Douluo Continent: You become gods, I become immortals

Chapter 12: The Li Family's Wealth!

Qian Xunji left, taking with him 60% of the Li family's future income.

The flickering candlelight in the main hall of the Li residence illuminated the figures of the father and son.

Li Yuntian dismissed all the servants, leaving only the two of them in the hall.

He looked at Zhang Qingxuan, his gaze filled with no reproach, no doubt, only pure inquiry.

"Tell me your thoughts," he said calmly, refilling their teacups.

It should be noted that the Li family's business empire was able to expand to this extent in just ten years, and most of the credit goes to this young man in front of us.

At the age of seven, he proposed the concept of "chain stores" and opened Li family tea shops all over Tiandou; at the age of ten, he established a good business reputation for the Li family and attracted a large number of shops to invest; at the age of thirteen, he integrated shipping and controlled 30% of the freight in Tiandou City.

This son's maturity and vision have long surpassed his age.

Zhang Qingxuan picked up his teacup, the rising steam blurring his youthful yet overly composed face.

"The Li family's strength and resources are not commensurate with the wealth we possess."

He spoke, his voice clear and calm: "This is the fundamental issue. 'A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime'—you understand this principle better than I do."

Li Yuntian remained silent. Over the years, the reputation of the Li family being incredibly wealthy spread far and wide, and the number of people secretly spying on and probing them also increased.

The Haotian Sect's attack this time is merely the beginning of a full-blown conflict.

"This problem will explode sooner or later." Zhang Qingxuan put down his teacup, his gaze sharp.

"Instead of waiting for others to come and take it, we should give away our 'excess' wealth ourselves. Sixty percent of our income will give us the backing of the Spirit Hall, and more importantly, it will give the Li family time to grow."

He paused, his tone revealing a clarity beyond his years: "You could say it's about using money to buy a better future."

Li Yuntian looked at his son and suddenly asked, "Aren't you afraid that if they take 60% today, they'll want 100% tomorrow? I'm afraid the Spirit Hall's appetite will never be satisfied."

"Why be afraid?" Zhang Qingxuan smiled instead, a smile that held a sharpness and confidence beyond his years.

"With my methods and the strength of the Spirit Hall, our future revenue will be more than 40% of what it is now. As long as we hold onto this core portion, that will be enough."

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the endless lights of the Li residence outside: "As for whether they will push their luck—I believe that elder in the Hall of Elders won't risk a complete falling out over this small gain. If he really does..."

Zhang Qingxuan turned around, the candlelight flickering in his eyes: "The morale of the Spirit Hall has crumbled. A force that cannot even abide by the most basic contracts is not far from its demise."

After saying this, he felt a little thirsty and picked up the slightly cooled tea and drank it all.

Li Yuntian listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of the cup.

Zhang Qingxuan walked back to his seat and added calmly, "By the way, after joining the Spirit Hall, find a suitable opportunity to report the secret of 'Whale Glue'."

"This secret formula that can improve the physical fitness of Soul Masters is priceless to them. It's always good to build up their goodwill and popularity."

Li Yuntian finally smiled. He pointed at his son, shook his head, and sighed, "You..."

The laughter contained a sense of satisfaction, pride, and a touch of indescribable emotion.

This son, to whom there was no blood relation, thought too deeply and acted too far ahead, bringing about earth-shattering changes to the Li family.

Zhang Qingxuan looked at his father and suddenly smiled. The smile lost its usual composure and calculation, revealing a youthful innocence.

He said firmly, "Don't worry, Dad, I'm here. I'll protect the Li family."

His voice conveyed an unprecedented level of intimacy and confidence.

Li Yuntian was stunned when he heard the title "Dad".

Over the years, he has always treated Zhang Qingxuan with the same respect he would show to a "divine son"—respectful but not close enough.

His son was so intelligent that even he, as the father, sometimes felt awe towards him.

There was always an invisible distance between them, unlike a wife and daughter who could interact, talk, and playfully tease each other without any reservations.

But now, as those two words fall softly, that barrier shatters silently.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end it only turned into a long sigh and a truly relaxed smile.

"Okay." He only said this one word, but it weighed as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Several days later, two Title Douluos sent by the Spirit Hall arrived in Heaven Dou City.

The Thousand-Pound Douluo and the Demon-Slaying Douluo, two powerful figures renowned in the Soul Master world, stood on the long street in front of the Li family mansion, looking at the scene before them in a daze.

The shops along the entire street—no, across four or five streets—were busily packing up.

Carriages and horses moved like a dragon, boxes and trunks were piled up, the workers shouted slogans as they loaded the goods onto the carriages, the managers checked the goods with ledgers, and even women, children and the elderly were helped onto the carriages.

They took everything they could—personal belongings, account books, samples—without leaving a single item; but for fixed assets, land deeds, and property deeds that they couldn't take, some people even poured oil on them and set them on fire, preferring to destroy them rather than leave them behind.

They knew all too well that if they didn't follow the Li family and weren't protected by them, they would be devoured by the Tiandou royal family and nobles, leaving not even a bone fragment!

"This..." Demon-Slaying Douluo pointed to the endless convoy and looked at his elder brother.

"Brother, isn't this a bit too much? Is the Li family going to empty out these streets?"

Qianjun Douluo's gaze swept over the shop signs that had followed the Li family's migration—silk shops, grain stores, pharmacies, blacksmith shops... covering almost all aspects of people's livelihood.

He roughly estimated that this scale already accounts for more than 30% of the total number of shops in Tiandou City.

"This is only the first city of Tiandou," Qianjun Douluo said slowly, his tone tinged with emotion.

"The Li family's businesses span two empires, and their accumulated wealth is beyond our imagination."

Upon hearing this, the Demon-Slaying Douluo suddenly recalled a scene he had witnessed in the Elder Hall a few days prior—

That day, Qian Xunji kicked open the door of the Elder Hall with a beaming smile, waving a contract in his hand.

"You unfilial son! You dare to come back?!" Qian Daoliu's roar almost lifted the roof of the palace.

"Father, please calm down! Father, please calm down!" Qian Xunji was not afraid at all. Instead, he stepped forward and proudly recounted the events of the Li family.

When Qian Daoliu heard that "the Li family is willing to donate 60% of their income," the anger on his face instantly froze, turning into incredulous astonishment.

"How many?!"

"Sixty percent!" Qian Xunji straightened his chest and said in a loud voice.

"Enough to fill the Spirit Hall's financial hole for the next ten years, with room to expand three main halls and support a thousand spirit masters!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and actually turned around to look for the family genealogy: "Quick, bring out our Qian family genealogy!"

"It must be recorded that I, Qian Xunji, single-handedly supported the entire Spirit Hall!"

His smug look made the elders in the hall chuckle.

Qian Daoliu's forehead veins throbbed. He closed his eyes and silently recited in his mind:

[My son did a good job, let him be arrogant for once!]

[My son did a great job, let him be proud for a while!]

My son did a great job, I have to praise him!

I had to repeat it three times before I could barely suppress the urge to slap him.