Chapter 202 - - 201 Investment Caution_2

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Li Zheng scrutinized the contract carefully.

Indeed, just as Duge had said, it specified that the contract could be transferred, redeemed, and outlined the timing of dividend distributions. Even on the very top line of the contract, the phrase “Investment carries risks, purchase with caution” was clearly noted.

He smiled, no longer harboring any doubts, and took out a bar of silver from within his robe, handing it to Duge: “Fine, it’s signed, but not two ounces—five ounces.”

“Li Zheng truly has a bold spirit,” Duge said with appreciative eyes, “Would you trouble yourself to bring a table out from the house…”

Li Zheng ordered someone to bring out a table.

Duge clearly wrote both parties’ names and the investment amount on the contract, then signed his own name and stamped it with a bright red handprint. After watching Li Zheng sign and affix his seal, he carefully took back one copy of the contract and handed the silver over to the Seventh Junior Brother. Then, he said to Li Zheng, “Li Zheng, keep the contract safe. If you have any regrets, come to Seven Star Mountain at any time, and Wang will refund you the silver…”

“There won’t be any,” Li Zheng said with a smile, “Li is waiting for Seven Star Mountain to grow strong and earn more silver!”

“That day will come,” Duge sensed the attributes within his body increasing and smiled, then turned to the villagers, “Everyone, Li Zheng has already invested. Those who want to invest should hurry. We still have to rush to the next village. If you miss this opportunity, who knows when it will come again.

I forgot to mention earlier, the expansion of Seven Star Gate will undoubtedly require the construction of houses and repair of roads, and we will preferentially hire from our shareholders. If there are shareholders with suitable talents for cultivation, they can also join Seven Star Gate with priority…”

With these words,

The crowd was in an uproar.

From within the crowd, someone asked: “Li Zheng, I can’t read. Is there any problem with the contract?”

“There’s no problem, every clause is exactly as True Man Wang said.” Li Zheng, having invested first, was eager for more people to join, and assured while smiling, “Everyone can invest with confidence.”

“Don’t just listen to Li Zheng,” Duge waved his hands as he saw the surging emotions of the crowd and spoke loudly, “Don’t listen to Li Zheng’s nonsense, I repeat, investment carries risk, purchase with caution, and everyone should invest within their means.”

The reminder from Duge seemed to unleash everyone’s restraint.

Most of the crowd started shouting, “True Man Wang, please wait a moment, let me discuss with my wife and get the money. Then I will come to sign the contract with you…”

Afterward,

The crowd dispersed in a rush.

In a short while, people returned and, amidst Duge’s repeated cautions of “Investment carries risks,” they exchanged their silver and copper coins for a slip of hope for the future.

As contract after contract was signed, Duge’s attributes soared remarkably, far surpassing the income he had robbed from those in Sky Mist Valley.

…

After busying about for over an hour and gathering the floating wealth of a village, Duge moved to the next village amidst the friendly well-wishes of the people, finding the Li Zheng there, “…I am Wang Chong, Sect Leader of Seven Star Gate, planning to expand the Seven Star Gate…”

“…These are the shareholder contracts from Shangshui Village. If Li Zheng feels uncertain, you may send someone to inquire in Shangshui Village for confirmation…”

…

With one village setting an example, signing up the remaining villages became much easier.

By evening,

All the villages within a twenty-mile radius had signed investment contracts with Seven Star Gate.

Duge, carrying a large stack of contracts and the collected copper coins, returned to Seven Star Gate.

His attributes had at least tripled since he left the Gate.

Indeed.

Drawing a big pie and attracting investors was also a form of plunder!

Duge felt refreshed and instructed, “Junior Sister, Seventh Junior Brother, you two will have to work a bit harder tonight and draft some more agreements. Tomorrow we will go into town and continue to attract investment.”

…

“Junior Brother, do you understand what Third Senior Brother is trying to do?” Once the door closed, Junior Sister Guan Xuan lowered her voice and asked, “Is this the path of cultivation? I don’t understand. What does taking the common folk’s money have to do with cultivation?”

“I don’t understand either.” Seventh Junior Brother said.

“Then why don’t you ask?” Guan Xuan said.

“Asking would just show my stupidity.” The Seventh Junior Brother said, “We just do whatever Senior Brother tells us to, why bother with so many questions? Right now, I just want to grasp the essence of the Seven Star Jue and learn that technique of Third Senior Brother’s where he can seize a person’s heart from afar.”

“…” Junior Sister paused, her voice even lower, “Junior Brother, do you think enlightenment really lets one understand many principles that they’ve never even heard of before? I feel today’s Third Senior Brother is so unfamiliar, as if he has become someone else.”

Seventh Junior Brother fell silent for a moment, then gave a certain answer, “Yes.”

“Really?” Junior Sister was still doubtful.

“Junior Sister, there’s only the three of us left in the Seven Star Gate,” Seventh Junior Brother’s voice also quieted, “Junior Sister, don’t let your imagination run wild, Third Senior Brother won’t harm us…”

“Four people, our Eldest Senior Brother is not dead yet!” Junior Sister solemnly corrected, “Moreover, after taking the Revitalizing Pill yesterday, Eldest Senior Brother’s injuries have improved a lot, it shouldn’t be long before he can stand up again…”

Seventh Junior Brother laughed, “Right, four people.”

…

In a room not far away, Duge, whose attributes had surged, heard the two’s conversation clearly and a smile formed at the corner of his mouth.

Three people.

Eldest Senior Brother, Seventh Junior Brother, Junior Sister?

Junior Brother, you’ve really nailed down my character, eh!

Being doubted, and even discovered, was all within Duge’s expectations.

After all.

What he did today was too outrageous, something no one from this world could possibly do; even if those two were innocent, they would still sense something amiss.

He was getting a bit impatient.

In Qiyuan Star’s essentials regarding keywords, there was this rule: blend in with the natives as much as possible, avoid trying to change the world, the more changes made, the swifter the death;

His actions today had violated this rule completely.

Duge, possessing the memories of Third Senior Brother and the experience of three simulation fields, knew full well that he could naturally integrate into this world without being discovered by anyone if he proceeded step by step.

Following the common practices of warriors from the Alien Battlefield.

When the people from Sky Mist Valley launched their night raid, he should have let Junior Sister and Seventh Junior Brother be killed, thereby erasing the last trace of his exposure in this world and seek a rise again from the east.

With the identity of a sect’s sole survivor, joining another sect and withstanding any scrutiny would be a perfect start…

But in the end, Duge chose the most risky approach, why trade time for safety?

A hundred years is too long, seize the day.

How good it is now, even if that clever Junior Brother has discovered his identity, isn’t he also helping him conceal it?

As long as he can lead Seven Star Gate to rise all the way, and help them take their revenge, then he is the genuine Third Senior Brother…

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