14: Warning, your leverage is about to explode

Hostile takeover.

This term, from another world, made Lu Yuan's thoughts freeze for half a second.

The beast-skin map in his hand was now incredibly hot.

This was no longer just a trophy.

This was a piece of internal intelligence from Blazing Fire Valley, enough to stir up a bloody storm in Danyang City.

Blazing Fire Valley, one of the three major powers in Danyang City, acted domineeringly and was extremely aggressive.

Pill Maniac Liu Xuan, another major power, although a Golden Core Cultivator, was engrossed in the Dao of alchemy all day long and was not good at management; his affiliated industries had long been coveted by all sides.

Now, Blazing Fire Valley was preparing to drop its pretense.

They were going to launch a brutal capital acquisition of Liu Xuan's most important core asset—the Cinnabar Gold Ore Vein.

Lu Yuan did not hesitate; his Divine Sense sank into his mind, and he brought up the Great Dao Options Exchange.

The light screen lit up.

He directly typed "Cinnabar Gold Ore Vein" into the search bar.

The next moment, a dazzling array of option contracts refreshed like a golden waterfall, filling his entire vision.

[Underlying: Ownership of the Cinnabar Gold Ore Vein within the next seven days]

[Call Option A: Blazing Fire Valley successfully acquires the ore vein. Current price: 10 karma points. Odds: 1:1.5]

Below the contract, a long green progress bar showed market optimism as high as seventy percent.

At the information level of the Exchange, the strength of Blazing Fire Valley was market consensus.

[Call Option B: Liu Xuan's remaining forces successfully defend the ore vein. Current price: 10 karma points. Odds: 1:5]

The optimism for this contract was only fifteen percent, indicating a precarious situation.

Lu Yuan's gaze swept over these two, directly locking onto the special contract at the very bottom, which glowed with a faint red light.

[Special Event Option: After seven days, the Cinnabar Gold Ore Vein is forced to temporarily close due to a multi-party free-for-all, with ownership undecided. Current price: 10 karma points. Odds: 1:20]

The optimism for this contract was a pitiful five percent.

An option that was extremely bearish by the market, considered almost impossible to happen.

Lu Yuan's fingertips, however, began to tap unconsciously on his knee.

The market of the Exchange was the result of a comprehensive judgment based on all currently public information.

But it did not know of the Blood Fiend Sect's existence.

It did not know that Zhou Mu was merely a vanguard sent to scout ahead.

Even more, it did not know that, like a mantis stalking a cicada with an oriole behind, a bloodthirsty third party was also eyeing this lucrative prize.

A seemingly simple bilateral conflict was about to spiral out of control, evolving into a three-way free-for-all.

The most likely outcome would be that no one could swallow the others, ultimately leading to a stalemate and a temporary suspension of operations.

This option, with odds as high as 1:20, was the true value depression.

In the depths of Lu Yuan's eyes, a long-dormant flame was ignited.

He decided to make a big gamble.

Just then, in the corner of the Exchange panel, a function he had never used since his authority was upgraded, was flickering with a deadly and alluring glimmer.

[Leveraged Trading (Elementary): You can use up to 2x leverage, using your held karma points as margin for over-the-limit trading.]

[Warning: Leverage will equally amplify gains and losses. If losses exceed the margin, deductions will be forcibly made from your Lifespan, Luck, or Cultivation until cleared.]

Lu Yuan's heart tightened.

He tallied his assets.

After killing Zhou Mu, Karma settled most of the Karma debt, leaving 97.8 karma points.

The Medicinal Pills and Spirit Stones in Zhou Mu's Storage Pouch were converted by the Exchange into 5 karma points of value.

A total of 102.8 points.

He did not hesitate, transferring all 102.8 karma points into the margin pool.

Then, he selected "2x leverage."

[Margin: 102.8 points. Leverage multiple: 2x. Total trading limit: 205.6 points.]

Lu Yuan extended a slightly trembling finger, heavily and slowly, pointing at the option with the highest odds and the most isolated—"Ownership undecided."

"Buy."

[Trade Confirmation: Purchased 'Cinnabar Gold Ore Vein Ownership Undecided' Special Event Option, total position 205.6 points. Margin frozen.]

[Account balance: 0 points.]

The number on the panel returned to zero.

A sense of utter emptiness, accompanied by a crushing descent, arrived.

At this moment, he was no longer the wealthy individual with a hundred points of capital.

He was a mad gambler who had pushed all his wealth and life onto the gambling table, just to Exchange for a future.

If he won, it would be an astonishing return of over four thousand karma points, enough for him to complete all capital accumulation before Foundation Establishment.

If he lost, not only would his margin be zero, but the double loss would likely have to be filled by his recently recovered Lifespan.

Lu Yuan closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze was utterly calm.

He did not leave, but instead found a more secluded mountain hollow, reining in all his aura, like a cold, stubborn stone, completely merging with the environment.

He wanted to witness the "opening" of his transaction here with his own eyes.

Time slowly flowed in silent waiting.

Two days later.

The atmosphere outside Danyang City suddenly tightened.

Large numbers of Cultivators from Blazing Fire Valley began to gather, approaching the Cinnabar Gold Ore Vein with Killing Intent.

Liu Xuan's side showed no weakness either; the mountain-protecting formation glowed, adopting a stance of defending to the death.

A great battle was imminent.

Lu Yuan's heart was also in his throat.

He knew that the real variable—the Blood Fiend Sect—could emerge from the shadows at any moment, acting as the final straw to break the camel's back and completely ignite this free-for-all.

However, at this very moment.

The Exchange interface in his mind, without warning, emitted a sharp, soul-piercing hum!

A crimson warning, tearing across the screen, rudely popped up.

[Warning: High-priority variable detected!]

[The trajectory of event 'Cinnabar Gold Ore Vein Ownership' has deviated from the original prediction model!]

[New entering force: Danyang City Lord's Mansion.]