In the a.s.sociation.

Everyone was working hard at cultivating.

Lu Ming became up to date with fundamental knowledge on the forum.

After duping Xiao-Xiaojian to work on its cultivation, Lu Ming decided to read up on the fundamental knowledge of card creation so that he could create five-star cards soon!

He knew very clearly that as long as he could create them, the Original Card would be able to condense to integrate more advanced cards!

Six-star!

Perhaps…

By then, he would have the true abilities to fight a six-star!

Buzz—

The wristband vibrated.

An unknown number was on the line.

"Who is it?" Lu Ming answered his call.

"h.e.l.lo, is this Mr Lu Ming?"

"Yes."

"This is what happened. We noticed that there was a large amount withdrawn from your account. So we would like to confirm whether it was per your request?"

"Yes."

Lu Ming continued the topic skilfully.

Tsk tsk.

He had not expected such scams to occur in this world!

That was amazing!

"Oh…"

The other party paused briefly before hanging up the phone.

"Haha."

Lu Ming smiled lightly.

It was ridiculous!

There was no way they could fool him with such childish methods!

Li Tiantian had previously said that there were many fraudsters on Beihai Road. He did not expect to encounter one. Oh, he had to remind others to be more careful…

Lu Ming put this matter aside and continued with his study.

However…

Just when he was about to purchase an electronic book…

Ding—

Insufficient balance.

"Oh?"

Lu Ming's heart jumped a beat.

Insufficient balance?

Something was not right!

Although most of the money was with Xiaobai, he still had several tens of thousands yuan in his account. It was impossible that he could not afford a book?!

Shus.h.!.+

He checked the account, his balance was 0.03.

"This is strange."

Lu Ming was puzzled. "Xiaobai, do you have money with you?"

"Yes."

Xiaobai nodded. "Master, do you need it?"

Afterward…

She noticed that Lu Ming's account was nearly empty.

"Master, did you spend all of it?"

Xiaobai was shocked, but she quickly covered it up with a smile. "It's alright. I can transfer money to you. Haha, I have earned quite a lot. Master, I can support you!"

Xiaobai puffed her chest proudly.

Lu Ming rolled his eyes.

He glanced at Xiaobai's tiny frame. She had not gone through p.u.b.erty but was thinking about supporting him… "Be good. Don't mess around. Let me think about it."

Hence…

Lu Ming checked his account and was surprised to find that a recent huge transaction had used up all the funds in his account…

Wait a minute.

Lu Ming came to his senses.

d.a.m.n!

There was indeed a huge transaction that had taken place!

He instinctively made a call to the bank and he heard a familiar voice. "h.e.l.lo, Sir. What can I do for you?"

Shus.h.!.+

Lu Ming turned silent.

Oh.

This was the lady that had called him just now…

Therefore…

The phone call that he had received to warn him about the transaction was really from the bank.

"Can you find out where the money went?"

Lu Ming sighed.

The other party was helpless. "Sir, you are putting me in a difficult position. I have to apply for permission…"

"Can you take it that this is the previous call, and my signal is bad and hence the call is disconnected?"

Lu Ming made a suggestion.

The lady had no choice but to repeat the information she had just said. "This is what happened: We noticed that there was a transaction made on an old machine. We suspected that there was an unauthorized use of the card. The model it was used on is…"

It sounded very familiar to Lu Ming.

This model…

"Wait a minute."

Lu Ming looked doubtful as he dragged Xiao-Xiaojian out from the corner.

Over there, Xiao-Xiaojian was having a fun time with the cell phone in its hands.

"Cool down."

Xiao-Xiaojian sounded excited. "Very soon, I will complete my research on how to increase one's cultivation speed! It is stated here that if one becomes a level five customer, one will be taught the secrets to double-cultivation! I have purchased one hundred lessons now. Another eighty lessons and it will be enough!"

"Purchase lessons?"

Lu Ming was taken aback.

"Of course."

Xiao-Xiaojian shared the information excitedly. "It only takes ten lessons to obtain low-level cultivation skills. It takes one hundred and eighty lessons to obtain advanced cultivation skills… Other than that, we can get other people to join to offset the lessons… I have already planned for Xiao-Xiaobai…"

d.a.m.n!

Lu Ming pulled it towards him and gave it a round of beatings without any expression on his face.

Cras.h.!.+

Cras.h.!.+

Loud sounds could be heard.

Good-for-nothing!

It actually fell for the pyramid schemes!

Was it an ancient sword spirit?!

After a long while…

After explaining to Xiao-Xiaojian the way pyramid schemes worked and the concept behind them, Xiao-Xiaojian turned silent. Oh, it turned out that this was a pyramid scheme…

"So…

"Is the double-cultivation of cards fake as well?"

Xiao-Xiaojian was disappointed.

"Yes."

Lu Ming was expressionless.

What is the situation like now? Yet, you're still thinking of this?!

"Why aren't you more cautious? If the rate is indeed one hundred times faster and cultivation is that simple, I would have found out about it long ago and there would have been no need to trouble you."

Lu Ming sighed.

"I thought that you were foolish…"

Xiao-Xiaojian was honest about it.

Lu Ming wore a gloomy gaze and he dragged it to the corner to give it another round of beatings.

It was c.r.a.p!

It fell for the pyramid scheme and he had the guts to mock others?

"Is that really pyramid scheme?"

Xiao-Xiaojian refused to believe it.

"Yes."

Lu Ming was fuming mad.

"But the cultivation skills are useful…"

Xiao-Xiaojian was also filled with suspicions.

"All pyramid scheme work that way. They would entice you with small benefits and then…"

Lu Ming sounded disdainful. He paused briefly before he looked at Xiao-Xiaojian. "You mentioned that the cultivation skills are useful?"

"Yes."

Xiao-Xiaojian was confused. "I tried it and it was better than the Sunlight Card."

Bang!

Lu Ming's heart jumped a beat.

"Really?"

"Of course, otherwise I would not purchase the lessons…"

Xiao-Xiaojian was speechless.

It was not an idiot!

Out of so many advertis.e.m.e.nts and cultivation skills, he only made purchases from this company. The reason being the cultivation skills of this company had significant results even at the beginner stage!

"If you don't believe me, take a look."

It tried to show it to Lu Ming.

Buzz—

Faint lights surged.

The cultivation speed was indeed faster than the Sunlight Card!

The cultivation skills…

It was true!!!

d.a.m.n!

Lu Ming was taken aback.

The increase was significant!

If they continued to purchase the lessons…

If not…

Should they purchase more lessons?

Lu Ming was tempted.

"How many more do you need?"

"Eighty lessons. I have run out of money."

"It's alright. I will ask Xiaobai for some money."

Lu Ming was slightly excited.

If this could solve the issue of slow cultivation speed, it would be great. Therefore, he told Xiaobai to transfer some money and they continued to purchase the lessons.

Afterward…

The lady at the bank was very anxious.

"Sir!

We have noticed another transaction in your account…"

"Yes, it is my spending."

Lu Ming was certain.

The lady at the bank replied, "Sir, you are putting us in a very difficult position."

"It's okay."

Lu Ming waved his hands, looking impressive. "It has been hard on you. Leave the rest to me."

Upon finis.h.i.+ng his words…

He hung up the phone.

The lady from the bank had yet to come to her senses.

They were done for!

Another family had fallen for it.

After a long while…

She looked at Lu Ming's family contact and dialed another number.

"h.e.l.lo,

Is this Lu Ming's family?"

"Yes."

Xiaobai was happy to acknowledge that she was his family. It was a very apt description.

"Well, we suspected that your family might be tricked into pyramid selling… We hope that you can pay more attention and don't fall for it…"

The lady at the bank sounded very serious when she told her what happened.

"Okay."

Xiaobai ended the call and decided to check with her master.

"I hope everything is alright."

The lady at the bank was very worried.

She felt that… this company was suspicious…

Ten minutes later.

She stared in shock as there was a huge transaction in the young lady's account…???

"h.e.l.lo,

Are you the one who made the transaction?"

"Yes."

"The other party might be involved in pyramid selling…"

"Yes."

The lady at the bank was going crazy. If that was the case, why did all of them fall for it? They might be fooled in the beginning, but what was the recent transaction about? Were they being brainwashed?!

The lady had an emotional breakdown.

She looked through the information and found the only emergency contact, Lu Yan.

Oh.

This was the real parent! Hopefully the problem will be solved.

After a long while…

There was a huge spending in Lu Yan's account.

The lady at the bank was breaking down!

What the h.e.l.l was this?

What was wrong with the entire family?!

That was a pyramid scheme. Could it be that the entire family has a low IQ?!

Seeing that there were many complaints and reports about the account, the lady had no other choice but to report it to the police on their behalf…

The rest… depended on them.

…

Right then…

At the a.s.sociation.

A group of people crowded around to check the progress of the lessons.

After an afternoon, their pyramid scheme had increased from level three to level four and advancing to level five. They would be able to obtain advanced cultivation skills very soon!

Shus.h.!.+

The last amount of money had been credited.

Shus.h.!.+

There was a pop-up window at Xiao-Xiaojian's screen—"Mr Jian, congratulations on obtaining advanced cultivation skills!"

"It's coming!"

Lu Ming was excited.

It was very strange.

Although this was indeed a pyramid scheme and it seemed like a fraud, they were surprised that the cultivation skills that they released in batches were real!

That was right!

They had received all the rewards from the low-level to the advanced cultivation skills!

They must have divided a cultivation skill into several parts, but everything was real!

After receiving part of the cultivation skills, Xiao-Xiaojian's speed was significantly increased. Until now, his speed was much faster than the Sunlight Card!

And all of this…

All of this was from the pyramid scheme!

Hence…

Lu Ming paused briefly and sent an inquiry: "Are there more rewards?"

…

At this very moment…

Tian Du City.

Somewhere.

The pyramid scheme team was celebrating.

They had not opened for business for three years but once they resumed business, they had enough revenue to last them for three years. This was the situation they were in now! They had been surviving on a subsistence allowance for months and they suddenly turned into rich tyc.o.o.ns!

There was no other choice.

One of the big shots had purchased all the lessons to become the most advanced member!!!

Everyone was shocked at this change of events!

Usually, the cultivators that they duped would come to their senses at the 328/648th stage. This was their largest sale so far.

And this time…

Someone broke the record!!!

"Haha.

"Master is right. There are all kinds of fools these days. Haha."

He was elated.

Right then, they received another message.

"h.e.l.lo.

"Are there more rewards?

"I would like to continue to pump in more money. But there are no more rewards…"

Everyone glanced at each other, turning silent.

d.a.m.n!

What is this?!

d.a.m.n, he has already pumped in millions of yuan… and he wants to pump in more money?

"Who cares. The more money, the merrier."

One gritted his teeth. "Old Zhao, do you have any other cultivation skills?"

"I have nothing else."

Old Zhao smiled bitterly. "This is all that I managed to dig out from the ancient tomb. You have seen this and cultivated it as well. Its effect is ordinary. According to our records, it is a very common cultivation skill in the past, notwithstanding right now… If it is something valuable, no one will sell it!"

"Don't think about it. The other party might have been brainwashed by us."

Someone pursed his lips.

"That is possible."

Everyone thought so too.

As fraudsters, no, as the bosses of the pyramid scheme, they believed that there were many fools in this world… After all, many people were duped into asking for more information…

To be honest, there were too many fools and there were not enough fraudsters!

They did not even have any internal compet.i.tion!

And this time…

It was obvious that a money-loaded person had fallen for their schemes!

"Is there anything that has not been circulated on the market? Something like what you dug out and no one can tell its origins, but it is obviously nonsense."

"There are no more cultivation skills, but we have some other stuff."

"Upload it! Extend it for one more round!!"

"Okay."

The fraudsters were excited.

They took photos of the rewards and decided on the different levels of rewards before sharing the level framework with the public and sending it to the person that messaged them. Very soon, they received the message that money would be sent over.

"Haha!

"This guy is indeed a fool!

"I reckon he has obsessive-compulsive disorder and he must pa.s.s all the stages… But then again, are you sure all these are worthless? We must not be fooled."

"I have verified them. I have been to several shops, trying to sell them, but n.o.body wants them."

"That's good."

Now that they had uploaded the items, they would have enough money.

That was what they thought.

However…

They were shocked to see that within ten minutes, Mr Jian's pyramid level had reached the maximum and he had received all the rewards, telling them to send the rewards to him.

He then sent an inquiry. "Are there more rewards?"

Shus.h.!.+

There was total silence in their base.

Are there more rewards?!

They had run this pyramid scheme for years. They had never encountered such a situation! A customer asked them twice a day for more rewards?! How foolish they must be to do that?!

"There's nothing else…" he replied cautiously.

"There should be more."

The other party sounded gloomy.

"There are really no more rewards."

Old Zhao's heart ached at this situation.

If possible, they wanted to continue to upload the rewards.

"There has to be more."

The other party was very insistent. "Either you continue to upload the rewards… or I will report you to the police. The money involved now is sufficient for you to spend all your life until you die in prison."

Shus.h.!.+

There was total silence in the pyramid selling base.

The fraudsters were dumbfounded.

This person threatened to report them to the police, forcing them to continue to cheat them of their money??

This…

What was this?!

Pyramid selling…

This was not the way it worked!

"Brother, we really have no other rewards."

The fraudsters felt like crying.

This was the first time they encountered something like this…

They wanted to continue to fool them but they had no more rewards!

"It is up to you to come up with solutions."

The other party sent a cold reply. "You have two hours. If you have similar rewards, upload them. If not…

"You can await your death.

"You should know that I have lots of money. Hehe, I am able to buy all the rewards that you have. Of course, if I use this money to buy your lives, hehe…"

Shus.h.!.+

There was total silence.

"Old Zhao?"

They were in agony. "Are there any more rewards?"

"N-no more."

Old Zhao's legs felt wobbly.

Their pyramid scheme usually only had five levels, however, the big shot had already reached the tenth level!

Who could handle that?

They really had no more rewards…

"I feel that we can't fool them this time."

One person was paralyzed on the floor.

They were merely fraudsters. They were not desperate criminals. Initially, they were elated. But as the money involved increased, they felt nothing but fear, especially when the other party had a showdown with them…

They were truly afraid.

Just like Mr Jian had said, he had lots of money. If he was serious in destroying them…

It would be too easy!

They did not expect that there would be a day where they might be destroyed by the big shot because they did not have enough items to continue the pyramid scheme…

"I don't want to die yet."

"Me either.

"In the past, I was left with no choice as my family was poor, if possible… I want to be a good person."

"+1."

They glanced at each other, despair on their faces.

Suddenly…

Old Zhao gritted his teeth. "There is a way to survive."

…

At this very moment…

Tian Du City.

Lu Ming and the group were waiting for the other party to upload more items.

"Master, is this okay?"

Xiaobai was slightly worried.

"Don't worry."

Lu Ming was very certain. "It is obvious that they dug out the rewards. In such a situation, they will definitely make another trip to the ancient tomb to get more!"

"Oh."

Xiaobai agreed with him.

Afterward…

Two hours later…

Just when Lu Ming was getting ready to advance to another level of the pyramid scheme, he received a strange and mysterious message—The pyramid scheme had reported themselves to the police…

Yes.

Faced with Lu Ming's death threat, the timid fraudsters decided to report to the police.

Lu Ming was dumbstruck for a long time.

d.a.m.n!

What does this mean?!