Family Bet!

Since victory was certain, this wasn't gambling—this was giving away money!

That fool Zhang Chen, he thinks the Zhang Family isn't dying fast enough.

Now he's rushing to hand over a spirit vein and three million spirit stones to the Wang Family?

Who would turn down such a good deal?

"Fine! Since you want to die, this young master will grant your wish!"

Wang Teng, afraid Zhang Chen might back out, waved his hand grandly and pulled the Family Head Token straight from his Storage Bag. He bit his fingertip and pressed a heavy Blood Handprint onto the Challenge Letter.

"Three million spirit stones, one Second-Rank Spirit Vein, plus ownership of the vein! Whoever reneges will be forsaken by the Heavenly Dao and devoured by Inner Demons!"

Wang Teng sneered and tossed the Challenge Letter to Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen caught it without even glancing at it and signed his name directly.

Then he pressed his own Blood Handprint.

A flash of blood light, and the contract was sealed.

There was no turning back now.

"Zhang Yunshan, aren't you going to control your wastrel son?"

From below the stage, a clan leader friendly with the Zhang Family couldn't hold back anymore.

He couldn't help shouting toward the seat of honor.

Zhang Yunshan opened his mouth, then looked toward the Old Ancestor sitting in the armchair.

Everyone's gaze followed to that "one-foot-in-the-grave" old man.

If the Old Ancestor spoke up, there might still be a chance to overturn the bet. After all, Zhang Chen was only the Young Master, not the highest authority of the entire family.

But then came the despairing moment.

Zhang Tianzheng, seated in the place of honor, merely lifted his eyelids weakly, his murky gaze sweeping over Zhang Chen.

Then he let out a long sigh.

He waved his hand shakily, his voice so feeble it seemed ready to fade at any moment: "Cough... enough... enough..."

"This family... will eventually be handed over to them... let him be..."

After saying this, the Old Ancestor closed his eyes directly, leaned back in his chair, and stopped moving.

Only his chest still heaved violently.

This scene stirred everyone's hearts.

Was the Zhang Family really going to throw caution to the wind?

"Hahahaha! Good! A fine 'let him be'!"

Wang Teng burst into laughter. "Since Senior Zhang has said so, then my Wang Family will gladly accept those three million spirit stones!"

"One year from now, we'll meet on the Arena!"

"By then, I hope you've prepared the spirit stones so this young master doesn't have to work too hard hauling them away!"

With that, Wang Teng led his entourage and swaggered out of the Zhang Family.

He left brimming with pride and ambition.

As if he could already see the Zhang Family's ruin.

With the Wang Family gone, this originally festive Full Moon Banquet ended hastily in an eerie and oppressive atmosphere.

The guests had no appetite left; one by one, they took their leave.

They were in a hurry to spread this shocking news back home so their families could prepare early. After all, once the Zhang Family fell, the power structure of the East Mountain Islands would be reshuffled.

Within half a day, the news that the Zhang Family's Young Master was a madman and the family was on the decline had spread across the entire East Mountain Islands.

The outside world was waiting to watch the joke.

Inside the Zhang Family, however, panic was spreading.

Deep in the night.

Deep within the Zhang Family Courtyard, in a secret chamber equipped with soundproofing restrictions, the atmosphere was completely different from what the outside rumors suggested.

There was no gloom in the chamber.

Instead, it was filled with an indescribable excitement and thrill.

Family Head Zhang Yunshan, Zhang Yunhai, Zhang Yunwu, Zhang Yuntao, and Lin Qingxue—these absolute core figures of the Zhang Family—were all seated around a round table.

Their gazes were fixed on the old man sitting at the head.

Where was Zhang Tianzheng's frail appearance from the day now?

He straightened his back.

In his hand, he held a cup of Spirit Tea, savoring it slowly.

Though he maintained the illusion of an aged, withered exterior to avoid drawing attention, the faint, abyssal terror of his aura was impossible to hide.

It was the pressure of a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator!

And not the deathly stillness of one about to fall.

But a vibrant vitality, like the rising sun at dawn!

"Old... Old Ancestor... you really..."

Great Elder Zhang Yunhai stammered with excitement, his eyes reddening.

Though he had suspected as much before, he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes.

Now, feeling the Old Ancestor's profound and overwhelming aura, the boulder that had been crushing his chest finally shattered.

"Hmph, if it weren't for playing along with Chen'er's act, I would have slapped that insolent little beast to death long ago."

Zhang Tianzheng set down his teacup, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "Daring to act so arrogantly in my Zhang Clan's main hall—does he really think our Zhang Clan has no one left?"

"Old Ancestor, please calm your anger."

Zhang Chen smiled as he refilled the Old Ancestor's tea. "That Wang Teng is nothing but a clown. Keeping him around lets us maximize our gains!"

"If we killed him now, that old fox Wang Lie would surely retreat into his shell. Then finding another opportunity like this would be far harder!"

The crowd nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

This was a gamble of a million Spirit Stones!

If it were them, even knowing the Old Ancestor had recovered, they probably wouldn't dare to bet so heavily.

But this kid, without even blinking, raised the stakes.

Such a mindset, such calculation.