CHAPTER 1165: CHAPTER 1162: TRIPLE REWARDS IN ONE MOVE

Although delighted inwardly, Shen Congwen did not show it. On the contrary, he appeared to be very troubled.

"Lord Xu, this matter is of great importance, I need to discuss it thoroughly with the Pei and Du families."

"Could you give me two days, and we will come to a decision to give you an answer?"

Xu Wendong: "Alright, you three families should discuss it thoroughly!"

"Then I shall take my leave!" Shen Congwen bowed and exited the courtyard.

Xu Wendong then looked at a Yamen Runner: "Invite Chief Registrar Chu to come here."

Soon.

Chu Ye reluctantly arrived at the courtyard, looking somewhat haggard, as if she hadn’t slept well the previous night.

Xu Wendong said: "Draft a contract; I plan to lease the sea area of the Outer Sea to the Shen, Du, and Pei families."

"The annual fee is one hundred thousand Superior Spirit Stones, with a ten-year lease term."

Chu Ye took a sharp intake of breath: "One hundred thousand Superior Spirit Stones a year? I’m afraid they can’t come up with that much money!"

Producing one million Superior Spirit Stones at once is definitely an astronomical figure.

Equivalent to the annual tax revenue of Blackwater Kingdom.

Xu Wendong continued: "Even if they can’t come up with that much money, they will figure out a way."

"Also, the contract should note that I will arrange Formations for them, offer tax deductions, and free access to the Teleportation Array."

Chu Ye sneered continuously, doubting that the Three Great Families would accept Xu Wendong’s price.

Xu Wendong smirked: "Why don’t we make a bet?"

Chu Ye: "Bet on what?"

Xu Wendong: "I bet the Three Great Families will find a way to gather one million Superior Spirit Stones, and if I lose, you can deal with me as you please."

Chu Ye asked: "And if I lose?"

Xu Wendong raised an eyebrow: "You take it from above!"

"Fine then!" Chu Ye laughed in anger: "If I lose, I will take it from above, and I’ll drain you dry!"

------

On the other side.

Shen Congwen found Pei Yuanlang and Du Nanqiu, to discuss the proposal of leasing the Outer Sea.

"One hundred thousand Superior Spirit Stones a year? Has Xu Wendong gone mad for money?" Pei Yuanlang shouted angrily.

Du Nanqiu also shared his opinion: "The Outer Sea can be leased, but this fee is too outrageous; even if we lease it, we’ll lose money."

They didn’t believe they could profit from leasing the Outer Sea.

Although they weren’t short on money,

one hundred thousand Superior Spirit Stones a year was still a staggering sum for them.

Shen Congwen had already anticipated their reaction and said casually: "There is indeed great risk in this, but..."

"Our true purpose is not merely to lease the Outer Sea."

"But to totally deceive Xu Wendong through this action."

"Once we can dispose of him, then won’t the one million Superior Spirit Stones return to us?"

"We’re merely giving our wealth to Xu Wendong, letting him see and touch it. When he dies, this wealth naturally returns to us."

"Besides, we’ll also gain the leasing rights of the Outer Sea, free access to the Teleportation Array, and potentially reduced taxes."

"It’s a win-win, so why not do it?"

Pei Yuanlang looked troubled: "However, we can’t come up with one million Superior Spirit Stones at once!"

They didn’t deny that this plan could gain Xu Wendong’s trust, creating an opportunity to eliminate him.

But producing one million Superior Spirit Stones at once posed a great challenge to them.

Shen Congwen revealed a meaningful smile: "We indeed can’t produce such a sum, but we can borrow a bit from other prominent families."

Du Nanqiu and Pei Yuanlang’s eyes lit up. If they sought help from other families in Carefree City, it wouldn’t be hard to come up with one million Superior Spirit Stones.

Shen Congwen’s mouth curved up: "If you have no objections, then this matter is settled."

"After Qi Pengfei’s beheading, we’ll go sign the leasing contract."

The three reached an immediate agreement and devised a meticulous plan.

------

Time passed slowly.

In a blink, the day of Qi Pengfei’s execution arrived.

A large crowd had gathered at the entrance of the marketplace, heads swaying as far as the eye could see.

It would be no exaggeration to say it was a momentous occasion, unprecedented and never to be forgotten.

Though every city had a marketplace entrance,

the one in Carefree City was virtually unused.

Since its establishment, no one had been punished there.

Every person’s eyes carried a fervent eagerness.

They knew that if Qi Pengfei were truly executed, it would be a monumental occasion for the townsfolk.

This signified that the laws of Carefree City could exert absolute deterrence, and henceforth, cultivators wouldn’t dare to rule over ordinary people.

The common folk’s lives would no longer be so difficult.

Even if wronged,

there would be someone to support them.

Under everyone’s watchful gaze,

Xu Wendong, clad in official robes, descended from the sky like a Celestial God, with well-defined features and profound eyes.

He emanated a powerful yet mysterious aura.

Perhaps due to the sunlight shining on him, people felt as if he were cloaked in a faint golden light.

When Xu Wendong ascended the execution platform, the gathered citizens prostrated, greeting him in reverent and resonant voices: "Greetings, Lord Xu!"

"Everyone, rise!" Xu Wendong’s voice boomed. Once the crowd stood, he directly commanded: "Bring forth the criminal!"

In the next moment.

Zhang Yunxiao, the County Magistrate of Carefree City, personally escorted the handcuffed and shackled Qi Pengfei from a distance.

Normally, he wouldn’t need to personally escort a prisoner, considering his position was akin to a police chief on Earth.

But today, his personal escort of Qi Pengfei for execution demonstrated the gravity he placed on this matter.

Qi Pengfei appeared utterly terrified, having believed that during his incarceration, his family would surely find a way to rescue him.

Yet never did he expect he’d truly face this day of execution.

"Why haven’t you saved me?"

Upon seeing his grandfather, father, and family, Qi Pengfei let out an angry growl.

Qi Xuchun clenched his fists tightly. He wished to save his grandson but was helpless.

He could only control his emotions, planning to exact brutal revenge on Xu Wendong to avenge his grandson when an opportunity arose.

Thus.

Qi Pengfei was led to the execution platform in front of the crowd, where he knelt facing the citizens.

At the moment he kneeled, a barrage of rotten vegetables and stones pelted against him like dense rain.

After all, this scoundrel was infamous for his myriad heinous crimes, having committed countless atrocities in the city.

Even in the face of his impending execution, the citizens wished to vent their anger one last time.

Xu Wendong’s face was filled with murderous intent: "Qi Pengfei, you abducted young women, abused them to death, and fed their dismembered bodies to demon beasts."

"Such acts are utterly wicked, against the heavens, and enraging to both humans and gods."

"Today, I shall act on behalf of justice, executing you to uphold the law and bring peace to the people!"

At this, he picked up a token from a bamboo container and threw it out.

Clatter!

The wooden token fell with a crisp sound.

Simultaneously, Zhang Yunxiao appeared with the Beheading Blade in hand, lifting it high under the expectant eyes of the crowd, then swiftly bringing it down...