61: Contract Birth

Lu Yuan silently repeated the words "Purple Gold Wang Family," his heart unruffled.

From Sword Elder's undisguised killing intent, he had already deduced that this so-called combination contract was the true core of their cooperation.

Wanbao Tower needed a legitimate reason to wield a butcher's knife against Sword Elder's old enemy.

And he needed Wanbao Tower's platform and reputation to leverage the capital of the entire Cultivation World.

This was a transaction where each got what they needed.

"Understood."

Lu Yuan nodded, without the slightest hesitation.

"But the rules of the contract must be set by me."

"Naturally."

Sword Elder's lips curved into a smile, a look of satisfaction at meeting a worthy opponent.

He waved his hand, and a blank scroll made of "Void Law Crystal" floated between them.

The scroll's surface was empty, yet it seemed to contain infinite possibilities.

"Begin, let this Old Ancestor see how you intend to design this... unprecedented weapon."

Lu Yuan did not act immediately; his Divine Thought sank into the Great Dao Options Exchange.

The permissions of the [Institutional Seat] were activated.

A new function, [Contract Creation], unfolded in his consciousness.

This required consuming a massive amount of karma points to package an abstract concept into a standardized, tradable financial product.

This was not merely creation.

It was also definition.

Defining value, defining risk, defining victory and defeat.

Lu Yuan looked up, his gaze falling on the blank Jade Slip.

On his fingertip, a faint golden spiritual light ignited, extending like a brush tip.

[Contract Name: Struggle of Dragon and Serpent]

The first line of text was branded onto the Jade Slip, emanating a cold and absolute aura of Law.

[Underlying Asset: The difference in the 'Comprehensive Strength Index' of Qingyun Sect and Purple Gold Wang Family over the next year.]

[Contract Period: Three hundred and sixty-five days.]

[Index Evaluator: Wanbao Tower. Evaluation dimensions include, but are not limited to: Sect/Family assets, number and quality of Disciples/clansmen, territory scope, number of high-level Cultivators, external reputation...]

[Trading Product One: 'Qingyun Sect Wins' Call Option. If, at expiration, Qingyun Sect's index is higher than Purple Gold Wang Family's, the holder can receive a corresponding multiple of Spirit Stone or karma points in return based on the difference.]

[Trading Product Two: 'Purple Gold Wang Family Wins' Call Option. Rules are the same as above.]

Lu Yuan's finger moved through the Void Realm, and clause after clause was engraved into the Jade Slip.

Every word had undergone billions of simulations in the Sandbox Simulation, plugging all possible loopholes.

Sword Elder watched silently from the side, his expression shifting from initial amusement to gradually becoming serious, and finally, his sharp, sword-like eyes revealed astonishment.

He had initially thought it was just a crude gambling agreement.

But he had not expected Lu Yuan to design such a precise, interconnected system of rules.

This was no longer a struggle between Cultivators.

This was a new form of warfare.

When the last character fell, all the text on the entire Jade Slip seemed to come alive, resonating with a certain invisible Law in the Void Realm, ultimately the light converged, returning to silence, but leaving behind an unshakable contractual power.

A financial weapon capable of stirring up the winds and clouds of the Cultivation World was born.

Three days later.

Wanbao Tower utilized its vast network spread across the entire Eastern Continent.

A Jade Slip titled "Struggle of Dragon and Serpent: A Forward Look at New Era Wealth Opportunities" was sent to every Sect Master, Family Old Ancestor, and wealthy Cultivator with assets exceeding ten million Spirit Stones.

The entire high-level Cultivation World saw this unprecedented "financial product."

The initial reaction was confusion and incomprehension.

"What is a... Comprehensive Strength Index?"

"Buying the future of a Sect? Can this thing also be bought and sold?"

"Absurd! It's utterly childish!"

Most Cultivators scoffed, believing it was just another money-making gimmick from Wanbao Tower.

But a few truly keen-scented old monsters locked themselves in their secret chambers, repeatedly studying every rule in the Jade Slip.

Their eyes, from disdain, gradually turned solemn, finally transforming into uncontrollable greed and fanaticism.

They understood.

This thing could kill.

It could also make people rich overnight.

Under Sword Elder's covert guidance, several articles analyzing "Purple Gold Wang Family's outward strength masking inner weakness, and its peak leading to decline" began to circulate among the top circles of various Cultivation markets.

An undercurrent of public opinion began to surge quietly.

At the same time, a stream of funds from anonymous internal accounts of Wanbao Tower, like a trickling stream, continuously bought "Purple Gold Wang Family Wins" put options.

In the contract rules, the counterparty buying "Wang Family Wins" call options was essentially betting on a decline.

Purple Gold Wang Family.

Inside the deliberation hall, the atmosphere was oppressive.

The current Family Head, Wang Teng, a Cultivator at the Late Golden Core Stage with a dignified countenance, crushed the Jade Slip in his hand into powder.

"This is too much!"

His roar made the entire hall hum.

"That old coot from Myriad Sword Manor! And that Qingyun Sect that appeared out of nowhere!"

"How dare they price and sell my Wang Family's century-long Luck like pigs and dogs in the market!"

"This is an insult! A blatant provocation!"

An Elder stepped forward, his face full of worry.

"Family Head, this matter is peculiar. Wanbao Tower openly supporting this suggests something not simple behind it. Our Wang Family is a big tree, attracting much attention..."

"Enough!"

Wang Teng's eyes were bloodshot, and his Spiritual Pressure erupted uncontrollably.

"My Wang Family has stood in the Eastern Continent for three thousand years; when have we ever suffered such a great humiliation!"

"Issue my command!"

"From today onwards, any Sect or individual who dares to buy 'Wang Family Decline' contracts is a mortal enemy of my Purple Gold Wang Family!"

"Also, that Golden Core Cultivator from Qingyun Sect named Lu Yuan, the creator of the contract... I want his life!"

"Dispatch the 'Purple Shadow Guards,' spare no effort, and bring me this man's head!"

He paused, his voice not loud, yet it caused the temperature of the entire hall to drop by three degrees.

"As for that Qingyun Sect..."

"One year?"

"I don't want to wait a single day!"

"Immediately gather forces! I want this name to completely disappear from the Cultivation World within a month!"

With the fury of the Wang Family Head, the market's direction became clear.

Everyone believed that the weak Qingyun Sect was merely a mantis trying to stop a chariot in front of the colossal Wang Family.

The price of the "Purple Gold Wang Family Wins" contract soared.

Meanwhile, the "Qingyun Sect Wins" contract was ignored, its price plummeting to rock bottom, almost becoming worthless paper.

Just as the market descended into one-sided frenzy.

At the Wanbao Tower headquarters, on the massive trading light screen.

A mysterious fund, so enormous that it would make everyone turn their heads, quietly flowed in.

It showed no hesitation, with the force of thunder, it bought all the "Qingyun Sect Wins" call options.

Behind the light screen, a manager responsible for monitoring trembled, spilling tea everywhere.

He looked at the source channel of that fund, the color draining from his face.

On it, two words were clearly marked.

"Qingyue."