He hit the nail on the head.
One could hardly fault him for his treacherous nature, as his words held undeniable truth. With Feng Chongli having resolved his debt and eliminated the necessity of contending with He Jiaqing, he was now free to depart. It was precisely the sort of action someone like Zhang Gunli would take.
However, Feng Chongli was of a different caliber: "My dealings are legitimate; I am not like you moneylenders. Integrity is paramount in my business. Old Zhang, I require your assistance with manpower so that I may repay the kindness bestowed upon me by Young Master Wu!"
Feng Chongli manipulated the beads on his abacus, and with each sharp click, Zhang Gunli's flesh seemed to disintegrate, layer by layer.
This was the Business Cultivation Technique, a complete form of accounting.
As Feng Chongli meticulously calculated, Zhang Gunli endured successive blows; the greater his speed in calculation, the more severe the attacks became.
Despite his bloodied state, Zhang Gunli maintained his composure. Dozens of silver ingots levitated around him, hurtling towards Feng Chongli.
This was the Credit Cultivation Technique, known as Money Presenting Treasure – an ability designed to forcefully impose its benefits upon the recipient.
This technique was notoriously malicious; while some might guard against credit cultivation and reject all forms of loans, this move allowed its user to compel lending.
The silver ingots belonged to Zhang Gunli. Upon striking Feng Chongli, they were intended to embed themselves into his flesh, thereby finalizing the loan. Without a formal loan note, the binding agreement on Feng Chongli would be considerably weakened.
At this juncture of their confrontation, being bound by such an agreement could prove fatal. Feng Chongli immediately halted his accounting technique and swiftly evaded the barrage of silver ingots launched by Zhang Gunli.
Although these dozens of silver ingots inflicted considerable damage upon Feng Chongli, his agility prevented a single one from piercing his flesh.
Zhang Gunli, too, sustained injuries, yet by rubbing two walnuts in his hand, his wounds rapidly mended, restoring him to his prior condition.
Feng Chongli's gaze fixed upon the walnuts Zhang Gunli held.
Zhang Gunli rotated the walnuts twice in his grasp. "With these Magical Treasures, you cannot harm me in the slightest."
Observing him habitually rub those walnuts, I never fathomed their true purpose; who would have imagined they possessed such formidable power?
Confiscating the Magical Treasures from his possession would be exceedingly difficult. Without them, Zhang Gunli remained impervious to harm. Feng Chongli contemplated his next move when he suddenly heard He Jiaqing interject: "Big Brother Feng, do not be deceived; those two walnuts are not Magical Treasures. They are the keys to his storeroom.
The reason his wounds can heal is that he replaces his damaged flesh with stored reserves. Big Brother Feng, continue your assault; let us ascertain his limits."
Feng Chongli flicked the beads of his abacus once more, and the accounting technique descended upon Zhang Gunli again.
This technique, deceptively simple in appearance, was incredibly arduous to endure and stood as one of the Business Cultivators' most lethal moves.
Zhang Gunli braced himself against the onslaught and glanced at He Jiaqing, surprise evident in his eyes at the young man's profound knowledge of his methods.
The walnuts were, in fact, storeroom keys. Zhang Gunli could indeed borrow flesh, but he was naturally obligated to repay it with his own, hence the stored flesh in his repository.
However, this stored flesh proved insufficient against the relentless drain of the technique. Zhang Gunli stomped his foot, causing the mountain of silver ingots piled within the room to erupt into the air.
The Money Presenting Treasure technique was incapable of managing such a vast quantity of external objects. "Is this a Strength Cultivation Technique?" Feng Chongli inquired aloud.
Zhang Gunli chuckled. "Your perception is keen. I can borrow the cultivation levels from the Hundred Schools, thus enabling me to employ their techniques. Brother Feng, observe closely; a single silver ingot upon your person, and your life will be forfeit."
Evasion of these silver ingots posed no significant challenge. What truly preoccupied Feng Chongli was Zhang Gunli's impending follow-up strike.
He Jiaqing spoke up: "Big Brother Feng, cease your overthinking. He is not targeting you; his intention is to utilize these silver ingots to eliminate me."
Zhang Gunli nodded in agreement. "Your incessant chatter and meddling are indeed deserving of death."
As he uttered these words, the silver ingots surged towards He Jiaqing. However, before they could reach him, each one clattered harmlessly to the ground.
Zhang Gunli faltered, witnessing He Jiaqing's smile. "You are not employing a Hundred Schools' Technique; instead, you are wielding a Strength Cultivation Magical Treasure. The Credit Cultivation Taoist Sect adheres to strict regulations: external objects are shared resources, but cultivation levels cannot be activated for such purposes.
Items you store, including gold, silver, Magical Treasures, flesh, and organs, are all considered external objects. Should you wish to utilize them, they remain yours, and you bear sole responsibility for any profit or loss.
However, matters concerning cultivation levels may only be lent out; you are forbidden from using them yourself. This includes techniques and combat prowess – these are inviolable rules of your Taoist Sect, am I not correct?"
While engaged in their intense duel with Zhang Gunli, Feng Chongli listened intently as He Jiaqing elucidated Zhang Gunli's combat methodologies.
Feng Chongli found this situation highly advantageous, as multiple plans to thwart Zhang Gunli had already formed in his mind during their prior engagement.
After pushing Feng Chongli away, Zhang Gunli turned his gaze to He Jiaqing, inquiring, "Youngster, what lengths did you go to in order to seek retribution against me?"
A smile touched He Jiaqing's lips as he replied, "Exacting your life is worth any cost."
With a crunch of walnuts in his grip, Zhang Gunli watched as a man and a woman descended from the heavens, positioning themselves on either side of He Jiaqing, effectively surrounding him.
He Jiaqing remained stationary, making no move, observing the approaching pair. Instead of attacking him, they commenced fighting each other.
The male figure still appeared poised to strike at He Jiaqing, but the female figure abruptly turned her aggression upon the male.
He Jiaqing let out a chuckle, remarking, "Old Zhang, these are Gong Xiu Puppets, aren't they? Lacking the Gong Xiu Technique, they can only operate independently. Since I possess the Gong Xiu Technique, these puppets now belong to me."
As his words concluded, the male puppet ceased its assault, and both figures stood attentively by He Jiaqing's side.
This particular pair of puppets had been crafted by Chu Shaoqiang. Facing severe financial difficulties recently and unable to settle his debts, he was compelled to relinquish the puppets as a means of repayment.
Without the masterful control of the Gong Xiu Techniques, these puppets were limited to autonomous combat, functioning akin to automatons and exhibiting only about twenty percent of their intended combat prowess.
Zhang Gunli had intended to deploy the puppets to immobilize He Jiaqing. Unexpectedly, He Jiaqing managed to seize command of the mechanical figures without even lifting a finger.