Chen Guangmao and the others froze briefly.
Lu Fang slowly rose to his feet.
"Since you think I'm unqualified to control the Fangfang Chamber of Commerce, let's settle this the simplest way."
"In five days."
"I'll go to the chamber's headquarters."
"You lot, and everyone else in the chamber who refuses to accept me, gather there."
"Fight me."
The living room instantly fell deathly silent.
Uncle Jiang's expression changed drastically.
"Young master!"
Lu Fang continued without turning around.
"If I lose, I'll never interfere in the Fangfang Chamber of Commerce's affairs again."
"Handle things however you like."
"If I win, everyone in the Fangfang Chamber of Commerce, from top to bottom, answers to me."
Chen Guangmao and the others were stunned.
They even wondered if they had misheard.
An eighteen-year-old student who had awakened only a few days ago.
Was going to challenge everyone in the entire Fangfang Chamber of Commerce who refused to accept him?
This was beyond arrogance.
This was madness.
Lin Man frowned.
"Young master, are you sure you know what you're saying?"
Lu Fang looked at her.
"In five days."
"The chamber's headquarters."
"Everyone who refuses to accept me can come at me together."
"I won't say it a third time."
This time, everyone heard him clearly.
The next second.
Barely concealed elation erupted in Chen Guangmao's eyes.
He almost laughed aloud.
They had originally thought that stripping Lu Fang of his power would take some effort.
They might even have to resort to legal proceedings, win over departments, bring operations to a halt, and slowly force his hand.
But now?
Lu Fang had actually handed them a way forward himself.
In five days, a single battle would decide the outcome.
This wasn't confidence.
His brain had gone haywire!
The Fangfang Chamber of Commerce's security personnel weren't limited to professionals a few dozen levels high.
The strongest class holder was even level 200!
Chen Guangmao forcibly suppressed his delight.
"Very well."
"Since you insist, young master, we'll respect your choice."
Lin Man immediately added.
"We need to put this agreement in writing."
"In case someone goes back on their word."
Lu Fang said calmly.
"Fine."
Soon, a provisional agreement had been drawn up.
Uncle Jiang tried to stop it several times, but Lu Fang silenced him with a look each time.
Both parties signed.
The agreement was finalized.
As Chen Guangmao put away the document, he could barely restrain the smile tugging at his lips.
"Young master, we'll be awaiting you at the chamber's headquarters in five days."
Lu Fang didn't look at them again.
"Show them out."
Uncle Jiang looked grim, but still spoke in a low voice.
"This way, please."
When Chen Guangmao and the others left the villa, their steps were noticeably lighter.
As though they hadn't been thrown out.
But had just won a resounding victory.
After they left.
The living room fell silent again.
Uncle Jiang finally couldn't hold back.
"Young master, you were too rash."
A rare urgency crept into his voice.
"The chamber's security personnel include many high-tier professionals."
"The strongest among them are even level 200."
"However talented you are, you've only been awakened for a few days."
"The risk of a wager like this is far too great."
Jiang Xia was a little panicked too.
But he still gritted his teeth and said.
"Dad, Brother Fang can even defeat level-100 experts."
"Who's to say he can't defeat someone at level 200?"
Uncle Jiang shook his head, his expression grave.
"Jiang Xia, you don't understand."
"For the young master to defeat level-100 experts just after awakening is indeed monstrously talented."
"But level 100 and level 200 are entirely different things."
Uncle Jiang drew a deep breath.
"I asked the Guard Team about what happened at the school that day."
"To evade the city's energy surveillance of top-tier experts, the Blood Wolf Association sent leaders who were all just over level 100."
"They were strong, but essentially, they had only just crossed the level-100 threshold."
"Professionals encounter a barrier every hundred levels."
"They have to complete a class advancement quest before they can keep leveling up."
"Every class advancement is a transformation to a higher order of life."
Jiang Xia swallowed.
"How big is the gap?"
Uncle Jiang said gravely.
"The most obvious difference is in their stats."
"Suppose a professional gains 50 points in every stat per level before level 100."
"After completing their first advancement, the stat points they gain per level increase at least fivefold."
"That means a minimum of 250 points in every stat per level."
"And that's only for ordinary classes."
"Hidden classes, rare classes, and top-tier legacy classes only gain more."
Jiang Xia's expression changed instantly.
A gap of more than five times per level?
That was far too outrageous!
He had thought that since Lu Fang could kill someone at level 100, he might have a chance against someone at level 200.
But after hearing this, he realized he had been thinking far too simply.
Before and after the first advancement, they were practically different species.
Uncle Jiang continued.
"So level-200 professionals don't simply have a hundred levels more than level-100 professionals."
"They're beings who have undergone a transformation to a higher order of life."
"Their skills, stats, class cores, and combat experience are all on an entirely different scale."
"The young master really took too much of a risk this time."
Yet after hearing all this, Lu Fang's expression remained unchanged.
It wasn't as though he didn't know what Uncle Jiang had told him.
But the problem was.
Other people below level 100 gained only a few dozen stat points per level.
But him?
With the God of Wealth class, every level granted him 400 points in every stat.
In terms of stat growth alone, even before his first advancement, he already surpassed professionals who had completed theirs.
He was now level 58.
His base stats were already extraordinarily high.
Given another five days.
At his leveling speed, there was a very good chance he could complete his first advancement.
In terms of stat points alone, ordinary level-200 professionals might not have as many as he did.
What's more, not only would his stats skyrocket again, but he would also gain new class skills.
Every God of Wealth skill was outrageously overpowered!
Lu Fang looked at Uncle Jiang and Jiang Xia.
"I know what you're worried about."
"But I don't fight battles unprepared."
"Five days is enough."
Uncle Jiang opened his mouth.
"Young master..."
Lu Fang picked up his coat.
"I'm going to the Class Center."
With that, he headed straight out the door.
Watching his departing figure, Uncle Jiang let out a heavy sigh.
"It's too risky."
After a moment of silence, Jiang Xia suddenly spoke.
"Dad, I think Brother Fang might really win."
Uncle Jiang looked at him.
Jiang Xia scratched his head. Although his voice held some uncertainty, he remained earnest.
"Brother Fang has always been levelheaded, ever since we were kids."
"He's not the sort to rush into things on a whim."
"And..."
Jiang Xia paused.
"Brother Fang has always been the best among his peers."
"If he dares to say that, he should be confident, right?"
Uncle Jiang looked at his son, his gaze complicated.
Of course he understood Jiang Xia's trust in Lu Fang.
Ever since they were children, Lu Fang had been the one everyone looked up to.
Steady, intelligent, outstanding.
Precisely because of that, Jiang Xia saw Lu Fang through an almost instinctive halo.
But Uncle Jiang had lived longer and viewed things more realistically.
He slowly shook his head.
"Perhaps it's precisely because everything has gone too smoothly for the young master all his life."
"That this time, he's underestimated how terrifying truly high-tier professionals are."
"But..."
Uncle Jiang sighed.
"If Young Master loses in five days, it might not be entirely a bad thing."
Jiang Xia froze.
"Dad?"
Uncle Jiang said quietly.
"Young people have to experience failure before they can truly understand how cruel this world is."
"Those people won't dare take Young Master's life. This setback might become a lesson that helps him grow."
Jiang Xia opened his mouth, wanting to argue.
But when he thought of what Uncle Jiang had just said about the gap between first and second advancement, he lost his confidence again.
He could only look toward the doorway and silently clench his fists.
"Brother Fang..."
"You have to win."