditions laid out on the document.
Turning 150,000 into 250,000 in seven or eight days... That's nearly impossible. My odds of winning are actually quite good.
Right now, I'm the fish on the chopping block, and he's the knife. I'll just have to take the gamble!
After his expression shifted through a series of emotions, He Zhenghao finally steeled himself and signed his name on the Commercial Contract.
Two beams of golden light shot forth, entering Li Fan and He Zhenghao respectively.
With that, the contract was sealed.
"Alright," Li Fan said. "Now hurry up and produce the 150,000!"
He Zhenghao looked bewildered. "What 150,000?"
Li Fan glared at him as if stating the obvious. "Your 150,000 contribution points, of course! I just woke up, and I'm not a member of your Myriad Immortals Alliance. Where would I get that many contribution points to fulfill the bet? Naturally, I'll need to borrow your contribution points."
He Zhenghao was stunned for a moment, then plunged into utter panic.
He knew that if he merely lost the bet, the worst outcome was losing half his wealth. But if an investment failed, losing everything was entirely possible! This was a lesson He Zhenghao had learned through blood and tears over many years.
Even faced with Li Fan's palpable killing intent, he shook his head, resolutely refusing.
After all, the two parties who signed a Commercial Contract could not harm each other before the contract's terms were fulfilled.
Banking on this fact, He Zhenghao absolutely refused to risk his life's savings.
He expected Li Fan to turn hostile, but instead, the man adopted a smiling, amiable expression.
"Don't worry. For the duration of the bet, I'll stay right here with you. I won't leave.
"And I won't handle your contribution points directly. I'll only offer suggestions on how to manage them.
"You'll still have the final say. If you feel something is truly unwise, I won't force the issue..."
Li Fan's words seemed to possess a bewitching, persuasive power, causing He Zhenghao to lower his guard without realizing it.
If what he says is true, and I hold the power to make the final decision, then there really isn't any risk.
And so, not long after, He Zhenghao liquidated all his scattered investments in a daze.
Due to the haste, he incurred some minor losses.
In the end, he received a total of 148,500 contribution points.
By the time he came to his senses, it was too late for regrets.
"Alright, young He. Watch and learn."
He Zhenghao, inwardly lamenting his misfortune, saw Li Fan's body suddenly erupt with an inexplicable surge of energy, his robes stirring without any wind.
Li Fan's eyes were slightly closed, his fingers rapidly forming seals, as if sensing something.
He Zhenghao had no choice but to stand quietly to the side, not daring to disturb him.
Li Fan's calculations lasted a full three days.
His complexion gradually paled, but the aura emanating from him grew stronger with each passing moment.
Although He Zhenghao didn't fully understand what was going on, he knew the other party must have reached a critical juncture.
He held his breath, scarcely daring to breathe, his gaze fixed intently on Li Fan.
"Command!"
Li Fan suddenly uttered a word, pointing towards the sky.
He Zhenghao saw what seemed like a strand of purple qi pierce through the great array and soar into the firmament.
What kind of divine ability is this?
He was secretly astonished.
A moment later, Li Fan's eyes snapped open, the corners of his mouth turning up.
"Got it!"
He Zhenghao was stunned. "Got what?"
Li Fan answered with a question of his own. "Does the current Myriad Immortals Alliance have something called Stygian Obsidian?"
"Stygian Obsidian?" He Zhenghao frowned, searching within his Mini Tianxuan Mirror.
After a while, he replied, "It does exist. A rare material for artifact forging. Precious, but not very versatile.
"Senior, why do you ask?" He Zhenghao felt rather baffled.
"Use all 150,000 contribution points to buy as much as you can!" Li Fan declared with unwavering certainty.
He Zhenghao was greatly shocked. "Why?"
Li Fan said impatiently, "The heavenly mechanisms cannot be divulged. Just buy it! How much profit we make from this 150,000 contribution points depends entirely on this move!"
He Zhenghao finally caught on, his face full of disbelief. "This... this is your investment strategy, Senior?"
Li Fan glanced at him sidelong with disdain and sneered, "Brat, when I was cultivating the Mountain-Sitting Art, you didn't even exist! And now you dare question me?"
He Zhenghao opened his mouth, but in the end, cowed by Li Fan's intimidating presence, he didn't dare to retort.
However, as a qualified investor, He Zhenghao didn't rush to buy on Li Fan's say-so. Instead, he first silently and carefully examined the information on this Stygian Obsidian.
This stone's greatest, and only, use is for crafting Stygian Skiffs that can freely travel through earth veins.
Its existing stock and circulation are both relatively low, and its price fluctuations are also minimal.
While it might not necessarily yield a profit, significant losses seem unlikely.
I'll follow his lead for now. There are still four days until the wager ends. I refuse to believe this thing can truly turn the world upside down in such a short time.
Seeing Li Fan growing impatient beside him, He Zhenghao thought for a moment and made a decision.
"Very well, since you insist, Senior, I suppose I have no choice but to comply."
The price of Stygian Obsidian was 280 contribution points per catty.
As He Zhenghao made the purchases, he said to Li Fan, "Senior, you have been in seclusion for a long time. You must understand that the world today is vastly different from ancient times.
"In our Myriad Immortals Alliance, with a treasure like the Tianxuan Mirror regulating the market, prices are often extremely stable."
"Minor fluctuations might occur, but for you to think you can become immensely wealthy through this method..."
He Zhenghao shook his head slightly.
Li Fan snorted coldly. "Enough chatter. Just wait and see!
"How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator possibly understand my Heavenly Mechanisms Sect's divine abilities?"
He Zhenghao was unconvinced, but he closed his mouth anyway.
He held onto a knot of resentment in his heart, determined to see Li Fan make a fool of himself.
But just two days later, he watched, utterly dumbfounded, as the price of Stygian Obsidian began its meteoric rise.