Chapter 194

But where was the opportunity?

A shadow appeared just in time before him, blocking his last sliver of sunlight.

Jordan instinctively sidestepped to avoid it, but the figure still stood firmly before him.

“Hey, sir, if you don’t want to face a duel, move aside.”

Jordan looked up angrily at Louis.

Louis regarded the man before him, not angry at all, but smiling, “Yes. It’s you.”

In his soul, the Thousand Thief’s Golden Page glowed brilliantly, radiating light.

“I heard you need an opportunity?”

Jordan’s eyebrows twitched; in one second he glanced at Louis’s attire and bearing, then quickly adjusted his emotions, forcing a faint smile, “May I ask, who are you?”

Louis laughed and patted Jordan’s shoulder, “I think we can find a better place to talk—perhaps over there.”

Louis pointed to a nearby club.

Inside, several strikingly dressed women were watching Louis’s direction—just moments ago, they’d been his celebrity companions. They were curious why he’d rushed down so urgently, but now they were disappointed; they thought Louis might be gay!

Why else would he abandon these beautiful women to go pick up a shabby-looking man on the street?

Yes, shabby—even though he wore a suit and tie, Jordan’s outfit was shabby in their eyes. Having long frequented the world of fame and fortune, their judgment was sharp: Jordan’s clothes clearly marked him as a low-level Wall Street clerk. (Just like salesmen wearing suits to pretend they matter.)

This confused them deeply.

But no matter what they thought, Louis had already led Jordan inside.

Jordan stared at the opulent décor, his legs trembling, his eyes alight with excitement.

He’d heard his boss mention this club—most patrons here were famous capitalists; even his boss had only been here once, as a guest, and had bragged about it for months.

Yet when they entered, the guards didn’t stop them—they bowed to this man instead.

That could only mean this man’s background was enormous. Immense.

Jordan didn’t pause to wonder why Louis had chosen him, or how he knew him—he only knew he had to seize this chance. As for the rest?

Only cowards who overthink and hesitate ever waste time on such questions!

Ah, Jordan, use your brain—how do you make this man satisfied?

When he sat on the sofa, Jordan saw a bottle of wine worth ten thousand dollars, a leather sofa worth a hundred thousand, a tiny slice of wagyu beef, and hot celebrities he’d seen on TV dancing wildly?

Oh my God.

Is this what the lives of the elite are like?

Jordan’s worldview shattered. The poor could never imagine how extravagant the rich truly lived.

Lying back on the sofa, sipping the wine that had been refilled, Louis glanced at Jordan across from him—alone, no one beside him—and frowned.

He glared at the nearby servants, who had been pretending not to notice; they stiffened instantly, then reluctantly sat beside Jordan and began attending to him.

Seeing the sliced beef, the arranged wine, and the servile smiles of the women, Jordan felt a surge of emotion.

He wasn’t blind—he’d seen what just happened.

“Come on, friend, tell me your name.” Louis tossed him a cigar.

The servant immediately snipped the cigar’s tip, knelt half-bowed, and lit it, holding it to Jordan’s lips.

Jordan took only one puff, then pushed it away, straightening his spine, eyes forward, “Sir, my name is Jordan Belfort. I was born in the Bronx, New York State. My parents were accountants. I didn’t attend a prestigious school. Over the years I’ve held many jobs: sold lobster and steak, hawked ice cream, sold phone cards. Now I work at an ordinary Wall Street brokerage firm—unfortunately, it went bankrupt. I’m currently unemployed.”

“Of course, I’m confident I can find another job. In fact, just recently I passed the securities industry certification exam through self-study.”

“I also have a few modest views on the future economic landscape…”

Louis watched the man speaking fluently, his face calm with a faint smile, but inside he analyzed every word and every gesture.

This man was clever. Though still naive, his behavior seemed childish—but precisely because of that naivety, his alertness, self-control, ability to seize opportunity, and willingness to fight shone even brighter.

Arriving here, after a brief moment of shock, he quickly adapted, instantly grasping the source of all this luxury, and began demonstrating his value to Louis.

In showing his worth, he knew he had nothing to lose, so he wielded honesty—the best weapon he had.

Watching Jordan, now silent and anxiously awaiting Louis’s reply, Louis already had his direction.

This man is almost certainly the Master of the Thousand Gates.

After all, no industry deceives better than stocks. Compared to the crude, corrupt, tech-free fraudsters of the Myanmar district, this man is a true, genuine master con artist!

With a wave of his hand, he manipulates markets, deceives countless people, and controls the world through virtual economies.

What else could be called a master con artist?

Only those theatrical politicians could rival him.

At that moment, Jordan fell silent—he’d said everything he could.

In these ten minutes, he’d poured out every experience from dropping out of school to now, delivering every word with all his strength.

In those Duanduan ten minutes, he poured out every experience he’d gained since dropping out of school, speaking with all his might.

Jordan didn’t know. His heart trembled.

Having glimpsed even a corner of the upper class, he truly didn’t want to be cast out. He wanted to seize this chance, climb upward, reach the highest positions.

To one day stand here in this club, by his own power.

Jordan clenched his fist silently.

“Good.”

“Interested in working for me?”

Louis asked, smiling faintly.

!!!

Jordan’s eyes widened in excitement, his heart pounding so hard it felt ready to burst from his throat. He leapt to his feet, nodding frantically, “Yes yes yes, it’s an honor, sir!”

Jordan widened his eyes in excitement, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap from his throat; he leapt to his feet and nodded frantically, “Yes yes yes, it’s an immense honor, sir!”

“There are still some things I need to tell you, but I think tomorrow will do.”

“For now, enjoy yourself. They’re yours.”

With that, Louis walked straight up to the fourth floor.

He left Jordan sitting stunned in place, surrounded by beautiful servants reaching out to caress his cheeks.

Only Jordan sat stunned in place, surrounded by several beautiful female attendants who reached out to stroke his cheeks.

In capitalist society, neon lights and wine are the norm.

Sex and heroin are the most popular commodities here.

Sex and heroin are the most popular items here.

The next day.

Jordan, having enjoyed a night of passion, arrived at Louis’s room.

After a night of passion, Jordan went to Louis’s room.

Louis, having completed his Great Heavenly Cycle, looked at Jordan and nodded, “Looks like you’ve been doing well.”

“Yes, Boss,” Jordan replied respectfully.

Now, no matter what Louis asked him to do, he wouldn’t hesitate—his heart was filled with a desperate longing to transcend his class.

“Are you willing to sacrifice something trivial for a better future?”

“Are you willing to sacrifice something trivial for a better future?”

Jordan nodded without hesitation.

“Good. Since you’re willing, you must be wondering why I chose you. Now I’ll tell you the answer.”

“Good. If so, you must be wondering why I chose you. Now I’ll tell you the answer.”

The Golden Page flew out, manifesting in reality, glowing brilliantly.

Before Jordan could react in shock, a quarter of the page shot from it, striking his forehead and dissolving into a golden dot.

Jordan’s eyes were instantly filled with gold; he froze in place.

Simultaneously, Louis’s spirit began to receive faint insights—the man truly was the Thousand Gates!

The Thousand Gates is one of the Nine Lower Streams. Though lowly, it permeates everywhere, rooted in the very machinery of society.

The Thousand Gates is the oldest form of deception. The more complex human thought becomes, the more flourishing deception grows—and the Thousand Gates grows with it.

In ancient times, after thousands of years of feudal development, the Thousand Gates evolved into a structured system of internal divisions and transmitted arts: the Eight Generals of the Thousand Gates!

Zheng, Ti, Fan, Tuo, Feng, Huo, Chu, Yao!

It is a complete fraud operation—from planning and luring, to intelligence gathering and escape, from smoothing over trouble to controlling public opinion—all executed with professional precision.

Especially the Thousand Arts themselves: two types exist. One is used in gambling; the other, 108 elaborate schemes to deceive others. There are also modified special techniques, also called Thousand Arts.

These Thousand Arts are related to the Xi Cai Gate (acrobatics, magic tricks). The lower levels involve hand skills indistinguishable from stage magic. Higher levels require Qi, even magic power: decapitation, feigned death, soul exchange, stealing heaven and replacing earth…

This kind of cheating technique is related to the Xi Cai Men (acrobatics and illusions); the low-level forms train hand skills indistinguishable from magic tricks, while higher levels require the use of Qi or even magic power—such as decapitation, feigned death, soul substitution, and swapping heaven and earth…

No powerful techniques—everything relies on the mind.

After all, the Thousand Gates mostly seek wealth. They avoid physical force, dare not use it—only as a last resort.

Now that the Thousand Gates are in hand, Louis was one step closer to founding his sect. Most importantly, the Thousand Gates govern wealth—and in America, this capitalist society, it was the Thousand Gates’ paradise.

Louis couldn’t even imagine how many surprises the Thousand Gates would bring him.

Thousand Thief, Thousand Thief, Thousand Thief—sources of wealth, secular power, intelligence, influence.

“I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

Louis murmured to himself.

At this moment, Jordan’s transformation neared completion.

A soul-link formed between him, the Leftist Folk Canon, and Louis himself. Through this link, Louis could sense Jordan’s thoughts, and with a mere flick, influence his life or death.

He formed a faint soul connection with Zuodao Min Dian and himself, and through this bond, Louis could even perceive the other’s thoughts, lightly stirring them to influence life or death.

Most importantly, the other party volunteered.

Both parties have already sworn the contract; his soul has lost autonomy and will gradually transform into Louis.

This means that even if some being attempts to forcibly control Jordan, it is impossible.

“Huh? Part of his soul is still lodged within the Civil Code?”

Louis’s expression subtly changed.

So if I raise my cultivation base, I can revive him by possessing a corpse?

That makes sense.

This candidate for Thousand Thieves and Prostitute Beggar is so hard to find—if I accidentally lose him, how hard would it be to replace him?

This is fine.

The golden light gradually dimmed.

Jordan’s transformation gradually ceased.

(End of Chapter)