The Li Family's Wealth!

Qian Xunji left, taking with him sixty percent of the Li Family's future income.

The candles in the Li Mansion's main hall flickered, casting light over the father and son.

Li Yuntian dismissed all the servants, leaving only the two of them in the hall.

He looked at Zhang Qingxuan. There was no reproach or doubt in his gaze, only pure curiosity.

"Tell me what you think." He spoke calmly and refilled their tea.

After all, the Li Family's business empire had expanded so rapidly over the past decade largely because of the youth before him.

At seven, he had proposed the concept of "chain stores," spreading Li Family tea shops throughout Heaven Dou; at ten, he had established the Li Family's commercial reputation and attracted investment from countless merchants; at thirteen, he had consolidated the shipping trade and taken control of thirty percent of Heaven Dou City's freight transport.

This son's intellect and vision had long surpassed his age.

Zhang Qingxuan lifted his teacup. The rising steam blurred his youthful yet overly composed features.

"The Li Family's strength and foundations do not match the wealth we possess."

He spoke in a clear, calm voice. "That is the fundamental problem. A common man commits no crime, but possessing jade invites blame—you understand that better than I do."

Li Yuntian fell silent. In recent years, the Li Family's reputation for wealth rivaling that of a nation had spread ever farther, and the covert scrutiny and probing had only grown more frequent.

The Clear Sky Sect's attack this time was merely the beginning of the conflict's complete eruption.

"This problem was bound to explode sooner or later." Zhang Qingxuan set down his teacup, his gaze sharp.

"Rather than wait for others to come take it, we should give away that 'excess' wealth ourselves. Sixty percent of our income buys us Spirit Hall's protection, and more importantly, time for the Li Family to grow."

He paused, his tone carrying a clarity beyond his years. "Or rather, we are using money to buy a future."

Li Yuntian looked at his son and suddenly asked, "Aren't you afraid that if they take sixty percent today, they'll want one hundred percent tomorrow? Spirit Hall's appetite may not be so easily satisfied."

"Why should I be afraid?" Zhang Qingxuan smiled instead, his expression carrying a sharpness and confidence that did not suit his age.

"With my methods and Spirit Hall's strength, our future ten percent of income will exceed our current forty percent. As long as we hold onto that core ten percent, it will be enough."

He rose and walked to the window, looking out at the Li Mansion's endless lights. "As for whether they will keep pushing for more—I believe that person in the Elder Palace will not tear up the agreement over that ten percent. If he truly does..."

Zhang Qingxuan turned around, candlelight flickering in his eyes. "Then Spirit Hall's people will lose heart. Any power incapable of honoring even the most basic agreement will not be far from destruction."

After saying that, he felt a little thirsty and drained the tea, which had cooled somewhat.

Li Yuntian listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of his cup.

Zhang Qingxuan returned to his seat and added calmly, "Oh, after joining Spirit Hall, find a suitable opportunity to report the secret of Whale Rubber."

"This formula that can improve a Soul Master's physical condition is priceless to them. It never hurts to earn some goodwill and build connections."

Li Yuntian finally smiled. Pointing at his son, he shook his head and sighed. "You..."

There was relief in that laughter, pride as well, and a trace of indescribable emotion.

This son with whom he shared no blood thought too deeply and moved too far ahead, bringing earthshaking changes to the Li Family.

Zhang Qingxuan looked at his father and suddenly smiled as well. The usual composure and calculation faded from his expression, revealing some of the purity of a young man.

He said with certainty, "Don't worry, old man. I'm here. I'll protect the Li Family."

There was an unprecedented intimacy and confidence in his voice.

When Li Yuntian heard him call him "old man," he froze.

Over the years, he had always treated Zhang Qingxuan as a "divine child"—with more respect than closeness.

His son was too intelligent, so intelligent that even he, as a father, sometimes felt awe toward him.

There had always been an invisible distance between them. Unlike his wife and daughter, who could speak and interact freely, act spoiled, and play around without restraint.

But now, as those two words fell softly from his lips, that barrier shattered without a sound.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end it became only a long sigh and a truly relaxed smile.

"Good." He said only that one word, yet it carried the weight of a thousand pounds.

Several days later, the two Title Douluo sent by Spirit Hall arrived in Heaven Dou City.

Qianjun Douluo and Jiangmo Douluo, two renowned powerhouses of the Soul Master world, stood on the long street before the Li Family estate. As they watched the scene before them, they were somewhat dazed.

The entire street—no, the shops spanning four or five connected streets—were all busily packing up.

Carriages and horses filled the road, crates piled high. Clerks shouted as they loaded goods onto wagons, shopkeepers checked their account books, and women, children, the elderly, and the weak were helped aboard carriages.

They took every portable possession, account book, and product sample with them. As for fixed properties they could not take, including land deeds and house deeds, some people poured oil over them and set them alight on the spot, preferring to destroy them rather than leave them behind.

They understood all too well that if they did not leave with the Li Family, without the Li Family's protection, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and nobles would devour them until not even bones remained!

"This..." Jiangmo Douluo pointed at the seemingly endless convoy and looked toward his brother.

"Brother, isn't this a little excessive? Is the Li Family planning to empty out these streets?"

Qianjun Douluo's gaze swept over the shop signs following the Li Family's migration—silk shops, grain stores, pharmacies, blacksmith shops... They covered nearly every trade essential to daily life.

By his rough estimate, this alone accounted for more than thirty percent of all shops in Heaven Dou City.

"This is only Heaven Dou City." Qianjun Douluo spoke slowly, with a hint of emotion in his voice.

"The Li Family's businesses span both great empires. Their accumulated wealth is beyond anything you or I can imagine."

Upon hearing that, Jiangmo Douluo suddenly recalled what he had seen in the Elder Palace several days earlier—

That day, Qian Xunji had kicked open the Elder Palace's doors with a radiant smile, waving a contract in his hand.

"You unfilial brat! You still dare come back?!" Qian Daoliu's roar nearly lifted the roof off the hall.

"Father, calm your anger, calm your anger!" Qian Xunji was not afraid in the slightest. Instead, he stepped forward and smugly recounted the matter of the Li Family.

When Qian Daoliu heard that "the Li Family is willing to offer sixty percent of its income," the fury on his face instantly froze, replaced by stunned disbelief.

"How much?!"

"Sixty percent!" Qian Xunji puffed out his chest, his voice booming.

"It will completely fill Spirit Hall's financial deficit for the next ten years, with enough left over to expand three main halls and support a thousand Soul Masters!"

The more he spoke, the more excited he became. He actually turned around to look for the family genealogy. "Quick, bring out the Qian Family genealogy!"

"It must record that I, Qian Xunji, supported all of Spirit Hall through my own efforts!"

His smug appearance made several elders in the hall unable to suppress their laughter.

The veins on Qian Daoliu's forehead throbbed. He closed his eyes and silently repeated to himself:

My son has rendered merit. Let him be arrogant for once!

My son has rendered merit. Let him be pleased with himself for a while!

My son has rendered merit. I should praise him!

Only after repeating it three times did he barely suppress the urge to slap him.