"So, he's the young master of the Lei family? How utterly shameless! A mere gambler like him, utterly incompetent. He's truly despicable!" Zhang Guodong said coldly.

"Shut up!" Lei Hui's face flushed red. He had indeed done something terribly disgraceful to the Lei family. But the amount of crystals involved was simply too large, enough to leave him penniless in an instant.

He wouldn't know how to explain himself to his father then. But even if he bore someone's scorn now, as long as the news didn't get out, what did he have to worry about? No ruthlessness, no manliness!

“However, I’m afraid things won’t go as Young Master Lei wishes today! I knew you were a low-class person, Lei Hui. So what you destroyed just now was just a blank jade talisman, without any contract inside. The real contract is right here!” Zhang Guodong sneered and casually took out another contract.

This is the true contract! Zhang Guodong accidentally dropped the package, and the three impartial law enforcement officers and their disciples around him were unaware of it.

When Zhang Guodong produced it, Lei Hui was stunned. The deacons and law enforcement disciples beside him also changed their expressions and exchanged bewildered glances. They had indeed been persuaded by Lei Hun and were considering whether to accept the bribe, so they pretended not to know anything.

Well, Zhang Guodong actually had a backup plan; the contract is still intact in his hands! If Zhang Guodong reports their performance, they're in big trouble.

"Young Master Lei, your bribery is ineffective. Manager Zhang has a backup plan. A total of 520,000 low-grade crystals will suffice. Otherwise, I will ask the Chief Steward to carry it out!" Seeing that the situation had changed, the steward stepped forward and said righteously.

It seems as if they and Zhang Guodong staged a play, and suddenly they've become the positive characters again.

Zhang Guodong didn't expose it, since he hadn't lost anything anyway. Besides, isn't this kind of situation commonplace? People die for money, birds die for food; there are many such people in society.

Lei Hun stared intently at Zhang Guodong and squeezed out two words: "Very good!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Young Master Lei. I've always been fine! Five hundred and twenty thousand low-grade crystals," Zhang Guodong said with a smile.

These numbers, like thorns, pierced Lei Hui's heart every time they were mentioned, turning his face deathly pale.

"A-Meng, go and fetch the crystal!"

The servant, head bowed, replied, "Yes, young master!"

Lei Hui couldn't carry all the hundreds of thousands of crystals with him. He didn't have a high-level storage bag; only his father, Lei Tai, possessed one. He only had some mid-level storage bags.

Therefore, most of the crystals were stored in the underground secret chamber of Lei Mansion.

The deacon's threat was indeed very effective. Lei Hui was terrified of seeing the head deacon...

After that incident, Emperor Mu issued a decree ordering the three factions to receive their punishments. The next day, Lei Hui, along with Wan Yangzong and members of the Jidao Sect, went to the Enforcement Hall to receive their punishments.

Yu Lei actually issued a fine of 3,000 mid-grade crystals to each household!

Three thousand! That's three hundred thousand low-grade crystals! In actual exchange, it would be even more.

This is tantamount to cutting off the heart and flesh of Lei Tai, Jin Lun, and the leader of the Jidao Sect, but the Wood Emperor is powerful enough that the three factions failed to kill Zhang Guodong in one go this time, so they can only accept the punishment!

If this matter were to be brought before the Enforcement Hall, he would likely not only have to pay 520,000 low-grade crystals, but also face punishment! The mere mention of punishment sent shivers down Lei Hui's spine.

While harboring deep hatred for the Enforcement Hall, Lei Hui also hated Zhang Guodong to the core! All of this was related to Zhang Guodong; otherwise, the Lei family wouldn't have suffered such a great loss!

More than 800,000 low-grade crystals were spent! This has already shaken the foundation of the Lei family and the other two families.

"Hmph, let's see how you manage to get all these crystals back later." In the hall, the servant A Meng was frantically carrying storage bags to transport crystals, and the pale green, low-grade crystals piled up with a clatter. More and more were appearing. Lei Hui sat in the middle chair. He looked at Zhang Guodong with a mixture of heartache, hatred, and resentment.

A mid-grade storage bag can't hold many crystals; around ten thousand is the maximum. This pile of crystals would require at least dozens of mid-grade storage bags. Even if Zhang Guodong is incredibly wealthy, he couldn't possibly buy that many storage bags for no reason, could he?

As for high-end storage bags, Lei Hui simply didn't believe Zhang Guodong would possess them. That required not only status, but also considerable wealth!

"Young Master, the crystals have all been brought up. There are a total of 360,000 low-grade crystals!" The servant, A Meng, said with a troubled expression as he returned from his last trip.

"Three hundred and sixty thousand? We're still short sixteen thousand."

Lei Hun was annoyed by Zhang Guodong's urging for payment, so he casually tossed out a pile of crystals, which he always carried with him.

"Huh, a mid-grade crystal?"

Lei Hun actually took out mid-grade crystals. Upon closer inspection, there were four of them! Good heavens, I never expected to actually run into a rich tycoon!

If a piece of medium-grade crystal is converted into low-grade crystal, it would be at least four pieces of low-grade crystal.

“Young Master Lei, to be fair, I’ll count this mid-grade crystal as a low-grade crystal. How about that? Let’s call it a low-grade crystal!” Zhang Guodong narrowed his eyes and said, feigning generosity.

He has plenty of low-grade crystals, but he lacks these high-quality crystals, so he has to get his hands on them no matter what.

Lei Hui has really suffered a huge loss this time; Zhang Guodong's losses are truly negligible.

"Ahem, Manager Zhang, what a pity, that's all the crystals I have. Would you accept something else as collateral?" Lei Hui tossed out a mid-grade crystal, clearly annoyed. Hearing Zhang Guodong's surprise, he even felt a hint of smugness. "Country bumpkin, so surprised even by a mid-grade crystal?" But then he checked his storage bag and realized he really didn't have enough crystals.

Zhang Guodong withdrew his gaze and said somewhat awkwardly, "Young Master Lei, you are a young master of the Lei family, so you are naturally different from us. We subordinates are short of crystals. I think we should consult Lord Lei."

Lei Hui cursed inwardly, "If I could ask for instructions, I wouldn't be discussing this with you!" But circumstances forced him to act against his will. Lei Hui pondered, what could he possibly offer to offset the remaining four Wang crystals?

His storage bag naturally contained valuable items. Besides the high-level defensive magic artifact he was wearing, he also had a high-level offensive magic artifact, both of which were material-attribute. The third item was a mid-level soul defense magic artifact.

Inside the storage bag, there was also a high-level defensive magic artifact—an inner armor. This was an extra reserve. Generally, one high-level defensive magic artifact was enough for his needs. So he just casually tossed this one in.

Of course, if the inner armor of this high-level defensive magic artifact were to be sold, it would probably be worth at least 150,000 to 200,000 crystals. And even if you had the crystals, it would be very difficult to buy it.

There are also seven or eight mid-level magic artifacts, each worth between six thousand and ten thousand crystals.

Using these mid-level magical artifacts to counter the crystal seems somewhat insufficient. However, Lei Hui is absolutely unwilling to give Zhang Guodong the inner armor of that high-level defensive magical artifact.

"I have several mid-grade magic artifacts here, enough to offset four low-grade crystals for Wang!" Lei Hui took out the mid-grade magic artifacts. There were those for physical defense, those for physical attack, and those for soul attack. The soul defense ones were truly comprehensive.

Zhang Guodong also opened his eyes briefly.

Damn, having a good old man really gives you a huge advantage. They're all top-tier mid-level players!

These ritual implements should be enough!

However, Zhang Guodong's heart stirred, but he shook his head and said, "Young Master Lei, although your magic weapon is not bad, you should know that I do not lack mid-level magic weapons."

Lei Shu's expression changed.

Lei Hun's debt collection went through some twists and turns, but it was eventually settled smoothly. Forced by circumstances, Lei Hui reluctantly used the high-level defensive magic weapon inner armor to settle the debt.

Zhang Guodong made a huge profit! He exchanged 160,000 low-grade crystals for a high-grade material defense magic weapon inner armor!

This is a huge profit!

Of course. Zhang Guodong didn't take out any more mid-grade crystals. Enraged, Lei Hun smashed several tables and chairs after Zhang Guodong and the others left.

After Lei's family showed weakness, the other two families, after some deliberation, also successfully incurred significant losses.

Zhang Guodong's trip yielded the equivalent of tens of millions of low-grade crystals! And an inner armor piece of a high-grade material defense magic artifact!

"There are four high-level offensive magic weapons in my storage bag, all acquired in the past. But there isn't a single high-level defensive magic weapon. With my current cultivation level of only magic power, I might be able to barely refine this inner armor. At that time, my defense will definitely increase significantly! Below the level of a near-great master, no one will be able to threaten me!"

Back at the Wanxian Restaurant, Zhang Guodong went up to the fifth floor. Standing beside the teleportation array within the illusionary formation, his heart was surging with emotion. He couldn't contain himself.

Update complete for today, more tomorrow. I'm appealing for more recommendation votes, and those who are able should definitely read and support me. Sigh.