I've struck it rich. Completely rich.
Toji couldn't help exclaiming under his breath, a glimmer of delight flashing in his eyes.
These nourishing treasures were just about the best things he could have asked for.
With so many nourishing treasures, plus the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue he had bought at auction, he would have enough to bring his physical strength to its absolute peak before absorbing the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone. Then he could undergo a breakthrough between life and death and reach the Soul Ancestor realm.
His combat strength could rise another notch then, and he might even be able to kill a powerful Soul King above level fifty-five in a head-on fight.
He was still too weak now. Against an opponent above level fifty-five, Toji's chances of victory plummeted, unless the opponent used poison.
Father Zhang and Liang Wu also entered the warehouse. At the sight of the mountains of wealth, disbelief appeared in both their eyes.
As Liang Wu counted the gold notes, he couldn't help saying:
"That dead gay bastard had this much wealth? I never would have thought it. Looks like he really raked it in over the years."
Father Zhang also walked over to a chest full of heavenly materials and earthly treasures and opened it. Inside were all kinds of precious medicinal herbs.
He couldn't help exclaiming:
"You people in the gray businesses really make so much money you drip oil. Unlike our Zhang family back then, honest and law-abiding. Three Zhang families' assets put together wouldn't be worth as much as this dead fatty's fortune."
"And these Soul Tools-heavens, he even had an Invincible Shield, a single-use Soul Tool. He really had deep pockets."
Father Zhang opened another chest full of Soul Tools and could hardly sit still anymore.
"An Invincible Shield? Now that's a good thing." Toji also took a look. There were at least ten or so Invincible Shields.
Consumable Soul Tools were extremely expensive. Those ten or so Invincible Shields must have cost at least several hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.
"Uncle Zhang, take five. They're good things that can save your life at a critical moment," Toji said.
The more Father Zhang looked at Toji, the more he liked him. He said cheerfully:
"Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Toji himself grabbed five or six and put them in his Storage Soul Tool.
He would never pass up a good thing.
As for the last Invincible Shield, Toji tossed it to Liang Wu.
"For me?" Liang Wu, who was counting the fortune, froze.
Toji said calmly:
"Yes, for you."
"...Aren't you afraid that making me stronger like this will make it more likely that I'll betray you?" Liang Wu couldn't help asking.
"It doesn't matter. Whether you betray me or not isn't important. You're a smart man, and I trust you to know what to do." Toji was in no hurry. "Follow me, and perhaps one day you won't have to be a local tyrant in this little place anymore."
"Do you want to be content ruling the roost in this little place, or do you want to follow me and venture across the whole Douluo Continent? Which of the two benefits you get depends on your choice."
"Uncle Zhang is more steady, but his temperament isn't quite suited to managing these gray businesses. Right now, you're the only person around me who knows how to do business, so I'm giving you a chance."
"Don't you think I have great potential? Maybe one day we won't be confined to this little place anymore. Our battlefield will be the whole Douluo Continent."
Liang Wu fell silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said:
"My ambitions don't reach that far, but if you can help me make more money, then I'll follow you for sure."
"Heh, come to think of it, you could be considered my investor. Five years ago, if you hadn't chosen me, maybe I'd have been dead long ago." Toji took it in stride. "How did those three bastards manage to get into Shrek, anyway? Forget it. Shrek isn't anything good either."
Liang Wu was startled.
"My lord, you can't just say things like that. Be careful, or you'll bring trouble down on yourself."
"What, am I wrong?" Toji curled his lip. "Look at Shrek now. You even need a recommendation letter to get into the academy. They're doing everything the American way. It's hilarious. They really do think they're a cut above everyone else."
Liang Wu didn't quite understand, but he didn't answer directly. After finishing counting the gold notes, he said:
"My lord, I've finished counting. There are about two million Gold Soul Coins, and with all these treasures, Li Erpang's fortune is worth around nine million."
"Rich as he was, he wasn't as rich as you." Toji teased him. "You've got at least thirty million."
"Ahem." Liang Wu couldn't help saying, "We need to move these things. We can't leave them here."
Father Zhang nodded. "I agree. If anyone else finds this wealth, there'll definitely be trouble."
The three quickly got to work, packing the wealth in the warehouse into their Storage Soul Tools piece by piece.
Liang Wu and Father Zhang handled the moving while Toji kept watch, guarding against anyone suddenly barging in.
After a spell of hard work, they had cleared out nearly all the wealth in the warehouse. Liang Wu put the last stack of gold notes into his Storage Soul Tool, then let out a breath. "All right, that's everything."
Toji said:
"Let's go. We need to get out of here quickly."
The three packed up all the valuables and quickly left.
Only after returning to the Soul Fighting Arena did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
It had been a close call, but no harm was done. Li Erpang's death was a good thing for them. At least the troublesome noble who came to the Soul Fighting Arena to watch matches was gone, and the remaining nobles were much easier to deal with.
"So who exactly did Li Erpang offend? Why did they kill him but leave his property behind? I thought they'd killed him for his valuables." Uncle Zhang finally voiced the question on everyone's mind.
"I don't know..." The first thing that came to Toji's mind was the Body Sect...
Surely it can't be such a coincidence?
If it really was the Body Sect, wouldn't that mean they've already used Li Erpang as a lead to find out I'm here?
"Forget it. It doesn't matter. We're the ones who profited, anyway." Liang Wu shook his head and looked at Toji. "My lord, are we really going to cancel the banquet we worked so hard to arrange?"
"No. Now that Li Erpang is gone, we'll use it against the Shrek disciple." Toji took a deep breath. At this moment, the time was finally coming.
"Going by the time, it should be soon, right?"
Liang Wu answered, "Yes. My man should be back with him tomorrow evening."
"Tell us the details about him, then drink with him and get him drunk. When he drinks his last bottle of wine, put poison in it."
Toji stated his plan without hesitation.
"When his guard is at its lowest, Uncle Zhang, you, and I will strike together."
Liang Wu thought it over. The plan was indeed feasible...
"It could work, but he's a Shrek disciple, supposedly among the strongest at his level. Even if we have the advantage in numbers, there'll probably still be a great deal of risk."
Liang Wu took a deep breath, then said:
"The man I sent for is the weakest of the three. The last time I contacted him and gave him his share of the profits, his Soul Power was at level fifty-nine. He should be a level sixty-one Soul Emperor by now."
"He's a Power Attack System beast Soul Master. His Martial Soul is the Flame Lion King, and he has a perfect Soul Ring Configuration, as well as a Soul Bone in his left leg..."
The three discussed it for a long time before finally settling on a plan.
The next night, outside the Soul Fighting Arena, a subordinate respectfully invited a man wearing a Shrek uniform inside. The man entered the arena with an arrogant look on his face.
"That fellow Liang Wu made another big profit this year? He only gave me my share at the start of the year, and now, only half a year later, he's giving me more?"