Chapter 10: Uncle Xiao Guohua

Immediately click to purchase the first four layers of the Nine Thunder Knife Manual.

"Please confirm: purchase the first four layers of the Nine Thunder Knife Manual, requiring a payment of 250 million Huaxia Currency!" the big screen displayed.

After clicking confirm.

"Please verify with your fingerprint, then confirm again," the screen reminded.

Xiao Yu placed his finger on the fingerprint collector of the wireless keyboard.

"Beep!"

"Fingerprint verification passed."

"Purchase successful!"

"Deduction successful!"

"The first four layers of the Nine Thunder Knife Manual will be delivered to Mr. Xiao Yu's home within 24 hours," the screen continued to display.

Xiao Yu continued to browse weapons and combat suits.

Xiao Yu opened the weapons list page and soon found the "Silver Moon Battle Knife Series 3".

He directly located the Silver Moon Battle Knife Series 3, models a5 and a6.

Silver Moon Battle Knife Series 3, model a5, price: 12 million Huaxia Currency (full price), 6 million Huaxia Currency (half price, requiring One-star Rank Contribution Points).

Silver Moon Battle Knife Series 3, model a6, price: 50 million Huaxia Currency (full price), 25 million Huaxia Currency (half price, requiring One-star Rank Contribution Points).

Generally, an a6 model battle knife can fight most high‑level beast generals; if his father helped purchase, the half price would still be 25 million, so two would cost 50 million Huaxia Currency.

This price is more than double the a6 price in the Blood Shadow 2 series, and of course there is a reason for the higher cost.

Among the remaining items—the full combat suit including combat boots, backpack, and communication watch—the backpack and watch were cheap, each only 200 000, so he purchased them outright.

However, the full combat suit itself was very expensive, far pricier than the Silver Moon battle knives.

Even the d5 series, which can only resist mid‑level beast generals, costs 18 million Huaxia Currency at full price and 9 million at half price for the full set. The d6 series costs 80 million at full price and 40 million at half price.

After tallying everything, he decided to buy the full combat suit in the d6 series and purchase two Silver Moon battle knives of model a6 at half price, leaving him with over 20 million Huaxia Currency remaining.

He decided not to touch that money for the time being.

On the morning of August 3, around eleven o'clock.

At the gate of Xiao Yu's villa in the Mingyue Community, a stranger arrived.

"Mr. Xiao Yu, this is the manual you purchased; using your fingerprint will unlock it."

Seeing the fully armed man before him, Xiao Yu realized the Nine Thunder Knife had arrived, and he could finally witness the blade techniques of this world.

Xiao Yu took the sealed alloy box handed over, sliding his finger across its top.

"Beep! Fingerprint verification passed."

An electronic synthesis sound rang out, and the alloy box opened, revealing a book about one centimeter thick, with two discs attached.

Xiao Yu saw the four characters on the book: Nine Thunder Knife.

"Mr. Xiao Yu, please sign the receipt to confirm," the delivery man smiled, noting that he had delivered two sets of Nine Thunder Knife to the Mingyue Community today, which was quite profitable.

This is the ultimate Nine Thunder Knife; even the first layer alone is unaffordable for ordinary cultivators!

"Mr. Xiao Yu, you must be aware of the taboos after purchasing a manual, right?" the delivery man laughed. "According to the rules, I'll repeat: the manual's copyright belongs to its creator; the Nine Thunder Knife manual's copyright holder is Lei Shen! Buyers only have the right to study, not to teach. Copying, privately selling, or teaching the manual is prohibited. Anyone who violates this will be hunted down by the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, Thunder and Lightning Martial Arts Hall, Underground Alliance, and government forces together!"

Xiao Yu naturally knew this.

He also knew that after purchasing the Nine Thunder Knife, the joint databases of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, Underground Alliance, Thunder and Lightning Martial Arts Hall, etc., would record—Xiao Yu purchased the first four layers of the Nine Thunder Knife.

Thus, Xiao Yu could later wield the Nine Thunder Knife without issue. But if he used it in battle without having purchased it and was discovered, he would be captured.

Knowing this rule, he did not try to save money by using the system to directly learn the Nine Thunder Knife content.

"Selling manuals is really profitable! With Lei Shen's and Hong's reputation, who knows how many people worldwide have bought the manuals they created; the Huaxia Currency they've earned is incalculable! It far surpasses even the publicly known world's richest people!" he exclaimed, looking at the manual and two discs in his hands.

"When I have time, I'll study the two manuals and share them, earning some pocket money," Xiao Yu thought, lifted the box, and walked back to the villa.

For most cultivators, the hardest part is the Warrior stage; cultivators at this stage are like beginners in a game, only able to hunt low‑level, low‑value monsters, and even after a year of risking their lives they earn little money.

Warrior‑level cultivators basically follow a squad of war generals, drinking broth together.

Only after becoming a war general does income increase significantly.

Afternoon, Xiao Family Martial Arts Hall.

"Xiao Yu, have you entered Extreme Home?" Third Uncle Xiao Guoxuan asked.

"Yes, after returning home last night I went in for a look and found the content sections quite extensive…" Xiao Yu said with a smile. "My father said our family prepared some seed capital for me."

"Yes, that's right, fifteen million Huaxia Currency," Third Uncle Xiao Guoxuan said with a smile. "In recent years I've rarely ventured into the Huang Ye Qu, staying in the base city, and was entrusted by my older brother to manage the Xiao Family Martial Arts Hall and also oversee the family assets. When your sister Xiao Ling became a formal cultivator, the family funded ten million Huaxia Currency; now that you've been recruited by the Extreme Martial Arts Hall as a genius talent, the family will grant you fifteen million Huaxia Currency."

"I'll transfer it to your card right now," Third Uncle Xiao Guoxuan took out his phone, opened the family's exclusive bank account transfer page, and sent fifteen million Huaxia Currency to Xiao Yu.

"Alright, done. Did you receive it?"

With a buzz, Xiao Yu's phone in his pocket vibrated; opening it showed the bank deposit notification.

"Received," Xiao Yu nodded.

"Xiao Yu, don't forget what the family has given you; when you grow and develop, you must give back to the family,"

"How should I give back to the family?" Xiao Yu asked, a bit puzzled.

"Do you know how the Xiao family was founded?" Third Uncle Xiao Guoxuan lifted his tea cup, took a sip, and continued: "My older brother became a cultivator twenty years ago; he struggled alone in the wilderness for four or five years before becoming a war‑general cultivator. That's when the Xiao family truly began. At its founding, my older brother set the rule that the family would try to support every member to become a cultivator, and after becoming a formal cultivator, provide seed capital. Once a member reaches war‑general level, they must return ten percent of their net annual income to the family."

"Your elder uncle did it this way, your father did the same, and I am the same. If I hadn't been injured during an expedition years ago and couldn't exert my full combat power, I wouldn't be staying in the family."

"I understand."

Xiao Yu could appreciate the hardships of building such a new family, the bitterness at its founding, and understand his elder uncle's difficulty in establishing sustainable development, so he naturally raised no objections.

"Xiao Yu, have you decided which manuals, weapons, and combat suits to purchase?" Third Uncle Xiao Guoxuan asked.

"Third Uncle, it's settled. For manuals I bought the Nine Thunder Knife because I'm interested in blade techniques, so I purchased that. As for weapons and combat suits, I plan to buy higher‑quality ones that require One-star Rank Contribution Points; I haven't bought them yet," Xiao Yu replied honestly.

"Haha, in that case, send me the types and models of the weapons and combat suits you want to buy, and I'll purchase them for you. Come pick them up in a day or two! Though I didn't spend long adventuring in the Huang Ye Qu, my Contribution Points have already reached Two-star Rank!"

Third Uncle Xiao Guoxuan's face bore a hint of pride.

Third Uncle, after becoming a junior war general, only roamed the Huang Ye Qu for about three years and hasn't left the city district since; in that little over three years he accumulated contribution points up to Two-star Rank, so it seems that back then Third Uncle was also a ruthless person!

Xiao Yu nodded in agreement.

"By the way, your elder uncle told me yesterday that he'll video‑call you tonight through Extreme Home," Luo Feng said.

"Mm," Xiao Yu replied.

At around ten p. m., inside the audio‑visual room on the second floor of the Xiao Family.

Xiao Yu used Extreme Home's video‑chat function to speak with a middle‑aged man in ice‑blue combat gear whose face bore a terrible scar: the scar started on the right forehead, ran diagonally through the brow center, down the left cheek, and extended to the earlobe; fortunately his eyes, nose and mouth were unharmed.

"Elder uncle, I have good news!" Xiao Yu said with a smile.

"Haha! Xiao Yu, are you about to say you've become a formal warrior?" Xiao Guohua chuckled.

"That's right," Xiao Yu nodded.

"Last night, when I spoke with your Third Uncle, he already told me, which is why I'm video‑calling you today. Although after you became a formal warrior the family gave you some startup capital, I'm sure your father also prepared some for you, since you're his only son," elder uncle Xiao Guohua said with a smile.

"Mm," Xiao Yu replied.

"I've also arranged some startup funds for you; as the nephew of the Three‑Gun War God, you can't go out looking shabby."

Elder uncle Xiao Guohua, the Three‑Gun War God, nicknamed Xiao Sanqiang, earned that moniker because he can finish a battle against same‑level monsters or humans within three shots—either victory or defeat.

When he was a war general he was called the Three‑Gun War General; after his promotion to War God last year, people started calling him the Three‑Gun War God.

Elder uncle Xiao Guohua paused, then continued: "Also, I heard from Old Three that you purchased the Nine‑Layer Thunder Blade. I happen to have a friend Yang Renhua who also cultivates the Nine‑Layer Thunder Blade and has now reached the sixth layer; in a couple of days I'll ask him for his cultivation insights."

"Thank you, elder uncle," Xiao Yu said, overjoyed.

Although everyone says the Extreme Martial Arts Hall is internally united, and the warrior forum inside Extreme Home has some people sharing cultivation insights, those insights usually omit key information, and few share their core material. Such peer‑to‑peer sharing always carries a sense of personal favor.

Elder uncle Xiao Guohua is willing to repay his debts of favor, which shows his affection for him and the Xiao elders' hope for family unity.

"Also, I discussed with your father and decided to assign you first to your father's war‑general squad for training; the squad consists entirely of war‑general‑rank warriors, so outside the base city district you'll gain experience more easily and be better protected."

"Huh?" Xiao Yu was puzzled.

"I've already reported this to Zhuge Tao of Jiangnan Base City; in a couple of days Xiao Wu will inform you."

Although a War God's authority is great, placing one's own nephew into a team still requires discussion with the director of Extreme Martial Arts Hall; ordinarily, if the team agrees, the director won't interfere.

"Alright, that's everything. Train diligently and don't slack off!" elder uncle Xiao Guohua reminded.

"Mm, I understand, elder uncle!" Xiao Yu replied.

Shortly after the video call ended, Xiao Yu received an internal transfer notice from Extreme Home; when he opened it, he was shocked to see a sum of two hundred million Huaxia Currency.

Thus, Xiao Yu's account now held two hundred twenty million Huaxia Currency, more than the assets of some newly promoted war‑general‑rank warriors.

Leaving that much money idle in an account isn't a solution, and since Xiao Yu is about to enter the Huang Ye Qu, he no longer needs to obtain Wish Points by buying monster meat.

So these funds aren't needed for now; better to invest them. After thinking over his friends, he realized only Luo Feng's younger brother Luo Hua possesses a prodigious investment talent.

If there were no alien invasion crisis, even if Luo Feng never became a warrior, Luo Hua's investment talent alone would let the Luo family fare quite well on Earth.

Before Luo Feng became a warrior, Luo Hua taught himself stock trading and turned his pocket money from a few thousand into twenty thousand.

He never studied systematically, yet he could master Earth's investment market. After his legs recovered, Luo Hua's talent was fully displayed, showing astonishing investing ability. Earth's market is merely shallow water; the cosmic market is his target—he's essentially the universe's Buffett.

As long as a stock is invested by Luo Hua, it's basically a sure profit, and with good luck it can multiply several times.

Both Luo Feng and Luo Hua are still relatively weak; entrusting the money to him not only deepens ties with Luo Feng but also lets one's capital appreciate—why not?

Around ten a. m. on August 4th.

In the reception room on the first floor of Luo Feng's villa.

Luo Feng brewed a cup of coffee from the corner coffee machine and handed it to Xiao Yu, who took it, took a sip, and said, "Crazy, I heard your brother has a good investment talent!"

Luo Feng laughed, "It's hard to say about talent, but it's true that in three years of stock trading he turned over several times. But how did you know?"

Xiao Yu smiled and said, "Never mind how I know! As long as it's true, that's enough."

Luo Feng nodded.

Xiao Yu said somewhat embarrassed, "That's good. I actually have something I need you to help with."

Luo Feng asked with some suspicion, "What kind of help?"

"The thing is, I have some money just sitting idle, and I heard your brother's stock trading is a sure profit, so I'd like him to manage it for me," Xiao Yu explained his purpose.

"Alright, I'll call him over! You take a seat first," Luo Feng replied.

He went out, and shortly after returned pushing Luo Hua, who was in a wheelchair, into the reception hall.

"Brother Yu, I heard from my brother that you want me to trade stocks for you?" Luo Hua asked.

Looking at the boy whose face now resembles Luo Feng's but is more handsome yet slightly naive, it's hard to imagine he'll become a financial leviathan of the cosmos.

"Hmm, that's right," Xiao Yu replied, "Of course I'll also…."

Luo Hua then asked, "About how much?"

Xiao Yu smiled and gave a staggering figure: "Two hundred twenty million."

Because of Xiao Yu's earlier intervention, Luo Feng never went to the detention center, so there was no Zhou Huayang compensation case, nor any Zhang Zehu negotiation for Zhang Haobai's compensation, and consequently Luo Hua never received Luo Feng's half‑million investment.

Although two hundred twenty million Huaxia Currency is a lot, it doesn't make Xiao Yu uneasy; with his golden finger, once he enters the Huang Ye Qu his strength will rise rapidly, and in the future any amount of Huaxia Currency will be easily attainable.

The reason for pulling out the two hundred twenty million now is mainly to test Luo Hua's caliber—both his ability to handle such a large sum and his self‑control; can he, after gaining usage rights, refrain from scheming?

"Two hundred twenty million!" Luo Hua exclaimed. It's the most money he's ever seen; moments ago he was fretting over just over thirty thousand Huaxia Currency in his stock account. The opportunity was there, but his limited funds prevented him from fighting full‑scale, a feeling of great frustration.

Now an investor descends from the heavens, delivering two hundred twenty million Huaxia Currency—something he never dared imagine.

Luo Feng had previously speculated that Xiao Yu's family wasn't ordinary; a few days earlier, through Wu Tong, he learned that the Xiao family actually possesses a War‑God‑level powerhouse. The news shocked him, seeing someone usually low‑key whose background far surpasses that of Zhang Haobai's family.

Seeing Xiao Yu there, able to casually pull out over two hundred million Huaxia Currency for investment, he was less surprised.

Xiao Yu observed their expressions and continued, "Don't worry, this money is for investment; if it makes profit I'll give you a twenty‑percent commission, and if it loses, it's on me."

"Twenty percent is a bit high!" Luo Hua, self‑taught, naturally knew that commissions are usually around ten percent.

Even if this two hundred twenty million only doubles this year, a twenty‑percent commission still amounts to forty‑four million.

"I'm good friends with your brother, and I consider you my junior; twenty percent is nothing, think of it as a welcome gift. Let's settle it like that."

"Thank you, Brother Yu, for your trust. I'll definitely turn this 220 million into one billion, two billion." Luo Hua did not refuse.

Xiao Yu hesitated a moment and said, "By the way, madman, when you purchase weapons and such, if you don't have enough money, you can advance the payment first; just pay me back later."

Luo Feng immediately became delighted: "Perfect, I want to buy some better weapons, but it feels like I don't have enough money!"

Then Luo Feng looked at Xiao Yu and said, "Aren't you afraid I won't be able to repay?"

"I trust you; it won't take a year, this money is nothing to you," Xiao Yu said solemnly.

"You trust me that much?" Luo Feng was a bit skeptical.

"Hmm. I trust you, even more than you trust yourself!"

——

Luo Feng still, upon Supervisor Zhuge's suggestion, joined the Fire Hammer Squad, and purchased combat suits and weapons through the artillery shop Chen Gu.

The whole set of d5 series combat suits at half price costs 9,000,000; the Blood‑Shadow Battle Blade No. 2 a6 series at half price costs 10,000,000; Shield Series 5 costs 1,500,000; ten Series 7 throwing knives cost 15,000,000. The total is 35,500,000.

Having obtained even better battle blades and throwing knives, Luo Feng's journey through the wilderness became smoother.

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(End of chapter)