The next day, Monday.
The financial market in Jingzhou had an eerie atmosphere from the moment it opened.
Nine o'clock sharp in the morning.
At the Li Group headquarters, the phone in the Financial Director's office was the first to ring.
"Director Zhang, this is President Zhao from Jingzhou Bank. Regarding the three-billion-yuan loan your company had due last month, the head office has decided not to renew it."
"Please ensure your company repays the principal and interest in full by the required deadline."
Cold sweat instantly broke out on the Financial Director's forehead.
"President Zhao, this... this isn't according to our agreement! We had previously agreed..."
"Apologies, this is the head office's decision."
The other party's tone was strictly business, devoid of any emotion.
Then, the call was disconnected.
Before the Financial Director could even process this,
a second call, then a third, followed in rapid succession.
"Director Zhang, this is Jian'an Bank."
"Director Zhang, this is Xingqi Bank."
"Director Zhang, this is..."
Every single call, without exception, was a notification demanding immediate loan repayment.
Credit withdrawal!
It was as if all the banks had conspired, simultaneously pulling the rug out from under the Li Group in a devastating move.
Director Zhang's face turned deathly pale.
He knew something catastrophic was happening.
He rushed in a panic into Li Hongji's office.
"Chairman Li! It's terrible! The banks... all the banks are calling in our loans!"
Li Hongji had been leisurely enjoying his morning tea.
Hearing this, the hand holding his teacup jerked violently.
Tea spilled all over the desk.
"What did you say?"
"All the banks! They're demanding we repay all outstanding loans within the stipulated timeframe! The total amount exceeds twenty billion!"
"What!"
Even a figure like Li Hongji couldn't maintain his composure at this moment.
Twenty billion in cash flow.
Even if they sold off the entire Li family assets, it would be impossible to raise that amount in such a short time!
"How could this happen? How!"
Li Hongji's mind raced.
He immediately realized this was no coincidence.
This was a long-planned, coordinated siege against the Li family!
"Lu Chengsi! It must be Lu Chengsi!"
He roared, grabbing the phone to call the bank presidents.
But not a single call would go through.
Either the lines were busy, or no one answered.
Just then, the office door was flung open.
Li Xiujian rushed in, his face filled with terror.
"Dad! Something's happened! Our overseas company is in major trouble!"
He slammed a stack of printed documents onto the desk.
They were all overwhelming English news reports.
"Cordia Iron Ore Suspected of Severe Financial Fraud, Under Investigation by Local Financial Regulators!"
"Cordia Stock Plummets 90% Within Half Hour of Opening, Triggers Multiple Trading Halts!"
"Insiders Claim Cordia Iron Ore is Actually a Money-Laundering Tool for the Li Family of Xia, Substantial Evidence of Illegal Funds Exposed!"
...
Cordia Iron Ore.
The Li family's largest overseas cash cow.
Also their final escape route.
Now, that route had been completely severed.
It had even turned into a massive black hole threatening to drag them into an abyss.
"We're finished..."
Li Hongji looked at the news, swayed, and collapsed dejectedly onto the sofa.
He knew he had lost.
Lost utterly and completely.
Domestic cash flow drained dry.
Overseas funding chains severed.
A two-pronged attack.
The opponent aimed to deliver a fatal blow.
The ruthlessness of the methods, the meticulousness of the planning, sent a chill down his spine.
He couldn't understand.
Who on earth possessed such power to simultaneously leverage resources both domestically and internationally?
Lu Chengsi?
Alone, he probably didn't have that much clout.
And while Lu Chengsi was an old fox, his tactics were more traditional.
This operation was watertight. Was there someone else?
Mo Jingsheng?
He was a possibility.
But Mo Jingsheng always played it safe, never acting without absolute certainty.
Li Hongji felt Mo Jingsheng wouldn't dare risk "failing to kill the snake and getting bitten in return."
Who was it?
Who on earth was it!
At the same time.
The media in Jingzhou also collectively "went crazy."
Front-page headlines of major newspapers, website pop-ups, midday TV news broadcasts...
All were flooded with negative news about the Li Group.
"Exposing the Original Sin Behind the Li Group's Unbridled Growth!"
"Exclusive Report! The Death of Jingzhou Business Owner Wang Linked to Li Group's Strong-Arm Tactics!"
"From Organized Crime to Money Laundering: The Sinful History of a Business Empire's Rise!"
Each report was like a sharp knife.
Tearing to shreds the Li family's magnificent robe, woven from money and power.
Revealing the bloody, ugly truth beneath.
Public opinion in Jingzhou exploded.
Public anger swept through like a flood.
The entrance to the Li Group headquarters was besieged by an angry crowd of protesters.
Countless reporters, armed with cameras, tried to force their way in.
The company's stock price hit the limit-down almost immediately after the market opened.
Countless shareholders lost everything, wailing in despair online.
When the wall starts to fall, everyone pushes.
Those small and medium-sized enterprises that once depended on the Li family, those subordinates who bowed and scraped before them,
now became the fiercest opportunists, throwing stones at those already down.
"Mr. Hong, here is what you asked for."
Inside an inconspicuous black car.
A man handed a thick manila envelope to the person opposite him.
Inside the envelope were all the Li family's illicit accounts from over the years, every dirty secret.
"Brother Bao, you are smart."
Brother Bao was Li Hongji's most trusted right-hand man, responsible for handling all the "dirty work."
But now, he had become the first to betray the Li family.
Because he knew the Li family was already a sinking ship.
He didn't want to go down with it.
"Mr. Lu's side...?" Brother Bao inquired tentatively.
"Don't worry. Mr. Lu said that as long as the information is genuine, you will be well-provided for for the rest of your life."
Brother Bao let out a long sigh of relief.
...
One month later.
In just one month.
A business empire that had dominated Jingzhou for decades, seemingly impregnable,
collapsed just like that.
So fast that no one could react.
That evening, the glow of the setting sun dyed the sky a bloody red.
Dozens of police cars, sirens wailing, surrounded the Li family's palace-like estate in the Western Hills.
Armed police officers stormed inside.
The vast estate was nearly empty.
All the servants, all the bodyguards, had already fled.
Only Li Hongji and his son Li Xiujian remained.
They sat in the cavernous main hall.
As if awaiting their final judgment.
All anger and panic had vanished from Li Hongji's face.
Only an ashen calm remained.
He looked at the police officer in charge and slowly stood up.
"I'll go with you."
He glanced at his son beside him, broken and hollow-eyed.
"My son is young and foolish. I alone am responsible for everything. He has nothing to do with it."
This was the last thing he could do for his son as a father.
However, just as he was about to be handcuffed...
He suddenly spoke up.
"Can I make one last phone call?"
uld barely embark on the path to immortality. Just as he was on the verge of death, his golden finger awakened. No matter whether it was poison, drained blood and vital energy, diminished lifespan, or any other physical debuff caused by paying a price—once midnight passed, everything would be refreshed. From then on, whenever someone asked what kind of person Chu Ran was, the answer was simple: Forbidden arts that other cultivators dared not learn? Chu Ran would learn them. Prices that even demonic cultivators dared not pay? Chu Ran would pay them. Lifespan that even righteous cultivators dared not burn? Chu Ran would burn it. All the blood essence in his body? Take it. Want both his hands and feet? He would cut them off and send them to you. You say he’s finished? He wasn’t built to sit idle. You think he’s gone mad? No—he was simply waiting for midnight. From that day onward, Chu Ran would respect neither Heaven nor Earth, bow to neither gods nor ghosts. He had only one wish: For midnight to arrive a little sooner.
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
lity and could only live as an ordinary mortal. He only wished to live a peaceful life. Yet he didn't know— The dog he adopted, because it ate his food, became a legendary demon king. The kitchen knife he casually forged became a peerless divine weapon, causing numerous experts to fight desperately for it. The young disciple he took in became an immortal lord that led an era, due to cultivating the techniques Ye Feng taught him. Even the skeletons he looked down on the most were ominous demon kings that suppressed countless worlds. Many years later, looking at the void shattered with a punch, Ye Feng murmured to himself: It turns out the peerless kings were myself all along...
