Tian Du City.

The Sword Card Master Association.

Sunlight was shining brightly.

The Swordsmen could not help but raise their hands to block themselves from the sunlight. They stared at Lu Ming with dumbstruck expressions.

What is this?

B-becoming a Buddha on the spot?

Of course, looks did not matter. In this day and age, there were many novel kinds of looks. There were even celebrity cultivators with tank tops and hole-filled lacy attire!!!

Did anyone care?

No one.

The main point was —

That sword was gone.

A dignified phenomenal swordplay had melted down under that sunlight!

That…

“How could that be possible?”

Shush!

There was total silence.

That…

Was Lu Ming that powerful?!

Everyone’s gaze widened in disbelief. A dignified peak six-star Swordsman with a phenomenal swordplay could not even endure one move!

At this very moment…

On the web.

Those cultivators who witnessed this scene through the live streaming and various media channels were thrilled. Their gazes landed on Lu Ming instinctively.

He defeated a peak six-star with one strike!

The terrifying combat ability of a seven-star-to-be was displayed fully!

“He is very powerful!”

“He is indeed the president.”

Everyone was amazed.

However…

They were unaware of something.

At this moment, Lu Ming also had a very odd expression…

Oh.

It turned out that this was the Sunlight Card.

The so-called strengthening was to form a small sun in his body and then emit light?

And…

The spot of the sun…

Lu Ming touched the back of his head and felt odd.

He had watched the show ‘Journey to the West’ before and had this question then. Don’t those Buddha big shots feel hot at the back of the heads? This thing was akin to a heater…

However…

The effect of the Sunlight Card was far beyond his imagination!

Under its sunlight, all kinds of shadows would be melted down!

Even the Sword Shadow!

The Sword Shadow was no ordinary shadow. Therefore, the Sunlight Card…

This was amazing!

Of course.

It could also be due to the effect of the integration between the Sun, Star and Moon!

In that case…

He just had to defeat this group of useless Swordsmen next! However, just as Lu Ming was prepared to strike, he suddenly thought of a problem.

“Xiao-Xiaojian.”

“Huh?”

“Have you watched the show “My Own Swordsman” before?”

“No. Why?”

“It’s nothing. Hehe.”

…

Right then.

That Swordsman had already come to his senses.

He… had been defeated.

This was his most powerful move. Yet, he could not stop Lu Ming?!

He felt indignant.

He had come here after much difficulty!

Over this period, he spent a lot of effort cultivating the phenomenal swordplay and had long studied this move comprehensively. He did all of this for this moment. How could he surrender without fighting?!

“I don’t believe it!”

He hollered furiously and dashed toward Lu Ming again, “Take my sword!”

Swoosh!

Sword gleams flashed.

This time, he used all his powers!

Buzz—

The phenomenal swordplay emerged again and that terrifying shadow appeared. As it closed in on Lu Ming, it began to melt down. This time, it took a longer time to do so…

It was very slow…

It was very slow…

Crash!

There was a crisp and clear sound.

The Sword Shadow overlapped instantly. The sunlight receded and Xiao-Xiaojian retreated immediately.

Pfft!

Lu Ming vomited blood.

Eh?

Everyone could not help but widen their eyes. Wait a minute… Had Lu Ming been defeated?!

They looked dumbstruck. Was he fooling around?! Moments ago, the sunlight that appeared at the back of his head defeated a peak six-star effortlessly. Just as it looked like it was about to vanquish everyone… He was defeated?!!!

Why didn’t you follow the script?!

“Haha!”

That Swordsman was stunned. Immediately afterward, he laughed out loud. “True enough, my first strike is already your limit. Now that I have a deeper comprehension on the move, you’re unable to stop me!”

“You…

Lu Ming trembled slightly. “My Buddha Light Illumination can resist peak six-star and above swordplays effortlessly. The attacks from ordinary swordplays will not be able to hit me!

“Unless…

“It’s a phenomenal swordplay!”

Lu Ming was stunned. “Don’t tell me you have already mastered the Shadow Sword completely?”

Shadow Sword.

This was a name that he came up with.

After all, he could not use the name ‘Lunar Shadow Sword’ directly.

“Of course.”

That Swordsman was very proud of himself.

Snort!

Although this move came from you, very sorry, this sword can only unleash its true prowess when it is cast by a Swordsman!

“I see.”

Lu Ming understood then. “This is indeed the phenomenal swordplay, Shadow Sword! Never did I expect that, although I vanquished peak six-stars and am named a seven-star-to-be, I will be defeated by this move!

“However…

“I heard that phenomenal swordplay is very expensive! How can you guys afford it?!”

Lu Ming was puzzled.

“It’s very simple.”

The Swordsman pursed his lips. “Take a loan. We made a 10% downpayment and the association will make the arrangements.”

“I see.”

Lu Ming was amazed. “Therefore, as long as you make a 10% downpayment, you will be able to buy the legendary phenomenal swordplay at the administrative office of the Swordsman Association?! Your association has very good welfare and benefit!”

“Of course.”

The Swordsman raised his head proudly.

Snort!

Were the benefits of the Swordsman Association something that you guys could contend with?!

“I lost this fight.”

Lu Ming sighed. “However, I am defeated by this move and not you. Sooner or later, I will make a comeback!”

Hence…

Lu Ming turned to leave.

At this point in time.

The challenge ended with Lu Ming suffering a defeat.

This Swordsman had become famous. As for the title of a seven-star-to-be, it would be re-evaluated in the future.

However…

That Swordsman frowned.

Although he had defeated Lu Ming successfully, he had a hunch that… something was not quite right?

…

Tian Du City.

The police station.

Of course, they had also been paying attention to the situation of the Swordsmen challenge. After all, these Swordsmen were peak six-stars and the police could not allow them to mess around.

Of course.

As for challenging Lu Ming…

Hehe.

The chief of operations only smiled.

Damn it! Of all people, why did you have to challenge that guy?!

Although Lu Ming only had five-star combat ability, he had no qualms that Lu Ming would have 100 ways to toy someone to death if the latter was challenged!!!

He would subdue them with his intelligence.

He was unmatched.

However…

Even he did not expect Lu Ming to be defeated this time!

“Will Lu Ming lose?”

The chief of operations was puzzled.

Given Lu Ming’s style, if he could not win with swordplay, he would use his cards. If he could not win with cards, he would use his trump cards. If he could not win with his trump cards, he would begin to cheat…

Lose?

“How could that be possible?”

The chief of operations was filled with doubts. He had a hunch that something was not quite right.

However…

No one cared about their doubts.

The Swordsmen came to challenge Lu Ming and won. Lu Ming, the seven-star-to-be, was defeated by the Swordsmen who challenged him at his doorsteps. Of course, this matter caused a huge sensation!

This was especially so for the first group of DouYu live streamers who came!

Their popularity was boosted!

Countless people came to the place to surround and watch the challenge!

Of course.

After watching…

“Wow! What an amazing swordplay!”

“R-right. I heard that this is an extremely powerful phenomenal swordplay!”

“It is no wonder…”

“That’s not all. I heard that the downpayment is only 10%!”

“Is this true or not?”

“How can this be false? They said it personally on the spot!”

“Crap! I feel tempted…”

“Buy, buy, buy.”

The netizens were astonished.

At this point in time.

The phenomenal swordplay, Shadow Sword, had officially become famous. Within a short time frame of one day, the fame of the Shadow Swordplay spread all over the world, and to the ears of countless Swordsmen.

More importantly—

It was cheap!

They only needed a 10% downpayment!

Hence…

Some defeated Swordsmen wanted to reclaim their face after they saw this piece of news.

Some winning Swordsman wanted to become stronger after they saw this piece of news.

The sale of the Shadow Sword increased tremendously with an unbelievable speed. It was becoming the must-have swordplay of six-star Swordsmen!

The Swordsmen became more powerful!

There was no choice.

The phenomenal swordplay had become a norm. Who else could beat them?!

The Knifeman, who was initially on par with the Swordsman, had been beaten to a pulp. The Swordsman Association had become more famous!

The rankings of the Swordsman Association had improved by one place!

This bore a lot of significance!

…

“Not bad.”

The Swordsman seniors were filled with gratitude.

They… finally rose to greater heights.

At the same level, the Swordsmen were already unrivaled amongst all the vocations. Now, they could effortlessly skip a level in combat! In that case, it was not a bad thing for those few kids to challenge Lu Ming!

Look, there were immediate results!

Hence…

The Swordsmen were in a good mood, until the banks came knocking on their doors…

“Hello.

“The Swordsman Association’s loan has already exceeded its limit,” the bank said.

“Impossible!”

The Swordsmen objected instinctively. “Although the loans are increasing, our funds are also increasing. How can we possibly exceed the limit!!!”

When the Swordsman Association applied for loans, they remembered that they had calculated them based on the cashflow.

Therefore, it was impossible for them to exceed the limit!

However…

When they inquired with the finance department, they were terrified to discover that…

The loan… had exceeded its limit severely.

This year’s loan limit had already been used up. Next year’s one is gone as well!!! Based on the information, all the loans had been used for —

Shadow Sword.

“How did it turn out like that?”

“I remember that the Shadow Sword’s downpayment is only 10%? With this 10%, how can we possibly exceed the limit? Is the bank bluffing us?!”

The Swordsmen were baffled.

Right then.

The finance department said weakly, “Well… We don’t get a single cent of the earnings from the Shadow Swordplay. According to the initial agreement, all the earnings of the Shadow Swordplay goes to Lu Ming.”

Shush!

Suddenly, there was dead silence in the association.

The expressions of the Swordsman seniors froze.

All of it… goes to Lu Ming?

Eh?

The Swordsmen came to their senses.

This kind of unique situation had never occurred for more than 10 years. Therefore, they instinctively did not have this concept. If this was the case, didn’t that mean that…

Ss——

The Swordsmen’s countenances changed drastically.

Wait a minute.

In other words, with 10% downpayment and 10 years of loan, all the earnings of the phenomenal swordplay, in which the Swordsmen spent their entire life savings on, would go to Lu Ming…

Which meant that…

In the next 10 years, all the Swordsmen had to work for Lu Ming?!

The faces of the Swordsmen turned pale.

“Hurry!

“Quickly cease the sales of the Shadow Sword!”

“There is no need to do so. The loan quota has already been used up. The Swordsmen can’t afford to buy it anymore this year…”

The Swordsmen were suffering from emotional meltdowns.

That…

What was going on?!

Their loan arrangement was not meant for Shadow Swordplay!

The loan agreement of the Swordsman Association was meant for all kinds of phenomenal swordplay!

The Shadow Sword was one of the most ordinary swordplays amongst the many phenomenal swordplays in the Swordsman Association. It was not that different from the other swordplays! No one knew why it would suddenly become that popular!

Lu Ming…

They suddenly thought of that challenge.

They suddenly thought of Lu Ming’s seven-star-to-be title, Lu Ming defeating a peak six-star effortlessly in one moment, and the peak six-star defeating Lu Ming in the next moment…

Oh.

Damn!

That Swordsman finally understood what happened.

Damn it!

Seemingly, he had… been conned…

…

At this very moment…

Sword Card Master Association.

Lu Ming was lounging on the rocking chair.

Before his eyes was a cup of calming fluid filled with dense, rich energy. This was a precious fluid used for stabilizing six-star energy. Each drop of it was extremely costly.

In normal circumstances.

Taking a sip of this kind of calming fluid was tantamount to having a fortuitous encounter.

Well…

Lu Ming put down the teacup, held the teapot and drained it.

This is so cool!

“Haoran.”

“Yes.”

“How is this calming fluid?”

“Nothing does it better than this energy fluid in stabilizing six-star energy.”

“Oh…”

Lu Ming sighed. “It has been tough on the disciples of the association. I’ll tell you what. During the festive season, give the children one bucket of the fluid each.”

Bucket??

Li Haoran’s face was filled with puzzlement.

“Also…

“It’s almost time to pay the property charges?”

Lu Ming said calmly.

Their huge association stretched across two streets and had to pay ridiculously high property charges. As a result, it seemed that the association had not been paying them all this while…

“Yes,” Li Haoran replied.

“Pay 10 years in advance,” Lu Ming said blandly.

“Yes.”

Li Haoran smiled bitterly. What else could he say?

However…

Speaking of money, he thought of something. “Master, the publicity department has been requesting for some working capital. Senior Zhang Yang has looked for me a few times about this. He said the hospital expenses earned by faking accidents for extortion are insufficient…”

Cough.

Lu Ming coughed.

Oh.

Right.

Senior Zhang Yang had been marketing for the association without any capital… He could not allow him to continue faking accidents for extortions!

“Approve it.

Lu Ming made the final decision. “Approve it in advance for 10 years.”

“Huh?”

Li Haoran was between laughter and tears.

“Also…

“It has also been quite tough for the canteen aunt and the cleaning auntie… I’ll tell you what. We’ve given them 10 months of salary in advance. Although we don’t have a hard-charging work culture, we need to have an aggressive salary package.”

Lu Ming was filled with emotions.

Li Haoran was speechless.

After a long while…

The Sword Card Master Association was filled with joy.

The benefits of all the staff members had increased tremendously!

All the resources and rewards of disciples were also increased!

Heh.

Lu Ming sat in his office quietly. Watching his disciples’ happy faces, he smiled faintly. A rich man’s life was that simple,down-to-earth… and boring.

“Sigh.”

Lu Ming suddenly thought of something.

“Haoran.”

“Yes.”

“I heard that the Swordsman Association can’t get any more loans?”

Lu Ming said calmly.

“Yes,” Li Haoran replied

“Hmm.”

Lu Ming said kindly, “What do you think about us giving interest-free loans to those kids? Humans will meet with some difficulties at some point of their life. We should help whenever we can.”

Loan?

Li Haoran’s expression changed drastically.

“Calm down!

“Master, calm down!”

Li Haoran held onto Lu Ming tightly.

What a joke!

Loan?

Loan to those Swordsmen who wanted to buy the Shadow Sword?

They were not fools. In the past, they did not realize the problem but now… Do you know that you will be beaten to death if you do this?!

A—alright.

Lu Ming was filled with regrets.

Sigh.

Who told him to be that kind…

“We can’t watch these kids suffer.”

Lu Ming heaved continuous sighs.

Li Haoran lowered his head, pretending that he did not hear these words. He quietly looked at the callus that had just grown on his feet.

“Haoran.”

“Yes.”

“A wealthy lifestyle is very boring…”

Lu Ming sighed. “There is no objective, no pursuit, not even the motivation to create cards. I envy the times when I was poor… I was busy everyday and led a fulfilling life.”

Li Haoran was expressionless.

Although it was somewhat disrespectful, he unknowingly felt an urge to beat someone up.

→_→

“Master.

“These are not sustainable income.”

Li Haoran reminded him, “It’s highly possible that the Swordsman Association will cease the sale of the Shadow Sword. Even if they don’t, they won’t provide any more loans for the Shadow Sword.”

“It’s no problem. It can already sustain us for a long time.”

Lu Ming was very calm.

Hello, this was extra income!

Pure, extra income!

Seven-star-to-be title and all that were useless to him. One so-called defeat in the challenge could exchange for a massive amount of earnings. He felt very satisfied.

Well…

As for what would happen in the future, they could worry about them later.”

“The disciples of the Swordsman Association are poor now. But there are other associations?”

Lu Ming asked.

Li Haoran was speechless.

Listen! Master, do these words sound humane?!

…