83: Your model is wrong

Black Fiend's roar ripped through the dim sky.

Terrifying Demonic Qi swept over, like an invisible tsunami.

The grievance spirit flower thicket trembled violently.

The eerie blue flame on each black petal flickered erratically under this pressure, nearly extinguishing.

Late Golden Core Stage!

The true Dominator of this cursed land was, after all, lured by the “fruit” they themselves had created.

Yun Yao’s body had stiffened, her magic power congealed, unable to even conceive of fleeing.

However, Lu Yuan still stood in place.

He didn't even turn his head.

His gaze pierced through the gloom, falling upon the empty Void Realm, as if waiting for a moment that was bound to arrive.

Just before Black Fiend’s mountain-like shadow was about to envelop this land.

A figure appeared without warning.

He stood precisely between Lu Yuan and the Demon King.

The newcomer wore a Xuanpao (Mysterious Robed Guest).

His figure was blurred, his face completely swallowed by shadow, not appearing to be a person of this world.

He did not emit any earth-shattering pressure.

He just stood there quietly.

That rampaging cursed Demon King, Black Fiend, actually stopped its mountain-like body abruptly.

A low growl emanated from deep within its throat, filled with apprehension and unease.

The newcomer was none other than the Mysterious Robed Guest from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

He paid no attention to the Demon King, not even sparing it a glance.

His gaze pierced through layers of shadow, falling directly on Lu Yuan.

“Your efficiency is too low.”

The Mysterious Robed Guest’s voice rang out.

Flat, devoid of any emotion.

Yet, this voice was an invisible blade, dissecting all of Lu Yuan’s current plans.

“Rearing, cultivating, waiting for the fruit to ripen, then luring predators to complete the harvest.”

“A complete ‘value creation’ closed loop, a good idea.”

“But too slow.”

“While you spent several days on this inefficient ‘farming,’ Ye Chen has already devoured three candidates, one of whom even reached the Middle Golden Core Stage.”

The Mysterious Robed Guest’s tone carried a condescending scrutiny, evaluating a not-so-impressive business proposal.

“Devouring, plundering, transforming all visible value into one’s own strength—this is the correct way to play this game.”

“Your ‘growth potential’ is being outpaced by him.”

Yun Yao only felt her Divine Soul tremble.

Ye Chen!

That name was like a nightmare; merely hearing it made her instinctively shiver.

And this mysterious Mysterious Robed Guest before her was actually using Ye Chen’s standards to judge Lu Yuan!

This was questioning, and even more, denial.

Pressure from the “investor” descended silently.

Lu Yuan’s expression remained unchanged.

No rebuttal.

Nor any explanation.

He extended a finger and gently tapped the Void Realm in front of him.

Buzz—

A light screen unfolded out of thin air, with countless golden data streams flowing across it.

This light screen was only visible to him and the Mysterious Robed Guest.

In the center of the light screen was a K-line chart.

A crimson price curve shot almost vertically upwards, savagely piercing the top of the light screen.

That was the thrilling charm of an explosion of wealth.

“Burial God Abyss Grievance Soil Improvement Phase 1 Income Warrant.”

Lu Yuan spoke, introducing his “work.”

“From its creation to now, in just a quarter of an hour, its value has increased three hundredfold.”

“And this is just the beginning.”

He raised his eyes, meeting the Mysterious Robed Guest’s gaze, his eyes clear and sharp.

“Devouring is a zero-sum game. If you gain a part, others lose a part. This model has its limits.”

“But I am creating incremental value.”

“I can turn a worthless cursed wasteland into fertile land that continuously produces high-value ‘grievance spirit flowers.’ I can package and price this future output in advance, raising capital from the entire market.”

“The value I define is value itself.”

His voice was not loud, yet it carried a power capable of subverting perception.

His finger pointed distantly towards the restless cursed Demon King in the distance.

“He is not a threat.”

“He is the next core asset to be included in this ‘warrant’s’ financial report.”

“He is the... nourishment that can make its price increase tenfold again.”

The shadow shrouding the Mysterious Robed Guest’s face showed extremely subtle fluctuations.

He was silent for a moment.

“An interesting concept.”

“However, ‘value creation’ requires a stable environment and sufficient time. And this game lacks precisely these two things.”

The Mysterious Robed Guest’s tone shifted.

“Latest intelligence. A pair of ‘gemini stars’ candidates have appeared within the Burial God Abyss.”

“Their Systems can resonate, their powers stack, and together, they are enough to rival a Nascent Soul cultivator.”

The light screen switched.

The K-line chart in front of Lu Yuan disappeared, replaced by two intertwined names emitting a dangerous red glow.

“Within the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, there’s a divergence in investment ratings for you and Ye Chen.”

“Some people are optimistic about Ye Chen’s growth rate, believing he is more likely to reach the end. Others, like me, have expectations for your ‘value creation’ model.”

“Now, you need to prove yourself.”

The Mysterious Robed Guest’s voice turned cold.

“Your ‘Performance Bet Clause’ has been activated.”

“Before the nine-segment demon suppression key appears, deal with the ‘gemini stars’.”

“If you fail, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion’s resource allocation to you will come with more stringent conditions.”

“Even…”

The Mysterious Robed Guest did not continue, but the chill brought by his unspoken words was more biting than the Cold Windof the Burial God Abyss.

A new goal appeared.

Accompanied by pressure as heavy as a mountain.

“Understood.”

Lu Yuan nodded calmly, accepting the betting agreement.

The Mysterious Robed Guest seemed satisfied with his reaction, and his figure began to become ethereal.

Just before he completely disappeared, his deep gaze meaningfully glanced in the direction where Han Yuexi was hidden.

“Deal with your ‘non-performing assets’ as soon as possible.”

“The ‘credit storm’ is closer than you think.”

A cold warning pierced Lu Yuan’s heart.

Non-performing assets?

Credit storm?

Before Lu Yuan could ponder further, the Mysterious Robed Guest’s last words drifted over.

“Also, a reminder.”

“Ye Chen recently devoured a damaged ‘Space-Time Dao Beacon’.”

“His actions will become even more bizarre, even more... unpredictable.”

As his voice fell, the Mysterious Robed Guest’s figure completely vanished.

As if he had never appeared.

That cursed Demon King, Black Fiend, of the Late Golden Core Stage, having lost the aura that made it apprehensive, its greed once again overcame its reason.

It let out an even more deafening roar, its massive body transforming into a black lightning bolt, pouncing forward.

Lu Yuan slowly turned around, facing the gaping maw.

On his face, there was still that unperturbed expression.

Only now, in his eyes, this powerful Demon King was no longer an enemy.

It was merely the first... transaction cost he needed to pay to win this “bet.”