Chapter 71

"Well, if you don't believe in this Godly pill, then goodbye," Darryl said, showing no concern as he prepared to leave.

"Wait!" Brandon called out after him.

"Are you sure this will help me break through to the Master General level?" he asked, skepticism lacing his tone.

Darryl kept it simple, responding with just two words: "Of course."

Brandon took a deep breath. "Fine. I'll buy it. How much?"

A smile crept onto Darryl's face as he realized Brandon thought he could fix everything with money. Alright, if he’s that wealthy, I’ll make him break the bank today, he mused, holding up two fingers.

However, Brandon misunderstood. "Twenty billion? I'll pay it!" he exclaimed, excitement lighting up his eyes.

Darryl was taken aback. Twenty billion dollars for a Godly pill? This guy is insane! he thought. He was surprised by the unexpected valuation of the pill he created.

While Darryl had no understanding of the struggles of being stuck at a cultivation level, he felt a rush of excitement at the thought of such a lucrative transaction. Why bother struggling for the future? I just need to make more pills! he concluded.

Brandon soon composed himself but added, "I'll be honest with you. If this Godly pill doesn’t work, you’ll see the fate of those who lie to me." His voice was flat, carrying an ominous tone.

Darryl smiled calmly. "You don’t have to worry about that."

Brandon clapped his hands, summoning his finance guy to complete the transaction. 

However, Darryl grinned mischievously. "Oh, Brandon, why the hurry? I didn’t agree to sell it to you for twenty billion."

"What do you mean?" Brandon’s expression darkened. Is he trying to pull a trick? he wondered.

Unfazed, Darryl pointed at the jade ring on the table. "In addition to the twenty billion, I want this too."

Brandon glanced at the ring, taking a deep breath. He knew it was a thumb ring from the Tianshan School, rumored to hide a significant secret. After a year of unsuccessful attempts to uncover its mystery, he thought it best to part with it, potentially avoiding future trouble.

"Okay, go ahead. It's just an antique anyway," Brandon said, surprising Darryl with his quick agreement.

He actually agreed? Darryl thought, astonished. Without hesitation, he walked over and slipped the jade ring onto his finger, finding it a perfect fit.

Darryl felt satisfaction, unaware of the faint smirk that crossed Brandon's face as he donned the ring. Now, the ring belonged to Darryl, but it had once been Brandon's prized possession.

Brandon swiftly transferred twenty billion dollars to Darryl. A Godly pill sold for twenty billion along with an antique—what a significant profit! With that, Darryl left happily.

Meanwhile, at the Darby Mansion...

Chapter 72

After a long day, nearly all the guests had departed the mansion, with only the younger members of the Darby family remaining in the living hall, urging the groom, Jackson, to return with the bride, Rebecca Song. Jackson was still fast asleep from drinking too much earlier, while Rebecca was busy entertaining the guests on his behalf. Florian, the eldest brother, and his wife, Yumi, were also present.

"It's getting late. Time to go home!" Yumi said, glancing at the clock.

Florian waved dismissively, not ready to leave just yet. "Ah, today is such a special occasion. You go home first; I’ll stay and relax for a while."

Seeing that Florian was too inebriated to be reasoned with, Yumi reluctantly left. Once she was gone, Florian’s attention shifted to Rebecca, who was serving drinks to the remaining guests. He couldn’t help but think how lucky Jackson was to have such a pretty wife. As he stared, the alcohol made her appear even more attractive to him.

Eventually, when everyone was sufficiently drunk, Florian stood up and smiled. "Alright, everyone seems to be having a great time! Jackson isn't awake yet, and Rebecca still has to clean up. Let’s call it a night!"

With everyone agreeing—after all, Florian was set to inherit the family business—he approached Rebecca after the last guest left. 

"Rebecca, you must be tired after today," he said, pouring her a cup of tea. He discreetly added a small amount of powder from a bottle he had taken from his pocket before handing it to her. "Here, have some tea to feel better. You still need to take care of Jackson later."

"Thanks, brother," Rebecca replied, not suspecting anything amiss as she took a sip.

With a satisfied smile, Florian bid her goodbye and left the living hall. A few minutes later, Rebecca began to feel dizzy and leaned back on the sofa, eventually losing consciousness.

Meanwhile, Florian returned, smirking as he approached the unconscious Rebecca. "She smells good," he muttered to himself before picking her up and kissing her.

Not long after, Yumi returned home and stormed into the living hall, immediately hearing sounds she wished she hadn’t. She rushed to open the door, catching Florian in the act with Rebecca beside him, unconscious.

Filled with rage, Yumi slapped Florian hard. "Florian Darby, how dare you do this to me! She's your sister-in-law! You bastard!"

Realizing the gravity of his actions, Florian fell to the floor, repeatedly apologizing. "Darling, I've wronged you. I'm a bastard! I'm so sorry!"

Yumi trembled with anger, realizing the humiliation this would bring. If anyone found out, Florian's chance of inheriting the family business would be ruined. 

Through gritted teeth, she ordered him, "Get up and put on your clothes." He complied immediately, fearful of her wrath.

"What shall we do next?" Florian asked cautiously as he dressed.

Yumi's glare intensified. "You need to get me the eight-diagram mirror and place it beside her."

Confused, Florian asked, "Why?"

"Why are you still standing here? Go and get it! This is the only thing that can get you out of trouble. We have to frame your stupid brother, Darryl, for this!" she shouted. 

With Yumi's demand hanging in the air, the stage was set for a dangerous game of deceit.

Chapter 73

Florian suddenly grasped his wife's intentions and swiftly fetched the eight-diagram mirror. "Darling, you're so smart!" he praised her while handing it over.

Yumi ignored his flattery, placing the mirror beside the bed before opening the window to create the illusion that someone had entered through it. She was framing Darryl for the assault. Earlier that day, Darryl had been going on about his Feng Shui theories and had claimed that Abby fainted because of this very mirror. While Yumi wasn't convinced by his ideas, she knew that many others, including Rebecca, were. 

Given Darryl’s knowledge of Feng Shui metaphysics, Yumi figured he could have used the mirror to cause Rebecca to faint. When she woke up the next morning, finding the mirror next to her, she would naturally assume that Darryl was responsible for what had happened.

As Yumi set everything in place, she noticed Florian still staring at Rebecca. "Haven't you seen enough? Go!" she scoffed before leaving.

Florian hurried after her, panting, "What if Rebecca goes to the hospital and finds out—"

"Do you think everyone is as shameless as you? That they don't care about their reputation?" Yumi interrupted, and Florian found her reasoning sound. With a sense of relief, he left without further protest.

Meanwhile, Darryl was feeling uneasy during the wedding, preoccupied with thoughts of his wife, Lily. Instead of heading back to the office, he decided to go home. After three years with the Lyndon family, he sensed that everyone, including Lily, looked down on him. Yet, he believed she still had feelings for him.

When he arrived home, he found his father-in-law and mother-in-law absent. Lily was sitting on the sofa, her posture revealing her anxiety as she crossed her left leg over her right, showcasing her curves. Her face lit up momentarily upon seeing Darryl, but it quickly faded. "You're back?"

"Yeah."

"Good. My friend took my car; we need to go somewhere," she said, standing up anxiously.

Darryl didn’t press for details and left the house with her. As they drove, he learned that Lily's mother, Samantha, was attending a reunion dinner with her old friends and had asked Lily to join. 

"What do I have to do with that?" Darryl questioned.

Lily rolled her eyes, "If you don’t want to go, just drop me off. I won’t make you stay."

Seeing her spoiled attitude, Darryl smiled but kept quiet.

When they arrived at the hotel, they entered a private dining room where Samantha was happily chatting with her classmates. Though they had maintained their youthful looks, they were noticeably older than Samantha. Their children accompanied them, creating a lively atmosphere.

Upon spotting Lily, Samantha's face lit up, but it immediately darkened when she saw Darryl. She had wanted Lily to impress her friends, not for her "useless" husband to tag along. Though displeased, she couldn’t openly dismiss him in front of everyone.

"Wow! This must be your daughter, Lily. She’s gorgeous!" one of the guests exclaimed. 

"I heard your daughter struck a deal with the Platinum Corporation and even signed popular model Giselle Lindt! What a capable and beautiful woman!" another added.

As Lily received praise, Samantha beamed with pride. Meanwhile, Darryl sat quietly, a straight face masking his discomfort as Samantha’s friends began introducing their own children, many of whom were successful in their fields.

Suddenly, a wealthy-looking woman named Melanie Watson pointed at Darryl, smiling amicably. "And who is this?" she asked, eager to undermine Samantha. All eyes turned to Darryl, awaiting his response.

Chapter 74

Samantha's smile froze, shifting into an awkward, almost sullen expression. In contrast, Lily maintained her composure and confidence. She stood up, introducing Darryl, "This is Darryl. We're married."

"Oh, Samantha's son-in-law, I see. He seems like a decent man. Where does he work?" Melanie asked.

Darryl responded calmly, "At a company." He understood Melanie's motives but remained unfazed.

"What company? What position?" Melanie pressed, her smile feigning genuine interest.

Darryl replied without hesitation, "Just a normal office boy."

"Just an office boy?" Melanie thought, her expression barely concealing her disdain. The surrounding guests echoed her sentiments, their faces revealing faint looks of contempt. 

"An office boy is good enough. It's okay if you don't work as well. Lily is so outstanding; there wouldn’t be any problem if you just stayed at home," she added, her sarcasm thick. Samantha's face darkened further; this was all Darryl's fault for not recognizing his place and embarrassing the family. Lily also wore an unnatural smile, regretting bringing him along.

Just then, Melanie stood up with her glass, smiling. "Since we're gathered here today, I have good news to announce. My daughter is getting married, and this is my son-in-law." 

A young man beside Darryl stood up and introduced himself, "Hello everyone, I'm Jimmy, and I’m currently the chairman of Mile-End Corporation."

Gasps filled the room as astonishment spread. "Mile-End Corporation? The one that specializes in foreign trading? That's a huge company!" someone exclaimed. 

"Exactly! I heard it's going public soon. It’s impressive to become a chairman at your age!" another added. 

As the compliments poured in, Jimmy waved his hands humbly. "Actually, it’s not easy being a chairman. With over a thousand staff working under me, I don’t have much free time. But the salary is nice, around a few hundred thousand a month."

He paused and turned to Melanie with a smile, "Mom, the wedding is happening in a week. I’ve reserved a Mercedes-Benz S-Class for the wedding car."

The mention of the car sparked another wave of excitement in the room. "Where else could one find such a perfect son-in-law?" everyone thought.

Melanie's smile grew even wider. "Good, good. It's your wedding, you decide."

Jimmy continued, "Honestly, cars are just transportation. They don’t have to be too fancy, but I won't lie, the more expensive the car, the more comfortable it is." 

Then, with enthusiasm, he turned to Darryl and asked, "Right, Darryl. What car do you drive?"

Melanie had instructed Jimmy to impress on her behalf and undermine Samantha's family. Every moment was a chance for Jimmy to belittle Darryl, who, as a son-in-law, was already seen as inferior. However, Darryl remained silent, simply nodding with a smile.

Jimmy pressed on, his tone warm but insincere, "I wonder what car you drive, Darryl?" 

All eyes turned to Darryl, their smiles hiding disdain. Samantha’s face darkened; she felt humiliated, knowing Darryl rode a simple motorbike. How could he respond to that?

Chapter 75

"My car? Hmm... I always believed that it's just a means of transportation, so I bought a normal car, an Audi R8," Darryl answered under the pressure of everyone’s gaze.

He wasn’t wrong; an Audi R8 is an entry-level option among top sports cars, but it certainly wasn’t just any normal car. 

"Wow!" An uproar filled the room, disbelief painting their faces. At the same moment, both Samantha and Lily nearly choked on their tea, thinking, How dare he say this? His boss lent him that car, and now he claims it as his own? This guy has some nerve.

Jimmy was startled. An Audi R8? The asking price was almost two million dollars! Could he be faking it?

"Oh Samantha, you’re so nice to your son-in-law to have bought him such a nice car," Melanie said, regaining her composure, her words dripping with mockery. She didn’t believe for a second that Darryl could afford an Audi R8. It had to be a gift from Samantha, a desperate attempt to enhance her own image since Darryl was just a useless nobody.

Samantha wore a straight face, refusing to respond, but Darryl calmly interjected, "My mother-in-law didn't give me this car. My boss did."

Laughter erupted in the room. A few ladies couldn’t hold back, bursting into giggles. Darryl was such a joke! The car doesn’t even belong to him! Haha! What a funny guy!

Samantha’s face darkened as if she wished for a hole to hide in, but Darryl wasn’t finished. "Actually, the car belongs to me now. My boss was so impressed with me that he gifted it to me."

"What? Why would a boss give his employee an Audi?" Confusion spread among the guests.

"May I know which company you work for that has such good benefits?" Jimmy asked.

Darryl looked at him with an unbothered expression. "Just a small company."

Jimmy didn’t buy it but decided not to push further; he found Darryl too much of a liar. 

With a faint smile, Jimmy presented a delicate gift box to Melanie. "Mom, sorry I’ve been busy and couldn’t visit as often. Thank you for trusting me with your daughter. Here’s a little something I hope you’ll like."

"Oh, look at you! We’re family. Why are you being so polite?" Melanie beamed, accepting the gift.

"What’s inside, Melanie?" several people asked, curious and adoring.

Melanie opened the box, her eyes lighting up as a long, jewel-studded Chinese dress appeared.

"Wow!" The room erupted in astonishment.

"This is so beautiful! Are those jewels real?" 

"This is a very famous international luxury brand. I saw it on TV two days ago, worn by a supermodel!"

Melanie asked Jimmy, "This isn’t cheap, right?"

He shrugged, smiling. "It’s nothing, just a few hundred thousand dollars."

Just a few hundred thousand dollars? The ladies in the room were dumbfounded. An international luxury brand, worn by a supermodel? If only they had one themselves. Even Lily felt astonished, while Samantha's face darkened further.

With everyone's attention on her and the gift, Melanie spoke in a tone that feigned embarrassment, "Oh, Jimmy, I can’t take this. It’s too expensive, and the dress is too revealing!"

"Mom, it’s just a few hundred thousand dollars. How’s that expensive? It really suits you," Jimmy reassured her.

"Alright then, I’ll keep it," Melanie said, touching the dress, trying to contain her excitement. "Not gonna lie, my son-in-law is just like a son to me. He’s so mature and reliable, unlike some people who are full of conspicuous lies."

Samantha, who had been holding her anger since the beginning, felt pushed to the edge by Melanie's remarks. Seeing Darryl sipping tea as if nothing was happening made her tremble with fury. This useless piece of rubbish is drinking tea at a time like this? She thought about standing up and leaving right away.

Chapter 76

Samantha's expression stiffened, turning awkward and somewhat gloomy. However, Lily maintained her composure and confidence. She stood up to introduce Darryl, saying, "This is Darryl. We're married." 

"Oh, Samantha's son-in-law, I see. He seems like a decent man. Where does he work?" Melanie asked. 

"At a company," Darryl replied calmly, aware of Melanie's intentions but unfazed. 

"What company? What position?" Melanie continued with a seemingly friendly smile. 

Without hesitation, Darryl said, "Just a normal office boy." 

"Just an office boy?" Melanie thought to herself. 

This statement elicited faint disdain from those around him, and Melanie was pleased with their reactions. 

"An office boy is good enough. It's okay if you don't work as well. Lily is so outstanding; there wouldn't be any problem if you just stay at home," she added, her sarcasm clear. 

Samantha's expression darkened. She felt embarrassed by Darryl's behavior, wondering if he realized how inappropriate it was for him to be there and cause such embarrassment. 

Lily, too, wore an unnatural smile, regretting having brought Darryl along. 

At that moment, Melanie turned to Darryl, asking, "Darryl, what do you think of the gift Jimmy bought me?" 

Without looking up, Darryl replied flatly, "Not bad." 

"Not bad? What a joke. Could he afford it at all?" Melanie thought. 

As laughter filled the room and disdainful looks were exchanged, Darryl felt the weight of their mockery. Eventually, he stood up and left the room, which seemed to amuse everyone else. 

Melanie and Jimmy appeared disappointed by his departure, while Samantha felt relieved he had finally left. Lily contemplated following him but decided against it due to the situation in the room. 

Three minutes later, Darryl returned, prompting Samantha to angrily ask, "What are you doing back here? Have you not embarrassed me enough?"

Lily whispered, "Just wait for us in the car. What are you doing up here?"

Darryl smiled but said nothing, holding a present box in his hand.

He had received this gift from Drake Darby as compensation for the past. When Darryl was expelled from the Darby family and married into the Lyndons, no one from the Darby family attended his wedding. Feeling guilty, Drake had decided to gift Darryl this present.

Darryl approached Samantha, placing the box in front of her. "Mom, I haven't given you a gift in the past three years since marrying Lily. Here, I hope this can make up for it."

Everyone's curiosity piqued as they looked at the exquisitely carved box, speculating on its expensive contents. Many doubted Darryl's ability to provide a genuine gift, believing it was simply a ploy to mask his embarrassment.

"Darryl, it only took you a few minutes to get this present. I hope it's not from a random stall in the night market outside?" Jimmy mocked.

Darryl remained unfazed, smiling politely.

"Samantha, show us what your son-in-law got you," Melanie encouraged with feigned excitement, anticipating mockery when the box was opened.

Everyone chimed in, urging her to reveal the contents.

Samantha hesitated, biting her lips, unsure of the gift's quality. If it turned out to be something trivial, she would become a laughingstock.

However, with the pressure mounting, she finally opened the box. 

As the contents were revealed, astonishment filled the room. Samantha was startled, Lily surprised, and Melanie and Jimmy's smiles froze in disbelief.

Chapter 77

Inside the box lay a glamorous necklace. The rubies were as large as pigeon eggs, dazzling under the light. Compared to the diamonds from Jimmy's gift, the rubies made them look like mere sand. Anyone with eyes could easily see which gift was more valuable. 

However, people began to criticize. "One ruby of this size must cost a few million. Doesn't that make this necklace worth at least twenty million?" someone questioned. "From him? Such a valuable gift? Impossible!" another added. "I think it's a fake," someone else chimed in.

While the crowd speculated, Jimmy felt blank. Others might not notice, but he worked in the jewelry industry and could tell at a glance that the rubies were real. Their gloss and clarity were exceptional, possibly the best he had ever seen. How could a supposed useless son-in-law afford such an expensive gift?

Finally, Samantha came to her senses and asked Darryl, "How much did you spend on this?" She had seen countless pieces of jewelry but had never encountered such large rubies. 

"A friend of mine gave it to me," Darryl replied, looking at her. 

Samantha's mixed feelings surfaced. "A friend? That can't be real! How wealthy could his friends be?" she thought, almost tossing the gift away. 

One of her friends' daughters, who had professional knowledge of gem verification, approached. When she examined the necklace under the light, she gasped. "This... this is real, and every ruby is of the highest quality. The design resembles European Royalty. I estimate this to be around thirty million. If it was owned by royalty, it would be priceless." 

The room fell silent, astonished. Jimmy, who had suspected the necklace's authenticity, felt confused. Melanie was speechless, her mouth agape.

"Darryl, are you... sure you're giving this to me?" Samantha asked, her surprise evident. 

At that moment, she no longer cared where Darryl obtained the necklace; she only wanted confirmation that it was indeed hers. 

Darryl smiled, "This was meant for you anyway, Mom. I hope you like it." He thought of how generous his uncle was; however, compared to the thirty billion he spent to save the Darby family, the thirty million necklace seemed trivial. 

"Of course, I love it!" Samantha nodded, trembling with excitement as she put on the necklace. 

Lily stayed quiet but watched Darryl suspiciously. Which friend could give him something so valuable? First, there was the five million, and now a necklace worth thirty million? She planned to confront him after dinner. 

From that moment on, Samantha became the center of attention for the rest of the evening. Everyone wanted to talk to her; materialism was evident in their interactions. 

On the way home, Lily couldn't hold back any longer. "Who is that friend of yours? What's his name?" 

"What friend?" Darryl pretended to be confused. 

"The one who gave you the necklace," Lily pressed. 

As if struck by a revelation, Darryl said, "Oh! Him! The friend who lent me five million." 

"Don't avoid my question. Who is he?" 

They reached their house, and Darryl rubbed his forehead as if remembering something. "Right, my boss wanted me to do something. Why don't you go home first? I really have to go." 

With no choice, Lily got out of the car, and Darryl stepped on the accelerator, disappearing from sight.

Chapter 78

As she watched the car disappear, Lily frowned and entered the house.

Meanwhile, at the Darby Seaview Mansion, Jackson awoke in his bedroom, still recovering from a hangover. He couldn’t remember exactly how much he drank at his wedding but felt content knowing that after two years, he had finally married Rebecca. His happiness was deepened by Darryl’s attendance, a friend he hadn’t seen in years.

Calling out for Rebecca, he received no response. Feeling uneasy, he rushed to the guest room, only to be met with a shocking sight: his newlywed bride, Rebecca, was lying on the bed. Jackson’s heart filled with rage and disbelief. His thoughts raced as he tightened his fists, swearing vengeance on whoever was responsible. He looked for evidence around the room but found nothing, as the mansion was newly purchased and lacked security cameras.

Just then, Rebecca stirred and woke up. Still under the impression that Jackson was the one who had slept with her, she hugged him, feeling a little embarrassed but also happy. Jackson, on the other hand, could barely conceal his guilt and anger. Rebecca noticed his evasiveness, which only made her more suspicious.

Her eyes then fell on something peculiar — an eight-diagram mirror by the bed, and the window beside the bed was wide open. Realization dawned on Rebecca. "It wasn’t you?" she asked, bewildered. Jackson, who had also noticed the mirror, recalled that Darryl had been the one talking about the Feng Shui of the house, specifically advising that the mirror shouldn’t be placed there.

Jackson was torn, the idea that Darryl could have been involved tearing at him, but he couldn’t ignore the circumstances. His mind raced with conflicting emotions as he tried to comfort Rebecca, promising her that he would find the person responsible. However, his suspicions kept pointing back to Darryl. Why was the mirror there, and how had this terrible event unfolded in his own home, right after such a joyous occasion? 

When Jackson asked Rebecca if she remembered anything, she hesitated before saying softly that she recalled a man kissing her, and then felt a sharp pain.

Chapter 79

"I felt a sharp pain at first, then I thought it was you, so I..." Rebecca trailed off, feeling horrified as the memory surfaced. At the same time, her gaze shifted to the eight-diagram mirror, and she began to suspect Darryl. Jackson remained silent, hugging her tightly, his fists clenched so hard that his nails nearly pierced his skin. To protect her reputation, they agreed not to reveal the incident publicly but decided to investigate on their own.

Unbeknownst to them, their conversation was overheard by two maids standing outside the bedroom. The maids exchanged shocked looks before returning to their rooms. They had been resting during the wedding reception after Rebecca noticed their exhaustion and allowed them to take a break. As a result, they had no idea what had transpired until they were startled awake by Jackson’s angry outburst. After overhearing the conversation, they returned to their rooms, knowing they had stumbled upon something they weren’t meant to hear.

The following day, rumors began to circulate throughout the Darby family. Feeling guilty, Florian rushed to Jackson and Rebecca’s mansion with Yumi, pretending to be concerned but secretly trying to gauge how much they knew. "Jackson, I heard something happened here last night. What really happened?" Florian asked as soon as he entered the living room. Yumi, meanwhile, went to the bedroom, putting on a sympathetic act to comfort Rebecca.

Though Jackson was reluctant to discuss it, he eventually shared the details with Florian in anguish. "Darryl Darby! How could he do such a thing?" Florian exclaimed, pretending to be furious and further incriminating Darryl. 

Jackson, still unsure, tried to defend his friend. "Brother, Darryl is just a suspect. It doesn't mean it was him."

"Jackson, why are you still defending him?" Florian pressed somberly.

At the same time, Yumi emerged from the bedroom, adding, "Now that we have evidence, who else could it be? Darryl is the only one who knows about the eight-diagram mirror. My guess is that he came back to steal it, and when he saw Rebecca drunk, he took advantage of the situation." Yumi's expression was filled with anger and disgust. "And I heard this worthless man married into the Lyndon family for three years but never touched his wife. After holding back for so long, he must have been tempted when he saw a vulnerable woman."

Florian chimed in, "Don’t worry, Jackson, we’ll help you investigate this."

Yumi nodded in agreement. "Yes, we won’t let him get away with it."

Jackson’s face looked grim. Until that moment, he had held onto a shred of hope that Darryl was innocent, especially given their close relationship. But with the mounting evidence and Florian and Yumi’s words, his doubts began to solidify. Though he didn’t speak, he nodded, slowly accepting their version of events.

Seeing that Jackson was beginning to believe them, Florian and Yumi had to suppress their satisfied smiles.

The next day, at the chairman’s office of Platinum Corporation, Darryl held the spiritual herb in his hand. Abby had told him that consuming the herb would make him a cultivator, and Darryl was deeply moved by her generosity. The herb must have been incredibly valuable, and Darryl couldn’t believe she had given it to him as thanks for saving her.

As Darryl consumed the herb, he quickly felt a surge of heat spreading throughout his body. The sensation was indescribable, and after half an hour, he let out a long sigh of relief, his face filled with joy. He had officially become a cultivator. Thanks to the spiritual pill he had taken earlier, his body was in a stronger state than most, allowing him to skip Level One and advance directly to Level Two Master.

Feeling elated, Darryl left the corporation and headed toward the Lyndon mansion. After witnessing his brother's wedding, he felt a longing for Lily, thinking back to their relationship. 

Meanwhile, at the Lyndon mansion, an emergency family meeting was underway. Due to financial difficulties, the Lyndon family had been forced to sell 51% of their shares to Paul James from Dragon Tech. Although their financial issues had been resolved, the family now only controlled 49% of the company’s shares, with most of the profits going to Dragon Tech.

Granny Lyndon had gathered everyone at the mansion to discuss the problem. "For the time being, more than half of our company’s profits are going straight to Dragon Tech. We can’t let this continue. Does anyone have any suggestions?"

Chapter 80

As Granny Lyndon sat down, her gaze swept over the crowd, her expression serious as she spoke. The room was filled with members of the Lyndon family, each wearing a grim expression, remaining silent. The ultimate control of Lyndon Enterprise had now fallen into the hands of Paul James, and taking back that authority from him seemed like an impossible dream. At that moment, William Lyndon’s eyes sparkled, and he stood up, saying, “Granny, I have an idea.”

“Wonderful, William, share your idea!” Granny Lyndon replied, her face lighting up with joy. 

Although William had been punished after his incident with Giselle Lindt and was not allowed to be involved in family matters, the gravity of the situation made Granny Lyndon overlook the punishment, largely due to her favoritism toward William. Encouraged by her response, William spoke confidently, “Granny, now that Paul holds 51% of our shares, we no longer have control. Trying to regain that would be difficult, so we might as well give up.”

“Give up?” Granny and the rest of the family frowned.

William continued, “We still have 49% of the shares, right? If we sell another 20%, we could use the money to start a new company or invest in others. Once the new company grows, we can return to our former glory!”

The crowd gasped at his words, eyes widening with excitement. Even Granny Lyndon looked impressed. “Oh, William, my clever boy, this is a brilliant idea!”

But then someone in the crowd voiced a concern. “It’s a good idea, but who are we going to sell the shares to?” A murmur of doubt swept through the room.

William smiled confidently. “That’s no problem at all. I have a friend who’s willing to buy the 20% shares.”

Granny’s excitement grew. “Who is this friend?” 

All eyes turned to William, and he savored the attention before proudly declaring, “His name is Trent Young, and he owns a martial arts club.”

The room erupted in shock. Trent Young was one of the most famous Martial Masters, having won the championship three years in a row. He owned martial arts clubs nationwide, including a few in Donghai City. Only someone with his wealth could afford such a large portion of their shares.

As the crowd buzzed with admiration, praise filled the room. “I can’t believe William knows someone like Trent Young!” “What great connections!” 

Lily, sitting quietly in the corner, remained unsmiling. She didn’t think it was necessary to sell the shares, as she believed the company was still stable. However, with everyone agreeing, she kept her thoughts to herself.

“William, why don’t you give Mr. Trent Young a call?” Granny said warmly.

William nodded and took out his phone, dialing Trent’s number. He put the call on speaker to showcase his connections. “Hey, brother Trent! It’s William. I’ve got a business proposition for you. Are you interested?”

Trent’s voice came through clearly, “Of course! You know I’d be happy to work with you.”

William’s smile widened. “Fantastic! Why don’t you come by the mansion so we can discuss it?”

“I’m in Donghai City right now. I’ll head over!” Trent replied enthusiastically.

After ending the call, William proudly reported to Granny, “Granny, it’s settled. He’ll be here soon.”

Granny Lyndon was delighted, especially since her favorite grandson had come up with the plan. She nodded in approval. “Good, good. If all goes well, you’ll be the hero of this family, William. I’ll make sure to reward you generously.”

William beamed with pride. “Thank you, Granny.”

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