If Heaven hadn't given birth to me, I would be arrogant.

"I say, Junior Uncle, you're really wicked!"

Although Xiao Hei's cultivation was sealed, he was still a Great Luo Golden Immortal. He could communicate directly with Zong Ze in Zong Ze's mind using his spiritual sense. Moreover, under Zong Ze's various methods, Xiao Hei had no choice but to 'reluctantly' accept his status as a junior disciple and the name Xiao Hei!

"How am I bad?" Zong Ze smiled faintly, speaking directly through his consciousness: "Even if I set up that Fox, he was the one who started the trouble first. If he hadn't insulted my family, I wouldn't have bothered with him. Why would an old man like me, who is hundreds of years old, stoop to the level of a little brat?"

"Tch!" the little black pig scoffed. "I can see it too. The reason that little guy was so agitated was entirely because of your provocation. You did it on purpose!"

Zong Ze shrugged: "Okay, I admit I did it on purpose, but don't you think it's boring to be challenged like this all the time? So, since Fox walked right into this mess, I guess I'll just have to use him as an example to others!"

When Zongze and Xiaohei arrived home, news of his challenge to Fox the day after tomorrow had already reached the family. Zongze originally thought that everyone would discuss this issue, but to his surprise, his grandparents and parents ignored him!

As he approached the hall, he found his grandparents and parents sitting around a table, heads bowed in silence, while his mother was writing something with a quill pen in her hand!

"Grandpa and Grandma, what are you doing?"

Seeing that everyone was ignoring him, Zong Ze said helplessly!

"Go away!" Grandpa waved his hand dismissively. "Go find somewhere to play now that you're back. Don't bother us while we're settling accounts!"

"Settling accounts?" Zongze squeezed in and found that his mother was indeed settling accounts. In his father's and grandmother's eyes, Zongze sensed a hint of excitement and greed.

Still no one paid any attention, so our Elder Zong had no choice but to squat down and draw circles on the side. After a while, he finally heard his mother say, "If nothing unexpected happens, the equipment of our Zong family army, including the magic squadron, can all be upgraded and replaced this time!"

"What?" Upon hearing this, Zong Ze couldn't hold back any longer: "The equipment of the entire Zong Family Army and the Magic Squadron is already quite bizarre. The military expenditure of just one Zong Family Army is equivalent to that of an entire legion of the Empire. And now they want to upgrade and replace it?"

Although the Zong family is the ducal family of the Grand Marshal, they actually live a relatively frugal life. Coupled with the expenses of the Zong family army, the Zong family's existing funds are barely enough to maintain their operations. Where would they get the money to upgrade the Zong family army's equipment?

"Grandpa!" Seeing the relieved and jubilant faces of everyone, Zong Ze spoke again: "Um, did you rob some big caravan or...?"

"You little brat! What nonsense are you spouting?" Zong Xiaozhang couldn't help but curse when he heard Zong Ze speak. "What does our Zong family do? We protect the empire. How could we do such thieving and robbery?"

"But!" Zong Ze scratched his head. "I just heard my mother say that she wants to upgrade the equipment for the Zong Family Army and the Magic Squadron. Where would our Zong Family get so much money? Don't think you can fool me just because I'm young. I know exactly how much money my family has!"

"Hehe!" Grandma chuckled, "Our family didn't have money before, but that doesn't mean we won't have money in the future!"

"Father, Mother!" Yu Rou also spoke up with a smile, "I think we should thank Xiao Ze more for this, otherwise, once..."

"You little brat, how dare he?" Zong Kuang's eyes widened when he heard his wife speak. "Little guy, let me tell you, I don't care what method you use, you must win the challenge the day after tomorrow, and you can't reveal that you're a dual cultivator of magic and martial arts!"

“That’s right!” Zong Xiaozhang waved his hand and said, “We can’t expose your strength as a martial madman. It’s best not to even show your strength as a martial master. As for how to win, you can figure that out yourself!”

Hearing everyone's comments, Zongze was a little confused: "I said, my parents, I'm about to embark on my first real-life physical challenge, and instead of cheering me on, you're putting so many restrictions on me?"

The old lady smiled gently and said, "Ze'er, don't listen to your grandfather and father's threats. I'm telling you, you must win the challenge the day after tomorrow. You can't do it out of spite. The future development of our clan depends on this battle!"

"Damn it!" Zongze jumped up: "The challenge between me and Fox is really just a matter between two kids. How can it involve our family's future?"

"Hehe!" the old lady continued with a laugh, "You have no idea, we've already allocated all the funds we can use, and we're going to the casino to place bets in a bit!"

"What?" Zong Ze blurted out a sentence in English that no one understood: "You're betting on my challenge as a way to make money?"

“That’s right!” Zong Kuang chimed in, “You don’t know, as soon as your challenge was announced, it became a hot topic in the capital. All the major gambling houses opened betting odds, and just half a day ago, your odds had already reached 1:7!”

We did the math, and we still have over a million yuan at home. If we invest it all, we can get 700 million yuan back! Haha!

"Screw you!" Zong Ze blurted out in English again, "Am I that weak? How could the odds be like this? Besides, how can you use me, a young man, the future flower of our motherland, to gamble? How can you be so heartless?"

"What's there to be afraid of?" Zong Kuang glared at him again. "Others may not know, but we do! You and Fox could take down a hundred of him. With such a good opportunity, why not place a bet?"

"Haha, that's right!" Zong laughed loudly, "The opportunity lies in others not knowing. Originally, your odds weren't that high; it started at 1:5. But after the Blue Chess Tournament placed a 1000 million bet on Fox, your odds increased again!"

"Holy crap!" Upon hearing his grandfather's words, Zongze jumped three feet high: "Even the emperor gambles? That's outrageous!"

After saying that, Zong Ze turned and walked out, muttering to himself as he went, "What kind of empire is this? The ruler is not a ruler, and the subjects are not subjects. They've all bet on a little kid!"

"Where are you going?" Seeing Zong Ze walking out, Zong Kuang called out from behind, "We haven't even discussed how you're going to duel yet!"

"Discuss my ass!" Zong Ze turned around irritably and said, "I'm going to make some money first. I want to make money too, even with such a good opportunity. Do you think you're the only ones allowed to make money off me?"

After saying that, Zong Ze had already walked out the door, but Zong Xiaozhang and the others heard Zong Ze's last muttered words: "Damn it, he actually spent 1000 million on Fox, I'll make you pay, I'll make you pay..."